Run > Race

Amsterdam Marathon. Weight 10st 1 1/2 day before race. Another great day. Kathryn's first marathon. Beautiful day and all the family there to see it. Wanted to try to beat 3.45 and also beat the 30 year best of my run in Sandbach of 3.49. Needed to run at 8.30 pace all way round to be sure of beating 3.45 and for a long time was about 10 seconds ahead of the pace. But started to struggle during last 5-6 miles. Perhaps I was just a bit too quick early on - even though I kept slowing myself down. Slowed quite a bit and had about 4 short walks. Had a bit of cramp in different parts of my legs towards the end, (first felt in left hamstring at 18 miles) - including in last 50 metres. I was worried night before that I'd done too much walking day before and feared I'd blown it, but the legs were still strong. Without the walking I probably would have beaten 3.45, but I've got to be happy with knocking 9 minutes off in 5 months - and Sandbach is now beaten. Had two pasta meals at 4pm Sat. Sun 2 1/2 hours before race had 2 x porridge with milk plus 2 slices of bread and honey. Had a gel 10 mins before start. Had gels every 3 miles including +gel as last one. Had shots of Red Bull at approx. 14 miles, 17 miles (most of which I dropped!) and 21 miles. Cals 3093. HR av 153, max 180. 5k 26.34, 10k 52.26 (25.42),15k 1.18.22 (26.06),20k 1.44.35 (26.13), half 1.50.33, 25k 2.10.54 (26.19),30k 2.37.00 (26.06),35k 3.04.30 (27.30), 40k 3.33.42 (29.12). Laps 8.41, 8.10, 8.12, 8.18, 8.17, 8.20, 8.24, 8.20, 8.09, 8.31, 8.18, 8.16, 8.28, 8.20, 8.22, 8.16, 8.18, 8.18, 8.40, 8.28, 8.47, 8.51, 8.43, 9.45, 9.29, 9.31. Last 3 miles let me down. (Splits including a drinks stop are probably slower.) No more walking day before. Learn the lesson. Came 3813/9631. 119 in age group. Kathryn's laps 10.16, 9.28, 9.23, 9.13, 9.30, 9.30, 9.53, 9.53, 9.51, 10.11, 10.00, 10.06, 10.23, 10.22, 10.28, 10.31, 10.33, 10.34, 11.09, 10.57, 11.26, 12.15, 11.34, 11.51, 12.22, 12.40.