Run > Race

The London Marathon 2008. Another fantastic experience. Started off with bright day on blackheath, but soon clouded over and we then had a mix of showers, heavy rain, bit of wind and hail (at 24.5 miles). I felt very comfortable going through 8 miles - steady pace soaking up the atmosphere. Heavens first opened at around 9/10 miles, which made things interesting as it came down so heavy that it wasn't able to drain away quick enough. Went through the halfway point in around 2 hours and felt a little tired (may be due to busy week at expo and tiring day in London on the Saturday). Determined not to stop through Isle of Dogs. Started getting a few cramp twinges in the muscles from 15 but slowed the pace a little and kept going. Struggled through docklands again (as with 2 years ago) - felt drained and found it hard to concentrate, despite having taken on fliud at all the drink stations and Lucozade at all of those stations. Was particularly bad going through the underpass - lights seemed to keep flickering and worried me that I was losing it. Came out the other side and realised it was just the lights playing tricks. Kept going until around 19 miles when a woman dropped her iPod cover and decided to just stop. The guy behind her went straight into her and in pulling up to avoid sending them both flying, my muscles just seized. Spent about 8-10 minutes stretching out to get some movemnt back and then had to take it real slow for about a mile. Struggled on to 22 miles when I sent the sms to Nita and found some mental strength. Kept it going thru 22 and past the Tower down towards Embankment. Stopped briefly in the underpass to take in Lucozade collected at the last Lucozade station (at 23.5 miles) then started up for the final stretch. Mentally I had been driving myself mile by mile since around 17 miles - telling myself 'just to the next mile or drinks station, then I can have a little stop', but when there telling myself again, only another 10 minutes to the next one - lets make it there before I stop. Found the stretch along the Embankment a real enjoyment this year despite the hail - had no real cramp problems and had found a second wind. Heavy rain continued all the way hom and still found a burst for the mall!. Another marathon completed - my third and again a different experience. Next time I need more rest coming into the event (the week leading up and the day before). I also think I need to be doing a couple of training runs of 4 hours or at least 23-24 miles - and be doing more in and around the 20-22 miles. The course seemed smaller this year - probably because I know it well - but I can say that there is nothing on it that I should fear. I also think my diet leading into the event this year was not as good as last year and my mental state was not as positive as it should have been (and was last year). I need to look at my life on this aspect. Roll on 2009!!