Run > Race

Headlines - hot hot hot but I loved it!! Before the start I decided I'd trained too hard not to go for a 3.45 time, despite the heat. First 10k spot on and easy as a lot down hill - very hot but everyone had said that when we got to the coast we'd get a breeze so i wasn't too worried, but it just didn't materialise. Felt ok still so decided to press on at 8.30 minute miles till halfway - spot on again but the lack of any shade was wearing! Felt comfortable at that pace till we turned off the road at about 17 miles and from 17 to 20 i was managing to keep the pace but was having to work properly hard to do it. From 20 miles it was quite scary, the heat had really created carnage, I'd say at least 2/3 rds of the people were walking by mile 20,, and there were quite a few people by the side of the road requiring medical attention and peope who were running were all over the place. I was having to work so hard to hold the pace that I made a conscious decsion to slow the pace and concentrate in finishing in one piece without having to walk. despite slowing considerably for the last 6 miles I think only about 10 people passed me and I passed hundreds which shows how hard people were finding it. But desite this I was loving it, I knew I would finish ok and I knew that this course and this heat wasn't going to beat me, I can honestly say i loved every step. I'd really hated London and felt that the race had totally beaten me and was quite scared and apprehensive about Edinburgh, but I really rocked edinburgh!! for some reason I was flying. On a cooler day i know deep down I'd have been close to that GFA time I so wanted and I did as good as was possible on the day. I was absolutely elated finishing for the very first time in a a marathon. I'd done well and i didn't feel wrecked.. then whoops, crossed the finish line and head went totally dizzy and collapsed, head was spinning and was helped by medical people to loads of water and got my head out of the sun - felt woozy for a while and for me this totally confirms the fact that I made the right decsion to let the 3.45 attempt go and slow down to stay in one piece and enjoy. 2015 finisher of over 13000 starters well pleased (have you noticed )