It would seem from various blogs I read that running in the middle of the night is now a craze sweeping running land. Put bluntly it seems that getting up at half past something in the middle of the night and going out for a run has caught on. Well not here in Holland it hasn't.
In fact this blog will be be advocating a return to normal with runners running exactly when they should do - mid morning ish, or early evening.
So, I am off out in about an hour after a nice leisurely get up for a 10 km to see if my muscles have fully recovered from Rotterdam.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Thursday, April 26, 2007
First run since Rotterdam
So, new shoes (New Balance), new shirt (Rotterdam marathon) but same old legs......the first run, only 6km after the marathon was, to put it bluntly tougher than I expected. It was hot (26C) and I felt fine afterwards, but after looking forward so much to getting out again, I think I will now wait until the weekend before I try again.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Watching FLM
Very inspiring watching the FLM today and thankfully for the runners it wasn't as hot as Rotterdam last week. But the shear scale of the event is daunting......25.000 bottles of water available at each water stop alone is mind boggling.
Still haven't started to run yet as I am waiting at least two weeks and by that point I will be so keen that any training program will seem achieveable. I will wait for to see if my application for NY Marathon has been accepted (should find out early May) and if I have not got in, I will put my name down for an Autumn marathon - either Berlin or Amsterdam.
Still haven't started to run yet as I am waiting at least two weeks and by that point I will be so keen that any training program will seem achieveable. I will wait for to see if my application for NY Marathon has been accepted (should find out early May) and if I have not got in, I will put my name down for an Autumn marathon - either Berlin or Amsterdam.
Monday, April 16, 2007
A tale of two halves
Well, here it is. There's a prize for anyone who can tell me at what point I decided enough was enough, finishing itself would be a triumph and then enjoyed a water stop like you would never believe (clue: work out my 20km to half marathon time).
5km 27:21
10km 45:07 (26:46)
15km 1:22:27 (28:20)
20km 1:52:37 (30:10)
half 2:00:51
25km 2:26:32 (33:55)
30km 3:03:59 (37:27)
35km 3:39:42 (35:33)
40km 4:16:37 (37:05)
finish 4:31:47
I know it might sound a bit strange bearing in mind I should have been putting in each 5km at less than 28:00, but I am actually quite proud of these spilts. You simply had to be there to understand how difficult it was (not helped by the police and marshalls stopping me run every so often in the last 12km).
5km 27:21
10km 45:07 (26:46)
15km 1:22:27 (28:20)
20km 1:52:37 (30:10)
half 2:00:51
25km 2:26:32 (33:55)
30km 3:03:59 (37:27)
35km 3:39:42 (35:33)
40km 4:16:37 (37:05)
finish 4:31:47
I know it might sound a bit strange bearing in mind I should have been putting in each 5km at less than 28:00, but I am actually quite proud of these spilts. You simply had to be there to understand how difficult it was (not helped by the police and marshalls stopping me run every so often in the last 12km).
The Unbelievable Rotterdam Marathon
Pull up a chair, grab a snack and get comfortable - this is a story and a half.
With the race starting at 11.00 with the air temp heading towards 25C it was going to be one of those days. At 20km we were told that the road temp was 31C and advised to drink plenty of water. No joking! I have to admit that after 8km I was struggling. Bearing in mind I had trained well for this, the air temp was a killer. And to cap a bad first 10km I accidently hit my watch with my hand and the useful Polar decided to go back to 00:00. For the next 15 km I was doing mental maths (it didn't matter after 30km anyway - keep reading). In fact for the first marathon I can remember, people were walking at 7km.
Family Bedders met me at 15km and, Heaven knows how, I was still on schedule. But then it fell apart - the heat was simply unbrearable. At 21 I decided, along with about 10.000 other runners that this was a day to get round in one piece rather than break records. From 22km on there were ambulances and police cars roaring around as runners really suffered. At the water stations it was like a scene out of a war movie. But full marks to the organisers - they had plenty of water as far as I could see (contrary to some reports I have read in the press) , xtra drink and hoses - literally hosing people down. I met family B again at 26km and nearly stopped. It was that bad - total torture. But, you can't stop can you?
Things started to go really wrong for the organisers when you saw spectators close to collapsing (in fact I saw one at the end being carried to a medical tent). OK a few runners maybe but not spectators surely? Then when I had reached 30 km, when it was just about actually getting bearable again, as I had slowed to a nice 6:00/km pace, the race was stopped.
The race was stopped. I had to write this again as it is hard to believe. The authorities had had enough - or perhaps a serious point they did not have enough emergency service personnel left to deal with the runners in trouble. The official view was that they did have enough but it would not have been long before they would have been in trouble - and they could see it only getting worse.
We were stopped and told "you continue at your own risk" (well that's what we do anyway). I had reached a part of the course that goes out to come back so it was all or nothing. I had to go on. But they kept stopping us run, saying that the time-mats had been turned off and would we please not worry about the time just get back to the finish without collapsing. It was desperate stuff. I heard later that 5-6.000 runners were stopped and not allowed to continue to the bit past 30 where I had reached. They were sent straight back to the finish which would have been about 2km.
It was real theatre stuff. People were coming out their houses trailing hoses to drench everyone and water stations now looked like the Somme.
I was told at around 36km "please do not run -don't worry you will get a medal" as if this made me think again.
Anyway, I did jog without anyone seeing me for the last 3km and ended up with a time of 4:31 and a bit. The mats were still working.......I do not know how many people started the race (about 10.000 we were told) but according to the results only 4300 finished the course.
The serious bit to this is that having suffered heat exhaustion in Chicago in 2005 there was no way I was going to push myself once I had reached halfway and realised early on that this could be a very dangerous race.
So I finished the course. I have my medal and I feel fine. But I can't help but wonder how people in their first marathon felt being stopped. Frustrated but also a bit relieved I guess.
And this has not put me off Marathoning. Far from it. My performance today rates up amongst my best given the conditions and I will be back at Rotterdam if I can in 2008.
See, I told you it was a good story.
With the race starting at 11.00 with the air temp heading towards 25C it was going to be one of those days. At 20km we were told that the road temp was 31C and advised to drink plenty of water. No joking! I have to admit that after 8km I was struggling. Bearing in mind I had trained well for this, the air temp was a killer. And to cap a bad first 10km I accidently hit my watch with my hand and the useful Polar decided to go back to 00:00. For the next 15 km I was doing mental maths (it didn't matter after 30km anyway - keep reading). In fact for the first marathon I can remember, people were walking at 7km.
Family Bedders met me at 15km and, Heaven knows how, I was still on schedule. But then it fell apart - the heat was simply unbrearable. At 21 I decided, along with about 10.000 other runners that this was a day to get round in one piece rather than break records. From 22km on there were ambulances and police cars roaring around as runners really suffered. At the water stations it was like a scene out of a war movie. But full marks to the organisers - they had plenty of water as far as I could see (contrary to some reports I have read in the press) , xtra drink and hoses - literally hosing people down. I met family B again at 26km and nearly stopped. It was that bad - total torture. But, you can't stop can you?
Things started to go really wrong for the organisers when you saw spectators close to collapsing (in fact I saw one at the end being carried to a medical tent). OK a few runners maybe but not spectators surely? Then when I had reached 30 km, when it was just about actually getting bearable again, as I had slowed to a nice 6:00/km pace, the race was stopped.
The race was stopped. I had to write this again as it is hard to believe. The authorities had had enough - or perhaps a serious point they did not have enough emergency service personnel left to deal with the runners in trouble. The official view was that they did have enough but it would not have been long before they would have been in trouble - and they could see it only getting worse.
We were stopped and told "you continue at your own risk" (well that's what we do anyway). I had reached a part of the course that goes out to come back so it was all or nothing. I had to go on. But they kept stopping us run, saying that the time-mats had been turned off and would we please not worry about the time just get back to the finish without collapsing. It was desperate stuff. I heard later that 5-6.000 runners were stopped and not allowed to continue to the bit past 30 where I had reached. They were sent straight back to the finish which would have been about 2km.
It was real theatre stuff. People were coming out their houses trailing hoses to drench everyone and water stations now looked like the Somme.
I was told at around 36km "please do not run -don't worry you will get a medal" as if this made me think again.
Anyway, I did jog without anyone seeing me for the last 3km and ended up with a time of 4:31 and a bit. The mats were still working.......I do not know how many people started the race (about 10.000 we were told) but according to the results only 4300 finished the course.
The serious bit to this is that having suffered heat exhaustion in Chicago in 2005 there was no way I was going to push myself once I had reached halfway and realised early on that this could be a very dangerous race.
So I finished the course. I have my medal and I feel fine. But I can't help but wonder how people in their first marathon felt being stopped. Frustrated but also a bit relieved I guess.
And this has not put me off Marathoning. Far from it. My performance today rates up amongst my best given the conditions and I will be back at Rotterdam if I can in 2008.
See, I told you it was a good story.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Got the number
Just come back from the Rotterdam expo (pretty small affair actually) and have my number. It's always quite exciting I think getting in line and collecting your marathon number.
So, with no sign of temperatures falling it's out with the sunglasses and drink every 5km. In fact the organisers have added two drink posts towards the end (so every 2.5km in last 10 km) and two shower units in the last 10km. Now being in Holland, these sound fun! So plenty to distract me.
Thanks to everyone for their advice and help (esp G. via email).
Back blogging Sunday pm.
So, with no sign of temperatures falling it's out with the sunglasses and drink every 5km. In fact the organisers have added two drink posts towards the end (so every 2.5km in last 10 km) and two shower units in the last 10km. Now being in Holland, these sound fun! So plenty to distract me.
Thanks to everyone for their advice and help (esp G. via email).
Back blogging Sunday pm.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Now this is ridiculous
According to the local Dutch weather sites, the temperature on Sunday will be between 26C and 28C
Good news is that the cough seems to be slowly giving way to my recent Vitamin C overdose but what kind of race plan do you go with at those temperatures? And bizzarely the run starts at 11.00am - so at about the halfway mark it will be bang in the heat of the day.
Good news is that the cough seems to be slowly giving way to my recent Vitamin C overdose but what kind of race plan do you go with at those temperatures? And bizzarely the run starts at 11.00am - so at about the halfway mark it will be bang in the heat of the day.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
still coughing..........
and the temperature is now predicted at 24 degrees for Sunday. Beginning to wonder if I want to do it. Visions of my Chicago run in 2005 are difficult to get out of my mind.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Coughing
Now I have lost the cold, I have a cough that I can't shift - and the predicted temperature for Sunday is 20 degrees. What joy.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
12 days to go
I cancelled my physio appointment as the calf is much better and I couldn't find any other injury for him to deal with. Which is a result. However, the only problem I now have is a slight cold and cough which has 12 days to get out of my system. Lots of vitamin C seems to have helped. I am sure I will be fine.
I have broken one of my pre marathon rules this week in that I travelled abroad by plane (back to UK). I guess I am a little paranoid but always seem to sit next to or in front of, someone who seems to have the beginnings of Bird Flu. Short of using one of those Japanese face covers that they all seem to wear I just spent the whole flight trying to not breath. Tricky and not to be advised.
Anyway, back home now in the sterile environment of Chez Bedders - and still tapering although I have to run 10km tonight.
Thanks for all the kind wishes in the last post - day 2 and I am still in business.......but I will not be blogging it here as this must stay a non business blog. Maybe I'll open up another one under an assumed name.....
I have broken one of my pre marathon rules this week in that I travelled abroad by plane (back to UK). I guess I am a little paranoid but always seem to sit next to or in front of, someone who seems to have the beginnings of Bird Flu. Short of using one of those Japanese face covers that they all seem to wear I just spent the whole flight trying to not breath. Tricky and not to be advised.
Anyway, back home now in the sterile environment of Chez Bedders - and still tapering although I have to run 10km tonight.
Thanks for all the kind wishes in the last post - day 2 and I am still in business.......but I will not be blogging it here as this must stay a non business blog. Maybe I'll open up another one under an assumed name.....
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