Runner No.: | 11059 |
Nationality: | GBR |
Club: |
|
| Position (Overall): | 11295 |
| Position (Gender): | 9372 |
| Position (Age group): | 1786 |
| Splits |
| KM10: | 0:55:44 |
| KM20: | 1:50:21 |
| HALF: | 1:56:17 |
| KM30: | 2:47:31 |
| KM40: | 3:46:46 |
| FINISH: | 3:58:39 |
It is said that after a marathon you are at your most vulnerable to catching sore thoats, coughs and colds. Well I seem to have contracted two of those which has put paid to my run today that I had planned. I suppose the threoy is that after taking so much out of your body for a marathon your immune system is less than perfect and hence you are more like to catch something. Shame that I am speaking at a conference on Tuesday and Wednesday in London but I am sure a few Strepsils and I will be fine.
So this gives me good time to plan for the next bit of equipment I need, namely a new pair of running shoes. It never ceases to amaze me how worn out a pair of running shoes become with the training and running of just one marathon. For the last three years I have run with New Balance 1220 and now that the only way I can get them is via the internet from USA I think a change is needed. Being a creature of habit this will not be easy. But best to change now rather than mid way through a training program. It is Queens Day in Holland today where, for just once in the year the Dutch people let themselves enjoy themselves................ and get drunk. Just like a normal Saturday in UK but a special day in Holland. Hence few running shops are open and hence I will not buy my new shoes until next week.
Now I can walk properly and I don't need help getting downstairs, the next period of time allows me to focus on the next challenge. I have already applied for a place in the New York Marathon in Nov. But as the chances of getting into this are small I have now worked out a contingency plan. If I don't get a place at NY I will attempt the Bedders Half Marathon record in October in Amsterdam. At the moment this stands at 1:47 so should be a doddle to beat that (full of confidence you see after I broke the 4-hour mark in London!). It also means I only need to do a 12 week training program rather than the 18 week Hal Higdon for a full-on marathon.
In fact the next marathon I run (either NY or London again) I am going to look for a new training program. No real reason, just that I have used his program (intermediate 1) for three marathons now and it is time for a change. So any ideas would be gratefully accepted.
Also, I think the next barrier to get through is to try and run a 1:45. That would be cool.
And to make things a little worse it looks like my all - time training partner and mate is leaving Holland to new challenges in England. So I will also probably be on the look out for a new LSR partner. Anyone reading this and who fancies getting up early most Sunday mornings for a nice long run, you know where to contact me. Somehow I think there won't be many takers which will be a shame. Perhaps I'll have to poress gang someone. Hmm, I think I know who......
OK. Back to the sofa and, all being well, I'll be back out on Saturday for my first post FLM run. And in truth, I can't wait.
Difficult to know where to start but I think I will do two versions - the "non runners" version and the "runners" version, so take your pick.
Non runners version - well it was a great atmosphere, lots of runners and terrible weather. Anyone out there reading this, who has thought about doing the Flora London Marathon or has thought about doing any marathon, then please read this. So many people are increasingly thinking " hmm, I could do that. Lots of celebs, lots of large type people and well, I can walk all the way if I need to. I think I'l give it a go". When I started this blog I said " If just one person reads this and take up running then I think I will have succeeded". But please, seeing so many people on Sunday falling (literally) by the wayside makes me think that with marathons generally having such a high profile, many, unfit, unprepared people think they will just give it a go. That is fantastic but please, please train for it. If you do train and run a marathon, you will never experience anything like it in your life. You will learn a great deal about yourself and feel that nothing can top the feeling of crossing the finish line.
Runners version - anyone who has run a marathon knows that feeling in the pit of the stomach when you are standing on the starting line and waiting to go. You cannot describe it. It's even worse of course when it is raining. As it was on Sunday. Do I wear a cap? Do I wear a rain jacket? But the weather at FLM was in hindsight perfect for running. Wet, drizzly and overcast with no wind and very little sun.
Once the gun went it was a real relief. I had worked out that for every km of marathon I had to run I had trained 21 km. That gives you a tremendous sense of confidence. My splits were bang on until 30km when I started to get tired.
I am not going to bore everyone with the fine details - suffice to say the crowds were brilliant (no chance of walking with a "come on Bedders! being shouted at you"). Two incidents worth noting.
Mrs. B and I started at different points - me on Blue and the Mrs. on Red. So it was highly unlikely that we were ever going to meet. However, running over Tower Bridge I saw Mrs. B, ran over, gave her a kiss (to the amusement of the crowd) and asked how she was getting on. "My right leg is really painful" was the reply. So, now I had the big question. Do I run on and try and hit my sub-4 hour time or do I stay with Mrs. B? Well, after about 50 metres Mrs. B said "and when I get back to hotel make sure you are finished in the bath" which, coded, mean't "off you go".
Then a few km's down the course in Docklands I saw a guy wearing the Bedders logo - mis spelt as "Beders" but nevertheles a blatant logo coyright infringment! I made the point, as I past him, that he had mis splet the Bedders name and as such was infringing copyright........cheek!
So I ended up at 40km on 3:46:46 knowing that sub 4 was possible. The last 5 km were spent focussing on the blue line in the road and (sorry Mrs. B) but a lady's lycra behind as I tried to think about anything but the pain I was in. I am sure she thought I was stalking her! (I wonder if anyone was following my lycra behind at any point?)
So, Bedders finishes in a PB 3:58:39, Mrs. B hits 4:11:39 and my training partner NE who deserves a massive thanks for helping me get through the LSR's on a Sunday ran an superb PB of 3:54. Well done mate. I am really going to miss you when you move.
And what did I learn about myself? I learnt that whatever your body is telling you at 35km you can, with positive thought and sheer determination, over ride that with sheer mental power (otherwise known as sheer-bloody-mindedness)
And does the blog continue? Of course it does!. I have applied to run the New York Marathon in November and will be back on the pavements in a weeks time. This last week has been difficult for me for a number of reasons and the one thing that I have tried to show is that with a positive mind you can achieve more than you perhaps think you can. We can only do our best and with the support of everyone around us in times of adversity stick with it and see every challenge as just another one of life's hurdles to jump over (easy to say and more difficult to do. I know that). But, with that thought, then this blog will continue. Never stop believing.
Just back from Flora London Marathon after my first sub-4 hour marathon. I am delighted. Thanx for everyone's kind wishes.
More detail to follow later today - much more detail for those who can stand it.
Well it is officially all getting a bit close to the Big Day. The marathon expo opens tomorrow which means it really is countdown. This is the point where I find it tremendously hard to concentrate upon anything else apart from Sunday. One more day at work then, off to London on Thursday to sign up and get my race number. I can't report any running activity today for the simple reason that I did not do any. I did walk to the shops tonight but that was it. Not only am I trying to avoid running but anyone with a cough or a sneeze gets a very long stare from me at the moment. They must wonder what is wrong with me! In an effort to keep bug free, I have had more Vitamin C in the last 5 days than I think I have had since February.
Tonight I started to pack my bag. This list of what it contains is endless. I can't begin to go through it and as such will have to re pack tomorrow and bin half of it. I am determined to keep it as hand baggage on the plane as I don't want KLM to loose my running gear for me, so will have to pack more sparingly.
One final great big thanks to everyone who has so generously sponsored us and donated to CF Trust. You are a real inspiration and when the going gets undoubtedly tough, the fact that so many people have sponsored us will give us that extra kick we need. We have raised nearly 3.000 pounds (click here for more information - it is not too late to sponsor us!) and we are truely grateful.
Please try and watch a small part of the race on TV - I know that it is being covered live by BBC - not so much to see myself and Mrs. B but more to marvel at the other 35.000 runners who have all been out training in all sorts of weather for the last 4 months just to be able to get to the start line.
And if you do see us, give us a shout. Indeed if you are there at the marathon and see me running past, give me a "go bedders" and a kick up the backside as I'll probably need it!
I am hoping to post before Sunday but if not, thanks also for following the last 18 weeks on this blog. It's been so much fun.......................a bit like Sunday eh? And come back Monday/Tuesday to see how we did.
After an Easter weekend training camp in Somerset (well, in-laws really) am now making myself a couple of pieces of cheese on toast then off to bed. Have kept up the running schedule until today when I did not go out as was having too much fun with Bedders Juniors on the Playstation. More updates tomorrow as I can smell burning from the kitchen......
