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Sub 2:45 FLM 2006
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Agree with comments on the green start - surely they could have moved to one particular side of the road or something.
Having said that, I still managed to get through the first mile a little quicker than intended.
I did 2:39:06, PB by 5 mins, so well chuffed. Pretty even pacing - 2nd 10k was my slowest - but I was slowing over the last 2m. Think I'll concentrate on up to HM's for the rest of this year to try and get my speed up, then see you all at Blackheath next year.
On the positive side it gives me something to aim for next year at the AAA start.
Went off way too quick and paid for it later. Knocked over 10mins off my pb to finish in 2:33:06 so extremely pleased.
With the Mayfly's, they're not a good wet weather shoe due to minimal grip and a tendancy to become very squetchy in the rain - but no other complaints from Sunday.
I've added noene insoles to mine for extra shock absorbtion. In Feb I wore them for 2 10M races and they were fine. In March I wore them for a HM - had sore legs at the end, but that probably had more to do with running off too fast than the shoes. I chose them over lightweight trainer 'racers' as they make MP feel like jogging rather than running, although perhaps that's phsychological.
I guess I can get away with them over the marathon as I have quite an economical stride and generally run on my forefoot / flat footed at that pace. Therefore I don't really benefit from cushioning and my legs do this. Looking at this pic http://londonrunning.co.uk/running.jpg it looks like there's a fair bit of shock travelling up my leg though. The lady in the white top seemed to appreciate my efforts though.
I've recovered very quickly and managed 1M on Monday, 4M yesterday and 5M today without ill-effect.
A sod a of a stitch put paid to the second half finally but I don't recall feeling comfortable at any stage of the race.
I've entered Berlin for another crack at a sub 2:36. Not sure about London again - I suspect I'll change my mind(!) but I never seem to run well there, the course is pretty dull to be entirely honest despite the hype and I'm starting to find 2.5 hours of being screamed at very wearing.
JEJ - I ran in Air Streaks and must be heavier on my feet than you. I could barely walk Monday and Tuesday let alone go for a run! Maybe I was dehydrated?
Andrew
The OWLs is split in to two sections, I run for what is commonly known as the Legion section, although I do run for the 'Elite' section when needed. The general reason for this being that I like to concentrate on longer races than the ‘Elite’ section.
Who do you run for? ;o)
AFD?
Loughborough Students... good team.
Do you post on the OWLs website? If so, what is your user name?
woke up to look out and see perfect weather (no wind, cool, slight drizzle) and added this to the list of everthing else that had gone right this year.
I'd run every day from Jan 20th - April 20th, no injuries, done all the key sessions.
The only slight nagging doubt was that I hadn't run much of note in any of my "tune up" races, but then the aim was always today. The National Championships. The London Marathon.
I met familiar faces on the way and travelled to Blackheath with a workmate, settling down in the AAAs tent with the usual suspects.
My race plan was simple - 5:43 miles would get me round in just under 2:30, so this was my target pace. I expected miles 3 and 4 (steep downhill) to be quick, so this would give me a cushion if I needed it later on.
Seb Coe sent us on our way, I was happy to ease into it, letting the masses stream ahead. Through the first mile in exactly 5:43, and the same for mile 2. As planned let gravity help me down miles 3 (5:10) and 4 (5:35) - result - 40 seconds in the bank. At this point the plan was to drop back to 5:43s, but when mile 5 was 5:30 I purposefully dropped back from the group to get back to target pace.
A group soon formed and from miles 6 to 12 we grew in number to about 15, knocking out 5:40s to 5:45s all the way. Over Tower Bridge, and a deafening roar, before passing through halfway in 1:14:28. Feeling fine, the pace stayed level, averaging the target 5:43s. We weren't talking as a group but I could sense we all knew that this would be enough for sub 2:30. By 15 miles my legs were starting to hurt, so at each water station after taking a quick sip I was pouring the water down my hamstrings and calves. Although the pain was growing the pace wasn't suffering. At 19 miles, Canary Wharf I knew I didn't want to still be in the group, so I pushed on and three of us broke away down the hill away from the sky scrapers.
A 5:35 mile brought me to 20 in 1:53:26, and by now I was feeling the pain. Luckily I had company and was able to hang on for a 5:42 21st mile. Shortly after I was on my own again, and the pace dropped - 5:53. I knew I had to pick up the pace and was glad when one of the guys who had been in the big group caught up with me. I hung on to him for three miles nearly to the 25 mile mark (5:45,5:40, and my only mile outside 6 - 6:04). At this point I was suffering, but passing some of the elite field only to hear my coach on the sidelines "Don't look at your watch, that's not going to help! Just run at it!!!!" Thanks Mick, it worked, and I dug deep hanging on to Big Ben, turning the corner for the long drag up to Buckingham Palace. I got to the 800m to go mark in 2:26:35 - I knew I could get a 3:25 out the bag no matter how much my legs were screaming at me and turned the corner for my sprint finish. Last 1.22 miles, 7:05 for an official time of 2:29:35 for 60th Man, 70th Overall.
10k splits - 35:06, 35:33, 35:14, 35:47
Halfs - 74:28, 75:07 - 39 second positive split.
Thanks everyone for the huge amount of support out there on the course today, it really helps when you're feeling awful.
So my marathon record now reads
2:35:46, 2:33:29, 2:30:31, 2:29:35
4 races, 4 PB's, 2 negative splits. I'm finding out that although I can find it tough late on, I haven't had a horrible death yet. Whenever anyone hears my marathon results their first reaction is always "how can you run those times? your shorter results aren't of that quality" so I think my target for the rest of this year has to be trying to get sub 70 for the half marathon.
AFD - Aldershot, Farnham and District, very very rarely in Loughborough. It was mainly on the old University Athletics websites which the junior Owls frequented, but I think they're all in morrocco with WW at the moment aren't they?
JEJ, you did it very well, too. I'm sure you can reach 2:30 next year.
There were some ups and downs for me this year.....mainly downs...
UPS
* p.b by just under 2 mins
* getting police escorted to the start with Haile on my bus.
* Having 2 excellent pace makers
DOWNS
* Not doing sub 2.40, which was my aim
* Pain killers wearing off at 18 miles, therefore being in immense pain (hip injury picked up in Spain)
* Having to stop twice in the last 10k to stretch my quad which was now cramping.
* Having pace makers that were only paid to go as far as half way (ran the second half totally isolated, with the exception of seeing Berhane stretching her hamstring as well!).
* Being really ill after the race, due to over doing the medication!!
Finished up with 2.44.59, 14th woman and 4th Brit, which I am pleased about. Its just frustrating when you know what you are capable of.
As soon as I finished, the coach and I decided that there would be no more marathons this year, as we had worked out that I had done 4 during the last 12 months...no wonder my body had waved the white flag. However, I have since been selected to run Kosice Peace Marathon in October, we shall see!?
I have'nt ran since Sunday, enjoying the break and eating lots of cake. I do feel very lazy and fat though..itching to get going again. Experience has taught me however that training to early after a marathon is very unwise and can come back to haunt you weeks down the line (hope you are listening JEJ!!!!!?).
Big congrats MikeB, great time and brilliant reading.
JEJ - your race sounded very similar to mine!
Dibsx