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Shades Marathon Training
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Oh was just under 2 mins under so won't be much of a cut off
Big G - are you better now?
nothing much to report, asthma playing up and have a dead quad (the one that has stitches in) so no activity from me.
I’m a DNS Wendover woods 50, it’s a monster of a race and one I'm nowhere near prepared for. In future years it’s going to be a summer race, they are combining 100 miler, 50miler, 50km at night, 10 mile fun run and kids race in one weekend. Something to consider for 2024.
Good luck whoever’s waiting for ballot results, im also expecting my module result from OU today, have a bad feeling about both.
I'm sure you'll have done fine with your OU module, perhaps not so good for London ballot though
Big G - sorry to hear you're still not fully recovered. Hope you don't need further meds.
Report coming up, not much to say really, just my usual waffle.
Abingdon Marathon – 404
This was my 9th time running Abingdon, but a long 12 years since the last time I was here and on that day in 2010 achieved my last marathon PB.
When Newport postponed their race date I needed another race to fill the gap, a slight hesitancy as now a strict 5 hour cut off and anyone outside of 5:15 would not make the results. For those of us that like to count our events that would be considered a DNF.
So, I was hoping to repeat my performance at Barnstaple, but a head cold the weekend before Abingdon combined with ominous weather forecast on race day didn’t do much for my confidence.
I pack up and leave my Travelodge on the M4, just an easy 25 minute drive to Abingdon, how hard can that be? Heavy rain when I leave the Services and once on the A34 it becomes torrential with flashes of lightening. No lighting on this road and impossible to tell what was flood water and what wasn’t, couldn’t really see where I was going and quite depressing thinking of having to try and run in this weather. I think if this had been a local race I wouldn’t have left home.
What I had forgotten about Abingdon is how well organised the event is. Free parking had been arranged a 10 minute walk from race HQ, I chose the College parking option and driving into the car park the marshalls are out in the torrential rain with golf umbrellas, smiling and welcoming us. Usually arriving at a race everyone gets out of their cars and starts their race prep, not today, we all sat in the cars looking at the rain, still torrential. After 20 minutes the rain eases enough to put on wet weather gear and walk to race HQ. Nice chat with a couple of other runners on the way, one girl doing her first marathon today.
I had also forgotten how big the race HQ building was and there was room for all the runners to take shelter inside. Spacious changing rooms to use and have a pre-race chat. I had a plastic poncho which I was going to wear to the start and as long as required during the race. I went outside to the food stall, cooking bacon and sausages, just a coffee for me. Rain was light now and temperature was good, not cold. Efficient bag drop close to start/finish and then we queue up on the track. Ten minutes to go and the rain starts again, heavy and persistent, very persistent.
This is always a competitive race with some good fast runners, once we start they sprint off to do nearly a full lap of the track before heading out onto the roads. The leaders were running so fast that there was almost a chance of them lapping us slower runners before we’d got across the start line, but it seems the organisers had timed that perfectly and it didn’t happen.
Out onto the roads, there’s a lot of surface water which most of us are trying to avoid, keeping our feet as dry as possible. Fortunately for me as there are fewer slower runners in this race I can pick my way avoiding the bigger puddles without impeding other runners. The course is flat, Garmin recorded a total climb of 260 feet, but lots of twists and turns. I’m trying to run to HR of 130 but even in the early miles HR is creeping up a bit further, it is humid I rip off the poncho and give it to a marshall. After a couple of miles we have a section of trail, not enough for me to moan about as it’s good trail surface but today there are large muddy puddles to avoid. About 90 minutes into the race, the rain eases and finally stops. Blue skies appear and the sun comes out and a couple of miles later I am able to dry my shades and put them on. The course is not strictly 2 laps but there are sections that are run twice so it’s not long before the leader of the race glides pass me on his second lap, looking strong with an effortless running style. He has a good lead and its a few minutes before the next runner appears. (Results not out as I write this).
I average 10:41 per mile for the first 13 miles and get to halfway in 2:20, about a minute slower than Barnstaple. However, I’m finding it hard and can’t settle into a comfortable pace, I’ve lost some aerobic fitness from the head cold. My pace slows a little and by miles 18 slows significantly. Because there are fewer slower runners we’ve been able to have a few chats which has been a nice distraction.
By mile 20 I know I can make the 5:15 final cut off, not sure about a sub 5 but I do the best I can even though I am tired. I plod on, the sun is out and it’s quite warm now, nudging 18/20 degrees, not too warm for me, but the humidity is very high and I think that is affecting me. Despite my slow pace I do pass a few other runners, the last few miles are hard but the marshalls are amazing, happy and encouraging and their mood is infectious.
Finally I turn into the finish but I still have to run almost a full lap of the track, hasty look at my watch and I know I can do a sub 5 so thrilled to finish in 4:58:02, which should give me a GFA time for 2024. Nice wooden medal and buff, free cup of tea and biscuit.
I can’t fault the organisation and friendliness of this race, I plan to go back next year.
I'm really happy OH got in London,she worked so hard last year to get all the training in.1 of our sons friend wants to do 1,first thing she said to him is tell him to slow down ,he needs to run easy 🤣
Both myself and Elle got ballot rejections my 13th. Have used a free entry for a looped trail race with a good St. George’s day themed medal.
in better news, I got the pass I needed for my uni assignment, onto my final assignment.
They used sturdy paper cups this time, for me they were a bit big. They did have energy drink too on some of the drink stations, it wasn't Lucozade. Also fruit and jelly babies on offer too.
Just had a quick look at the results, only 703 finishers. As they had 1153 entries I think a lot DNS'd due to the weather.
Of the 703 runners, 122 sub 3 hour, that is gun time too so may be a few more. That's a high percentage of speedy runners.
Winner was 2:33, two minutes ahead of 2nd place.
Glad we booked our London hotels as our hotel has shot up in price as expected.
7 after work today,heart rate is back where it should be now and pace wasn't too bad so happy with that 2 weeks after Chicago.
Shades - well done yday, I like Abingdon, it's a good race organised by runners for keen runners.
Your comments about BQ reminded me of when I crossed the line in Chicago,some American finished just behind me and was screaming "that's a BQ baby" and everyone was cheering him,I remember thinking yeah so was mine by 15 mins, but it showed how much it means to them
5 miles today, mostly in the dark. Glad the clocks are changing next weekend. Stuck with well lit main roads to begin with, and it's interesting that although I felt like I was running with the same energy, I got slower after I moved off the main roads because I naturally shortened my stride due to lower visibility.
Will be interesting to hear the outcome of that runner's application, does sound like they might have made an error re his DOB.
Why not splash out and book the accommodation you really want for Boston (it'll probably be less than the increase in your energy bills over the next year). Think of the money you haven't spent on races/travel this year due to your long spell of injury.
TR - thanks. I'll see you at Abingdon next year. Hope you're fully recovered and back into your training.
Cal - now you've moved up an age group I'm sure you could get a GFA, you ran a lot faster than that a couple of years ago.
Same issue for me with the dark mornings, but I find when we change the clocks it makes little difference, a couple of weeks later just as dark.
5 easy miles this morning. Had planned a rest day but I felt quite bright and breezy when I woke up. Had a fairly decent run, still have a little DOMS in the quads but that's all.
Am getting quite excited about Dublin now, haven't been for quite a while but will be my 16th Dublin.
Ian/Big G - great news on the GFA and your OH Ian who seems quite gifted given her first marathon was less than 2 years ago now wasn’t it? No ballot place for me. Looks like I’ll definitely need to improve on my 14 second margin to ever get a chance to run it.
Cal - Any news on your scan later in the year?
Cyprus been lovely and the girls are having a ball however OH and I continue to suffer with this bug. Thought I was past the worst of it and went out for 3 miles yesterday morning but then seemed worse in the evening/overnight with nasty congestion, so no running today. Annoying as want to build on race fitness but there we are.
Sorry to hear you didn't get a ballot place, always seems more unfair when it is your local marathon.
You're still early in your 'marathon career' and no reason why you won't continue to improve and that includes getting a faster GFA time.
For now, I would rest up if you're still not well and enjoy your holiday.
Rcouture-Yes,her first was 2020 I think,she has done amazing to get GFA after 4 races,and she has never ran previous to this really.