Talkback: ASICS Target 26.2 Team: Craig

BRILLIANT thanks Craig loved reading that tear in the eye near the end knowing the joy you must have felt at the end there. Brill to keep running for your first marathon. What did you have your garmin reading for you? Average pace or last mile pace or both? I need to pace like you guys have done come Edinburgh. Awesome effort I can see a sub four coming soon!

Ten you bad lad booking another marathon. The hardest part is telling the OH aint it!!!!!

Well done Craig! What a journey!

Glad it went so well and what a great race report!

Craig - wonderful race/weekend report, thanks, and what a great experience - agree with mcs, tear in the eye near the end

Really do hope we meet up again one day at another event

Enjoy your recovery

Did you decide about a new thread ?

Hey Craig.

It was a great coincidence to meet you and Emma in the pen - and I totally agree with you about ditching clothes too early. Damn chilly.

Cracking time, mate.

At one point I could see you running to my left and you were looking totally in control.

I got hit by the cramp monkey at mile 19, while I was bang on target for 4:15, and managed to finish in 4:31. Still chuffed, though.

Well done again, you've set yourself a high standard to beat for your secon marathon

Criag

Thanks for the report, I love reading  the "behind the time" how it actually felt to get the time, well done one last time. You have been a super member of the team.

Ruth

Absolutly Fabulous result Craig aka Bo. 

Please all don't let this be the end of the thread as its given me the courage to sign up for theBrighton Marathon 2013, and I still wish to lurk so I can read all your tips.  Bo and all the Forum posters you are truley inspirational

Twinkle

I picked up these ASICS posts very late in the process and as a "newbie" myself this was the 1st thread to read each time. Congratulations on a brilliant run and the thought of overtaking a quarter of the field is mindblowing....

I'm within days of VLM and my excitement is building as yours did and I reckon I'll remember a few of the pointers from this thread at some stage, so thanks for sharing everything so openly for the benefit of us all.

This applies to the other runners in the Team and of course all of the coaches, nutritionists; physios etc etc.

Folks, been out to buy a new phone charger because (me being me) I left it in Paris... Typical.

As promised, my split times as below:

1    9:47.5    1.00    9:48
2    9:38.4    1.00    9:38
3    9:42.3    1.00    9:42
4    9:33.2    1.00    9:33
5    9:36.7    1.00    9:37
6    9:34.9    1.00    9:35
7    9:42.1    1.00    9:42
8    9:29.9    1.00    9:30
9    9:23.3    1.00    9:23
10    9:30.1    1.00    9:30
11    9:11.0    1.00    9:11
12    9:21.0    1.00    9:21
13    9:21.4    1.00    9:21
14    9:20.3    1.00    9:20
15    9:28.5    1.00    9:28
16    9:20.9    1.00    9:21
17    9:32.2    1.00    9:32
18    9:49.8    1.00    9:50
19    9:10.9    1.00    9:11
20    8:54.0    1.00    8:54
21    8:52.6    1.00    8:53
22    9:20.6    1.00    9:21
23    9:02.8    1.00    9:03
24    8:50.5    1.00    8:50
25    8:36.4    1.00    8:36
26    9:07.5    1.00    9:07
27    3:44.3    0.43    8:47

Thanks for the positive feedback on the race report. Did make an effort to try and do it justice and go beyond the numbers.  I started this process with the aim of finishing and beating the distance.  The time was a bonus.

You've all been brilliant and this process has all been about you guys, I hope that has come across. 

Ten/mcs: you've both asked about Garmin splits. I left mine on auto splits so it would show average pace over each mile. I found this better than the actual pace reading, whcih seems to jump around a lot. I'm entering Brighton this afternoon... Couldn't resist, Ten... So hopfully we can meet up, you up for that Twinkle and others???

Mike: Really glad you posted. Knew there have been people reading this, so thanks. Good luck with VLM at the weekend. Will be watching on the TV and routing for you and the others doing it.

Orbutt: Great to bump into you. Shame about the cramp monster, but you kept going to finish. Takes guts man, well done. That last 6 were quite tough too, not much support till the last bit. 

Ruth: thanks for all of the advice and support. Much apprciated. 

oscarr/sleepy/mcs/mww/Louisa etal: Thanks for keeping this going. Will continue until we have results for everyone's spring campain and the move into threads. 

Sam: You've been brilliant thoughout this process and out up with me, so thank you... 

Oh, I keep looking at my Milton Keynes number... Got two weeks rest.... NO CRAIG!!!

BoDuke wrote (see)

Picked up some leaflets for the Marathon de Medoc and Marathon de Beaujolais... Hummm...  

BoD - have you any more races planned? Some shorter distances maybe during the summer months?

Ten - Tapering is going okay. I am having a constant battle with a lurgy that is going around, one day I think I have definately got it, the next not so sure!

Ten: I'm in for next year. Clearly am going stir crazy... How did you book the hotel??? Trying now and struggling. I'm in the green pen, but thinking I might just travel over because I've never seen a marathon in person before (trying to be sensible)... If I do, I'll PM and cheer you on.

Emmy_Bug: Attempted to bribe my OH into it, but she seemed not best pleased to be honest.  I've got a half I'm doing in October and going to try to get a massive PB. And it's only a mile walk from my front door. But let us know what it's like and could argue that's it's a joint birthday present: she gets to eat and drink, I get to drink and stagger... 

MWW: I've got a 10k booked for end July and a 24 hour relay race for the beginning (5 mile laps and there is 8 of us). Maybe another 10K in May or something? Don't panic about the lurgy, could well be nerves and the build up. 

You guys are going do really well, I can feel it!