Ok - I've eaten, and calmed down slightly.
Loch Ness Marathon - 30/09/12
Woke up a bit earlier than expected at 345, after only 5 and half hours sleep. Not ideal, but my life seems to be that way at times. Sat around for a bit then had some breakfast and an energy drink before getting picked up at 645. Didn't have anything else to eat/drink before getting to the start line, as I'd horror stories about the bus ride out. Managed to fire down a gel before the start.
First 8 miles - Nice and easy, I think I was running around 7.50m/m ave, through 8 miles. A bit fast, but baring in mind thats 40sec/mile slower than HM pace, and it was pretty heavily downhill it wasn't ridiculous (or so I'd think?
) I felt in reasonable nick anyway. And that ladies and gents was as good as it got...
8.5 miles - Fell a slight twinge in my left hammy, so I try to stretch it out a bit, and slow down the pace a bit. Didn't think too much of it, until the pain started to reappear. Slowed down some more, and continued on.
12.8 miles - Bang! My right knee totally siezes up with no warning. It honestly must have took me 3 or 4 minutes to get my leg to bend again. A wee bit of stretching then off I went. My race was ruined, and my day couldn't get much worse...
...actually, it could...
Halfway - Now the back spasms start and, quite simply, that was the end of me. For the next 12 miles I didn't run more than 400 consecutive metres. I'm still unsure why I walked past the medical car at mile 15 I was more than ready for a DNF.
25 miles - I have 14 minutes to run 2000m to at least break one time milestone. Not fun when every major muscle south of my chest has given up. Last 800 was the toughest thing I've ever done physically, I was actually in tears through the pain. But I kept it going and crossed the line in 4.28.43. Off the top of my head that was split 1.48/2.41ish. I have no intention of plugging my garmin in to look at the stats! Haha
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Now, someone will inevitably point out I set out too fast - I accept that. But that was in no way the (major) cause of all the carry on that followed. Maybe i'm a bit inexperienced and could have done something better at some point, I don't know.
I guess the question is where I go from here, in terms of the marathon. I suppose it's the disappointment speaking, but thats 2 maras I've trained for this year, one where my leg went 8 weeks out, and another where I fell apart by half way. I'm not sure I want to go through that again.
I'm actually not overly disappointed with my time, but I honestly would rather have ran 5.00 through setting out to fast and blowing up than what I got via the way I got there. At least I'd know it was my own stupid fault, and be able to work on it.
2 weeks away from running for me, then I'm setting about getting myself a sub 20 parkrun at Falkirk by early 2013.
That concludes my rant, for now...
