Vicky - I am clearly being a nompty but can't cut and paste on this device. If you click through me you should see previous post. Last may post have a reply from blisters about paving on the day which I really found helpful on the day.
Thanks all and Vicky, I really enjoyed the course. Could the day have been any better? Beautiful blue skies and sunshine. I carried my indecision into the day. I really wasn't sure I could sustain even mp (I had also not run last weekend due to vomiting bug so only decided to definitely go in Thursday after that - can I just say how come my 6 year old recovered in a day and I took four. Grumble) anyhow. So started cautiously and didn't feel strong so first couple of miles c 9:10. But then got into stride around mile 3/4 and of course it's hard not to give it a go - as mentioned above. So upped the pace little by little 8:50 then 8:40. Found the last three miles bloody hard work to sustain the pace which I broadly did but mile 12 down to 8:50, then 8:20 for last mile. I was about 30 seconds outside PB (discounting lace tie ups, 8 seconds faster!)
I realise after every race how much to learn. I have been running regularly but v inconsistently over last 3 years or so but only done two marathons (2008 and 2012) and two halves (not counting yesterday) plus a marvellous hilly annual off reader near me in Derbyshire. I agree every event is a massive learning experience and I should do more events and local races. I am learning to pace so last two halves and marathon have been negative splits but I do think I need to learn to be slightly less cautious at the start, not by much may be.
Vicky, you did fabulously well. You still got a PB. It's funny how our targets in our heads make us berate our achievements. You bettered your time by two minutes. There is a definite trick to pacing it so you can run faster at the end - but I have insufficient experience to advise. Lots of the other forumites can do. I did have great advice I will try and find about pacing (mentally) for my last marathon which I lived and breathed but also had a good day so went from a first timer of 5:04 to 4:20 on hilly course with ramshackle training. Keep going on your plan. Even if you end up outside of 4 hours by a little, it will still be a bloody great achievement. That's what I am trying to tell myself. Improvement comes in small steps.. Unless you are getting the 26.2 asics treatment - the team of which are brilliant inspiration.
Thanks guys for all the thoughts. I will give it a go. But start slower and see how my legs feel. I have had bad experiences of running too fast two quickly and both marathon and half marathon PBs from starting slower than legs felt able. A four hour marathon pace is 9.09 ish which is dead on 2 hours so if I start out like that and speed up if legs ok.. Or find I am not where I should be and do a PW.. Vicky - am also doing Brighton, I'll be the woman in a purple tutu. Not as funny as my male mate in a pink tutu though. Glad it's not too windy tomorrow. Not great with wind resistance..
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