I got to the start line at my usual 1 or 2 minutes before the start. I had been at the course for about an hour, but just pottering about. I get nervous before these things, and just tend to do my own thing. I am rarely seen in any club pre-race photo as I always arrive so "promptly".
This is the course profile:
When the start happened, I went off steady (which was the plan) and was running with clubmate for a mile or two. I also ran/jogged up the first hill and got to 10-mile mark in good shape, which was where my wife was for the first lap. We exchanged a few words and I was off again.
I was still running comfortably and got to the half marathon point in 1hr59. Just before this point, all the half marathon runners I was with turned off to head for home and at this point I was running more or less by myself, which I had prepared for so it wasn't a shock. I was still feeling fine in myself, but at about 17 miles I felt some tightness in my hamstrings and I got to 18 miles (which is just before the big hill, for the second time) in pretty bad shape. By this time, I knew sub-4 wasn't going to happen so at this point it was just doing what I could to get around. My wife was here and she gave some words for support and off I went again.
At about 20-miles I was well and truly on my own with no one in sight ahead or behind me, and then the rain started. It was ridiculously heavy, and I was questioning why I was out there. Out loud I'm afraid I uttered the words "I'm never f'in doing another one of these f'in things ever a-f'in-gain" and I found those last 6 miles hard. Someone I know who has ran over 300 marathons has said it was the heaviest rain she has ever known in over 20-years of running.
At around this point I was struggling to run up hill or down hill as my hamstrings were sore, and also my hips were hurting. I was really just walking, with a bit of shuffling every now and again at this point. At about mile 23 it was the home stretch, and by this time I was with a drawn out line of people who all looked equally dejected in one way or another and we were passing and repassing each other all the way to the finish. I managed to jog through the finish line in an official time of 4:21:26. A marshall offered me a seat, but I declined as I didn't think I would be able to stand back up again! My wife was at the finish and she shepherded me to the car where I got a change of clothes and did some stretching.
I was home in 10-mins (the great thing about this one is that it's so local) and had a bath and went straight to the pub. I was hungry so had a Gourmet Burger meal....and then had another one for dessert I was still under my calorie goal for the day, so that was all fine!
This morning whilst writing this, I'm pleased I've done it but I realise (yet again!) that I have so much to learn. I don't know why I cramped up so badly. I feel the training I've done has been representative of the course profile (i.e., I feel I was prepared for the hills) but I was just in pain. Yesterday, I was wondering if I'd "thrown the towel in" and "wasn't willing to push through the pain", but this morning I honestly don't think that was the case.
So, on reflection, I'm glad I have ticked one off and I am pleased I completed the event. OK, I'm not delighted with the time but, deep down, I know it is the best I could have done on the day. I am taking some positives from it as well. I think my food/drink strategy was fine as from an energy perspective I was okay on the race and I don't feel too bad this morning, apart from the soreness in my hammies).
Apologies if this is coming across as a negative report, but it is accurate :)
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