Ok, ok.  I know that the Edinburgh Marathon was on the 23rd of May and it’s pretty much a month later.   But, I said i’d write up a race report, so better late than never I guess.

Before

My alarm went off at 5.30am on a Sunday morning.  Not a nice feeling.  My body was that numb tingly way when you haven’t had enough sleep and it’s shouting at you to go back to bed.  I resisted the urge as the excitement of the day ahead out muscled that tired feeling.  Everthing had been laid out the night before.  All We had to do was shower, have breakfast, then drive up to Edinburgh.

We left the house around 7am for the 2 hour drive to our destination.  At this point i was glad it was a 10am start – shuddering at the thought of having to leave the house an hour earlier.  I was fortunate in that 4 friends of ours were driving up for support, well, more to keep my Mrs company while I was out running.

The traffic wasn’t too bad and we arrived at our “usual” car park in plenty of time.  At this point is was in race gear – vest, race shorts, etc – and was surprised how cold it felt. It had been raining just before we arrived apparently.  So, for the 10/15 minute walk to the start line i wore a long sleave T to keep warm.  As we plodded into the centre of the city we saw the odd runner walking along, race number on, with a look of excitement and anxiety on their faces.  It wasn’t until we made our way through Waverly Station and up the steps onto Regent road that we saw the masses of people. Thousands of them! it was like walking into a wall of busy.

I was keeping an eye out for a few Twitter peeps along the start line.  We had all exchanged a few tweets earlier that morning but with around 10,000+ people decending onto Regent Road, the mobile networks were taking a beating and I couldn’t get a data connection on  my mobile.  Which was a shame because I was really hopeing to put faces to usernames!

That aside, we wandered up towards the starting area.  I wanted to warm up – a light jog somewhere perhaps – but it was to crowded.  Then the sudden urge of a pree race pee cam over me. Portaloo’s, and step on it.  Lines upon lines of people waiting in an already large area with loads of little blue cubicals.  I wasn’t getting my turn anytime soon.  I looked around and saw a number of guys nipping up a side road.  Well, if you gotta go you gotta go.  The side road it was.

Newly empty and feeling ready for the run ahead, i met another Paul, who was doing his first Marathon.  We all chatted for a bit then Paul and I headed to our starting pens.  Once there it started to feel real.  I felt confident though and wasn’t too nervous.  It was still quite cloudy, although some blue sky was peaking through.

10am. The klaxon sounds and the race begins.

During

It was around 10 to 15 minutes before I crossed the start line and eased into my stride.  I don’t know why but I felt comfortable from the first few steps.  It wasn’t too crowed ahead – the first mile was a little slow but nothing that cause me to stop or walk.  Everything was going well. Pace was good, i felt comfortable.

Then the sun came out.

The weather men got it wrong.  Just a bit.  It must have been around mile 14 (around 2:20 in) when I really noticed the feeling of heat on my skin and the urge to pour water over myself at the next water station.  I had run in hot conditions last year. It wasn’t nice then and, i have to admit, it played on my mind this time around.  I was starting to feel sluggish.  My technique was going to pot, which meant a slight twinge in my right knee.  At around 16.5 miles in I had to walk for a minute as  I started to feel a bit dizzy.  Damn!

It quickly passed, but now I was bursting for a pee.  Remembering from last year that there were portaloos just after the 17 mile marker, I continued on.  I’ll say this now – I contemplated pissing myself just to keep going but I couldn’t.  I just couldn’t pee and run at the same time.  One thing i need to practise i guess.

So, I got to the portaloo. The queue at each one was at least 2 people deep.  I had to stop. I had to.  On the bright side, it means I was well hydrated, right?  I tried to keep my self moving but I could slowly feel my right ITB tightening up. Not sure how long it was before it was my turn but it felt like an age!  I spoke to a guy briefly while i was waiting. He had cramp in his foot. ouch.  By the time it was my turn, he was off.

I did my business and got out.  I started to lightly jog but something wasn’t right.  Right ITB was getting tighter and tighter then my knee just seized.  Slightly painful.  I hopped to the grass at the side, let out a groan, fell to the ground and tried to stretch it off.  A passing runner shot me a concerned look but i gestured that i was ok. He nodded and continued.  More than the steward sitting at the other side of the road did.  I stretch it for a couple of minutes, which relieved some of the tension.  I picked myself up, in the process feeling very light headed and started to carefully walk over to the the steward.

I felt this pain last year.  I knew the damage i could cause myself if i continued – 4 months out last time.   Plus I was feeling dizzy –  It was hot out there (I later found out temperatures hit around 25C +).

At this point I had made up my mind.  I was going to throw in the towel.  There would be other marathons, no point in causing myself any damage.

“Is there a medical station near, i’m not feeling to great”, I asked. “There’s one just over half a mile along the road.”

Not really what I wanted to hear.  He then asked if i was able and that he’d radio for assistance if need be.  I wasn’t in that bad a shape.  I thanked him and started to walk.  Blooming heck it was hot.   As I was walking I spotted the guy that had cramp sitting at the side of the road again, massaging his foot.  The further I walked, the easier walking became.  I felt my ITB loosening up so, periodically, i stopped for a second and lightly stretched my right side.

After 5 mins walking, the course entered a wooded area.  SHADE!! It was so good to have some shade from the sun.  I quickly started to get some energy back.  I had now been walking for just over 10 minutes.  That decision to give up now seemed like plan B.  Plan A – set off slowly.  The aim now is just to finish!

8 miles to go.  I could do it.  At around 3 hours 10 mins in,  if I kept up 10 minute miles then I’d make a 4:30 finish.

Easier said than done.  Along that long, hot 8 miles I had to stop every so often because i felt that dull pain in my knee.  I found a Medical station just before mile 20 (i think) and got an instant ice pack from staff. not that it worked.  How was I meant to hold the pack and run?  Anyway, problem solved, the nice lady gave me some deep freeze gel, which did help.

So, I soldiered on.  People in the crowd were fantastic, cheering anyone and everyone.  Bizarrely, at one point, 2 runners were talking to each other and one of them said they were from the village i grew up in. Small world.  At another point when i had to walk i spoke to a guy who was wearing the exact same kit as me.  Pretty funny I thought – it looked like we were in some sort of team.  Anyway, seemed like a nice guy.

Time was ticking on and I had reached one of the towns outside Musselburgh.  I stopped and asked a spectator if i could use their phone to call my wife to let her know I wouldn’t be in when she was expecting me.  They very kindly let me use their phone and praised me on getting so far already.  I thought that was mile 21.  I later realised it was mile 23!  Bonus.

Did i mention it was hot?!  So, so hot.

Finish

I was nearly there. 1 mile to go.  Determined to run the last mile in full I grit my teeth and focused myself.

The crowed and speaker system at the finish line could be heard in the distance.  The streets were getting busier and busier.  I had some new found energy, my 9th wind.

The 26 mile marker!!  Nearly there!   I picked up the pace and very soon entered the final stretch into the race course.  I saw L and my sister and the others that came to support me.  They were shouting, I raised my hands in the air and shouted back but it was over in a split second as i practically sprinted past them!

I was running so fast that about 100 meters from the end i stopped dead.  I felt like i was going to throw up. NO, please DON’T throw up!!

It felt like a rocky movie.  Everything was silent.  I looked to my left, a bunch of people in yellow Marie Curie Cancer Care T-Shirts were balling and shouting at me “COME ON!!!, YOU’RE ALMOST THERE!!!!!!”

Suddenly i felt someone grab my hand and pull me along.  A woman grabbed me and helped me get some momentum.  She held on until i got my 10th wind and crossed the line on my own.

4:47:33

What a finish!  It was so emotional!  I don’t know who lady was that helped me.  As soon as i crossed the line I kicked my trainers off.  When i looked up I couldn’t see her.  Who ever she was – Thank you!

I made the walk through the finish area, picked up my goodie bag and the massive medal.  Feeling pretty good despite the what happened in the last 100m, I came out onto the road and was greeted by L, my sis and and her husband. Bug hugs all round.

Even though i couldn’t feel my face (it was very, very tingly) I was really happy.  I didn’t achieve my target but you know what, I didn’t care.  I finished in one piece and felt really good.  That’s all that mattered.

A little over 3 months ago I completed my first Marathon.  The Edinburgh Marathon.


I had trained pretty hard.  4/5 day per week training sessions, getting into a (really) early morning running routine and changing my eating/drinking habits.  All looked good on the day.  Pace was almost perfect.  All was going to plan until mile 18 when a pain developed in my right knee.  2 miles later and it was unbearable to run, so, with the occasional short burst of running and pain, I pretty much walked the last six miles. Finishing time was 5hrs 19mins.  well over an hour past my predicted time (4hrs).  


When I finished I vowed I’d never do a Marathon again. 


3 months and 7 sessions with a physiotherapist later, I’m back pounding the roads.  Turns out it was a bad case of iliotibial band friction syndrome aka, runners knee.  


While on the injured list, I sort of had a blow out over the summer. I ate and drank a lot!  Put on a stone (14lbs/6.4kg)!  Getting back into training has been difficult but I’ve missed running so now that I’m sort of into a routine again it’s becoming easier to wake up at 5.30am, jump out of bed ready to run even when it’s tipping it down with rain outside (should note i don’t jump out of bed and i run with clothes on).


One of the big things I’ve noticed about the break in training is the effect on my fitness, in particular, my heart rate.  I have one of those heart rate monitor watches – primarily to stop me turning into the hulk, but also it’s great for training with.  Back in May, for example, I could keep an just under an 8 minute pace with my heart rate around 171bpm.  This morning, keeping my heart at the same bpm I was maxing out at just over 10 minute mile pace.  The strange thing was my legs wanted to run faster.  I had to concentrate on refereeing this battle for control that my legs and heart were having.   


I’m not concerned about it.  I know I’ll get my fitness back over the next few months.


Do you have any stories about coming back from an injury?  


It would be great to hear how you got back into the swing of things and if you’ve learned from what happened to run better than before!


Remember I said I wouldn’t run a marathon again?  Well, I entered the 2010 Edinburgh Marathon.


I have to beat my time, don’t I?