We'll start with the good news - 2:50:54 by my Garmin - 7 minute marathon PB and 10 min PB on this course
It was an unusual taper for me.
2nd last week was about 80k including a 20k sunday run with Rob in light rain
Final week 40k 4x10k with a little (3k) MP in a couple of them.
Physically things were all tickety-boo, but psychologically it was a bit of a shocker. First up we lost both internet and TV in the storm and didn't get them back all week - despite daily reassurances from Telstra that things were fixed. This reminded me how addicted I am to both (clearly TV is the opiate of the masses)
Secondly i had a crazy work week including saturday morning and then a couple more hours in the afternoon. Finally I had a puncture driving to work on Thursday and after changing it in the rain spent the rest of the day trying to catch up on the waiting room queue.
Sadly there was not the traditional pasta dinner on Fri night - had a prearranged dinner at a tapas restaurant - barely a carb in sight, and a little too much wine to calm my frazzled nerves.
In the end I calmed down after a sat pm coffee with Rob and a quiet pasta at home.
Race day, had slept OK and felt pretty good in the morning.
Rob & I decided to run together at least initially, but fairly early on he was having some issues, and I found myself ahead of the BigKev/Jockster group.
I went past the 10k marker in 39:15 which i felt was OK, perhaps a few seconds fast.
I ran pretty much the entire race alone - this is a pattern for me and I'm not sure if it's luck or subconscious preference, but it is what it is.
20k marked 79:25 so 40:10 for the second 10k
Half way was 1:23:35 from memory, so pretty much where I was hoping to be.
I'd dropped off drinks, had 2 gels on me and had gels taped to drinks at 30 and 36k. I did pretty well finding them, only the 36k one I missed but luckily still had the second one in my pocket and took it then. First gel was at halfway and second at 30k.
About 24k I developed a stitch (or more of a stomach cramp actually) and this upset my breathing as i tried to get through it. it did clear after about 5 min, and my pace had slowed a little here. At halfway I noted i wasn't too far up on the BigKev group, and at about 26k Steve Mundell passed me, with a somewhat faster km split as I tried to keep in touch.
20-30k Garmin split was 40:42 (wasn't concentrating on marker times at this point)
i was initially concerned re the wind on the frewway section as it had been pretty blowy early on, but things had quietened down by then. Luckily I had someone to catch 100m ahead of me from 31-33k and then another from there to the narrows, getting me through the drudgery of this section.
At 36 I knew it was going to get tough. I slowed to 4:10s for the last 6k, and ran out of people to chase/pass. One quick look behind didn't show anyone in near pursuit. The 30-40k garmin split was 41:17
I was pleased to at least push on after a poor record on this course, but did and passed though the finish just inside 2:51.
Overall I'm very happy with the result even if it wasn't quite the sub 2:50 aim.
Most importantly thanks go out to Biscuitman who accepted the challenge of coaching me. I know it was the increased mileage and medium long runs in his training plans which saw me break out from my run of 3hr marathons to a whole new level. i've never been one to like being told what to do, but his approach seemed to be just right for me. Secondly thanks to Rob as a long run training partner and long term yardstick of my performance. Really sorry to see you have to pull out early today but of course there are bigger fish to fry in Berlin (I think they eat fried fish in berlin)
It was an unusual taper for me.
2nd last week was about 80k including a 20k sunday run with Rob in light rain
Final week 40k 4x10k with a little (3k) MP in a couple of them.
Physically things were all tickety-boo, but psychologically it was a bit of a shocker. First up we lost both internet and TV in the storm and didn't get them back all week - despite daily reassurances from Telstra that things were fixed. This reminded me how addicted I am to both (clearly TV is the opiate of the masses)
Secondly i had a crazy work week including saturday morning and then a couple more hours in the afternoon. Finally I had a puncture driving to work on Thursday and after changing it in the rain spent the rest of the day trying to catch up on the waiting room queue.
Sadly there was not the traditional pasta dinner on Fri night - had a prearranged dinner at a tapas restaurant - barely a carb in sight, and a little too much wine to calm my frazzled nerves.
In the end I calmed down after a sat pm coffee with Rob and a quiet pasta at home.
Race day, had slept OK and felt pretty good in the morning.
Rob & I decided to run together at least initially, but fairly early on he was having some issues, and I found myself ahead of the BigKev/Jockster group.
I went past the 10k marker in 39:15 which i felt was OK, perhaps a few seconds fast.
I ran pretty much the entire race alone - this is a pattern for me and I'm not sure if it's luck or subconscious preference, but it is what it is.
20k marked 79:25 so 40:10 for the second 10k
Half way was 1:23:35 from memory, so pretty much where I was hoping to be.
I'd dropped off drinks, had 2 gels on me and had gels taped to drinks at 30 and 36k. I did pretty well finding them, only the 36k one I missed but luckily still had the second one in my pocket and took it then. First gel was at halfway and second at 30k.
About 24k I developed a stitch (or more of a stomach cramp actually) and this upset my breathing as i tried to get through it. it did clear after about 5 min, and my pace had slowed a little here. At halfway I noted i wasn't too far up on the BigKev group, and at about 26k Steve Mundell passed me, with a somewhat faster km split as I tried to keep in touch.
20-30k Garmin split was 40:42 (wasn't concentrating on marker times at this point)
i was initially concerned re the wind on the frewway section as it had been pretty blowy early on, but things had quietened down by then. Luckily I had someone to catch 100m ahead of me from 31-33k and then another from there to the narrows, getting me through the drudgery of this section.
At 36 I knew it was going to get tough. I slowed to 4:10s for the last 6k, and ran out of people to chase/pass. One quick look behind didn't show anyone in near pursuit. The 30-40k garmin split was 41:17
I was pleased to at least push on after a poor record on this course, but did and passed though the finish just inside 2:51.
Overall I'm very happy with the result even if it wasn't quite the sub 2:50 aim.
Most importantly thanks go out to Biscuitman who accepted the challenge of coaching me. I know it was the increased mileage and medium long runs in his training plans which saw me break out from my run of 3hr marathons to a whole new level. i've never been one to like being told what to do, but his approach seemed to be just right for me. Secondly thanks to Rob as a long run training partner and long term yardstick of my performance. Really sorry to see you have to pull out early today but of course there are bigger fish to fry in Berlin (I think they eat fried fish in berlin)
6 comments:
Great effort Epi, well done
Gunner
Well done mate- big congrats. Look forward to catching up in Melb.
Congratulations!!!! more medium runs and mileage paid off?
Well done Craig. I said to Rob at the outset that I thought your big breakthrough marathon will actually be your next one rather than this one. What was your ceiling now can pretty much be considered your base and sub 2:45 is there for you if you want it (after a well deserved recovery of course!).
Congrats Craig on the big marathon PB :)
Thanks guys.
B'Man, well put - it really was heading into the unknown, and now i have a new baseline.
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