...the 2 days after post
leadup fine, taper fine, pre race night and morning Ok, weather perfect
Set out at desired pace - 19:32/19:23/19:41/19:56/19:52 first 25km looking good
Mainly set out with Brad Hart, a runner of similar pace and coincidentally a physio near my practice. We've shared a few patients and run similar paces but never met. In retrospect i may have been running 5 sec/km faster than I should have in the first 25km.
At 25 I knew I was going to have to work so i let Brad go. I decided to focus on getting to the Raffles Hotel at 30k then put the headphones on and get through til 36k on the stretch down the freeway.
This worked adequately with 20:29 and 20:32 5k splits to 35k
Here things hit a hitch. it's funny how i can spend nearly 6 months running daily in pursuit of a marathon goal, but decide my nutrition strategy the day before. iI never take anything on training runs less than 20k. I take water and sometimes a jelly snake on runs 20-30k, and a few more snakes on 30+km runs, I haven't had a 'gel' in a year. last few i have had were 'Winners' brand which are fairly watery.
So of course on Marathon day I have staminade in bottles (done on a whim of nostalgia of staminade in funruns as a kid in canberra) - an electrolyte drink notably with magnesium, and a couple of GU brand gels.
At 30k I was concerned re lack of calorie intake thus far and downed half a Gu. 5 minutes later I started heaving every couple of minutes and at 15k I threw up Gu and green staminade. I toyed with going into the toilets at the narrows but walked for a while instead until my head stopped spinning.
Most fortunately for me, the leading female runner, Tina Major, caught me soon thereafter and I decided to stick with her for as long as possible. She had a cyclist pacer (I think Todd Ingraham) - cajoling her along as well as a lot of support from spectators - i tried to feed off this. Despite his job obviously being to help her and get her drinks etc, he was kind enough to offer me a few words of encouragement when I looked like falling off the back of her - which worked the first couple of times, with much thanks on my part. Luckily this played a good part in my continuing - I note that 2nd place Chris O'Neill paced third place Adam martin - Chris had planned on running with him for only 30k but sensed he was struggling and paced him all the way to the finish a big PB.
I stayed with Tina until about 40.5k, then dropped back and struggled to the finish in 2:52:44.
I was pretty disappointed at the finish, i'd given it my all and was probably pretty hypoglycaemic and dehydrated - apologies to all who gave me support only to see me wander off - I wasn't in a good way at this point. I managed to drive home before a fairly tough couple of hours of gastric upset before the gastrostop and maxolon kicked in. As much as anything else, my concern is that this is the second consecutive marathon (after six inch) where I have had big time vomiting and diarrhoea afterwards - this doesnt inspire me to keep pushing for more full pace marathons. I've never recovered well from any marathon (I look on in awe at those who can go and have a beer afterwards) but the last 2 have been shockers. I'm not sure if I'm pushing myself beyond reasonable limits, if what I'm taking is affecting me, or if (most likely) I'm just weak as piss.
No point crying though - time for a little R&R
A big shout out to TB for his 10th Perth Marathon - as I've noted before TB was a big inspiration when I first started running over 9 years ago - the original perth running blogger and someone who pushes on with humility through adversity year after year - I'm a big fan.
leadup fine, taper fine, pre race night and morning Ok, weather perfect
Set out at desired pace - 19:32/19:23/19:41/19:56/19:52 first 25km looking good
Mainly set out with Brad Hart, a runner of similar pace and coincidentally a physio near my practice. We've shared a few patients and run similar paces but never met. In retrospect i may have been running 5 sec/km faster than I should have in the first 25km.
At 25 I knew I was going to have to work so i let Brad go. I decided to focus on getting to the Raffles Hotel at 30k then put the headphones on and get through til 36k on the stretch down the freeway.
This worked adequately with 20:29 and 20:32 5k splits to 35k
Here things hit a hitch. it's funny how i can spend nearly 6 months running daily in pursuit of a marathon goal, but decide my nutrition strategy the day before. iI never take anything on training runs less than 20k. I take water and sometimes a jelly snake on runs 20-30k, and a few more snakes on 30+km runs, I haven't had a 'gel' in a year. last few i have had were 'Winners' brand which are fairly watery.
So of course on Marathon day I have staminade in bottles (done on a whim of nostalgia of staminade in funruns as a kid in canberra) - an electrolyte drink notably with magnesium, and a couple of GU brand gels.
At 30k I was concerned re lack of calorie intake thus far and downed half a Gu. 5 minutes later I started heaving every couple of minutes and at 15k I threw up Gu and green staminade. I toyed with going into the toilets at the narrows but walked for a while instead until my head stopped spinning.
Most fortunately for me, the leading female runner, Tina Major, caught me soon thereafter and I decided to stick with her for as long as possible. She had a cyclist pacer (I think Todd Ingraham) - cajoling her along as well as a lot of support from spectators - i tried to feed off this. Despite his job obviously being to help her and get her drinks etc, he was kind enough to offer me a few words of encouragement when I looked like falling off the back of her - which worked the first couple of times, with much thanks on my part. Luckily this played a good part in my continuing - I note that 2nd place Chris O'Neill paced third place Adam martin - Chris had planned on running with him for only 30k but sensed he was struggling and paced him all the way to the finish a big PB.
I stayed with Tina until about 40.5k, then dropped back and struggled to the finish in 2:52:44.
I was pretty disappointed at the finish, i'd given it my all and was probably pretty hypoglycaemic and dehydrated - apologies to all who gave me support only to see me wander off - I wasn't in a good way at this point. I managed to drive home before a fairly tough couple of hours of gastric upset before the gastrostop and maxolon kicked in. As much as anything else, my concern is that this is the second consecutive marathon (after six inch) where I have had big time vomiting and diarrhoea afterwards - this doesnt inspire me to keep pushing for more full pace marathons. I've never recovered well from any marathon (I look on in awe at those who can go and have a beer afterwards) but the last 2 have been shockers. I'm not sure if I'm pushing myself beyond reasonable limits, if what I'm taking is affecting me, or if (most likely) I'm just weak as piss.
No point crying though - time for a little R&R
A big shout out to TB for his 10th Perth Marathon - as I've noted before TB was a big inspiration when I first started running over 9 years ago - the original perth running blogger and someone who pushes on with humility through adversity year after year - I'm a big fan.
2 comments:
Kudos on an outstanding 25km, and a brave push to the finish. Not an easy assignment when the body is trying to get over vomiting and especially! when the carbs are low. Dave K. had some similiar type reactions in some races the other year. Not sure what the issue is, but it sounds horrible. I know you are one of the more educated people around (your profession speaks for itself), but I'd be wanting to get to the exact cause and effect of that vomiting. The one time I remember vomiting on a long 23km walk in the early 1990's I think it was due to not having enough drinks, I had nothing for a few hours, and then when I did drink it was a shock to my already dehydrated system I am guessing. Also I'm a fan of using the drinks and carbs in races that you use in training. If you are not using it in training maybe don't do too much different in races. Gerry and Brandon did not finish, but you did, thats toughness on your part. Big PB coming your way I reckon if you fix this issue. Hope you get one of those blue plaque awards very soon, I think Kevin is going for his next year. Well done!! Amazing time considering the dramas. All the best with whatever is next... Its been a good journey so far.
Well done Epi !! (not sure if it is a PB ??? since you are too fast for me nowadays lol)
So, when is your next marathon?
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