Marathon Number 1 – Yorkshire 2016

So its official, I am now a marathon runner. I can hang up my running shoes now, ok maybe not just yet.

So why did I chose York and this year. Well when I started to think about attempting a marathon it was easy to decide to do it in 2016 due to turning 40 in June.  I know I know it’s a shock to you, what with my boyish good looks but yes I am now 40.  So the question became do I do a spring marathon or later in the year.

When I knew that Phil Hammond was going to be doing his 100^th marathon in York it made it simple.  I wanted to run with him and aim to do 4 hours 30 minutes.  It also worked better around the family.  If I had gone for London then I would have been training around Christmas and New Year which isn’t an option and York is easier for the family to come and watch compared to London.

So the early part of 2016 was all about me chasing a sub 2 hour half marathon. My best time was from last year’s Liverpool Rock and Roll in 2 hours 2 mins and 7 seconds and the thinking was this would be the perfect place to get the target.

I had a few practice half’s beforehand at Sheffield and Leeds. The Sheffield half went well and with it being hilly I was really happy with a 2.03, but Leeds went badly.  Not helped by it being such a warm day but it had all gone wrong by the top of Stonegate road.  Maybe I had set off too fast but I was soon feeling sick and it became a hard slog to even finish but I eventually came home in a 2.16.

Confidence was shot and a 2 week crash course plan to try and get my fitness and head right didn’t payoff and I blew up in the last 3 miles of Liverpool to come home with a 2.09.

So now it was time to start thinking about the marathon and I turned to Kay to help me along with a 16 week plan. We sat down before hand and worked out what I wanted from the marathon and how often I could train.  She then provided me with a week by week plan which I would report back at the end of each week with all the info.  I didn’t make it easy for here as I had plenty of races entered to work around but I loved working to a plan, it really kept me going even if she had to shout at me a lot for not keeping to the planned paces!!

The plan was very varied, the long and short work I expected but with a good mix of speed work built in it kept me on my toes especially when a lot of the speed work was mixed into longer runs. Before I started training I wasn’t someone who could run on their own, I was definitely a social runner but I knew this would have to change and it did.  Plenty of marathon talk podcasts kept me going on long runs along the canal but I was also very lucky that I was training at the same time as a good few of the club and we were able to arrange a lot of our runs together.  There was many a run I wouldn’t have been able to compete without having people to run with.

As the weeks went on my distance PB grew and grew. I had the pleasure of joining part of the 401 challenge to get to 16 miles and my first 20 mile race was at the Golden Balls 20.  I got to mile 17 before I really struggled home in the last 3 miles but again my earlier pacing was a factor.

All the work was really starting to pay off and I was in the shape of my life. I went to the Great North Run and was let off the leash with pacing.  I still had a pace to work too and when I did the maths I realised Kay was giving me the chance to go for Sub 2.  Well much to my delight I smashed it in a time of 1.58.27.

My last long run was the 22 miles to Addingham and it was great to get this under my belt heading into the big day.

So the day arrived and as expected I was very nervous but I was running with friends. 5 of us were planning to run together which included Phil on his 100^th and I knew Tina and the boys would be out at 5 miles and 21.5 and other Harriers and friends would be dotted around the route.

The early part of the run went well and I felt good, loved seeing the family and got to half way feeling happy enough and ahead of schedule. Unfortunately we were down to 3 and the next section of route was to prove very hard.  Miles 15 to just over 19 were a lot harder than I expected even with the excellent support and I was really starting to feel I was stiffening up.  Knowing family was at 21.5 miles kept me going but when we passed all the Harriers and then the family I really started to feel emotional.  I was starting to have doubts and knew I was starting to slow Phil and Caroline down and really wanted them to leave me now.  It took some persuasion but I was really happy they did as the pressure to stay with them was taking its toll.

The last 4 miles were hell, the longest miles I have ever run. I did more walking than running and the last hill was cruel.  Again great support as I came into the finish and after crossing the line I must admit I went and found a quiet spot along the barrier and cried.  Not sure if it was the pain, the thought that it was the end of the journey which had taken up my life for the past 16 weeks or the disappointment of not hitting the target time.

Looking back now I am happy with what I did. The time was 4.37.26, not too far off the target time.  I believe I did everything I could have done, I worked hard to keep to the excellent plan which Kay put together and I appreciate her time and effort.  I’ve run a marathon….Yes in the past I have won trophies and championships in rallying but this was all about what I can do both physically and mentally.  Will I do another, Yes in time.  I feel I have some unfinished business with York and have a PB to get but any plans will come after chatting to family.  It takes a lot of time away from the boys and so I am very grateful to Tina for allowing me to take on this adventure and to support me along the way.  There was many a Sunday she would be waiting for me to get back from a long run to go out, I would get back and collapse on the floor and take ages to get ready.  Other things I will learn from is the pacing and my eating habits will have to be looked into next time round.

Thank you to everyone who allowed me to run with them or supported me along the way, the list is long and I do appreciate it.  Now to get back to local runs and races including some cross country.

Rich