I was looking forward to my favourite race of the year for quite
a while. Edinburgh is such a fantastic city you can't but enjoy
a trip there. The marathon expo was vastly improved this year,
even though it is still quite small and I still can't understand
how they can justify dragging us so far out of the city centre to
pick up our numbers.
As usual, I had no expectation or goals, just to get round in one
piece. Four marathons in 6 weeks should take its toll but having
run a really good 15 miler the weekend before I felt I was in
relatively OK shape, with no injuries or pains. But my pains
were about to begin as I stopped and looked out the restaurant
window with one hour to race start: it was bucketing down with
rain. The trees were swaying in what was obviously a strong wind
and I could only imagine the temperature outside, under a very
dark grey sky.
A small dark cloud followed me to my table and for the first time
ever I considered not running. Motivation was nowhere to be
seen. I was motionless and thoughtless, a kind of numb feeling
that hurt. I really didn't want to do this today and I dreaded
feeling the cold. I took my time with breakfast, estimating that
I was about a 10 minute walk from the start line. I left the
hotel very slowly at 8:35 AM and took my last deep breath of warm
air before braving the elements.
The cold and wind hit me in an instant and the rain was falling
hard on the ground - it was miserable but I had convinced myself
to get out and give it a bash all the same.
I made my way close to the front at the start area as every
second counted and I didn't want to stay out here one second
longer than I had to. The race started at nine and I crossed the
line within about 30 seconds and cranked out a jittery first
mile. I was wearing a long-sleeved top with an old Connemarathon
t-shirt underneath which I thought I'd ditch after a mile - it
was going nowhere as I was finding it very hard to warm-up. This
was a race of firsts for me:
* the first time I have worn double clothing
* the first time I have run a marathon using my iPod and finally
* the first time in a very long time I decided to record splits.
All these decisions were crucially correct ones. The music
distracted me - 'Trance Rapid Vol 3' was pumping me along. My
splits encouraged me. My extra T was to stay with me for a long,
long time. Without going into too much detail, I was knocking
out 8:40's consistently for the first 16 miles of which mile 4 to
17 were along the coast, more or less against the wind and all I
could do was focus on the fact that mile 18 to 26 was on the
opposite side of the road where we would benefit from the storm
at our backs.
Just after the turn at 17 miles it heated up for the first time
and I got rid of my extra layer and actually started to work up a
sweat. It was hard work for me along this stretch as I was
starting to feel tired (maybe I shouldn't have had those last few
brandy's at 11.30 PM the night before). I wasn't really sore or
stiff and the usual nausea was not a factor so I checked my head,
sorted it out and got back on track.
Psychology is a big factor in marathon running and knowing this
helps. Once I was OK up-top, I felt if I kept things intact from
here, I might be able to run the entire distance. And that is
what I did, working on each mile, trying to keep it under 10
minute miles, which I did, until mile 25 which was clocked in
10:29 followed by a 10:59 last mile. Yeah, running an 11 minute
mile - you wouldn't think it was possible! My finishing time was
3:57 for yet another sub 4, but to be honest, I really didn't
care - I was just pleased it was over.
It wasn't a pleasant day out by the sea, I'm afraid.
Ray
32 down, 68 to go.
Battered but not broken
Well done Ray - a good run in the conditions. I've never had to work in a group as much as I did during this year's Edinburgh. I reckon the new route is going to be really fast about one year in every four (when they don't get a strong on shore breeze), so if we go back every year for the next three, we should be ok.