Luton Marathon - 2nd December 2007
I though you guys might be interested in my marathon attempt today. I've not been best prepared for this marathon having had a cold for the past week and also having had a slight tear in my calf muscle which has only just felt better in the past couple of days. However, I decided to at least start and to keep Andrew company as he attempted to get below 4 hrs.
Well what a day to run a marathon - driving rain, blasting wind and a triple circuit course. Awful!
I started well and after 9 miles I was averaging 25 minute for each 3 mile split. The first 9 mile circuit was completed in 75 minutes despite a wind that was actually bringing us to a standstill at one point. At 10 miles I started to cramp up in the calf that has been giving me problems so I slowed down a lot to see if I could baby my way round. Even at this reduced pace I managed to hit the half at 1hr 53 mins. I was in a reasonable amount of pain by this time and by trying to baby the calf I was putting a lot of stress on the opposite knee which was also by now painful. At 13 miles we were in the open country and the wind was so strong that it actually blew a lady in front of me off her feet and into the rain filled ditch and loads of people were walking bent double, the rain was coming down in sheets of almost horizontal freezing rain which was stinging our faces (are you sensing that I was not enjoying myself at this point?).
At 14 miles I was just hit by the most explosive pain in my calf as it finally gave way and the muscle pinged - race effectively over. I just let out a howl of pain and tried not to cry with the pain and frustration. A marshal on a bike offered me a lift back to the start but I decided to try and run it off (Aren't runners just the most optimistic and stupidest people?). I ran the next 4 miles in absolute agony, every stride was torture and sent bolts of pain up my leg and so it took me 50 minutes to run 4 miles.
18 miles brought me back to the start of the third circuit and one of the stewards could see that I was in some distress and urged me to pack it in and go to the St John's Ambulance caravan. So, discression being the better part of valour, I decided to do this. Had I continued I might have caused some serious damage so dissappointed as I am, I live to run another race.
Tonight I feel okay apart from a sore calf. By pulling out at 18 miles I saved myself the agonies of the last 6 miles and so I'll probably recover quickly.
I feel bad about not finishing, especially since its my first marathon in my 50's and I didn't even get a medal! Bah! Need to do another now.
Well what a day to run a marathon - driving rain, blasting wind and a triple circuit course. Awful!
I started well and after 9 miles I was averaging 25 minute for each 3 mile split. The first 9 mile circuit was completed in 75 minutes despite a wind that was actually bringing us to a standstill at one point. At 10 miles I started to cramp up in the calf that has been giving me problems so I slowed down a lot to see if I could baby my way round. Even at this reduced pace I managed to hit the half at 1hr 53 mins. I was in a reasonable amount of pain by this time and by trying to baby the calf I was putting a lot of stress on the opposite knee which was also by now painful. At 13 miles we were in the open country and the wind was so strong that it actually blew a lady in front of me off her feet and into the rain filled ditch and loads of people were walking bent double, the rain was coming down in sheets of almost horizontal freezing rain which was stinging our faces (are you sensing that I was not enjoying myself at this point?).
At 14 miles I was just hit by the most explosive pain in my calf as it finally gave way and the muscle pinged - race effectively over. I just let out a howl of pain and tried not to cry with the pain and frustration. A marshal on a bike offered me a lift back to the start but I decided to try and run it off (Aren't runners just the most optimistic and stupidest people?). I ran the next 4 miles in absolute agony, every stride was torture and sent bolts of pain up my leg and so it took me 50 minutes to run 4 miles.
18 miles brought me back to the start of the third circuit and one of the stewards could see that I was in some distress and urged me to pack it in and go to the St John's Ambulance caravan. So, discression being the better part of valour, I decided to do this. Had I continued I might have caused some serious damage so dissappointed as I am, I live to run another race.
Tonight I feel okay apart from a sore calf. By pulling out at 18 miles I saved myself the agonies of the last 6 miles and so I'll probably recover quickly.
I feel bad about not finishing, especially since its my first marathon in my 50's and I didn't even get a medal! Bah! Need to do another now.
p.s. Andrew managed 3 hr 47 min 48 secs which was a great run in atrocious conditions.
Labels: Marathon Race Day
posted by Billy Milton @ 2:10 PM
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