Lessons from a marathon
Getting to the start with my friends Josh, Lawrence and Sir Alex Ferguson
First of all, I really enjoyed that and I’m very pleased with the outcome. When I say enjoy… the first K felt great. It felt so easy and I thought I could do this forever provided it wouldn’t get boring. Unfortunately either I was swept along, accidentally sped up or sped up more than I needed but come mile 13 I thought… “hmm this is starting to let me know in my legs”. Although they were feeling better than my similarly paced half marathon in February and I was sugaring myself well (I had a total of 11 gels - if you include the one 20 mins before the start). They were 22g of carbs each and I still think I could have had more, my stomach was fine with them.
But this is where I need to confess. That if it doesn’t get boring line… Well it didn’t get boring, it got a bit harder. I had a solid plan at aid stations - always take water. Always sip to help with those gels that you’re having. The rest of the bottle, squeeze out onto the back of your neck or pour onto your head. The sun was out and it was getting warm in some parts. I didn’t want to overcook.
Around mile 13, out of nowhere a water bottle flew at my feet. Horror! I rolled my ankle, which can go some distance in these super shoes. But it was okay. No pain. Must have recovered it. The 2.50 pacer had moved ahead (Yes, slightly ahead of 2.52 target - I had been running purely off ‘feel’ - being in a big group around the pacer felt comfortable) . I caught up.
But now at mile 17 it was feeling like hard work to keep with the group. I decided to go for a caffeine gel.
Now I’ve noticed recently that I respond quite a lot to caffeine and at home go for a decaf. I supped a gel and saw two of my friends who had crossed the Peak District to cheer me on. I felt special. I felt caffeinated. I felt lucky for all the lovely people in my life and my cat. Yes she was on my shoes and now in my thoughts. Was this some kind of mental episode? Probably - You try running right on the edge of comfort for 2 hours. I caught the 2 hr 50 pacer and thought “I’ve got this”.
But then the Devil arrived on my shoulder - “Why catch him when you can pass him?”. “This is hard work, imagine you ran under 2hrs50, would you ever need to run a marathon again?”
A guy I had been exchanging words with (chatting is a bit over an overstatement for marathon pace) asked me what I was doing. Was I going for 3.50 per k. “I don’t f*****g know, I just feel good”
3 mins 51 and 1km later I was questioning my wisdom. I tried to keep the pace but my legs had other ideas. I tried more caffeinated gels but they lacked the magical powers of idiocy. I started thinking “oh no, you’ve spoilt it”. But not this guy. I spoke to myself kindly, come on Charles. Out loud, “Come on Baker”.
Yes I was getting slower, taking punches - 4.06, 4.09, 4.10, 4.20, 4.18, 4.35 (nooooo) 4.27 (on the ropes), 4.42 (punch to the head), 4.39 (another knockdown), 4.28 (back up and waddling around the ring), 4.15, 4.20. The last 400m 3.47 - YES, YES, YES - it was on my bib after all
I think Science can explain the slowing - running out of sugar and tipping over my lactate threshold at a rate I couldn’t handle.
But I think it’s better to put simply I didn’t hold my nerve, in a weird way I chickened out by running faster. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is just trust where you are and hold strong.
The race did what I wanted it to. It gave me confidence that I could run faster marathons than I had previously. I feel like I could go faster again if I went back with this years lessons. Next year I would train a little harder (not much) and remind myself of this marathon’s lessons. Hold your nerves people! They will be there. Don’t sprint for the line before you can see it! I can’t wait to sprint under the line at next years London or Seville!
Reading a fellow Coaster (Jason Moore) talking about how the marathon is already ran with his training made me smile. He is right, it’s not just about the day - it’s the build up and everything that you put in that makes a marathon special. A lot of people would not even dare try to run a marathon. In trying alone I think people deserve respect. Do all the right things and trust yourself right up until the finishing line is in sight! Then and only then can you let it all loose…. I’m sure the result will be a huge smile and a medal to hang up in the bathroom.
Manchester Marathon Trophy hanging proud!
