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I ran the Eindhoven marathon yesterday, a year on from a 3:27. I had a ‘hard’ target of 3:15 in mind from the beginning of the training cycle, it’s a “good for age” time for London for me so would hopefully get me a place in 2016 but as the big day got closer I thought that I could go quicker and it seemed silly not to go give it my best shot after nigh on 6 months training.
Training had been going fairly well, I’ve been running 5 times a week and covering an average of 45-50 miles a week. I had run a PB at 10 miles a month ago (63:50) so knew I was in OK shape. Plugging my 10 mile time into the MacMillan calculator gave me a target of 3:02, I know that most people think that it is optimistic for marathon distance but it seems to be pretty accurate for me – I’m a bit like an old Merc diesel, not so quick of the mark but just keep going.
Unlike last year with torrential rain it was a perfect day for running, clear skies, little wind and 12°C at the start. Porridge for brekkie and a gentle cycle from home to the start (well it is in Holland). My race plan probably wasn’t the most intelligent thing really; I aimed to go out with the 3:00 group and just hold on as long as possible. I felt surprisingly comfortable for the first half and it wasn’t until 32km before the elastic started to stretch and I had to work hard to keep contact. I also kept getting the odd twinge in my calves so was trying to 'manage' that. By 38km the wheels started to come off and I drifted off the back of the group (there were only 5 or 6 people left at that stage) and those last 4km were tough, running through treacle tough but I just kept trying to pick off people one by one as targets and looking at my watch (which I seemed to do every 5 seconds at that stage) I saw that I was holding around 4:20-4:25min/km pace so hoped I had enough banked. I couldn’t see the finish until I was about 200m away, but as I rounded the corner all I could make out was that there was still a 2 in the hours column so I pushed as hard as I could over those last few meters and crossed the line pretty much exhausted in 2:59:29 where I had to have a little sit down for a while before my daughter managed to sneak through the barriers and run over to give me the most welcome hug ever, which lasted about a second before, "eeurgh you're all sweaty".
Stairs are a challenge, and I think I’m going to lose a toenail but it was worth it.
On behalf of the Eindhoven tourist board: Eindhoven isn’t a big marathon by any means, there were only 1500 people in the full marathon but there are lots of other events on the day. A relay marathon is run at the same time as the full (for teams of 4). There are 5k, 10k and childrens events and in the afternoon is a half-marathon. It’s a quick course (record is 2:04) and really easy to get to from the UK so anyone looking for a more low key event than one of the big city marathons could do a lot worse.
Well done, sub 3 is a good time. My 10 mile pb was 62.30 and I never felt that sub 3 was likely for me (lot of reasons for that), 3.15 being more likely.
It is great to put a lot of effort into something and get a reward at the end of it. Even if we know that others can achieve that with seemingly little effort. Congratulations, something to tell the grand children.
Sub 3, nice work sir!
Wow! Really good work that and I'm jealous that your pace for a marathon is quicker than mine is for a 10k!
Well done. I've tried for sub 3 half heartedly, got 3:12 twice.
I couldn't stick with the sub 3 group in (hilly) Belfast, then ran the 1st half of Loch Ness in 1:30ish, I think I need to run the 2nd half quicker than the 1st.
Never done more than 3 runs and 30 miles a week tho!
Was going ot try next year but it's looking like cycling will be the priority, maybe do an Ironman.
Well done, very impressive. And to think, I was quite pleased with my sub 4hr at York yesterday.
I read earlier that Gordon Ramsey's never gone below 3:30, despite having a trainer.
Anyone else fancy training him, pedalling alongside, calling him a *ing * for motivation for 3:30 hours?
Thanks guys, I was really pleased with my result;
It is great to put a lot of effort into something and get a reward at the end of it. Even if we know that others can achieve that with seemingly little effort
I think that’s one of the biggest advantages of endurance events like the marathon and 12hr bike events etc. I’m so far off the front that I can’t even consider ‘racing’ and just aim for my own goals e.g. yesterday when Regassa was crossing the finishing line I was back at the 30km point!
I'm jealous that your pace for a marathon is quicker than mine is for a 10k!
My 10km pace isn’t much faster TBH, my PB is 39:14 although I don’t run many 10k races.
Was going to try next year but it's looking like cycling will be the priority, maybe do an Ironman.
I’ve sacrificed biking for running this year, I was planning on running Rotterdam in the spring but had an off on the bike and broke ribs and my wrist just before so this time I decided it wasn’t worth the risk. I’m considering an ironman or maybe an ultra (my swimming is pants).
I was quite pleased with my sub 4hr at York yesterday.
So you should be, it’s a purely personal goal out our level
I read earlier that Gordon Ramsey's never gone below 3:30, despite having a trainer.
Well there's his problem - he'd clearly do far better if he had two.
Congrats irelast - I might claim I could (have at my best) run a marathon quicker than that, but unlike you I've never actually put my neck on the line. Sub 3 is a genuinely good time.