Brighton Marathon Race Report

What a race! It went really well…. and then I woke up.

Actually that was a bit harsh, the day started ok, the rain disappeared and the sun looked as though it may shine through, suggesting that the weather forecasters may have actually predicted this one correctly.

Once at Preston Park, I hit the portaloos before the queues started and then participated in the mass warm up looking like a uncoordinated puppet (it turns out aerobics is not my thing!)

Warming up like a pro

After lubing every body part in risk of chaffing, I was persuaded by my mum to go against the majority of other runners and abandon the idea of wearing the baselayer before heading to the race start and positioning my self between a peacock and a bee.

The race itself started ok with only a very slight niggle from my troublesome left knee, this stayed fairly minor until the race ran headed around the Old Steine at around miles 3-4.

It was at this point that the knee started to decide that it didn’t want to play today.

Despite the discomfort, the thought of a DNF didn’t cross my mind, and as I had paid, trained and turned up for the run decided I would just HTFU and keep running. In fact I was able to keep to my planned pace and was feeling ok up until mile 12, when the knee really started to complain and I had to stop and stretch at the water station.

Mother Nature did appear to take pity on me at this point, and decided to make the sun shine on the south coast. This was lovely, for all of about 20 minutes before it went from mild through warm, straight to hot. Lucky all my training had been done in freezing conditions, so I was well adapted to these conditions: oh wait!.14 miles to go.

The stretching seemed to help (although this could have been mental) and I continued running, stopping to trade my visor for a slurp of coca cola with Mum, The Girl and the Girls Dad who were enthusiastically waving at me from the sideline. Like professional cheerleaders they all informed me im that I was on a good time…little did they know of what was to come! After calmly explaining (stating forcefully) of my discomfort I was ushered on.

13 miles to go

These last 13 miles hurt. A lot.

After passing the massive crowds on the seafront we headed up into hove, and then I was restricted to an ungainly hobble. In a bid to keep going, I desperately began searching around for things to look at/read, including

A man running in Greek style sandals overtaking me….

Peppa Pig overtaking me …..

A fairy overtaking me ……

A banana overtaking me …..

A carrot overtaking me ……

Well you get the idea.

At around 15 miles I stopped at a portaloo, I didn’t actually need to go the loo but I took a couple of minutes to have a little sulk in the confines of the tardis impersonator before continuing on my hobble.

After the turn around point in hove, I was stopped by race volunteers to let an ambulance cross the course and speed away with its siren’s blazing. I remember acknowledging how that was a not a good sign...

Despite some wanting me to, I cant really justify giving a mile by mile explanation of the pain I was experiencing for the remainder of the marathon, but as a quick explanation when I could run I was managing a fair pace but as soon as I developed any resemblance of speed, my knee pain forced me to a walk, and allowed the rest of my body to cramp up.

 

Thoroughly fed up

I cant even begin to list the fancy dress costumes that flew past me in those last few miles but with my A and B goals (A: Sub 4hrs, B, Sub 4:22) well out of the window, I combined limping, hobbling and walking to the get across the finish line in a final time of 4:46. 

I remember hurting during last year’s marathon, but not this much. I don’t think I have ever experienced pain like it. It has been a family joke that I was an absolute delight after my marathon experience in 2007 (I didn’t really understand the importance of sugar and mood swings back then), and in a bid to avoid adding to this rumor, I decided to lay on the cobbles for 10-15 minutes to allow for the cramping to subside before seeking out family.

Unfortunately as you have probably gathered the race didn’t go to plan, but im pretty happy with the fact I struggled through and completed it rather than DNF. Im keen to avoid that sort of discomfort ever again, although now I think I will be able to gain some mental strength having experienced it.

My result was also put into context when the news was broadcast that evening. I think the ambulance I saw may have been for the 23 year old chap who had a cardiac arrest on the course. Such terrible news, and all thoughts go out to his family.

In addition, with the awful news of the complete w*nkers planting bombs at the Boston Marathon, I can only be grateful that I finished safe. Especially as they were timed to go off exactly at my goal time of 4 hours.

The next week will be spent with my feet up revising for my exam before getting back (slowly) into the swimming and cycling. Oh I also need to get my knee fixed! On another note, the marathon entries opened up today for next years race. After this year’s ordeal, I decided that im having a year off!

Thank god thats done!