My Turn ... Running Down A Dream
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@MajorRage said in My Turn ... Running Down A Dream:
Turns out New York is hilly as fuck.
4:00:23.
New York rich kids robbed me of my sub 4.
But I’m over it. Shattered beyond belief.
23 seconds!!! Fark, that's a killer - it'd be easier to accept if you were 3 minutes over!!
Well done though mate, great to have that in the bag - when is the next one??
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@MajorRage Awesome effort mate, well done!
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In hindsight, I only really have myself to blame. The Garmin wasn't giving me accurate miles / km and I hadn't figured it out.
I did the first 10k at 55 mins as planned, and then upped to consistently run between 5:15-5:23 p/km for the next 10. Problem was though, that I wasn't. I looked at my official split and I did that 10k in 54:50, I should have figured this when I went through the half at just under 1:55 as if I had been running at that pace, it would have been 1:52:30 ish. The next 10k was fine at around 55 mins as well, but that seemed right to me as the Queenboro bridge is just a mile long hill, which was a killer. I started to struggle here, but I knew I had time in the bank to play with so wasn't overly concerned. Just slowed my pace a bit and then the calf started to twinge around the 35k mark. So I backed right off.
I got to 24 mile mark with about 23 mins left to beat 4 hours so 11 min miles, which I knew was tough but do able. But then central park was just not quick. The trail was thinner and the crowds were pushing the barriers back so we had to walk some of it due to room. And then about 5 times young people ran in front of me to take photos of their friends. Selfish selfish selfish New York fluffybunnies No other word for it. At 40k, running is borderline impossible, so having to make sudden lefts/rights just kills you. I estimate I lost 90 seconds to 2 minutes because of this bullshit. Anyway, it got to 1 mile to go and I had 9 minutes to do it. Everything was done but I just fucking went for it. Ran through the twinges / cramps and just hit people who got in my way. Got to 1k to go, had to do it in 5 .... then 800m to go in 4 minutes. I was completely gone, no idea where the energy came from, memory is a little hazy but I know I was thinking of Kieran Read talking about championship minutes. About 400m to go I just couldn't keep the pace, just couldn't do it and really started to wobble, things started to go darker and I was probably at risk of blacking out.
Then 50m short of the line, the calf properly cramped and I was done.
I gave it everything, but I shouldn't have been in that position if I'd just got my maths right earlier.
Took me about 30 mins to find my wife after which I think was fortunate, as if I'd seen her straight after the finish I think I genuinely would have completely broken down and fallen part. I literally pushed myself through my breaking point and broke & had a little cry to myself just after the finish.
It really was absolutely fucking unbelievable and 3 days later back at home, I have nothing but incredible memories. Outside family related things, it's the best thing I've ever done, no question.
I lost 12kg this year training for this and pushed myself harder than I ever have before at one of the greatest events on the planet.
About an hour later, one of my best buds sent me this quote from Rudy. And I bawled again. 3 days later, I think it's appropriate.
In this life, you don't have to prove nothin' to nobody but yourself. And after what you've gone through, if you haven't done that by now, it ain't gonna never happen
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@MajorRage awesome mate!
Yeah it's the old "Look in the mirror, that's your competition"
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@MajorRage Good read that, thanks for posting!
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@MajorRage said in My Turn ... Running Down A Dream:
In hindsight, I only really have myself to blame. The Garmin wasn't giving me accurate miles / km and I hadn't figured it out.
I did the first 10k at 55 mins as planned, and then upped to consistently run between 5:15-5:23 p/km for the next 10. Problem was though, that I wasn't. I looked at my official split and I did that 10k in 54:50, I should have figured this when I went through the half at just under 1:55 as if I had been running at that pace, it would have been 1:52:30 ish. The next 10k was fine at around 55 mins as well, but that seemed right to me as the Queenboro bridge is just a mile long hill, which was a killer. I started to struggle here, but I knew I had time in the bank to play with so wasn't overly concerned. Just slowed my pace a bit and then the calf started to twinge around the 35k mark. So I backed right off.
I got to 24 mile mark with about 23 mins left to beat 4 hours so 11 min miles, which I knew was tough but do able. But then central park was just not quick. The trail was thinner and the crowds were pushing the barriers back so we had to walk some of it due to room. And then about 5 times young people ran in front of me to take photos of their friends. Selfish selfish selfish New York fluffybunnies No other word for it. At 40k, running is borderline impossible, so having to make sudden lefts/rights just kills you. I estimate I lost 90 seconds to 2 minutes because of this bullshit. Anyway, it got to 1 mile to go and I had 9 minutes to do it. Everything was done but I just fucking went for it. Ran through the twinges / cramps and just hit people who got in my way. Got to 1k to go, had to do it in 5 .... then 800m to go in 4 minutes. I was completely gone, no idea where the energy came from, memory is a little hazy but I know I was thinking of Kieran Read talking about championship minutes. About 400m to go I just couldn't keep the pace, just couldn't do it and really started to wobble, things started to go darker and I was probably at risk of blacking out.
Then 50m short of the line, the calf properly cramped and I was done.
I gave it everything, but I shouldn't have been in that position if I'd just got my maths right earlier.
Took me about 30 mins to find my wife after which I think was fortunate, as if I'd seen her straight after the finish I think I genuinely would have completely broken down and fallen part. I literally pushed myself through my breaking point and broke & had a little cry to myself just after the finish.
It really was absolutely fucking unbelievable and 3 days later back at home, I have nothing but incredible memories. Outside family related things, it's the best thing I've ever done, no question.
I lost 12kg this year training for this and pushed myself harder than I ever have before at one of the greatest events on the planet.
About an hour later, one of my best buds sent me this quote from Rudy. And I bawled again. 3 days later, I think it's appropriate.
In this life, you don't have to prove nothin' to nobody but yourself. And after what you've gone through, if you haven't done that by now, it ain't gonna never happen
Outstanding effort. My memory is a little hazy but iirrc your first marathon was a remote one during Covid and involved you pit stopping at home to take off your jumper? Anyway, you have a decent record of your journey right here!
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@MajorRage said in My Turn ... Running Down A Dream:
However, broke my half marathon record over the week with a 1:42:37. I'll take that, anyway
doing one in 9 weeks. i can tell you i will not be running that time.
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Longest run completed, 4 weeks to go. Ran 34k in around 3:11 which isn't great, but if I bear in mind the week beforehand (50k running, two rounds of golf, many beers) then I should be happy with it. Last Saturday I did 32k in 2:57 which I found much easier. Ultimately, I'm really starting to feel the effects of 10 month of solid marathon training. Things are creaking a little bit.
Without injury, then I'm still confident of getting the 4 hours. Being off the beers and reducing the golf in the lead up should help.
Currently weighing 84.5 kg, I was just uder 84 when I ran New York. If I'm 100% on point with diet next month, combined with running close to 200k, I should be able to get down to sub 83.
Pretty big if that.
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Just to throw my lot in here...
I ran the London Marathon last weekend - it was a pretty incredible experience. Never run a marathon before but you can tell London is something special, the crowds are insane (to the point where you almost start to appreciate the quiet moments more).
Started running relatively late last year without any intention of doing a marathon but the chance came up to run London and it felt like too good an opportunity to turn down. Was about 98kg in July and I'm now floating around 90 (the fitness may have increased but the diet unfortunately isn't any better).
Went out with a goal of 3.5 hours but realised about 60% of the way through that wasn't likely to be possible (so much weaving throughout you almost end up running a full extra kilometre due to all the lateral movement). Readjusted my goal and ended up walking for about 500 metres until some jellybabes from a crowd member gave me the impetus needed to run the final 5k (I fast on long run days because my stomach is unreliable at the best of times so I was tanking energy-wise). Finished up just under 3:45 which I was reasonably happy with.
While the run was tough, it's the prolonged training that's tougher - if you can get through that then you can definitely get through the marathon on the day! Good luck to everyone running one in the coming months - it's an awesome achievement.
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@MajorRage said in My Turn ... Running Down A Dream:
6 weeks to go until Edinburgh marathon. Gotta get that 4 hours.
Tracking is ok, could be better, a week in St Lucia didn't help.
However, broke my half marathon record over the week with a 1:42:37. I'll take that, anyway.
That’s like 4:50/km? Amazing effort mate!
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@MajorRage said in My Turn ... Running Down A Dream:
Well done! Agree entirely about the relishing the quiet parts as it's so full on for London!
But you can piss off out of my thread with the only started in November and smashing my time shit ...
Haha was more like September that I started - and you have got an extra decade on me so gotta look at all the variables 😉
But you're only ever competing with yourself!
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Since this has become the defacto marathon thread….
I just went back to look at my marathon time after reading the recent posts - and was playing around looking at Strava stats. And I came across this run in my profile from 7 years ago:
Pretty impressive effort by me!
Except, there’s one thing - I did not do this fucking run. It just didn’t happen.
I’ve done one standalone marathon in 2015 and then the Ironman one in 2023 - and neither of those were 3:37 efforts believe me!
I’m so confused right now - did I steal someone’s marathon effort???
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@Mr-Fish decade of years, but (almost) a decade of kg in my advantage ...
And yes, I do only compete with myself. But I watched a bit of the London mara on the TV, and the sheer qty of people finishing with 3-3:15 times was mind blowing. It's unbelievable fitness to get to that level.
I do sometimes wish I had started running properly when in my twenties. I ran a 10k in 55:30 when I was 26, if I'd kicked on from there, would have had a much better chance of recording some brilliant times.
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@MajorRage said in My Turn ... Running Down A Dream:
@Mr-Fish decade of years, but (almost) a decade of kg in my advantage ...
And yes, I do only compete with myself. But I watched a bit of the London mara on the TV, and the sheer qty of people finishing with 3-3:15 times was mind blowing. It's unbelievable fitness to get to that level.
I do sometimes wish I had started running properly when in my twenties. I ran a 10k in 55:30 when I was 26, if I'd kicked on from there, would have had a much better chance of recording some brilliant times.
I suppose it's all relative, isn't it?
55:30 is brilliant for someone in their mid 20s but a 4-hour marathon is just as impressive for someone who's only found (or rediscovered) running in their 40s.
Totally understand where you're coming from though - 'what could have been?'
I did a half in 2020 and finished in around 2:06 so the gains I've made have left me pretty content. The interesting thing is that I felt considerably more emotional after that run than after finishing the London race. The post-marathon elation/catharsis/release has totally passed me by, which is a little bit of a downer!
Anyway, looking at maybe doing the Pyongyang Marathon next year, because why not? Otherwise it'll be halves for me.
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@Mr-Fish I knowwhat you mean. I don't think I've ever been as exahausted/emotional as I was after my first half marathon at 2:08. It's ridiculous to think that 10 years on, I'm pretty comfortable running a half almost 20 minutes faster than that.
I do a lot of maths in my training runs to work out pace for the marathon. If I'm feeling good, I think I'll aim for a 1:50 for the first half, then under 2:40 for 30k.
And Pyongyang??? I'll leave you to that one bro.
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@MajorRage said in My Turn ... Running Down A Dream:
@Mr-Fish decade of years, but (almost) a decade of kg in my advantage ...
I do sometimes wish I had started running properly when in my twenties. I ran a 10k in 55:30 when I was 26, if I'd kicked on from there, would have had a much better chance of recording some brilliant times.
@MajorRage said in My Turn ... Running Down A Dream:
However, broke my half marathon record over the week with a 1:42:37. I'll take that, anyway.
I'm confused here with these times.
10kms in 55mins is 5:30 pace - which is fine for 10kms
21.2kms in 1:42.37 is 4:50 pace - which is fucking great for a half.I'd argue that you have "kicked on" quite nicely! I mean, presumably with that pace for a half in your legs, you could now do a 10km at something like 4:45/km / 47:30mins?
And I'd have thought that a 1:42 half would have you in great stead for that sub-4hr marathon. You can run 50s slower per km to get there, holding 5:40/km pace throughout. I know it's easier said than done on the day, but it sounds like you've got yourself in the right spot to pull it off.
Now you just have to go get it!
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Thats kind of my point.
If I can run a 1:43 half at 46, what could I have run it in at 28? My fastest 10k now is 46:59 according to my Garmin app.
Don't get me wrong, I know its a decent time, but I do wonder what I could have done when younger!
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@MajorRage said in My Turn ... Running Down A Dream:
Thats kind of my point.
If I can run a 1:43 half at 46, what could I have run it in at 28? My fastest 10k now is 46:59 according to my Garmin app.
Don't get me wrong, I know its a decent time, but I do wonder what I could have done when younger!
But you're faster now over 10km than you were when you were 26?
Looks to me like every 20 years you drop 8 minutes off your 10km time - so when you're 66 you'll be sub-40mins for the 10km - nice work fella
