13th April 2008 Flora London Marathon
9.47 am (didn’t take long to get over the start line this time!)
26.44 miles (!) - 4 hours, 32 minutes, 17 seconds Ave pace (on my garmin) 10.18 m/m
10.05, 9.30, 9.21, 9.19, 9.26, 9.34, 9.46 (had to walk around Cutty Sark as so busy and tight)
9.18, 9.28, 9.20, 9.19, 9.11, 9.17, 9.29
9.21, 9.35, 9.46, 10.29, 12.01, 11.54, 12.16
11.58, 13.48, 12.50, 10.28, 10.50 (then 10.06 pace for the last part)
I am absolutely gutted that I did not get the time I wanted in London, I do not think I was even being over ambitious at going for under 4.10 but it was not happening for me at all.
In the week leading up to the marathon I had very little sleep and constantly felt like I was fighting off a cold, just like in New York. We got the train down on Friday and I did not find getting the train a good idea as it was six and a half hours and my hip really stiffened up. We were then rushing about the rest of the night getting to the hotel, going to the expo and finding food. Pacepusher has will be writing far more about today and there is no point in me repeating it here, just read his too.
I felt absolutely shattered on Saturday but went to the Imperial War Museum (only 2 blocks from our hotel) and the Cabinet War Rooms and Churchill Museum in the afternoon. I decided this would be less stressful than shopping the day before and I really enjoyed them. The Imperial War Museum has so many different things in it from conflicts through the twentieth century, it is really amazing and I would highly recommend it. It is good for kids too. And its free! The Cabinet War Rooms andChurchill Museum was expensive in comparision but well worth the visit.
We went to Miss Pump’s parents house in Kensington for dinner on the Saturday night which was fab as then we knew could have as much as wanted to eat and did not have to worry about finding somewhere to eat. Miss Pump put on the tape of the 2007 New York Marathon for a bit of inspiration although she made us turn it off when Britain’s Got Talent came on. We did manage to watch Paula going past Wami and finish before it started though. (Miss Pump has a bit of a fancy for SImon Cowell!) So we did eat loads and it was great! It was really nice of them to invite us over.
Managed my best sleep of the week on the Saturday night but it still wasn’t great. We must have left the hotel earlier last year as I remembered the train and the station being quite quiet but it certainly wasn’t like that this year and morbidly enough as we were crushed like cattle on the train and and unable to see out of the windows I was reminded of the Jewish people during the holocaust being sent to Auschwitz etc by cattle trucks in a similar way. (There was a holocaust part to the Imperial War Museum which was excellent although in terms of knowldege and information I knew the majority of it from school and university. It never stops the pictures, models, shoes, exhibits etc being powerful.)
We met Debs on the train which I thought was pretty amazing considering the number of trains and people going to Blackheath and walked up with her. One of the things that helped us survive the train journey to London without killing each other was probably the fact that we met Debs and Marco and ended up all sitting with each other. Debs had a great supply of magazines and newspapers with her which helped keep me occupied!
I ended up in my pen pretty early and it only took 2 mins to get over the start line although again we did come to a stop about a quarter of a mile down the road, where the toilets were! We were stopped a couple of times more and I was really surprised that I managed a 10.05 min mile considering that. I felt okay early on but and was determined to keep it steady and stay at my pace. I did make up the slow start eventually and although they still vary a bit I was quite pleased with the splits up to the end of 17 miles as they did mean I averaged 9.28 m/m which was exactly what I wanted. It was worrying me though that my garmin was quite out right from the start and was going off before the mile markers so I knew I would have more to catch up with at the end, but I just kept going with the garmin.
It was quite warm up to about 11 miles but I was shivering and cold and had a bit of a sore throat and sore head. The shivering was familiar from New York and I was a bit worried but just tried to keep it steady. When it started raining at about 11/12 miles this actually made me feel better and I sped up a little for a bit.
At 17 miles though I started to feel rubbish and from 18 I started dramatically slowing. I knew then I had blown it but I really wanted to run the whole thing and kept running to 21 miles although being painfully slow and intermittently crying at the thought I had done the same thing as New York. At no point did I feel like I was pushing it and I never felt out of my breath but my legs just died. I walked a bit from 21 to 23 and then managed to run the rest of the way as the crowds are so great at that point. The support was amazing the whole way round and I am determined I will be back to run the whole way and being able to enjoy them a bit more.
I don’t know what was up with me and whether it was a bug and/or lack of sleep or whether like New York I lost the bottle and just couldn’t do it which is more worrying. I never thought that even if I did not break the 4.10 I wouldn’t get a pb. So again I was sobbing and looking miserable as I came over the finish line.
Miss Pump had been running for the Mental Health Foundation and had put us down for the reception afterwards. It was really nice to go somewhere afterwards like that and get a cup of tea (!), sandwhiches (although it took me about an hour and a half to eat one) and a massage. We went back to the hotel after, got ready, had dinner and went to meet Debs, Marco and Miss Pump at All Bar One in Leicester Square. They had all done really well. Had a good time although I always forget how early pubs shut in London!
Walked all day on the Monday shopping around Covent Garden, Soho, Oxford Street and Carnaby Street. I like buying things from independant shops while I am down there and we only went to Oxford Street for Topshop (but only bought stuff from the designer bit and for Niketown which we were devestated to find closed for refurbishment.
Went to see Dirty Dancing at night with Miss Pump, it was brilliant and the dancing was amazing, better than in the film. Managed to shop at Camden Market on Tuesday before getting the train home again and stuffing our faces a bit last night for a treat. Will have to be good again from tomorrow as we have a wedding a week on Saturday.
Now looking to Edinburgh to do better and get under the 4.10. I just hope I recover in time!
