My official time was 2:56:22 and I am really happy with that – particularly because I went through halfway in 1:29:11, giving me a 2nd half of 1:27:11 and a negative split of exactly 2mins. So I’m not just happy with the finish time but, perhaps more importantly, I’m proud of how I ran it. It takes a lot of commitment (I was going to say ‘confidence’ but I wasn’t all that confident on the start line) to go out planning to speed-up in the second half. But if you’ve been honest with yourself about your training and your target-time expectations, there’s no reason that you can’t feel strong in the late stages of a marathon. And when it comes together right, it is the most satisfying way to execute the race as you literally stream past other tired runners on your way to the finish. I think I read a statistic once, based on the London Marathon field, that only about 3% of marathon finishers record a negative split; so it is genuinely hard to do, particularly if you are still attempting to run close to your limits.
RACE REPORT
Anyway, so the race itself. The first thing I remember about race morning was checking the weather outside and seeing the trees by the hotel being buffeted about by pretty strong winds. Even though it had been perfectly still when we were wandering around the city centre the day before. Typical. I think that set my mood for pre-race and my brother, Darren (who was also running) and Lyndsey would probably both attest to the fact that I was a moody bastard on the walk to the metro station.
It really was windy and cold out there and I just couldn't get it out of my head that it was going to make the run much more difficult. Still, the walk to the stadium, converging with all the other runners, did lift my spirits and I was buzzed and looking forward to it again as Darren and Me got race ready and off-loaded final bits of race kit before going through the runners entrance into the stadium. Inside, in the middle of the track, we went into our separate starting pens and I started to do whatever kind of warm-up I could in the limited space. Had a quick chat with Harry over the fence to the sub 2:40 pen where he was. He was in high spirits, and his pre-race pep talk for me basically involved calling me a pleb for being in pen 2. He did also remind me that the weather is what it is, and that it was time to get this done. So the minutes passed, we all edged forward in our pens and a klaxon set us on our way.
Even with the 150 metres of track to start and getting out of the stadium I was pleased with how much space there was pretty much straight away and I settled into an average pace just under 6:50 min/mile nice and comfortably. I'd decided for this run to only check my split time every 5k, and was just watching my average pace within each 5k to avoid me reacting to every little pace fluctuation. It also basically broke the race into just 8 bits (+ the final 2.2km), rather than 26 (miles) or 42 (km) which was mentally easier to handle. So, along the wide boulevards of the city centre, through Vondelspark, and the first 5k clicked by in 21:23. Bang on sub-3 pace and it felt easy. Saw the WAGs at 6km (Lyndsey and Emily), think I managed to look reasonably cheerful and carried on, feeling good.Working through the second 5k the pace was drifting down closer to 6:40mm and I was consciously easing off a lot to make sure I didn't get carried away with others around me. We completed the first mini 8km loop of the city and then set off east towards the River Amstel where we'd get properly into the long loop of the marathon course. Still consciously holding back as we went through 10km, I was well pleased to see the watch register 20:50. Picking up time already, quarter distance, and it was still feeling super easy!
We turned right (south) and, after a short out-and-back section along a straight road we were joining the towpath of the River Amstel where we would head South for 8km before crossing over, go through halfway, then 7-8km back up the river. This was the most open part of the course and the wind was immediately more noticeable as it whipped straight across us. It all still felt really manageable, but I wasn't naturally speeding up anymore. 15km went by with a split of 20:54 and I was having to concentrate a little more now to hold the pace which was averaging just under 6:40mm now. I just told myself to carry on working, down to the turning point, and not think about what it was gonna feel like coming back up the river (I was presuming more difficult!). As we approached 20km, and the bridge, I knew that the building feeling of needing to stop for a wee was only going to get worse and wasn't helping my temperament, so I made a quick stop in the bushes then got back in the flow of runners and went through the fourth 5km in 21:22. Ok, not a disaster, still comfortably sub-3, lets get over this bridge and see what the other side is like...
Now heading North again, back towards the city, I was immediately thinking, 'actually, the wind's not that much different'. It was helped by the fact that I found myself tucked on the back of a group of about ten guys now, ticking along at the right pace, and enjoying the windshield they provided. We passed under halfway in 1:29:11 and I was feeling really strong. In many ways, this was the pivotal point of the race for me. I figured these guys were going to run 2:58/2:59, but I also knew I really wanted more than that. I was getting itchy feet - so when a guy who looked pretty competent (I don't know before you ask; he was skinny and had nice running kit?) cruised past the group looking very comfortable, I moved out and tagged on with him. Moving faster now, we two ran together passing people consistently for the length of the river. My watch had settled down at 6:34mm for this section, but it felt right so I just stuck in and decided I would reassess at 25km. We literally must have passed 50-100 people along that stretch, it was a great feeling and 25km went by with a split of 20:30! At a drinks station back in the city now, I dropped my new buddy and he didn't reappear so I just carried on at that pace. I kept looking at the garmin expecting to see that I'd slowed, but the pace remained in the low 6:30s and now I was through 30km in 20:32! By now, I pretty much knew it was my day and it was just about holding it together. Going through a pretty bland industrial area the pace did start to feel a bit harder at times but I knew if I could get to the north-east corner of the course (around 34km), then we would pretty much have a tailwind the whole way back as we traveled west through the city.
I made it, we turned left and it literally did start to feel like the home straight as we were now wind assisted. I had slowed a little through 35km, with a split of 20:37, but I knew I just had to dig in from here. I was still overtaking people, although we were very strung out now, and even the undulations of a big road underpass didn't cause me too much trouble. The Vondelspark seemed to take a lot longer to get through this time, but it included going under the 40km barrier (20:52) so I didn't care. I was tightening up and slowing in the final 2.2km but I just concentrated on going quick enough (about 6:50mm) and the stadium loomed into view mercifully quickly. The crowds were back now, past the 500m to go sign and finally back into the stadium. As I turned onto the track Harry was already there giving me a good shouting at and I sped up - for about 4 strides! I was completely done-in, but it didn't matter because I was literally on the track approaching the finish gantry. Over the line, stop the watch and the relief and fatigue consumed me all at once. I stood still, hands on my knees, literally unable to walk. A well-intentioned dutch guy took me by the arm and got me moving, I assured him I was ok and shuffled off to meet Harry. It was smiles all the way from there. He'd run a massive PB of 2:37 and it started to sink in just how well it had all gone, for both of us. My brother crossed the line a little while later in 3:23, a PB by 23mins (!) so it really had been an epic result for all of us.
Ok, enough of me going on already. I hope some of you enjoyed following my marathon build-ups this year on the blog. I've enjoyed writing it, it's certainly kept me honest and I'm coming away from it with a new PB that I am well pleased with. Time for a break from marathon running now (for at least 2yrs is the current plan) and I'm gonna try something a bit different; training specifically to try and improve my 5km time. The change in focus should be refreshing and should teach me some new things about how to train, and what I can achieve...
The blog will be back at some point. Hopefully when I'm a bit faster... : )
