Race day…what went wrong! At the 15 mile mark I dropped out ;-(
Defending champion Martin Lel pulled out before the race with a hip injury, and Paul Radcliffe did not make it to the start due to injury. It seems that the preparation is tough on the body.
I set off on pace for my sub 2:30 but at only the 6 mile mark my hip flexor started to hurt. I can cope with pain, as well as the next guy, and so struggled on. I had started running at 5:30 pace per mile and even after my hip started to hurt I was able maintain around 5:40 pace.
While I was on target for my goal time I was willing to struggle on. At the half way mark I went through in 1:14:05 and although still on target the pain was now severe. What a happened next was that my hip locked up and I was forced to limp. Without full use of my right leg I dropped immediately down to 10 minute miling, the writing was on the wall. I struggled on to the 15 mile mark, in the vain hope that the hip would loosen up again, but after 30mins and only covering 3miles, I knew I was in serious danger of being over taken by a Santa Clause or an incredible hulk, as the fancy dress runners closed in on me.
During my 30 minutes of hobbling I had plenty of time to think things through. I had just devoted 6 months of my life to a running a sub 2:30 marathon, I have averaged over 60 miles a week, running a total of 2,400 miles and peaked at 130 miles for one week. I had done countless track sessions at race pace and dropped weight from 70kg to only 62kg. At work, and with family and friends everyone around has had to pull a little harder so that I could get the extra few miles in training, or to allow me to rest up. I have constantly, promoted the idea that with a positive mind you can achieve your goals, and yet here was I about to drop out.
But for me, it was not about finishing. I know I can finish a marathon. If my goal was to finish and raise money for charity I would have done so. In fact, I take my hat off to Katie Price who completed the marathon in 7 hours 11 minutes, but as she said, she was going to finish. It was just a pity that she had to cut up the £70 pair of elite 2XU compression tights I gave her, so that she could get her injured knee strapped.
By stopping when I realised my goal was unattainable, I knew I would get over this hurdle quicker. When I reached Rieko she took the picture above, and pulled me off the course, she also knew this battle was lost.
On the positive side, I have really enjoyed the last 6 months, I have got the buzz back for sport, after 5 years of drifting and am so proud that I have got such a great family and friends that have allowed me to train so hard. I also realise that I cannot stop now and let the last 6 months of hard work go to waste, so it is onwards and upwards.
Last year on the track I ran the 2nd fastest time in the UK for 3,000m in the in the V45 category, at 8:52, with very little training, this year I will want to get that down under 8:50, and run the fastest time. I also want to run a sun 15 minute 5,000m. Luckily, track training requires much less time than marathon training, although the intensity of each session is higher. I will be able to fit this around my work and family without making too many selfish demands, and hopefully draw on the extensive base work I have put in over the winter.
As for next year’s London Marathon, I have managed to pre-qualify at the Reading Half Marathon, so I don’t need to commit for 6 months yet. Whether I run or not I shall leave that decision to my family and work colleagues!
Finally, it really was a great day, and the crowds were awesome, I heard my name shouted so many times, that it made it even harder to drop out. At the end out of 36,000 runners less than 1,000 of us pulled out, and so I assume most people came away contented, and those that didn’t you have to pick yourselves up, re-evaluate, and set the next target. But just as I have done, enjoy the journey along the way.
Keep logging on to see how, I am going back to basics, using my swim, bike and run background more effectively to keep me injury free and run faster on the track this summer.
Thanks for reading my London Marathon blog,
Mike