It’s been 4 days since the marathon. The physical pain is starting to disappear, but emotionally I’m still there, running it in my mind. This is the story of my first marathon experience:

The plan was simple, run an even pace of 8:20 per mile = a sub 3:40 time. As the day approached the weather forecast was of a heatwave, but on race morning conditions were perfect, a cool  15˚

The starter counted down 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, hoooonk, we were off. I waved to Liz Yelling as I passed the start line and started my stopwatch. I set off at an easy pace, feeling good. However I was about to make an error that would affect my whole race.

Mile markers are usually black numbers on a yellow background placed about shoulder height, but unknown to me the organizers of Edinburgh decided on red and white ones very high up. I saw what I thought was the one mile sign (I now know it wasn’t) and checked my watch and thought I’d run 9:46 OMG panic, how could I let this happen. I then decided I’d have to run at 8:15 pace to make up this time by the end.

Somehow I didn’t see a single mile marker until 8 miles, but I do remember crossing the 10k timing mat at 49:16. It should’ve been 51:47 (2.5 minutes slower) but at the time I could only remember that my 6 mile split should be 50 mins so thought it’s about right.

About 8 miles I overheard a guy say to his mate, “we’re still on for about 3:30 – 3:31, and I thought “surely he’s got it wrong”. Averaging 8 minute miles at this stage in a marathon would be suicidal for a potential sub 3:45 runner.

At 10 miles, still about 2 minutes ahead of my Edinburgh schedule (about 8:10/ mile or less), I heard a shout from club mates Nicola and Caroline (they’d done the half marathon at 8 o’ clock), and I gave a confident happy wave. I felt good but realized I needed to relax a bit to conserve energy, so I eased off for the next 2 or 3 miles.

I reached half way(13.1miles) in 1:48:33, only a half minute ahead of the original plan, but the speedy way I’d got there was a concern now , and it was starting to get very very hot, a scorching 26˚

The next couple of miles were on quiet coast roads, but suddenly about 16 miles the course does a sharp right into the ‘finger of Hell’ a half a mile run along one side of a road, round a cone, and back the other side. Just when you think you are over this, the route again goes away from the coast, this time around the grounds of Gosford House, the heat really gets to you there and the 18 mile marker seems like an age coming. It was here I first had serious doubts about my projected time.

I composed myself for another 2 miles but the heat and the earlier crazy pacing were starting to take their toll fast. I was drinking water like I’d been in a desert all day, but even though my stomach was full to bursting, I just couldn’t get enough of the stuff. Runners around me were getting ill and being taken in ambulances, this was not normal.

The last 5 or 6 miles I just got slower and slower, and saw my time slipping away from me. The hardest point was when I realized I wasn’t even going to get under 4 hours, I just gave up psychologically but I was still putting one foot in front of the other.

The crowds of spectators were great at this point, offering sweets, and soaking us with garden hoses and water guns. At 25 miles I saw club mates again, which was encouraging but I was exhausted and really paying the price for my earlier exertions. I chatted with other runners on the final mile and enjoyed the music before crossing the finish line in 4:17:37

I collected my medal, 2 drinks, banana and race bag before staggering round to the meet up area where I collapsed on the grass and lay there feeling sick from dehydration.

Knowing I could’ve run half an hour faster is nagging at me but it was an amazing experience and next time the lessons leart from this baptism of fire will serve me well. Top on mu shopping list is a Garmin Forerunner 110 GPS speed and distance system..

May 16th 2010 and something special is happening in the running community of Great Britain. A relay, starting at Blackpool tower on Sun May 9th, and going clockwise round the coast of Britain (organized online, by runners, for runners) has so far gone 250 miles. Today it was my honour to run with ‘Barry the baton’,  from Gretna to Annan.

This isn’t a race, it’s a celebration of Running, and I’m one of hundreds helping  Barry the baton making his way round the British coastline on the safest roads, which will take about 20 weeks.

Video :  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDgOzoebVx4

Photo of Coniston byEnnor

As you may know the 2010 race around Coniston water was extended from 14 to 16.7 miles, so this year was named The Coniston 14 Plus.
The race goes anti-clockwise round the lake and can definitely be described as undulating but as I would soon find, the other side of the lake has more hills.

The first 4 miles I covered in 30 minutes (7:30 pace) I felt good but my target was between 7:45 and 8:00 minute miles, so eventually settled into this.

Things that stand out include 2 cattle grids (one about 4.5 miles which we went round, another at 6 miles covered), a big puddle at 8 miles, and a long steep hill at Brantwood House (John Ruskin museum) where much encouragement was given (and needed) by spectators there. Peculiar to this race were the many cyclist going round, also many stopped to give encouragement so thanks to them.

I reached 13 miles in 1:43 (averaging 7:55 pace now). Those hills on the last few miles were energy sapping but I was happy enough with the result which was text ed to me pretty quickly after I had finished and had a bite to eat.

MY FINAL FINISHING POSITION

I was 337th  in 2:14:04  (8:02 pace average).
There were 1,290 finishers. Last person did it in 4:00:23, and well done to her (16 DNF)

A VERY VERY SHORT VIDEO TAKEN AT THE START:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Whoscjf2_-Q

Photo by Astrid van Wesenbeeck

This is a lovely course, the views are spectacular but there’s a few hills
ERNIE’S STORY
I’ve been nervous about this all week, mainly because of a knee niggle that I’ve rested for a week or so, but I needed to do it so much, as a psychological boost to my marathon training. I decided to race it and go for a sub 1hr 40min time, and if there was ANY pain I’d stop. Fortunately , despite a faint tightness, everything was fine and I felt quite strong. A proper warm up and I was ready to go.

The race announcer told us to watch out for vehicles, pot holes, and that there was ice on the road eeek. We ran a circuit of Bampton village before heading out along Haweswater. This was really beautiful and I made a mental note to come back here for a day out.

On the uphills I just kept a steady pace without pushing it and I used my arms to help. On the downhills I just relaxed my arms and let the momentum quicken my pace. I passed a lot of people this way, apart from one girl who kept passing me on the uphills and it would be a cat and mouse game until the last mile when she flew past and stayed there.

I reached 8 miles at about 62 minutes (slightly slower than planned, but I was feeling good so decided to pick up the pace and hold on as long as possible. By mile 11 I was wishing it was mile 12 but fortunately there is a nice downhill at this point. Note my downhills had become mad sprints for the last 2 miles which probably took a bit out of me, but it was fun.

As I finished I stopped my own watch a few seconds below 1:40 which was a great result. Collected my souvenir mug, banana, and NB Voucher, did some stretching, then got a free cuppa in my mug and bought a baked potato. I’ve been on a high ever since.
MY FINISHING POSITION
I was 182nd in 1:39:50 (7:37 pace average).

MORE RESULTS
1st Male = 1:14:07, 1st Female = 1:26:21, 1st Male 40 = 1:19:15, 1st Female 40 = 1:26:21
There were 517 finishers. Last person did it in 2:46:04. This was the 9th year of the event.
A VERY SHORT VIDEO TAKEN AT THE START:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyNL7_ew-9E

Well organised, and well supported. Thanks especially to the 3 women on the final bend who screamed encouragement to every finisher.

This time last year I was 2 stones overweight, so in March I wrote out a training plan and got to work. Once down to my racing weight I ran a 10k race and 2 half marathons. In total in 2009 I ran 871 miles (about the length of Great Britain).

looking back it was a mixed year. On one hand great satisfaction because of my running, on the other  deep sadness at my father dying, and the challenges and joys of being a parent to teenagers. The thing that kept me strong through everything was running.

In 2010 I’ll run the Edinburgh marathon, and get faster times in all distances, setting a few PB records on the way.

I’ll look back at a successfull year, be able to speak and write Spanish in 2010 and some nice surprises are welcome too, like (at least) doubling my monthly income.

This event has been held Annually on New Years Day for the last 23 years.
Runners (and Walkers) are mainly from Langholm (the muckle toon) and near by towns but have been known to travel further to run the 8.5 mile course through beautiful countryside.

Last years event attracted 62 walkers and runners and the fastest time winner of the bottle of whisky was in 57 minutes, 27 seconds. The course record is 46 minutes, 49 seconds.

This years results: Only one runner got inside the hour, the winner in 58 mins 30 secs. second equal did it in 1 hr 5 mins. Fourth (and first female) finished in 1 hr 8 mins. In total 46 runners and walkers took part.

MY Story
Woke up feeling good. A quick look out the window I saw a covering of snow. Even the 30 minute drive on snowy roads didn’t put me off, I was looking forward to this. Once at Langholm I found the starting area and was quite surprised to see other runners, even if it was only 5. A few more arrived and we wished each other a happy new year. The others asked who I was and was I from Langholm. Obviously wondering who this fit looking guy was :rolleyes:. I asked how does this work, and the answer came, “you time yourself”. The aim is to finish for 11 am, some walkers had already set off.

A group of women were raring to go and I set off with them, recognizing a few talented faces. I soon realized they weren’t going fast enough so I picked up the pace. However I slowed when I realized I didn’t know where I was going and there were no marshals, mile markers etc. A girl shouted to me to keep going so I took off like a hare .

I passed two walkers then at a fork in the road I took the wrong road and run for another 1.5 miles before realizing my error so turned back adding at least 3 miles to my morning. I ended up running off road unsure if I was on route, so decided to give up and run back home the way I’d came. Fortunately I met another runner who assured me we were on the right path and he had started late. So we ran together as I memorized the route for next new year 2011. Also we both slipped painfully as did most going by the slip tracks.

At the finish no-one was waiting as it was half past 11. I thanked my good friend (who’s watch stopped at 1:18, mines said 1:54) and drove home bruised but happy.

Note about the above picture:
The photo was taken at Gretna to give some idea of conditions, actually snow was much thicker at Langholm on the first January.

This half marathon starts from Carlisle castle, runs through Carlisle city centre, through some villages, then finishes at an all weather running track in Carlisle. The medal was a nice one and finishers also recieved a technical t-shirt from sponsors New Balance.

I ran 1:40:38 in tough conditions. This one as promised was for Dad.

This was billed as the oldest race of its kind still organized by the same club. I still have a lovely medal and good memories from doing this as a 25 year old.

I give myself 6 – 7 months to train with this one race in mind. In March I could manage 10k in 60 minutes. By Sept 1st I could manage 10k in 42 minutes, so training went well.
The only hiccup was a cold/infection that meant virtually no runs in the last 2 weeks. It probably meant I lost a bit of endurance, but not much.

THE RESULT
I was 105th in 1:42:15 (7:48 pace average).
I was originally aiming to match my 93 minute PB (June 1991), but on the day I’d have been happy to get around in sub 95 mins. I’d even have put money on getting under 100 mins. However I’m not disappointed, it was a respectable enough time and I learnt a lot (mainly, start slower, and run your own race – see later >>)

INTERESTING STATISTICS
1st Male = 72:50, 1st Female = 84:41, 1st Male 40 = 79:16
There were 220 finishers, about 2/3rds of those were over the age of 40. I finished in 1:42:15 and in 105th place. Of those who beat me, 21 were actually aged over 50, 9 of those were over 55, and 3 of those were over 60 (at least one was 65).

A LITTLE STORY
As I said, I was aiming somewhere between ‘dream time’(sub 90) and ‘no thanks time’ (over 1: 40), and I believed I’d get close to my PB (93 mins).
The first mile was downhill and I hit it in 6:52 which I was excited about as I knew that was the exact pace for an 89:57 half marathon.
It was at this point that another runner struck up a conversation with me. Alistair turned out to be an experienced vet 65 years old, but alas there was no M65 category in this race. He’d won 9 out of 10 races this year and ran in the Inverness Marathon.
By mile 2 (14:15 oops) realizing I’d slowed I left my friend and picked up my pace. By mile 3 he’d caught up with me and suggested we help each other. An old ultra runner’s trick he said, take turns to shelter from the wind and it could save minutes. I went along out of politeness and we were having a great chat too. At 4 miles (29 mins) I realized we were running at 7:15 pace (a 95 minute half marathon) and settled for that. However my new friend suggested changing the lead every 2 lamposts. In hindsight I think this constant change of pace took it out of my legs, but I’m not making excuses (much lol).
By 7 or 8 miles my legs felt heavy and I slowed leaving my much older friend to push ahead. He finished in 79th place in 1:37:34.
THE END / MY VERDICT
I’d been waiting so long to do this race (18 years) that I was just glad to get it out of my system and ‘move forward’. So no disappointment with the time as I know it’ll improve. A slight disappointment however was that the organizers didn’t provide medals to all finishers. I’d have gladly paid extra for this. Instead we got a mug and a bottle of lucozade.
The 2 Best Bits: YouTube – Dumfries Half Marathon 2009

This years London Marathon was inspiring yet again, so when the new site went live at midnight on April 26th I just had to enter the ballot for next years race. I have to wait till early October to find out if I was successful, meanwhile the training has begun, 8 weeks ago actually. I had planned to run the 2009 race but I allowed stress at work to affect my training. A quick blog about it here.

I’ll keep my projected finishing time for the marathon to myself for a while. I’ll just say it is ambitious but do-able.

I’ve penciled in a few races on the way with the intention of equaling and beating all the running PBs that I set 18+ years ago before fatherhood kept me busy.
MY RUNNING PBs
3 Miles ——- 19 mins
4 Miles ——- 26 mins
5 Miles ——- 33 mins
6 Miles ——- 40 mins
7 Miles ——- 48 mins
8 Miles ——- 55 mins
9 Miles ——- 63 mins
10 Miles —— 70 mins
13 Miles —— 93 mins
Most miles run in a week ——- 40 miles
Most miles run in a month ——- 124 miles

My 2009 Races And Target Times
1st September — Gallovidian 10k — sub 40 mins
27th September — Dumfries Half Marathon — sub 90 mins
25th October — Cumbrian Run (Half M.) — sub 88 mins

I’ll reveal my training schedule in another blog post, wish me luck.

As many of you know I was planning on making my debut in the London Marathon this year.Unfortunately because of work commitments and other things, I haven’t done enough training during the last four months, So I have to be realistic and perhaps call time on that one,for this year anyway.

The 2009 London Marathon takes place on April 26th, also my birthday. I thought this would increase my chance of gaining entry, but ofcourse this is London and every year it is highly oversubscribed, and entries are on a first come first served basis. Now the way round this is to get a guaranteed place with one of the charities, just raise (or pay yourself) the four figure sum.

In 13 weeks it is still possible to train and finish a marathon, but it would mean sacrificing a respectable time. For me any time over 4 hours is jogging, under 3hrs 45mins is running, enough said.

Today is day one again. Over the next 5 months I’ll build my training up to 30 miles a week of quality running and enter a couple of half marathons in the Summer. If that goes well, I’ll enter a 10 miler in November. When I break the hour for 10 miles, I’m a happy man lol. I’ll then decide if I want to continue training for a Spring marathon, (possibly Edinburgh) or start on my long overdue ‘End to End’ cycling challenge.

London Marathon? I’ll watch it on tv, be inspired to enter, and who knows, watch this space.