The Edinburgh Marathon

We train hard. We train in the wind, the rain, on icy roads, in sleet and snow, and occasionally in reasonably warm temperatures. Never however, do we seem to get the chance to run in very hot temperatures. So why is it every time I run a marathon, it’s bloody scorching! New York (Novemer ‘07), Chicago (Octoer ‘08), and Edinburgh (May ‘09)… yes, Edinburgh, the other two I could understand, but Edinburgh… WTF! 

The Edinburgh Marathon 2009

09:00 26.2 miles 3:19:52

1 6:48 2 7:02 3 7:07 4 6:58 5 7:03 6 7:07 7 7:07 8 7:05 9 7:04 10 7:09 11 7:10 12 7:15 13 7:16 14 7:14 15 7:14 16 7:21 17 7:23 18 7:25 19 7:25 20 7:44 21 8:00 22 8:55 23 9:35 24 9:40 25 9:33 26 7:44 .2(.36 on GPS) 2:30 (6:54 pace)  Average 7:35 min/miles

No PB, not even for the course, but flippin’ heck was it hot! I was going well until about 18 miles, when I first felt a sense of dehydration. It was just at the point when you turn for home, and I was in positive mood, ‘just 8 miles to go’. Sadly, when I left the grounds of Gosforth House, I was really thirsty and could feel it starting to effect my performance. I was lucky though. I was far enough up the field that there was water available at the stations – even if they were too far apart for my needs at the time – those further back in the field wouldn’t be so lucky. The problem was that I hadn’t been drinking enough early on. Due to the heat, I was pouring more water over my head than into my mouth.

Approaching the end of the 22nd mile, I had already passed at least 3 guys lying at the side of the route, one of which was on an IV. I was starting to feel dizzy, sick, and strangely cold – something was not right. I’d even picked up a half drunk bottle of Lucozade from the roadside in desperation. I never walk in a Marathon, until this one that is. I don’t know if it was cowardice, or me being sensible, but the sight of others in distress persuaded me to walk. I wasn’t going to end up like them, I’d rather reach the finish, than die in an attempt to get a faster time (especially with the WHWR only 3 weeks after the marathon).

PC Plod(der) caught up with me on roughly 24 miles. I was walking, but when she caught me I started to run, “no, keep walking” she said, struggling herself. Other people were walking and saying the same as me, “I’m not risking making myself ill”, and people were slowing all around me like I’ve never seen in the final stages of a marathon before. Myself and PC Plod(der) battled on together for the next mile or so, before my Ultra marathon determination kicked in, and from the 26 mile marker, I pushed on, determination all over my face, as I passed runner after runner. I reckon I covered the last 1.2 miles at about 7:00 – 7:10 pace (the GPS doesn’t reflect this due to being out of sink with the mile markers), and I was getting lots of support from the crowd due to my last mile surge. I was over the moon to cross the finish line after what had probably been my toughest marathon to date. 

Apart from applying lots of after sun, how does pacepusher recover after a marathon like this, so close to the West Highland Way Race? Well…

My appetite has been pretty non-existent since the race for some reason, so it was a good job I had a few beers on Sunday and Monday evening to replace some calories! Monday was a rest day, then on Tuesday I took Harvey for a run. He managed 3.5 miles then I had to drop him off at home before heading back out to complete my run alone.

17:01 5 miles 38:01

1 7:53 (includes negotiating traffic with Harvey) 2 7:37 3 7:49 4 7:40 5 7:02  Average 7:36 min/miles

I felt pretty good, and wasn’t really pushing things over the last mile. It had been far too hot for Harvey though, who I think is going to need a haircut ready for summer (or is that us had our summer now?). My plan had been to do a final long run this coming weekend, but I’m heading to Yorkshire (my Cousin is back from Afghanistan for a break from his 6 month tour – and it’s his 30th Birthday too… Party!), so I had to amend my plans…

…and what better time to go and run a 20 mile trail run than 3 days after a marathon! So off I headed up onto the Glennifer Braes with Harvey to do various laps, with my conveniently parked car providing backup.

11:29 20.02 miles 3:14:13

Average 9:42 min/miles

Section 1 – 8.52 miles 1:11:35 8:52 pace
Break  – 3:44
Section 2 – 9.39 miles 1:28:21 9:39 pace
Break – 3:27
Section 3 – 2.76 miles 27:04 9:48 pace

I was hoping to run more than 20 miles, but with the heat, and the marathon in my legs, I’d had enough after 20, and so had a very hot and tired Harvey. Not long after I set off on my final section, about 17.5 miles, and 2 hours 50 of running already completed, a nice woman with two dogs told me, “It’s too hot for running”. Where was she 3 hours ago before I started this crazy adventure, actually where was she on Sunday morning before 13,000 (?) runners set off on the Edinburgh Marathon? Rather than the annoying announcer requesting “a cheer for the sunshine” (he didn’t get one!) on Sunday morning, we could have handed her the microphone, and been told, “It’s too hot for running”, and we could all have just gone home!

I’m now suitably ready to taper for the WHWR. However, if it’s as hot as it has been recently, I’m going to be in trouble! Maybe if it is, Dario would abandon the race due to the heat anyway, suggesting, “It’s too hot for running”.