6

Flora London Marathon

Along with 38,000 others and I took part in the 14th Flora London marathon on Sunday. I am sure most will have watched the dramas on TV or perhaps have been there in person. For me, this was my most enjoyable London marathon to date, even though I missed out on my target time. First we need to go back a little…

Tuesday 7 April, 20:18:35 (ish). I was on the treadmill ticking over at 12km with Kelly Rowland in my ears telling me “it aint gonna be easy” and that I had to “Work” when I felt it. It started with a few small spasms in my hamstring (which I ignored) then developed into a twisting and tightening pain (which I ignored) until my leg locked up and forced on a Long John Silver moment (I took note).

I had never had any problems with my hamstrings but am used to (as with most runners) sore calf muscles. I have been wearing my 2XU calf protectors to bed most nights for the past month and have pretty much eliminated my calf problems.
However, since 7th April, the injury gremlins have been invading my right hamstring. Sometimes they allow me to run for 10 miles with no problems, other times they sneak up and bite me when I am doing something as innocuous as walking up the stairs.
I eased off my marathon training earlier than my scheduled taper in the hope that the enforced rest would be sufficient to aid recovery. I went for my last 4 mile run on the Wednesday before Sunday’s race and everything felt pretty good.
The first few miles on Sunday were fantastic. Lyndsey and Alfie had waved me off at the start and I had shared some good banter with fellow colleagues and runners Mathew Browne and Neil Daniels.


Left:- Brinsley and Mat Browne at the start of the Flora London Marathon 2009

I set off at a comfortable pace and smiled to myself as I recalled how I handled the start at my first ever marathon, 14 years ago on this same course. Back in the day, the only chips available were from Fat Stan’s Burger Van. This meant that timings were based on the gun and having taken 8 minutes to get to the start, I was apoplectic. I zigzagged through the “slower” runners like a deflating balloon for the first 3 miles and must have covered twice the distance as a result. Predictably I blew up at mile 16 and ended up finishing behind everyone I had overtaken (or so it felt at the time).

Today however, I was a seasoned runner. I had run this distance and further before. I knew what I had to do and how to do it. I had a pacing strategy based on 7:26 minute miles. I had a tried and tested fuelling strategy which would not upset my stomach but keep my glycogen levels topped up and electrolytes in balance. I had trained for this moment, morning and night for 3 months. And then the Gremlins came back.

Any kind of problem or difficulty you have is extrapolated when it happens in a marathon. My troubles started out pretty early around mile 5. Such was my disappointment and frustration, my immediate thought was to pull out and give up (I am always amazed at how quick I can go from feeling good to so desperately negative).
At this point I knew that my target time was blown, it was going to hurt like hell and even if I carried on now, there was no guarantee that I was going to get to the finish. I might as well pack up now, why prolong the misery, I could rest up and plan for the next marathon in a few weeks time. It was so easy to justify why I should give up. I had visualized exiting the course, the comfy (silent) journey in the bus back, feeling dejected with rationalising that it was the best thing to do.
I think that years of running have helped me to deal with this kind of crisis, not just when running but in any aspect of daily life. The answer for me is always pretty simple; just keep going.

Once I had made this decision I took stock and set about countering each negative thought with a positive.
My Top 5 reasons for not giving up this day

1) How could I explain it? I harp on to Alfie so much about the importance of never giving up that I bore myself (and no doubt him). How could I possibly go back home and tell him that daddy had done just that? Whatever my excuse, it would not have been good enough.
3) This was the London Marathon. 5 years of rejection and here I was. I was one of the chosen. I might not get the chance to do it for another 5 years. I had to make the best of it.
4) I am in Team Wiggle! I had become “Wiggle Man” to all the spectators who had called out for me in the crowd. I couldn’t’ just slope of the course; there was honour at stake here.
5) I had been here before. I have felt this bad before (and worse) but persevered. If I could do it then, I can do it now.
I had convinced myself to continue (for the time being) and realigned my goals to take into account how I was feeling; a sub 4 hour run would be a good achievement (but with one eye on my p.b over the course, 3:47). Once I had done so, I actually began to enjoy the challenge I was facing. I always seem to get more personal satisfaction from overcoming adversity than beating a p.b (probably just as well).
I am not going to say it was all plain sailing from this point on but I had faced down the demons and won. There were other occasions when I felt like throwing in the towel but there were also times when I felt completely at one with the moment.
The roller coaster of emotions, the dramas that unfold, the stories that are told and the legends that are born make the London marathon one of the best in the world and we should be proud of it (falls off soapbox).

My timings for the day were as follows:
5 km 0:23:55 10 km 0:47:26
15 km 1:11:01 20 km 1:35:04
Half 1:40:29 25 km 2:01:33
30 km 2:30:13 35 km 3:02:02
40 km 3:36:09 Finish 3:50:55

This was not my fastest marathon ever marathon, but it was a finish I am proud of and another one to add to the list nevertheless. It also puts a mark in the sand for the rest of the year.
I have 3 weeks now to recover and refocus for the ING Marathon on May 24th. I am travelling with Mat Browne (Mat clocked a very respectable 3:11:26 at FLM) and we both hope to improve our performances on the small Grand Duchy course.