English
Nice to Cannes, why run when there is a perfectly good train? I can’t tell you how many times I have been asked that question over the past few weeks! I’m pleased to say I finished the marathon, unfortunately not under 3:20 which was my aim but 3:23:18 which I’m very pleased about.
The other reason for celebration was that it was marathon number 10 for me, including 4 completed as part of IronMan races (UK, Austria, Arizona, Kona). I have done London twice, Rome, Velencia and a cross country marathon near Brighton and Nice takes me into double figures. Given the pain I am in as I write this, I’m not sure there will be number 11!!
The day was perfect with it being overcast, not too warm and the rain held off. We occasionally got a fine mist which was actually quite refreshing. The race organisation was impressive; they certainly know how to put on a running event in the Cote d’Azur. The start was well marshalled and set up and people put into pens depending on their estimated finishing time. The aid stations were every 2.5km and well stocked with water, fruit, energy drink, flat coke and sponges. I’m sure it is no easy task catering for 12000 people!
I had planned on doing some more training when I had entered the race, but this didn’t materialise due to my focus on the tri season and then a few injuries cropping up. I was in the 3 hour group and I knew there was no way I was going to be able to stay in the pacing group for too long. My plan was to run with the 3 hour group as long as possible and then let the 3:15 group pick me up.
After a 20 minute delay the race got underway, but the delay had kind of thrown me out as I had timed everything perfectly for an 8am start. Walk to the start, drop of my bag, pee, hit the start pen for a 10 min warm up and GO!
Instead of running I got to stand around convincing myself I needed to pee again and that there was no way I was going to make the end without a portaloo stop. Really not ideal! After getting the crowd going we were let loose on the promenade at Nice and as with all mass starts it was chaos. Within a minute of starting the 3 hour flag was already 50m ahead simply due to the congestion, but as soon as a path was clear I was able to get back in the group.
All I could focus on was my bladder and the waving red flag of the 3 hour pacer ahead of me. After about 8km we hit a slight decline and I found myself level with the pacer and still very comfortable so I upped the speed a little and opened a gap as I spotted a bank of portaloos a little down the road and right next to the course. This was my first mistake. I should have ignored it and kept running.
I was in and out super fast and the red flag had about 200m on me. Rather than settle into my plan of doing my own race and getting swept up by the 3:15 group at some point down the road, I decided I could close the gap and proceeded to chase down the 3 hour group. My second, and biggest, mistake.
After 3kms of chasing to no avail, I knew I had blown way too much energy on my hair brain scheme. I tried to recover as best I could on the fly and settled into my pace going through the halfway point in 1.34 and feeling good. The Dutchman was waiting for me just past the halfway point which was perfect as it was a tough place simply because you had to double back on yourself which really isn’t good mentally when running point to point!
I hit a very dark spot around 25km, I was hurting as all the niggles that had been giving me pain over the past few weeks came out to play havoc, including my right achilies which was shooting pain up my leg. I wasn’t happy and all the dark thoughts of ‘Why am I here?’, ‘I could just stop’ and ‘Ouch it hurts!’ were all spinning through my mind. The 3:15 group caught me right in the darkest of dark spots and facing an uphill climb. I just couldn’t muster the strength to go with them and I had to watch the group pull away from me as I struggled on up the hill.
The Dutchman was waiting for me in Juan Les Pines and having only seen me 7km previously smiling and comfortably ahead of the 3:15 group knew I was in trouble when the 3:15 group went through and no sign of me. I was so happy to see him and it really helped pull me out of the doldrums and get on with it, after all it was only another 10km to go!
Pain and suffering go hand in hand in a marathon and I had my share, so I figured the faster I run the sooner I finish! The last 10km were tough, especially knowing I wasn’t going to go under 3:20 so my new aim was to get a new PB, and hey, I was there so might as well try and enjoy myself.
The finish is on the Croisette in Cannes and it is so cool running through the hundreds of people who line the street. It is so packed with spectators in some sections it was impossible to have more than 3 people running abreast because the crowd had swelled onto the road. Everyone was shouting, ringing bells, banging drums and clapping which got everyone running a bit faster.
I got over the line, grabbed my things and headed straight into the water to cool off my legs, I find it helps with recovery after long rides and runs to be in cold water for 15 minutes. All in all I am really pleased to have taken part and in reflection I should have stuck with my plan. For someone who has done 10 marathons, I made the rookie mistake of getting caught up in the heat of the moment and throwing the plan out the window.
So now to nurse the injuries (achillies, hip flexors), see what magic my pedicurist can do on my feet and have a few days off relaxing.
Happy training!
Cx
