Sunday 23 May 2010: A PB and a glorious day at Edinburgh Marathon

Weekly Mileage: 48 miles
Mileage: 15 miles

Scottish Half Marathon - 1.15.54 (New PB!), 12th place, Full Results here

Splits: (1) 5.33 (2) 5.40 (3) 5.34 (4) 5.40 (5) 5.45 (6) 5.47 (10K) 35.45  (7) 5.52 (8) 5.52 (9) 5.47 (10) 5.50 (11) 5.57 (12) 5.44 (13) 5.43 (13.1) 1.08


What an amazing day! 

Today started at 5am with my first alarm call. After 30 minutes of snoozing I got up and had some breakfast, a toasted bagel with peanut butter. I got dressed into my kit and headed off to the start line of the Scottish Half Marathon, which was due to start at 8am.

The Scottish Half was the first race of a day of running as part of the Edinburgh Marathon Running Festival. The weather was perfect, overcast with very little wind. The MC on the loud speaker system announced that it was 13c at the start line. A quick rain shower kept us even cooler. I quickly found my team mates, elite runners Niamh Devlin and Jennifer MacLean, and we warmed up together by jogging and striding up and down London Road. With a few minutes to go we took our places at the start line. It was then that I noticed I had somehow worked my way into the elite starting pen! There were about 20 runners, but I wasn't keen to move so I stayed where I was. No one asked me to move as I hid behind my elite team mates! I was pretty pleased, because the masses were kept quite far back and so I wouldn't have had the best start. 

British running star Liz Yelling set us off and it was a quick scarper down London Road. I immediately felt that my legs were a bit heavy and tight, so I tried to reign in my usually quick starts. As we headed past the Scottish Parliament  a couple of runners passed me and as we entered Holyrood Park I could hear a group of runners close in on me. I turned and saw Jenny was just tucked in behind me. We passed the first mile (according to Garmin) in 5.33 which I was very surprised at, as I hadn't felt great at all.We passed the second mile in 5.40 and again it felt heavy, a complete contrast to how my legs felt last Saturday in the Loch Leven Half. By the time we passed Meadowbank stadium and worked our way towards Lochend Road Jenny and I were in a group of six runners battling it out for the top 13-19 places.

The third mile was quicker in 5.34 as the group was clearly trying to push on and some were trying to break away. It was interesting to watch as those around me would quickly push to catch anyone trying to break away. I even found myself doing it too, I guess that's racing! The group ran through mile 4 in 5.40 and as we turned on to Salamander Road a Shetland runner made a break and it stuck. I tried to go with him, but couldn't quite keep up, as he pulled about a 5 second lead on me. I did, however, drop the other runners in the group and by the time we had reached Portabello Promenade I was a good few seconds in front and several behind the Shetland runner.

It was at this point I noticed Colin McGill (Bellahouston Road Runner, but trains with us on a Thursday night) on his bike. He cycled alongside me for a while giving me encouragement and then stopped to take photos, all of them you can see on this blog. His encouragement was great, as he kept trying to convince me that I was catching the Shetland runner, I wasn't so convinced. Colin did this every mile until we reached Musselburgh, it was fantastic support and really appreciated. Thanks Colin.

I passed mile 5 in 5.45 and felt reasonably good although already I was feeling tired. My legs were feeling better at this point than they were at the start and not quite so heavy, but I felt a small stitch in my side. I pressed on running through the mist and fog that was clinging to the shore making it difficult to see too much further ahead. Very spooky and in complete contrast to the bright sun and clear skies of yesterday. I went through mile 6 in 5.47 and half way in 35.47, much more conservatively than last week, but then I wasn't feeling as good as last week. I pushed on left the Promenade and hit Musselburgh Road going through mile 7 in 5.52. I was a little disappointed with that mile rep, but I'd kind of knew it was coming as I felt slower and my lungs were pulling in air a lot heavier than before. I was, however, encouraged by the fact that the Shetland runner did look a little closer, so I tried to focus on him and trying to catch him. Mile 8 was just before the racecourse and went through that in 5.52 again. I was still not happy, but pleased to be not losing anymore pace.

It was at this point that I felt two twinges. The first was in my bowls, it wasn't a pleasant feeling and although not crippling was very uncomfortable. The second was in my right hamstring. I've always had twinges in my right hamstring ever since I started running 3 years ago and thankfully it has never fully gone. Today's twinges were definitely as a result of last Saturday's running. I hadn't felt it at Loch Leven

The gathering crowds at the racecourse were quick to applaud and cheer as I came through and it was a real boost as I passed mile 9 in 5.47. As I dashed down the road away from the racecourse I felt really good. My bowls had eased and my hamstring had calmed down again so I tried to really speed up. In the distance about a minute down the road was a Hunter's Bog Trotter (HBT) and there's no bigger incentive for an EAC runner than catching a 'brown vest'. I was slightly disappointed to run 5.50 for mile 10, especially as that was the best I felt in the whole race. Mile 11 was the only uphill mile of the race, but I didn't mind at all, I felt it was a good opportunity to catch the HBT runner who was definitely getting closer. I also knew that at the top of the hill I would be turning round and coming back down the hill.

Getting to the top I went through 11 miles in 5.57, but it was here that I felt my hamstring twinge again and this time it was really quite sore and for the first time I thought it might actually pop. I also felt my bowls again and it was cramping quite badly. Again,with a HBT runner in sight and a PB on the horizon I tried to put both to the back of my mind. As I turned I could see the runners behind me and I was fairly clear of the chasing pack, so was confident of not been caught. I also saw Jenny who was still in the lead and looking strong with a 15-20 second lead over her nearest rival. She even found the energy to give me a wee wave, which I really appreciated. Running down hill was great for speed, but not for the bowls and every step caused more cramping, but I raced through mile 12 in 5.44 and the trotter was ever closer.

It was a great feeling to close on a runner that had been so far ahead and half way through mile 13 I caught him, as with the Shetland runner, I decided not to hang about, but just keep going on and make a gap. Bowels and hamstring aside, I was actually feeling pretty comfortable and I just kept telling myself to keep going. I knew I was perilously close to a PB and after just missing out last week I was determined not to let another one slip by. It was great to get support from the runners coming in the other direction. I wish I could have told them that or showed my appreciation back, but at this point I was using every ounce of effort to keep going. I hit mile 13 with a 5.43 mile and despite my bowels really cramping now I entered the racecourse, passing a cheering Jo on the way.

The final straight was so tough. My bowels felt awful, the ground was covered in the worst plastic panels that made you feel like you were running on a sponge, there was no support. I could see the clock ticking agonisingly close to my PB. I was running as fast as I could, my hamstring was burning my guts wrenching and I just didn't seem to be getting any closer. Just as I was thinking the chance was lost I found my across the line in 1.15.54, 3 seconds quicker than my PB. I was too tired, sore and doubled over to feel elated. After catching my breath and shaking hands with some of the runners that had finished close by I allowed myself a well earned smile. A shout out from Steve Booth and baby Joe (although he's no longer a baby!!) was much appreciated and I hobbled may way through the finish area.

I was really pleased with my race. I finished 12th overall, beating several of the elite men who I had lined up against, which was great. I felt justified lining up with those runners at the start and look forward to my elite entry next year. I definitely fancy having a name instead of a number (the elite runners have no number, just their surname across their sheet - looks great!!).

As has become my new tradition I have noted below my positives and negatives from the race

Positives:
1. I got a PB!
2. I ran every mile under 6 minutes.
3. I overcame bowel cramps and sore hamstring.
4. I caught and passed 2 runners, reeling them in and not letting them retake me.

Negatives
1. My preparation was far from ideal, race the week before and full of cold for over a week
2. I can run faster, I know I can.
3. I didn't take full advantage of perfect conditions.
4. I went off too fast again.

Overall I am pleased, but still feel I can go sub 75minutes. Next time, hopefully.

Jenny came second, having been overtaken just before 13 miles, which was a real shame, but she did get a massive PB, so great for her. Niamh also did really well finishing in 82 minutes to continue her good recent running.

The Marathon

After the half a gaggle of EAC club members including Jo, Niamh, Simon, Nick, Garry,myself and Colin (well he's almost EAC) gathered to watch the marathon runners and to cheer everyone on, including team mates Dan, Callum, Vik, Karen, Emma, and Izzy (sorry if I've missed anyone!).

It was a brilliant afternoon. It was great to see everyone running so well, so determined.

We watched people at mile 9 and then walked up to mile 25 to watch them come back the other way. Those on the bikes, Garry and Simon went to mile 22 and Nick and Colin went to meet up with family, so Niamh, Jo and I took up chief cheer leading duties at the 25 mile marker. My throat is still croaky from all the shouting. Niamh and Jo were so loud, positive and supportive it must have sounded like there were twenty of us stood there.

By now the sun was out in full and had burned off the fog and cloud that had blessed the half marathon and the temperature was close to 25c. It was truly inspirational to watch all the runners from the elites to those in fancy dress and everyone else in between running their hardest in such challenging conditions. I loved watching people's faces and seeing their sheer determination to make that last mile.

I found myself thinking of my planned marathon in Amsterdam and I simply can not wait to get started with my training for it. I also had a bit of a reality check as I realised that when I run in the MDS next year I'll be running in weather conditions 10c hotter than yesterday! Considering I had trouble just walking about it in the heat never mind running in it, I can't imagine how I am going to cope next year. It's made me determined to make sure that I get time in an environment chamber before I go into the desert.

Everyone from the club did really well, and it was a fantastic effort from them all. They should all be very proud. We were definitely proud of them as we cheered them on into their last mile.

We finished the day off in a pub in Musselburgh with a cheeseburger and several pints. The chat, the banter and the random guitar playing was all great and I was a little bit tipsy as I caught the taxi back to Edinburgh with Dan and Seamus.