SVP100

Published on January 26, 2018February 1, 2018 by runwithdai4 Comments

Where & When:

Stour Valley, August 2017

Why I ran this course:

It happened, I was hooked. That feeling, whatever the science is behind it, it had me. Post RTTS I had the craving, I’d sampled something I liked and I wanted more. I wanted it soon. I started looking and I found this local(ish) 100km and didn’t hesitate to sign-up. Race day just 3 weeks away.

The Course:

Starting in New Market and winding south along the Stour Valley path towards Manningtree. Taking in sites such as Newmarket Race Course, Devil’s Dyke and Flatford Mill along the way. The majority of the route was marked (as it is the Stour Valley Path). Some course specific markings helped navigation, though the dry dusty landscape meant these were often difficult to see and missed.

SVP marking — A smiley face to keep you on route!

The Organisation:

On the scale of events, this one felt small. Whereas RTTS had over 5,000 competitors, the SVP100 had under 100. That said, the amount of effort and input to organise such an event is still mammoth undertaking. There is no doubt a greater reliance on support and volunteers to make the event go to plan (which a number of local running teams support). The team did a great job with information, route planning, training guides and support throughout the day.

The Atmosphere/Support:

As experienced before, supporters are few and far between. The volunteers at the checkpoints were so attentive and supportive and again without them this wouldn’t have been possible.

My Race:

There was pretty much no training for this one. I was counting on the fitness I’d built over the past few months and the fact that I’d continued running since RTTS.

SVP start — The start of a long day on the trails.

Once again I met a fellow runner, Andy, on the train out to the starting point. Always good to get talking, share plans and tips with a fellow runner. Andy and I set off together, both with the intention of making a certain train we’d booked back to London later that evening.

SVP dai and nick — Starting out strong with Andy.

I started out with a little niggle in my right knee felt from a run the week before. Whilst I felt comfortable starting the race, within 10 miles I could feel some discomfort as a result of the hard ground and grooves from tractor ruts (there was plenty of ankle rolling this day!). I was slowly becoming accustomed to managing the mental aspect of pains and niggles experienced during running so blocked it out of my mind, chatting away to Andy and other runners met on the day.

SVP tractor rut — One of the many fields and tractor ruts to play havoc with your ankles!

As the miles ticked by, Andy powered on (it was clear he was capable of running at a faster pace and he was focused on catching an earlier train he’d booked). I was now out on my own, head down, miles to go until the next checkpoint. This race was a real learning curve for me. There were long, lonely stretches where I went almost whole check points without seeing other runners, there were other segments where I interchanged places with others, passing each other on several occasions. It dawned on me that I entered the SVP100 with preconceptions. Incorrect expectations even. I had the mind set of “I did the RTTS in 11 and a half hours, I’ll beat that time here”. Wrong. Different race, different place. No two are the same as I was about to find out. I realised that the course was flatter (I think) than the RTTS so without noticing I’d spent more time running and less time walking and recovering. I’d exerted myself more and thus tired sooner. I also didn’t adapt as I ran. One example that came back to hurt me after the race was when I felt some discomfort in my back, something had shifted in my pack and instead of stopping and addressing it, I decided to continue to the next checkpoint to sort it out, some 7 miles later. Mistake, I was in agony for days afterwards and it was only two months later on a holiday that a friend (qualified physio) noticed the lump in my back and massaged it out!

Second Ultra – SVP100 2017

Later in the day I met Chris shortly after the half way checkpoint. Chris had run this race several times before and we settled in together, happy to have some company on the lonely route. We ended up sticking together for the rest of the course, both tiring and relying on each other to get through what was left. Come the final check point the sun was setting and the temperature dropping. we’d slowed to a hobble and decided that we were both happy to walk the final 4 miles (it was probably faster than we were running at this point). All was good. Head torches on we entered some fields, much to our annoyance though we couldn’t get out. Somewhere we’d gone wrong! Walking several lengths of the field we soon managed to back track and get back on course, carrying along towards the river. Further on we could hear some noise up ahead and encountered some local youngsters hanging around on a bridge over the river. We had a choice, left or right (past the youths). They were encouraging us to go right but there were signs for the Stour Valley Path heading left. We didn’t trust them and followed the signs. All good. Wrong yet again! Sometime later we were shocked to see head torches coming towards us in the dark. Yes, we’d followed the path, only we’d followed it in the wrong direction. Great! Lost in the dark again. Needless to say we got some stick as we eventually passed the group on the bridge. Yep, they told us so.

Eventually we reached the finish to a great welcome from the volunteers still working through the night. A shower and some chips later it was time to hug it out with Chris and blag a life back to the station. Lessons learnt. Manage your own expectations in future! I’m sure we’d covered closer to 70 miles with all the wrong turns on the day!

The goodies:

A medal and a Tshirt, both bearing the SVP100 logo – Black Shuck, the ghostly black dog of local folklore. Excellent!

Time/Standings:

13:35:17
28/92

Race To The Stones

Published on January 26, 2018February 1, 2018 by runwithdai4 Comments

Where & When:

The Chilterns & North Wessex Downs (UK), July 2017

Why I ran this course:

You know that mate, that same one who’s influenced me for the Nohtaram & Tel Aviv, yep, it was him again. Whilst I was considering attempting an ultra at some point, he suggested we try this non-stop 100km event. Once the idea was in my mind I was sold. He soon bailed on the idea and went to a James concert instead…

The Course:

It was bloody long. Starting in the Chilterns and leading through the North Wessex Downs to Avebury passing noticeable landmarks along the way including Uffington Castle, the White Horse, Barbury Castle and the Avebury Stone Circle itself. It’s hard not to enjoy yourself with such amazing views to absorb…

The Organisation:

Threshold Sports did a brilliant job. So much information leading up to the event, smooth organisation on the day and an abundance of well stocked and supported check points along the route.

The Atmosphere/Support:

You don’t get the same level of support on a spread-out ultra trail as you would on a city marathon and this is one of the many unknowns I had which would be answered on that day. That being sad, all the volunteers at the checkpoints were a huge help and massive support. So much energy and enthusiasm in ensuring you were rested, fed, watered, injuries seen too and stocked on food ready to continue. Each checkpoint having its own unique vibe and approach to positivity. The event would not be the same with out them. The smiles, acknowledgements and support of the walkers and hikers out on the trail were also appreciated.

My Race:

I loosely stuck to the training plan that Threshold Sports provided and slowly began getting used to running consecutive days, running when tired and exhausting the muscles. Admittedly I struggled with adapting to longer, slower runs but was able to start running with others to break up the tedium of long and lonely runs.

Being too tight to book accommodation before and after the event, I set out from home at 2am on the morning of the race, getting the London-Oxford tube at 4am. On the bus I met two other fellow runners (Will doing the 50km and Alison doing the 100km over 2 days). Come our wave, we set off together falling into a rhythm for several miles before myself and Will carried on in a larger group. Reaching the first check point (and each one there after) we were like kids in a candy shop. there was food everywhere. Everything you could ever crave. It was hard not to enjoy watching the process of litres and litres of flat coke being made by kids pouring bottles into builders buckets.

As we kept on running, getting to know one another (and the other runners around us) I soon found out Will was training for the MDS in 2018 and this would not only be his first ultra but the first time he’d even done a marathon. We stuck with each other, providing company to the half way point before we separated and I carried on for the last half (after stocking up on Pasta and the base camp!).

RTTS Will — Time to go our separate ways

I’d read so much about Ultras, what to expect etc. and decided to bring with me a change of t-shirt and socks to freshen up at some point. I stopped at the 7th Checkpoint for an extended rest with the promise of the change of clothes. My word did that work! After struggling to get out of my socks and T shirt, the feel of clean, dry and fresh smelling clothes was a welcome relief (there was some rain earlier in the day). I felt empowered to carry on.

RTTS field — The ‘Golden Field’ from earlier in the race.

Not far from the final check point my Garmin started flashing the warning of Low Battery, so I stopped the tracker there and then, only to find out I still had 11% battery remaining. Doh. Something to test out before the next long run (yep, long runs are now considered more than a marathon!)! Throughout the day I’d been informed of the final stretch of the course, Spoiler Alert – you run past the turn for the finish, carry on down the road, loop through the stones for a photo opportunity before back tracking up the road and turning into the farm land for the final stretch. Like probably every runner who has reached that point, I couldn’t give a shit about the stones at that stage but hobbled on and puffed out the chest for the photo opportunity.

RTTS stones

Crossing the line with a smile on my face, it was done, I was now an ultra runner. A very tired one. The next was to negotiate a change of shuttle bus back to Oxford, I’d booked the last bus for 2am and it was now just 8:30pm. Result! thankfully this wasn’t a challenge and, several bus rides and 24 hours after setting off, I was back home and ready for some well earned rest.

RTTS finish

The goodies:

An abundance of food along the way and a medal and some food / beer at the end. You don’t get much more than that although the free photos linked to social media was a nice touch.

Time/Standings:

11:27:10 (PB)
81/963

Paris Marathon

Published on January 26, 2018February 1, 2018 by runwithdai1 Comment

Where & When:

Paris, 2017. Do I need to write anything about it? It’s Paris!

Why I ran this course:

I was on a roll at this point, Bagan to Tel-Aviv, the fitness and conditioning was there. In the past I’d become lazy and stopped running following a race. I had a chance here to keep going, so before Tel-Aviv was run I’d signed up to another. Why Paris? A best friend (and at that time house-mate) Bobby had signed up to Paris as his first marathon so the incentive was to be a familiar face and supporter along the journey.

We both knew a few others who’d be out there running too (a colleague, James, in my case).

The Course:

Through the heart of Paris, taking in the sights of….Paris. C’mon. Don’t make me have to describe this one. There’s that big thing on the route. Y’know, the thing that looks like the Blackpool Tower. People keep talking about the cobbles. I don’t remember the cobbles!

The Organisation:

As expected for such a major race, with tens of thousands of participants this was a huge undertaking that, for the best part, ran smoothly and efficiently. Some over-crowding was encountered at the race expo and the race itself but this is probably unavoidable with so many runners involved. It’s a fairly pricey marathon but you do benefit from various free social media and other interactive benefits along the way, if you are into that sort of thing. If you are thinking about Paris, do be aware of the requirements to provide a medical certificate for races in France! You could easily miss it in the regulations if you don’t pay attention (I almost did).

The Atmosphere/Support:

Generally good. A big turn out from the city and excellent support from the the main sports partner Asics who had various cheer zones and other ‘fun’ bits along the route.

My Race:

I’m writing this a good few months after the race (can you tell?) and I don’t really remember much about it to be honest. I certainly don’t remember the training. I do know my belly was pretty bloated around this time though. I’ve never really worked on the nutritional side of running. I kinda of ignorantly eat whatever I want as I’m ‘burning it off’. I know that’s not the case though. Either way, that’s my main memory. I had a big belly. The other memory is not being able to figure out the sofa-bed and waking up in the morning underneath it.

As I’d entered with a 3:30 expected finish time I was able to set off in one of the earlier pace groups and so was fortunate to have a pretty un-congested run. With wide streets for most of the course I was uninhibited and able to settle into a strong pace from the start, taking in the sites and landmarks as I progressed. Pushing myself towards the finish I was confident in breaking my PB from Myanmar 5 months earlier. When I came to the finish, James was already there. We grabbed a photo and went off for the most ridiculously expensive sandwich and milkshake on the Champs-Élysées. Screw you Paris!

Later on I met up with Bobby at the finish line and we went off to grab a beer, in a bookies. That’s more like it.

The goodies:

T-shirts, Medals, supplies of sports nutrition and a handy pack-able bag. Discounts and offers in local bars and restaurants when displaying a finishers medal was also a nice touch.

Time/Standings:

3:23:12 (PB) 3988
3988 / 42469

Tel-Aviv Marathon

Published on January 26, 2018February 12, 2018 by runwithdai1 Comment

tel aviv why i run — Tel-Aviv was primed for the weekend.

Where & When:

Tel-Aviv, Israel, February ’17

I’d heard a lot of positive things about Tel-Aviv from friends. It certainly lived up to expectations. Something that I really felt straight away was safe and welcomed. Everyone was so friendly. There was a good vibe in the city for marathon weekend. You could sense it was a big day for the city and those keen runners!

Why I ran this course:

Remember that friend who talked me into the Nohtaram? Yep, it was him again. In training for his Iron Man 70.3 he was heading to Israel with his Wife and was going to do the Tel Aviv marathon. So I tagged along. I like going on other people’s holidays with them.

The Course:

Starting in the Hayarkon park and heading up the coast to Tsukei Aviv before turning back and along the sea front and down the Marina towards Jaffa Old town. The route then ran back up through the heart of Tel-Aviv and the city centre before finishing back in Hayarkon park. Mostly flat and scenic along the coast.

tel aviv route — Part of the beautiful coast line the route would take.

The Organisation:

Pretty good. A standalone marathon race, the pre-race exhibition, pack collection and morning of the race was all straightforward and hassle-free. There was an abundance of free food and drink available at the finish line which was very much welcomed. A little shitty that you have to pay for the bag storage at the start though! Unsurprisingly locals just throw old clothes away in the park.

The Atmosphere/Support:

A good turn out from the city with lots of enthusiastic support along the route. It gave the day a good atmosphere.

My Race:

Thankfully I was still pretty much in condition from Bagan so training was pretty minimal this time. Come the morning of the race we walked the 6km or so to the starting point. An unnecessary warm up really! We decided to run together, this being Daryl’s first official marathon. Entering the marina area after about 13km, you start to feel the vibes from the city and it was good to receive some early support from Daryl’s patient wife Brigita.

The route was lit up with runners in the race T!

We carried on and I felt pretty comfortable as we chatted along most of the first part of the race towards Jaffa. I was keeping an aye on the pace (I had a watch now!!) and we were on course for a 3:30 finish providing we maintained the momentum we had. As the half marathon and 10km races started to merge onto the route (I think around the 30km mar) it did start to get very busy on the route and congested in parts. We got separated in the crowd and I decided to carry on with that aim of hitting 3:30.

A final high-five and cheer from Brigita as I entered the park area made me realise the end was near.

A sprint finish saw me coming in just in time. I needed to sprint as I’d forgotten about the 0.2 mile at the end. You think I’d be familiar with the distance by now wouldn’t you! Daryl wasn’t far behind.

New Watch, new finish line priorities 😉

A strong finish time for a first attempt!

Done.

The goodies:

Pretty damn good in my eyes! Besides the now expected free T-shirt, medal and local product samples, there was a re-usable water bottle and a sports micro-fiber towel all included in a colorful drawstring bag. Good job Adidas!

Time/Standings:

3:29:12
257/2085

Bagan Temple Marathon

Published on January 26, 2018February 1, 2018 by runwithdai1 Comment

Where & When:

Bagan, Myanmar, November 2016.

Breathtaking. the local communities, the food and all the mysteries of Myanmar (the parts I was able to visit) and the the town of Bagan kept blowing my mind. You know those places you go where you are speechless and think its the best thing ever, then the next day you get the same feeling again and the day after, its one of those places. Bagan itself is littered, no that sounds wrong, blessed with thousands of unique temples providing visitors with a truly enriching experience.

Why I ran this course:

I had an itch. I scratched it. It had been about 18 months since the Kili marathon and I was coasting in life, no real challenge or adventures of note. It needed to change. I needed to fill the void so started looking for another marathon and thinking about the other continents on my list. Google led me to stumble across the Bagan Temple Marathon website and as soon as I saw the pictures I was sold. There was no changing my mind after seeing those pictures of thousands of temples and the mysteries that awaited in Myanmar. Google it now and plan your trip!

The Course:

Truly a feast for the eyes. I genuinely have no idea where I was at any one time as the course seemed to wind its way through various roads, paths, dirt tracks and sandy areas through and around Bagan. Like the pictures led me to believe, there were temples everywhere! Big ones, small ones, ~~some as big as your head~~ and some massive structures which I cannot even begin to comprehend how they were built. I must admit, although fairly flat, there was far more sandy stretches than I anticipated and these could be felt in the legs throughout the run.

The Organisation:

I was initially a little put off and irritated that, as part of signing up for the race you have to register on one of the fully supported excursion packages. I like to consider myself an independent traveler and I wasn’t not keen on the idea of paying someone else to book trips and hotels that wouldn’t normally appeal to me. I must say though, Albatros Adventures were fantastic. Every little detail was accounted for and the trip went as smoothly as it could. I was so thankful for the trips and excursions to sites and locations I wouldn’t have otherwise seen and I made some great friends through the trip. Race day was also perfect with excellent organisation and a superb ‘pasta party’ and post race ‘celebration evening’. I wouldn’t hesitate to sign up to run of the other races they run across the globe.

bagan the gang — This was the first time running became something more for me. Friendships and community.

The Atmosphere/Support:

Another smaller race meant the support is pretty much non existent for this race. However, given the surroundings it isn’t something I even noticed whilst running! You don’t go to Burma for the cheers and cow bells!

My Race:

I’ll fast forward through the training, you know how it goes by now. I stuck to what I already knew was a tried and tested approach for me. The morning of the race saw runners from the hotel shuttled for an early start beginning outside the Htilominlo Temple.

bagan before — It was too dark to get a decent photo of the temple, so have a standard pre-run pose instead.

Within 30 minutes of beginning the sun started to rise and tens of hot air balloons started to take to the sky. Its not often I’m looking upwards whilst running!

I again chose to run with my own water in a hydration pack given the relatively low number of water stops available. Definitely a wise decision as temperatures soon reached over 30 degrees C. About 13km in I caught up with my room mate who was running the half marathon race, I was a little envious at this point as the sweat was becoming relentless! Soon after the course turned onto some dirt and sand tracks. I wasn’t prepared, nor experienced, for running on sand and to my surprise there was rather a lot in Bagan. I found this tough, very tough. I felt I was running quite strong though and, using my trusty Casio F-91W was constantly calculating my average pace and expected finish time. I felt I was on course for a sub 3:30 finish time and kept pushing. After about 30km though I accepted this time was gone as I started to slow and feel the effects of running on the sand. Since seeing my room mate I’d spent most of the run on my own and the isolation was also getting to me a little. As I reached the 40km point I caught up with another runner (it had been sometime since I last saw one!) and I decided to settle in behind him at a more comfortable pace and keep pushing for a PB time. To my surprise and confusion though, the finish line soon loomed up ahead and we both chased down the end. I later realised I’d been calculating my finish based on a 44km distance. I have no idea why. It did keep my mind occupied though with the calculations. I decided I’d invest in a sports watch (Garmin F235) as a result of my cock up when I get back to the UK!

bagan — Back to where it began, only now with a medal.

The goodies:

A nice T-shirt, a medal and a ridiculous amount of food and drink the whole week.

Time/Standings:

3:28:56 (PB)
6/100

Kilimanjaro Marathon

Published on January 26, 2018February 1, 2018 by runwithdai2 Comments

Where & When:

Moshi, Tanzania, March 2015.

Moshi, “The gateway to the Kilimanjaro National Park“. How’s that for a strap line!

kili sign

Why I ran this course:

I’d somehow gatecrashed a friends holiday! The plan was to trek up to the summit of Kilimanjaro. After some planning over Christmas we knew what we wanted. Then I found out (about 6 weeks prior to the trip) that there was a Marathon in Moshi the week we were visiting, well, the plans just had to change!

The Course:

Starting at the stadium in Moshi, the route begins with heading out (for about 8km) along the road to Dar Es Salaam before looping back (passing the hotel were we were staying) along the road into the town (this was fairly flat with some undulating). Passing through the town the course headed gradually uphill towards Mweka with the mountain in the background. Correction, the mountain was the background!

The route passes through farms, villages, coffee and banana plantations. Turning around at about 32km, the final stretch gradually led down hill back to the start, finishing in Moshi stadium where it all began. Throughout the majority of the route, Mt Kilimanjaro stands ever present in the background providing a surreal visual to run with (it is the highest free standing mountain in the world after all!).

The Organisation:

Basic but effective. No intermediaries required, you can book the race and everything you need directly with the organisers. The registration at the event was simple, collect your race bib and check the route. Done. The event is IAAF accredited and also counts towards qualification for the Comrades. Besides the marathon there are half, 10km, 5km and wheelchair events. On the day bag storage is freely available.

Registration was short & easy

This is my nervous face

The Atmosphere/Support:

For such a small race (there were approximately 300 participants in 2015, the majority of whom were Kenyan or Tanzanians that made up 58 of the first 60 finishers!), the support was fantastic. The locals all come out to celebrate the event, clapping and cheering along the route. Children in local schools and orphanages going wild at the sight of runners sweating it out in the sun.

As we explored the town and registration center the locals were so friendly and chatty (and besotted with Kate and Sarah!). Each time someone found out that I’d be running the marathon, it was met with cries of “who, you are?!” and laughter. A real confidence booster! They had only one request, beat the Kenyans! They were betting on the wrong runner.

My Race:

My training was pretty much the same as it was for the London Marathon. I just had much less time. By now I was living in Crystal Palace and exploring different areas on my training runs. It was quite weird when I started to recognise roads I’d run on years before when training. Training went well with no issues or concerns. I was off to Tanzania. My only worry, 3 days of safari and camping might not be the best prep for a marathon! It’s a tough life.

The even before the race we rocked up in Moshi, collected my bib and chilled out by the pool. After a few days of eating packed-lunches and camp meals I was ready for some pasta and carb loading. the “Pasta with red sauce” ordered at the hotel though turned out to be some curry concoction. Oh well, I need those carbs! That evening I tried again with the “Pasta with white sauce” and to my delight, I had the same meal as earlier. Brilliant. double curry before a race, great start.

The hotel was providing a breakfast and a shuttle bus into Moshi for the marathon, I understood the bus to be leaving at 5am but inquired at reception to confirm. There was some confusion, although I was confident that I was right and wouldn’t miss out as a result of the breakfast gathering. A few hours later though I was woken up by the receptionist to confirm it was indeed a 5am departure. Great, double curry and a disrupted sleep. This was going well…

kili start — As the darkness lifted, runners gathered ready for the start

Being unsure of the water situation in Moshi I decided to run with my camel back. I was so glad to have my own water supply as the temperature was hot (around 33 degrees C) despite the early (6am) start. With so few runners, there were long stretches, particularly after leaving Moshi and heading up towards Mweka, when I was running on my own. At times, coupled with the long straight roads, this was a mental challenge I’d not previously experienced. The path through the Banana plantation (about 3km i think) was another challenge as, despite being beautiful, it was off road and like running through a building site! Along the final descent, I was joined by a group of 5 or so young children who came out of nowhere, holding my hands and running with me for about 5km. This was rather special and honestly I was struggling to keep pace with them in their jeans and flipflops!). I kept going though as I realised I had a shot at a sub 4hr time if I could maintain the pace. Coming into the stadium the town was bustling and you had to weave through locals going about the business. A small crowd seated in the stadium cheered home each runner. That was a nice touch!

The goodies:

A medal and a single size (large but more like gigantic) cotton t-shirt which sadly didn’t last long.

Time/Standings:

3:59:01
111/313

London Marathon 2013

Published on January 23, 2018February 1, 2018 by runwithdai1 Comment

Where it all began – My first marathon.

Where & When:

London, 2013. The place I’ve come to call home. A place I’d hardly explored.

Why I ran this course:

This was the start of my running journey. A friend and I had previously agreed to sign up to the ballot back in 2008. 5 years later, thanks to Virgin honoring the final year of Flora’s “guaranteed entry on the 5th attempt” I obtained a place in the ballot.

The Course:

This one needs no explanation. The historical course runs from Greenwich through London and finishing up on the Mall.

The Organisation:

Smooth. For such a large event, the organisation really is flawless. From registration, through to race pack collection at the race Exhibition, to the race Village at the start, and post race ceremonies you have everything you could possibly need.

The Atmosphere/Support:

Without doubt the best I’ve ever experienced. After all the lonely training runs, the buzz from the crowd really helps you to run with a smile on your face. A huge number of supporter zones, entertainment along the way and the masses of general public make the atmosphere and incredible experience that will last in your memories.

The goodies:

Medals, bags, T-shirts and all sorts of edible treats!

My Race:

this was my first time training for a race. I looked at some training plans but didn’t really feel them. So I decided to do only thing I knew to do – lace up my trainers and start running. I’d recently bought some cheap new Asics in the Christmas sales and decided to do a few short runs in the week, one long run on the weekend, gradually upping the distances each week. Nothing more. A few weeks in I was feeling some pain in my Achilles and went to see a physio. A gait analysis and some investigation later and I was advised to get some support trainers. So much for the cheap start. I opted for some Brooks Ravennas and the rest of my training went as planned. Dull.

Race day came around and I was quite intimidated with circa 40,000 runners penned up and setting out from the race village. As the 3 starting routes merge it can be quite congested and I spent a lot of time looking at the floor to avoid tripping on runner debris and obstacles in the road. Coupled with the amazing support and constantly looking out for people I might know, it wasn’t until about mile 17 that I really thought about what I was actually doing. I was able to sustain a fairly consistent pace throughout the run, and powered through two bouts of cramp in my calves around miles 21 and 23. A big highlight was the sloppy Vaseline high five I got from one volunteer around mile 19, certainly appreciated by my nipples at that point!

Having gained a ballot entry, I signed up to raise money for MacMillan Cancer Support. The support from the team leading up to, during and after the race was a huge boost and assistance in me completing that first marathon!

Time/Standings:

3:36:48 (PB)

5819 / 34280