Yorkshire Marathon

Just under 2 months ago, on 20th October, I ran the Yorkshire Marathon.  Not only was it the first marathon in Yorkshire, but was also my first marathon.

So what made me sign up after over 10 years of running and just as long saying I wouldn't run a full marathon? Well firstly I wanted another challenge, a real challenge where I had to put a lot of effort and commitment in to achieve it. A half-marathon is no longer a challenge distance wise.  I know I can run them with just my normal training, but a full marathon, well that's something different entirely. Secondly and more importantly I finished reading Jane Tomlinson’s book the day before Run For All, the organisation created in Janes’ memory, announced the race.  After all she went through, yet still managed to complete amazing feats which take so much out of the human body, how could I not enter.  I knew that if at any point I was to struggle I just had to think of the challenges Jane faced and I would be inspired to continue.

Training through the hottest British summer for years was difficult at times, but I can honestly say I loved every bit of it.  There is something almost therapeutic about running for 3+ hours.  I get in a zone and just keep going.  I did 3 runs of 20 miles and 1 of 22 miles which set me up nicely for the big day.  My mid week running didn't change much at all.  A circuit class on Mondays, short to mid length runs on Tuesday and Thursdays (sometimes hills and sometimes tempo), a speed session at Parkrun on Saturdays then my long run on Sundays.  Anyone who says you need to run 100 miles a week to run a marathon, as a few people said to me, is lying.  Possibility if you want sub 3 hours, but not for your average runner like me.

The marathon started a finished at York university and the organisation was excellent.  Busses took runners from the York train station to the start, baggage storage was simple and probably the quickest I've ever used and the queues for toilets were tiny. Plenty of entertainment with music was provided at the start. The only bit at the start that didn't work so well was the warm up, where they had a few technical problems with the sound.  This wasn't a problem to me as I'm not a fan of mass warm-ups and would rather do my own thing.

The course went through the city centre, moving on to residential areas, then going out to rural roads and villages before coming back into the city for the final mile.  The first 2 miles were amazing. Everyone was so exited and the streets were lined with people watching.  Running past York Minster was one of my best running experiences. The crowds lining the street were packed and really loud and the minster bells rang constantly. This is one running experience I will never forget.  Heading out into the residential areas and then onto rural roads the crowds started to thin out at bit. It wasn’t quite the totally flat course it was advertised as.  I lost count the number of times someone shouted ‘You’re almost at the top of this hill’.   Most of the rural section ran into each other (no pun intended). I remember passing Stockton on the Forrest, passing the cubs at Snowball and going though another few villages but couldn’t tell you how far they were into the race.  There were two out and back sections where passing runners coming the other way was hard.  After getting to 20 miles, I knew I was almost there.  My legs were the most painful they have ever been, but there was no way I was giving up.  Coming back into the city centre at 25 miles was nice.  The support increased in both volume and noise and the significance of only having just over a mile to go was huge.  One final challenge was to get up the hill at 25.5 miles. 

Running the last 200 meters with the crowds going mad and supporting each person as if the knew them personally was incredible.  I knew by then I had finished my first ever marathon and could just enjoy the feeling.    

Until you run a marathon you will never know how much effort and emotion goes into getting round those 26.2 miles.  Not just the race, but the months of training leading up to it. As usual I was raising money for the British Heart Foundation.  This was by far the hardest challenge I have ever done for them, no nothing compared to when people suffering with Heart Disease go through. 

Leeds Abby Dash

After a hard few months of running with 2 half Marathons, Lots of 10K’s and countless 5k’s yesterday I did what I’m planning on being my last proper race of the year.   It’s the first time I’ve done the Leeds Abby Dash, voted as being one of the top 10 10k races by Runners World and one of the flattest and fastest 10k’s in the country.

Pre-race was incredibly smooth, the usual 30 minute plus queue for the toilets was about only 10 minutes and the baggage tents were well marshalled and very quick.  With over 9,000 people running this was quite impressive.

Once the race started there was a few minutes wait until we got through the start, then the usual weaving around slower runners and walkers who for some reason only known to them started near the front.  I’ve never understood why people who are obviously slower start really near the front, where is the enjoyment of spending the entire race getting over taken by people?  Is it not more fun to run with people around the same speed?  It was a shame to have to dodge round people as it meant we couldn’t make use of the downhill just past the start.  Still once past the first km it started to spread out and running at one pace was much easier.  It’s not the most exciting race route, very urban, but except a slight hill around 4k and a short hill with about 500m to go it was flat and straight.  The Abby at half way was a nice sight, but blink and you miss it.  As it is an out and back course, it was fun watching other people coming back in the opposite direction.  The challenge being to get as far as possible before the front runners started coming back.  I think I got to 3.5k! Those front runners are amazing though, they are like machines when they run.  Overall I enjoyed the race and finished in 48:49 a new PB by 20 seconds.  A good way to end my running season.  I was hoping for slightly faster given how fast the course is, but this sets me up nicely to go for under 48 minute next year.

It felt slightly disorganised at the end, probably not because it was, more likely due to the huge number of people trying to get through the end, collect their finishers pack and meet family/friends.  As was the case for a lot of races this year, the post race goodie bag was non-existent.  A bottle or water, bottle of recovery milkshake and technical t-shirt had to do.  At least I got a t-shirt, a lot of people who finished after me didn’t.  As someone said to me, ‘that’s why you run’.  You earn your t-shirt and want to wear it afterwards and it training and want to feel proud of what you have achieved.  When you pay £20 for entry with the organisers advertising a technical t-shirt for every runner that’s what everyone should get.

Now I’m going to concentrate on getting my 5k time down.  Aiming for under 23 minutes by the end of the year.  Although given the Parkrun course I now run, with it’s ramps over bridges, steps and tight turns I think that may take a bit longer, but it’s good to have something to aim for.