It took me two years to decide to run another marathon. After my first marathon in Auckland back in 2012, the thought of attempting another marathon was totally out of the question. Reasons being 4 hours is a very long time, the amount of commitment and discipline was pretty huge, the amount of mental battle that went through during the race was rather unpleasant. Also, I started to favour trail running more than road races. Because with trails, especially new ones, there isn't a certain pace to aim for. Every trail is different, all that matters is that you finish it. There is no pressure in what pace you should be running at.
So why the marathon again?
Top reason being I need it to qualify for the Six Foot Track race. It was eiter running other trails under a certain time or complete a marathon under 4 hours 20 minutes. A road race seemed the most achievable one. I just have to shave 7 minutes off. As long as I don't hit the wall, I should be fine. After 2-3 months of contemplating whether I should sign up for the Sydney Marathon, and after a talk with an ultra marathoner, I decided to go for it. If you really wanna do Six Foot Track, you gotta wanna do this marathon.
And so, I signed up. 16 weeks of training. Would have liked a bit more time but I just have to make do with it. To be honest, there wasn't much doubts. Since December 2013, I have made it a point to wake up at least 3 times during the weekday to run. The discipline is there. Fitness wise, dragonboat have definitely helped me with my aerobic and anaerobic fitness level. All the Walnuts land training have helped with building reasonable core and leg strength.
Now, I just need to work on specificity - run.
Sacrifices made?
One hour less sleep during the week, sometimes just less one hour of TV a night. No Sunday mornings sleep ins. No Monday mornings paddling. Missed the occassional dragonboat training or land training. No alcohol (although wasn't totally alcohol free like the last time, you can't say no to mulled wine, but definitely no excessive drinking).
Suspected/self-diagnosed injuries throughout the 16 weeks:
Extensor tendinopathy of the foot, tib post tendinopathy, adductor strain, and the usual DOMS in the calves.
Race day
Got up at 4.45 a.m. They say to eat 3 hours before your race. Had a peanut butter wrap and went back to snooze for another 30 minutes. Got up, showered, rolled on the foam roller, stretched, covered my blisters, made sure I got all my gear - Garmin, empty Spibelt (to collect GU gels during the course), bib, shoes, socks, coffee money, and then it was out the door.
Did a light jog to town hall to catch the train to Milson's point. Legs felt good, the left ankle was behaving. Thank goodness. Whilst on the train, I ate my second breakfast - a packet of Belvita breakfast biscuits.
Got to the start line at 6 a.m. 1.5 hour before the race. Just in time for the half marathon. Grabbed my coffee and then looked out for Yean and Ivy to wish them luck and took some photos. Once the half marathoners were off, it was time to get ready.
Did my dynamic hip stretches, rubbed some deep heat over the calves, forced myself to take a dump, dropped my baggage off, and then headed to the start line. It started to drizzle whilst we were waiting for the gun to fire. 20% chance of rain and we are that lucky 20%. I'm glad I had prepared for it, I'm glad I ran in the rain a couple of times. Nothing is going to stop me. Revised the race plan in my head:
5km 5:30-5:45 race pace, RPE 3-5
8km 5:15-5:30 pace, RPE 6-7
2 km 5:00-5:15 pace, RPE 7-8
Repeat
For the last 12 km:
4km 5:30-5:45
7km 5:00-5:15
1 km all you got
If I stick to the plan, I'll hit under 4 hours. Very much achievable, but of course, there's always that secret goal. Secret goal?
Yes, when I tell people my goals, I usually tell them goals I KNOW I will achieve, and I will be satisfied with it. But then there's this secret goal all the time... you know, deep down inside, if you achieve this secret goal, you'll be over the moon. What's the secret goal you ask?
Sub 3 hr 50 min.
7.30 a.m. and we're off! I was in the B group start and hence it took about 2 minutes to actually get to cross the starting line. From here on, let me introduce you to the two voices in my head that was with me the whole time : (AES) Arrogant/evil/cunning VS (CRS) chill/reality/sensible.
The start of the race felt really good. AEC wanted to go faster, because the legs felt light. Because AEC thinks that I can overtake all these people easily. AEC thinks I can go at a faster pace. But CRS said to run your own race, stick to the race plan. So I kept telling myself to take it easy, don't try to overtake all these people. You have 42km to go, don't be silly. Check my watch and it was a 5:15 pace. But RPE was low, I know I can push for more but because the pace is under the target pace, I decided to just stick to it, slow down if I can, and just enjoy the first 5km. Took in the sights of Sydney whilst running across the Harbour bridge, checked out the various running styles of other runners, check my own running technique, made sure my core is switched on, intentionally squeeze my gluts and see how it feels (my legs actually felt lighter but it was too much effort to squeeze my gluts the whole way), made sure my arms are not swinging around too much, worked on my breathing technique, varying it with 3 inhale:2 exhale and 4 inhale:3 exhale ... Nerd much? This is what I do to keep myself distracted.
When I got to Botanical garden and hit the 7km mark, I saw the 3:45 finish pace setters. Clock was showing 35 minutes. Which meant I have been running at a 5:00/km pace. It didn't felt like it, it felt slower. But it was time to bring my RPE up and do a 5:15 pace. Somehow my pace was faster than planned, and so, I just decide to stick to RPE. I got excited running pass the 3:45 pace setters, there's that hope of doing sub 3 hr 45 m, not too sure which voice was winning then, AEC or CRS, but it's most likely AEC. Haha! But thanks to CRS, I made sure I'm keeping my RPE in check. AEC was telling me to keep going, you are a winner! You're gonna do a sub 3 hr 45 m for sure!! But CRS said, it's too soon to say. Just stick to your 3 hr 50 m secret goal, that pace setter will most likely run pass you later, stay calm and stick to the plan.
Took a few gulps of water along the way, when it was time for the 2km fast pace, I definitely overtook quite a few people, and going at a 4:40/km pace. It felt really good, it was all flat then as well. After the 2km push, it was back down to 5km easy. Was definitely going slower than the 1st 5km but still at the target pace.
At the 20km mark, it was the first stop where they had GU gels. Time to refuel. Stopped and had my first GU gel, took another spare to put in my belt for later. Bad idea to stop.
When I started to run again, my calves were cramping up. It put me off a little, was a little frustrated. I had practice stop start stop start runs during my training, why is my calves stil cramping up. I still have more than halfway to go. And so, I slowed down, stopped looking at my pace and just run and get comfortable again. I tried to take my mind off my calves, but then I started to feel some discomfort in my feet, in my knees. I clenched my gluts, wriggled my toes, it took the pain off my knees. I kept going.
Eventually got back into my rhythm again. Pace definitely slowed down but I still tried to maintain the RPE plan. At 21km, I was at 1 hr 47 min, PB for a half! But I told myself don't get carried away, you are most likely to run the second half slower. But that's ok. We did a U-Turn and the 3:45 pace setter is still behind me.
Hit the 30km mark on Oxford Street. 2 hrs 33 min. Yes, 12km to go. Self check: Have you hit the wall? Don't think so. I'm tired but I can still go. I don't think I can stick to my race plan. Not even the RPE.
CRS said: It's ok, don't worry. Just run. Don't walk, don't stop. Just keep moving those legs, you'll get there. It's all familiar route, just imagine you are going for an easy run. You've done easy runs under 6:00 min pace. You can do it now.
Came to the 35km mark along Hickson Road, I sort of hit a tiny little wall. From here on, I totally discarded the race plan. I was going at a 5:30-6:00km/km pace for the last 7-8km. It was the battle of the two voices throughout.
AEC: Yes, it's only 7km to go. But the thought of running all along the flat Hickson Road to Pyrmont and back, it just feels longer than 7km!! Ohhh look, you could possible just do a sneaky U-turn and run back.
CRS: Are you insane? No, do not do this! You've done 35km in 3 hours 2 mins. If you run the next 7km at 6:00/km, you can still make it a sub 3 hr 45m!
AEC: But I would get a faster time. There's no time mat at pyrmont, it won't matter. I'll suffer less pain.
CRS: You are just cheating yourself if you sneak in this U-turn. This race is all about you. Not anyone else. Why do you want to cheat yourself? Come on, 5km now. Just think of it as a cool down run now.
By the time the two voices in my head battled it out, it was over 37km, it was the last slope at Allen Street and then the last U-turn. I had done a couple of hill sprints here. And so, I just told myself to sprint up it. Just imagine you are doing hill sprints, it's less than a minute sprint, just go for it! and bamm!! I sprinted up the slope and then turned, slow jog down.
CRS won! Now, last 4km to go. It was 10-ish in the morning. The sun's out. Running the last 2 km along Hickson road, you could feel the scorching sun burning into your skin. Ideally I'd like to go a little faster. I should be able to. If I just imagine I'm doing a session and doing 4 mins intervals, I should be able to pick up my pace. But, I was afraid. I was afraid I might possibly encounter the wall again. And so, I just continued to stick to my constant pace.
Last 200m, the 3:45 pace setter creeped up on me. Shucks!! No!!! But he was yelling at the same time, "don't slow down! Push it guys! Push it! Don't follow me, go ahead of me!"
200m Shermayne, 200m only. It's time to give it all. You are going to suffer later irregardless, might as well make it even more worth it. The crowd was cheering, everyone around me was also picking their pace up and sprinting too.
And so, chest up, shouders back, core on, high kickbacks, heel to butt cheeks, game face on, and off I go!! It'll be over soon. I felt strong, 3 hr 44m on the official clock, arms out for the last few metres, a big wide SMILE at the camera as I crossed the finishing line... BAMMM!!!!
Watch/net time says 3:42:46, 5:17/km. Official time 3:44:50. Legs felt like they were gonna collapse. If I sat, I won't be able to stand anymore. Downed some oranges, isowhey, grabbed my finisher marathon shirt, grabbed my medal... and made my way to collect my baggage.
I still can't believe I did a sub 3hr 45m. Well under my secret goal. Ecstatic. Over the moon. I have to admit, it's one of the proudest thing I have done and it deserves to be shared :p Those trainings and sacrifices paid of. It wasn't too bad come to think about it. It's sustainable. But I will definitely have to tweak it to make it a more balanced lifestyle.
Could I have gone faster? I'd like to think so. I'm still very new in this marathon running thing. There's always the could-haves and should-haves. Should have prepared earlier. Could have paced myself better at the start. Could have pushed a little bit more at the end. Could have endured a bit more pain. But it's ok. It's all about the experience and you learn a bit more from every race, and even every training run. You discover what you need to work on when you are preparing for your next. And that is what I believe makes a better runner.
Part of me felt like, that's it. I can stop running road marathons. But part of me started to look up other marathons, and I realized that my time qualifies for the London Marathon. That will be in 2016. And so, I've made it a point. I will continue to run marathons, but never the same marathon. London marathon is now on the bucket list. Fingers crossed! Gotta make it happen!
Thanks to everyone for the additional help:
The words of encouragement and support from friends and family, the people who accompanied me on my training runs, the colleagues who provided dry needling therapy to my foot and calves, the existence of dragonboat which provided me an alternative to maintain my fitness level when the foot is injured, Walnuts for strengthening and mental training... I wouldn't be able to do it without all these additional help. Best of all, very little money being spent :p
Enough road races for now, time to hit the trails!!!
Additional stats:
Overall Rank : 822 from 3235 finishers
Category Rank: 22 from 186 finishers :)
Gender Rank: 109 from 932 finishers
