London Marathon 2013 - Race Report

Have you ever wanted something so badly, but you didn't get it? Well, that was how I felt about the London Marathon. After last year's dream period of running, it was time that I needed to be brought back down to earth. On a warm day, in the world's greatest city, I ran 3:39:18, a far cry from my 3:03:10 PB in Chicago only 6 months ago.

Don't get me wrong - I'm very grateful that I ran the London Marathon. I've dreamt about this moment for a very long time now - from those multiple entries in the public ballot where I didn't get chosen, to finally achieving a Good For Age time in early 2012, so I'm extremely happy to have fulfilled a major running goal of mine. But I also dreamt of that sub-3 hour marathon time and it didn't happen for me..... but that's the reason why dreams are big and they're hard to get.

In preparation for London I didn't apply myself very well, and when I got injured six weeks out from London I honestly thought it was Game Over - not just the sub-3 hour dream, but actually making the start line in Blackheath. Fortunately I received good treatment from physiotherapy and slowly, but surely, I was able to run without any pain or aggravation.

However, having not been in this situation before, I had a dilemma - what pace should I really be running at in London? With all those weeks of missed/reduced training, I wasn't sure exactly what the answer was. In the end I decided on 7:15 minute miles, or 3 hours 10 minutes pace, naively thinking that I was fit enough to run at that pace. It was a gamble that didn't pay off and I paid for it in the last 10 miles.

At the mass start, there was a 30 second period of silence to remember the events that happened in Boston six days earlier. It was a very poignant moment, not just at the start but throughout the entire 26.2 miles of the course. People were cramming the streets supporting runners in a show of solidarity, despite the increased level of security being the focus on this year's marathon event. It was like running in a funnel of noise, a sight and an atmosphere I've never experienced before. This was London's response to what happened at Boston, and to those who were responsible for the tragedy - that you can't stop us doing what we want to do.

Reading Roadrunners in the Good For Age Start Zone before the race.

I was feeling comfortable for 3 miles, but as the run progressed I noticed myself getting marginally slower. I didn't think it was going to be a problem and thought that I could make up time. When I got to the halfway mark I felt like I was working comfortably hard but I was still on target for 3:15 and thought that if I could hold the pace and run some faster miles later on I would probably get close to 3:10. Considering 6 weeks off quality running, I would be happy with 3:10 - 3:15. It was wishful thinking, and even I knew that; I just didn't realise it out there.  

It was at Canary Wharf at around mile 16 that things really went downhill for me. I didn't expect the huge slowdown where my legs suddenly didn't have any energy in them. It was mentally draining as well to see runners passing me left and right, seeing the very slightest incline on the course and knowing that the longer I stayed out there the worse it was going to get. I wouldn't say that I hit the wall, but I felt it was getting very close to that.

And I even contemplated pulling out. The racing mentality I had had gone and I just wasn't interested anymore. All I could think of was to stop at any shop and eat lots of food, only to realise that I didn't have money on me. I even walked for 5 minutes trying to get my head together as the crowd urged me to continue running. After downing three bottles of Lucozade in a minute, I knew that if I pulled out right there, all that hard work over the past 18 months would've been for nothing. So I continued on as best as I could.

For the next 7 miles I shuffled through London at over 10 minute mile pace. It didn't feel like I was working hard in that time - the problem was I just couldn't get myself to work hard at all. I was counting down the mile markers, the steps, the landmarks, the stations, just to reassure myself that I was actually making progress. However, when I reached mile 23, the site where the marshals from my running club were situated, I somehow got second wind. Seeing the first of the marshals in the distance, I threw down my drink bottle and ran through the marshals area and the last 3 miles at a pace faster than my previous 7. Big Ben, Birdcage Walk and Buckingham Palace was a welcome sight because I knew it was going to be over very soon. As I got close to the finish line on the Mall, I put my hand on my heart as a mark of respect to the people, runners and victims of Boston. I was broken, sore, disappointed, but also relieved that it was all over. I even shook Sir Richard Branson's hand at the finish; I'm sure he must have shook over 10000 hands out there that day.

Second wind at mile 23. The grim expression on my face says it all. Photo credit: Paul Monaghan

Despite the negatives, I really enjoyed the experience that was London Marathon day and am already hungry to do better next year. But if I am to do this then I need to appreciate these lessons that I learnt the hard way from the race. Firstly, you can't cheat the marathon. The marathon will find you out, and it definitely found me out on race day. Secondly, if you're unsure of your level of fitness do not overestimate your level of fitness and run the early miles much faster than you're capable of. Had I paced those early miles more conservatively, say 7:45 - 8:00 minute miles, I would've lasted longer and probably would've finished with a better time without the suffering. Thirdly, if you want to succeed you must learn to fail. If I want to achieve even greater things with my running, I need something to shake things up a little so that I could remain fully grounded. Throughout the injury and the week after London, I've reflected on what went wrong and concluded that I did too much too fast, took the wrong approach to training and literally broke every training rule in the book. In stark contrast to my excellent training preparations for last year's marathons in Paris and Chicago, I have to say that preparation for London was really that bad.

So, what's next? At the moment I'm enforcing a long break from training. I want to get my leg strong and injury free so that I don't fall victim to another debilitating injury. I've got Berlin Marathon in September, but I've set my expectations pretty low for that as it will take a long time to get to the level of fitness I had when I ran my best marathon time. I'm already chomping at the bit to continue training, but I know that it's for the best if I take a break from training and focus on my weaknesses.

I can't thank everyone enough for the support I've received during my injury and out there on the course. Credit must go to the marshals from my club who were instrumental in helping me bounce back at mile 23. The effect that you get from familiar faces urging you on at such a critical stage in the race cannot be described, except to say that it works! I can't thank everyone by name here, but you have my gratitude after such a difficult and trying training period. So, thank you!