Bloody hell. Marathon #3 done. I have surprised myself
Short summary:
Today's attire:
Old faded "team guide dogs" t-shirt (it is comfy)
Black / Yellow shorts
Light Grey and Magenta Triaxes
Today's nutrition:
Number of Gels consumed: 5 (one every 5 miles - last one at 22.5 rather than 25)
Nunn (salt) tablets in water: 1
Mars bars: 1 at half way point
Bananas consumed: 1, whilst running away from the halfway point
Drugs: Ibuprofen x 2 at halfway
Water top ups: LOTS. I like to take on lots of water. I think you feel better after as well as during.
Mental state:
Amount of swearing about the hills: One massive expletive explosion at 16.5 miles
Amount of swearing about the views: About the same as yesterday
Amount of swearing about the weather: Not as much as yesterday, but I was scared to open my mouth too wide in case I blew up like a wind sock.
I had an absolutely massive tea last night, and if I never see another potato it will be too soon. Went to bed slightly worried that the shrieking women (they were English btw) in the hotel bar where I was eating would be in the room next to me and carry on partying, or that I would be bounced out of my bed by the bass of some live music. Thankfully it didn't happen so I got a good night’s sleep. Must say whilst my legs were OK they didn't feel quite as fresh as after Mara #1. To be expected I suppose.
As I lie in bed these mornings, I wonder what the sensation is going to be when I move, but on the plus side the legs haven't been hurting just lying there so that is something. This morning walking about was alright, there was a definite element of tiredness that wasn't there at the start of day 2. It is worth getting up early and pottering about as it helps work any stiffness out.
So at 9 am we congregated in the lovely Culdaff for the last time, and got an explanation of the course on a board from Harold:
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| Course profile made easy |
ho ho ho - yes I'd seen the course profile. We had a little warm up jog up the road all together, some of the locals from Culdaff who have been supporting us on the two days coming in were out waving, and it was really so everyone could see us all jog off together. They have been very supportive, even the man in a flat cap at the end yesterday who I couldn't actually understand apart from vague sounds of "fuckin' well done" :) So 0.3 of a mile up the road we stopped at the official start, waited for a convoy of traffic to go past and then we were off (again).
Whilst I didn't feel in quitting mode or anything, I do think the first 13 miles of today were mentally the hardest I've run so far during this challenge. I'm not going to write down what went through my head for fear of freaking folks out or embarrassing anyone but I had to dig deep. I don't know what it was. I seem to have developed a little cough to go with my sniffle, so I was running along barking like a dog, snotting in the hedge, worrying about my toenail.... (it wasn't sore but it *might* become sore..). However one of the guys I had tucked behind on the first day was really struggling and it turns out he ran about 5 miles at the back and called it a day so it could be worse. Our first casualty. I just thought if I could get to halfway and get some banana / other goodies in me (including some Ibuprofen) I would feel a bit better. I did feel sorry for myself in the first half.
A major factor today was the weather yet again, this time WIND. from about 10-16 miles it was really really strong, I'm not sure of the classification on the Beaufort scale, but it was enough to physically blow a carthorse like me around from the side and practically stop me running face on. Yep, we NEVER had it behind us at any point. At 13.1 miles I saw the welcome sight of Harold waving his arms at me, and he very kindly sorted out all of my food and water stuff whilst I concentrated on stuffing down a funny Irish version of a Mars Bar and did the Banana peel thing to carry it and eat on the run. I took 2 ibuprofen but more as a precaution / placebo really.
More getting blown about, and then we got to about 16.5 miles. I say we, the other guy I was following on day #1 is still in the race and we seemed to constantly be overtaking each other. We will call him "Bermuda shorts man" because I can't remember his name and that's what he seems to wear. We acknowledge each other when we go past but he has the look of someone who doesn't want to chat so I leave it at that. We got to the mountain together and shorts man seemed to disappear. This road was exceedingly steep for over a mile, not something any of the runners, even the 2.45-3.00 marathoners attempted to run properly. Power walking is the way to go as it conserves energy and in reality gets you up just as quick. I think I did a mile or so at 16 minute mile pace lol. Near the top there was a shrine, perhaps to previous runners that have perished. People write things on the road in chalk, "don't stop now" "PAIN". "Danger!" Yeah right on! Still it whiled away the time looking at the drawings
At about 17.6 the hell ended and there was a massive steep downhill, my legs were jelly and I hobbled and wobbled down in trying not to bang my toes on the inside of my shoes. What on earth I looked like to cars coming down I have no idea. I had a woman wind down the window and ask me if I was OK - I hope more because I was up there in a t shirt and shorts rather than because of how my legs were wobbling. I pointed at my race number and gave her the thumbs up. She smiled that smile but her general aurora said "you nutter".
With Everest out of the way, I knew it was going to be more straightforward for the last 8 miles and managed to get back in to a stride. The views coming down in to Buncrana and the bay were gorgeous, we ran along the road through some forest sections and I started to feel that barring disaster I'd got another one in the bag. Along the main road to Buncrana a lot of the little houses had mad guard dogs that would come flying out of nowhere, woof a lot but stop at their own (wide open) front gate. I wouldn’t want to be a postman there. Secretly at times going up that hill I was praying some wild animals would appear, at least being mauled is an excuse for a lie down.
I had noticed on the road in to Buncrana that Bermuda shorts man was coming in to view, and although it wasn't intentional at 22.5 miles I passed him. Me: "are you ok - tough one today innit?" Him: "I am WRECKED!". I think I muttered something about keeping going which is always a crap thing to say but I wasn't sure what else I could offer in encouragement. Again I'm not being funny, but having had him disappear on me and then reeled him in I was massively boosted, and at that point (obviously mindful I've got to do 26.2 tomorrow) my legs found new energy. I felt like I was flying along the road, cars were beeping and waving. The lead car had come back up to see who was still on the course, and it was driving up and down between runners asking if we needed anything. It got to the point about a mile out of town where I was obviously the next runner to come in, and lead car basically sat in front of me with its bright green numbers on, I felt like a race leader despite the clock showing 4:4x at the time. I felt better at the end than the beginning. Weird huh. Came in 4.52 which I am over the moon with considering weather, hills and the fact it is day #3. My last mile, mile 25-26 was the fastest of the day 9:06 pace, and the last 0.33 miles was at 8.41 pace.
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| Probably true |
Harold gave me my medal, and thinking back to the views and the climb I said to him "I don't know weather I should kiss you or punch you in the face" In the end we just shook hands :)
Again I feel OK now really. Legs are a little stiff, toenail holding up, doing my duty and drinking / eating. Hopefully any stiffness I can run off tomorrow.
Onwards. :)
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