A Marathon Effort!

Well, it is over one week since I ran the Christchurch Marathon (well it's actually a month but I never got round to publishing this article until now) but already my eyes are set on a new target: the Coast to Coast race, as part of a team with Chantal. We've just watched a video of last year's event and it has dawned on us the amount of training and huge effort required to complete it. Anyway, more about that another time, as this entry is about the marathon.

We arose early on a damp and overcast Sunday morning feeling slightly apprehensive and wanting 9.00 am to quickly arrive. Breakfast consisted of energy rich porridge, wholemeal toast and half of a Power Cookie! Fuelled and ready to run, we made our way into town and strolled down to the Town Hall. We put our warm clothes into storage and last minute toilet stops were made before making our way to the start/finish line. There we squeezed amongst the masses waiting for the starting hooter. Those last few fidgety minutes before the start seemed to drag and I could not wait to get going.

Looking at the others around me, I thought that some of them had delusions about their running ability as they had placed themselves in the 3 1/2 to 4 hours starting position. Finally the hooter hooted (or whatever they do) and we all started shuffling towards the start line. One minute later, I was across it and my race had begun. Yep, I was right, some of the people in front of me were never going to complete the half-marathon in 4 hours let alone the full one. And what were walkers doing up there? Annoying but I did my best to try and settle in a steady rhythm.

I was hoping to run as close to 3 1/2 hours as possible but soon realised that the comfortable pace I had settled into was 3hrs 40 pace. Oh well, I was not bothered by that, as I decided that the aim of my first marathon was to make it around without too much suffering. I could always push myself more during next year's one!

The Christchurch course is two loops of a route that follows the banks of the River Avon and a circuit of Hagley Park. As if runing two loops is not bad enough the worst thing is the course passes within 100 metres of our house...twice! Anyway, the first loop was easy enough but passing through the 'finishing' line with the half marathon runners knowing that I had another circuit to do was tough! Thankfully, I never hit the wall during that second loop and my pace dropped only slightly but I was certainly glad to cross the finishing line. However, I was extremely disappointed not to receive a finisher's medal! My finishing time was 3 hr 43 min which I am satisfied with. Chantal's half-marathon time was 2hr 16 min which she is satisfied with, too.

After a relaxing leg massage, we went home to shower and prepare for the best part of the day. As most people know, during the first couple of hours after a sustained activity it is important to rehydrate and refuel. So that's what we did! Off to the pub we went, with friends (including Mark) to sink a few pints and enjoy a tasty roast. I must admit by the time, I left the pub at 8.30 pm, I was rather wobbly on my bike going home. All in all, it was a great day and I am already thinking of how I can run sub 3 1/2 hours next year!