Chapter 11: The Road to San Sebastian Marathon 2012

I have a friend called Charlie Gordon Lennox who had run the Berlin Marathon the year before and we had toyed with running a marathon together.

After some deliberation we decided that Spain would be the ideal destination and San Sebastian a fine venue, not just for us but also for our spouses.

The difference here was that I never stopped training. I was covering 10-15 miles even in the downtime of summer holidays and cycling too in the South of France.

I even did my first half marathon at London’s Run to The Beat and managed a respectable 1:37. Finishing a competitive half marathon felt great but I did feel like a bit of a fraud as by definition it is only a “half” rather than a full one. It did give me memories of London and I wondered whether it was time for me to tackle the streets of my hometown one more time.

Run 2 The Beat: Cheating or a Proper Race?

By the time November came round I had done my biggest EVER month of running at over 100 miles. Still arguably not enough but nevertheless it stood me in good stead for end November, a now traditional time of year for annual marathon no 2.

We didn’t train together but kept each other abreast of training developments and were both very excited when we met up on the Friday evening in San Sebastian (Hotel des Londres).

So Excited About Picking up My Number

The first evening went without a hitch, as did day 2. Spent time at the Expo and bought some compression things for my calves in an attempt to save myself from shin splints and also bought a fabulous running top which I have since discarded as it made my nipples as little too visible (for a chap anyway).

The Amazing Charlie Gordon Lennox

So what was the problem here? Ah, the dreaded afternoon nap.

My wife and I settled down to a 2-hour snooze and woke up at 6:00pm.

We went out for dinner and then returned to the room hoping for a rapid descent into sleep but no.it was not to be.

I thrashed around, tossed and turned and failed miserable to get to sleep – until 3:30am!

Moral of the story – NEVER have an afternoon nap and also if you are in a strange bed, prepare to be awake for some time. Perhaps consider getting 2 twins instead of a double – hardly very romantic but practical nonetheless.

I was in a complete state when I eventually did wake up 3 hours later at 6:30am. I thought it was all over before it had even begun.

I felt sick and so disappointed.

Fortunately many people on Facebook were giving me hope as I had actually rested for the days leading up to the race.

The skies darkened and Charlie and I set off in a Taxi from the hotel to the start point where coffee and further sustenance were required.

The sounds of AC/DC Highway to Hell Blared out and we were off. The pelting rain unrelenting. But guess what, I put one foot in front of the other and things were working for me.

Where's Wally?

I saw Nicole and Sarah (Charlie’s wife) outside our hotel and threw them my waterproof. It was time to slug it out in the rain.

The course itself was 2 and a bit loops with quite a few twists and turns and fairly long period in industrial areas with very few spectators.

Good news was that the support when in the town, even in spite of the rain, was great. I was feeling fairly strong and my music was a stirring selection that banished any thoughts of sleepiness.
I also saw Nicole and Sarah twice more along the seafront stretch, which gave me a lift every time I saw them (and for the following 10 minutes).

I had however not turned data off on the phone  I was using and at mile 22 I lost everything and had to run the last 4 miles with no music or audio encouragement about my progress. It made me mad and since then I know how to pace my electronica as well as myself.

I passed the 40k mark in 3:15 and knew that it was within my grasp to break the elusive 3:30 mark. Boy was that last 2k hard. The rain was coming down now harder and faster and the field was strong up front so I did feel as though I was going backwards a little.

No sleep: Can you tell?

The crowds pulled me towards the stadium and one more perimeter lap before entering the stadium for the third and final time.

And there it was: 3:28 on the scoreboard and I knew I had done it. I couldn’t believe that I had overcome exhaustion and no sleep to conquer my demons.

I crossed the line and saw Nicole and Sarah but was quickly moved into the tunnel at the stadium where I was given salty peanuts – inspired!! I was confident that there would be no trips to the equivalent of the St John’s Ambulance this time.

Finally: Breaking the 3:30 Barrier

I hobbled out of the tunnel and was reunited with the ladies and waited patiently for Charlie to finish, which he did just a couple of minutes shy of 4 hours – he was made up and was a vision in orange as he crossed the line.

No time for long goodbyes as we need to walk back the hotel (2 miles!) and was able to wallow in Sarah and Charlie’s room so I could get changed and get our car as we needed to get back to Bilbao airport pronto! As we had a flight to catch I had no time to bask in the glory.

We were off and then back to the UK on a flight where we sat next to a lady whose husband had been taken seriously ill on his birthday weekend and they were returning to the UK as emergency passengers.

Puts things in perspective.....