The experience of San Sebastian taught me a couple of important lessons. Firstly that Half Marathons were a good way to get into the marathon mind-set and presented a different type of challenge and secondly that I should prepare myself for a sleepless night pre-marathon and just go with the flow rather than working yourself into a frenzy.
But naturally the road to London was not without it’s pitfalls.
For one, the winter of 2012/2013 was bitterly cold and seemed to go on indefinitely. This meant that much of my training in the first 2 months of the year seemed to be taking place in the gym on the treadmill. Of course I mixed things up, doing repetitions as well as distance and strength work.
I also did another 2 half marathons to prep for London – Watford and Reading.
Watford: Hilly Sonofabitch
Raining at The Start of Reading 2013
Elation at Reading 2013. But the Elusive 1:30 Still Evaded Me
All was going well until the week before the marathon when I was struck down with a dreadful stomach virus that meant I lost a considerable amount of weight and therefore energy. It was literally touch and go as to whether I would run. But slowly and surely my confidence increased sufficiently for me to attempt a mile, then 2, then 3 in the lead in to Marathon weekend. And on the Thursday I sought the “OK” from the GP to race.
At The Expo With The "All Clear" to Race from my GP
The race was on and I had a score to settle…4:14 had to be smashed and I wanted to beat my San Sebastian time.
I had volunteered to raise money for Jewish Care charity to did a little running “pose” ahead of the race which was fun but held me back a little from reaching my pen. IT did get me talking to James Tarlton, a fellow Jewish Care supporter who was about to run his first Marathon.
Jewish Care "Pose"
On the previous Monday, 2 youths had set off a bomb at the Boston Marathon finish and killed three souls and injured many more. As a mark of respect we all wore black ribbons when we ran.
It was hot at the start and though a mere fortnight before there had been snow on the ground I knew this was going to be a warm one.
After 30 seconds silence ahead of the start in memory of Boston we were off.
The Start of London 2013
Memories of the course from three years earlier came flooding back. Something new however was the appearance of a man in a Borat-style mankni ahead of me in the pack. People winced as they watched the “garment” ride up his crack – yuk!
I love the part of the course when the three starting groups all converge like small tributaries joining a big river – it really gives you a sense of the sheer scale of the event.
Once again it was like running past a great street carnival. The combination of the events of Boston the week before and the sunshine brought people out in their masses – I had never seen support like it. Throughout the entire course people were egging us on.
Just before I went over the halfway point I spotted my brother and his girlfriend – gave me a massive lift and I crossed the halfway point in line with my target pace (around 1:35) so I knew that a PB was in sight at this point.
Crossing London Bridge Using my "6 Marathons" Gesture: Arse!
Then it was over the iconic London Bridge and a sharp right after Tower of London and into the no-mans land that is Docklands. It was not too bad and I came out the other side under the false sense of security that it was nearly over….WRONG!
The “wall” hit me like a slap in the face at mile 18 and my illness from just a few days earlier caused me to be searching for energy reserves…I simply had none.
But then I saw my wife and daughters cheering me on, pausing briefly to give them high fives… Then but a few yards later my brother, his wife and daughter and more high fives…
Then I was on my own and crawled to a walk, my face grimacing as all my muscles tightened and the pain shooting up my thighs.
Pain Coming into Parliament Square
Another shout from the sidelines, this time my friend and fellow Prince nut Manoj Jangra – I was too far away from him to high-five him but instead he got an outstretched hand/pointing finger and a loud grunt.
So close now….Approaching the Houses of Parliament along the Embankment..it’s a long slog though and once you turn right past Parliament you have nearly ANOTHER mile to cover before the finish.
Willing myself forward and resigning myself to the fact that I had missed getting a PB, I trotted along pat Buckingham Palace and then saw the time.
The Final Few Yards
A half-hearted “sprint” and I crossed the line.. Unbelievably I had shaved a minute off my San Sebastian time. The body can do amazing things even when you think all is lost you can rebound and surprise yourself.
I posed for my photo and used some insane hand gesture to indicate that this was marathon number 6…instead looked like a weirdo.
Triumphant at London 2013
Tingling in the face and hands returned but I knew what to do this time: salt and sweet drinks.
Then came one of the toughest bits of the race. I had to get myself from the finish line in Green Park to Russell Square where my nephew was having his birthday party in a bowling alley and where I would meet my wife and family for the car journey home.
It took a while to get there but finally I could bask in the glory of having conquered London and having wiped 51 minutes from my inaugural time just 3 years earlier.
I felt great, unstoppable and now had a new target in mind for my next race: Florence......
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