CHESTER MARATHON 2014

On Sunday October 5^th Kilmarnock Harrier duo Scott Lyden and myself lined up along with many other athletes to take part in the 5^th staging of the ever popular MBNA Chester Marathon, confirmed by the fact that the race was voted the most popular Marathon in the UK in 2013.

Having laid off Marathons for a couple of years till almost exactly 12 months previously, this was to be my 3^rd race over the 26.2 mile distance in the past year and although burdened by the usual pre race niggles I privately did feel that I was possibly in the best shape I had ever been before a Marathon. Although I would never put added pressure on myself and shout it from the rooftops I did feel tentatively good about claiming a cheeky wee pb if conditions were good.

12 months ago I had clocked 2.44.01 in Warsaw while in April I ran 2.44.00 in London which was my pb up until Chester. Although I was delighted with both these runs there was a nagging doubt that my long term target of below the 2.40 mark was a bridge too far despite what many close friends and training partners I respect were saying. I had however got a few good races in prior to the Marathon (including a wee win in a recent Half Marathon) and I was as race fit as I had ever been prior to a Marathon, hence my thinking I could run well. I had also put in a good few runs with planned marathon efforts thrown in and did feel more comfortable running at this pace as time went on so I was really pleased with my training.

A final added boost to my prep but one of the most important was the fact that I had taken some Glasgow friends up on an invitation to do some long runs in the City, so a big thanks and thumbs up to Russell, Crispin, Mark, Andy, Colin, Al and the rest for putting up with my terrible Sunday morning banter for a few weeks, and also to Cammy, James, Alex, Mark, Kara and more who trained with me on the occasions I wasn’t going solo midweek.

Chester was also a race I had chosen carefully as the timing was perfect prior to a couple of other events I had an eye on in November. The fact that I knew people who had also done the race and spoke very highly of the course influenced me as well. And yes, I do admit it – I also had gained an Elite Start. This was my first ever so it did tickle the ego a lot and sealed the deal as far as my choice of Marathon was concerned as it may well be the only time I would have an Elite Start.

My namesake entering the race was an added bonus as it meant that we could share accommodation and a car, and bounce a bit of banter off of each other for the duration of the trip. Scott L is fairly new to Kilmarnock Harriers but recently clocked a 36 minute 10k and with his only previous Marathon being a tad over 4 hours I was more confident about him getting a big pb than I was myself!

Scott L has organised the accommodation and I was happy to do the driving so after driving through a monsoon at the English Border we arrived safe and sound in Chester at 10pm Friday night. The next day we did a short 20 minute plod and seeing where the course was in the morning, and after spending the rest of the day checking out the City and doing some necessary carbo loading we got the race kit prepared for the labours to come.

I must admit I slept like a log and awoke at 6 am on Sunday morning as fresh as a daisy so after a shower I picked the car up from a nearby car park and drove us the mile to the start of the race at Chester Racecourse. Chilly was an understatement and getting out the car I was suddenly delighted about my last minute decision to bring my arm warmers and regretting not bringing the gloves given to me by James for being his Usher recently!

Leaving the other Scott I was escorted to the Elite chalet and was briefed by the organisers about the course, introduced to the people already there and generally looked after brilliantly. Speaking to a few of the guys who had ran the race previously and to people who regularly trained on the route the feeling was that it was not a negative split course (where you run the second half faster than the first), and that if you were really serious about a time then the best way to do it would be to “bank” a minute or two in the first half. This totally changed my thoughts on the race as I had planned doing a negative split and after the race I was seriously glad to have this knowledge up my sleeve as (for me) it was definitely the way to do it.

Being led to the start I was disappointed not to see Scott L to wish him some last minute luck, but after the gun went to kick off proceedings the 2,500 runners were on our merry way.

The first 400 metres was on grass on the Racecourse so I tried to get into a rhythm straight away, concentrate on my breathing, and to run what my Coach Jim Young would say as “comfortably hard”. No point blowing up in the first few miles but equally -I felt- there was no point jogging either.

I went through the first 5 miles in a bit under 6 minute miling, a pace I psychologically felt comfortable about as a lot of my latter training miles were ran at this pace. A few of these first miles were in the City with large numbers of supporters on the course so equally I was hugely careful not to run any faster than a number I had in mind so I was pleased so far.

The next phase of the race was out in the country towards the Welsh Border and I had settled down nicely and really enjoying the run, with the light undulations along the course keeping things interesting without forcing any drastic effort. 10 miles came and went in around 59.30 which was complete unknown territory for me in a marathon as previously I usually went through this point around a minute or two slower. The miles were getting ticked off though with not too much trouble and when I reached halfway in about 78.30 my first part of my pre race plan was negotiated as that was more or less my target. Again, although it can often be famous last words, this felt fine.

The Marathon had entered Wales just before halfway, and although the support in the towns and water station was superb, on the course in general it was pretty sparse. By now I was hovering around 15^th-18^th place I reckoned and despite having a bit of company there weren’t too many runners around me. Around 14 miles however, the race double backed on itself so we did pass many runners going in the opposite direction and as most of us know the support from other athletes is always brilliant and it helped for the next couple of miles.

16 miles saw the first big hill as we dropped steeply to a bridge before a rapid rise back up the other side. This did take some effort but again as we were in a village, the support from the crowds did help a lot, as did the fact that after the climb it was a steady downhill to mile 20 to recover a bit.

By now, without being too over confident I did feel good for a pb and as I passed the often dreaded 20 mile marker in 2 hours and 2 seconds my thoughts had now turned to the possibility of a sub 2 hour 40 minute run which would be massive for me and a huge lifetime best.

Although I was bizarrely enjoying myself to this point, I had also been concentrating, doing my sums and generally running clever. I had been working out that I could cover the last 10K at a pace a lot slower than I had been and as the next couple of miles clicked past my average required per mile grew, and remaining miles lessened. At 23 however my first crisis came.

Cramping is an issue I have previously had and at this point it started to rear its ugly head. For the next mile I did slow by trying to shake it off and it did seem to go away but was always on the sidelines trying to ruin my first 24 miles work.

Mile 25 saw the biggest hill on the course and although it (unsurprisingly) coincided with my slowest mile on the day (6.29) I wasn’t too much off course and I had now re-entered the City and heading for the finish. A sub 7 minute last mile was “all” that was required, however the cramp issue was now seriously threatening me. The end was also on cobbles which didn’t help but as I entered the racecourse and saw the finish I knew my goal was in the bag. Figuring I wasn’t going to be under 2.39 I decided that I was going to enjoy myself and spent the last 100 metres with my arms in the air. Crossing the finishing line in 2.39.09 was a fantastic feeling and after checking my position I got my medal, was given my bag back and headed for the Elite chalet absolutely over the moon. I had finished 15th overall.

I was amazed to check my phone and discover I had already had text messages, so I phoned Clubmate Mark Alexander who informed me of my official time. Modern technology is fantastic! I then spoke to my very good friend James Wales who (modern technology again) told me how Scott L was progressing while he was still running! He also sounded as chuffed than I was, and with him doing a Marathon debut next April he now has a target to aim for. We also quickly worked out that I now have exactly the same pb as my buddy Keith Haining and I am delighted with this as Keith is a guy I rate highly as a runner and also a person.

For myself, I am sure that it is quite possible that I can knock my time down a bit with some minor tinkering, especially as I knocked a big chunk off in one go. I also do need to seriously address the cramp issue and probably do need to master fluid intake during a Marathon but this should be able to be sorted with a bit of advice from people who know much more about it than I do.

After a much needed massage (which was actually agony) I was pleased to see Scott L outside the chalet, so after sneaking him in for some food I was totally made up and put in the shade to hear that he had knocked an astonishing 35 minutes off of his own lifetime best by running 3.26. I know Scott will eat that alive in the near future but for a second marathon not long after joining the Club that was a real class effort.

Driving back to the Hotel was an experience as I kept taking wrong turns, but as the 2 Harriers had Birthdays in the past few days we rightly decided to go out in Chester to have some belated drinks. We also had the good pleasure of meeting the Clydesdale Harriers gang for a late nightcap to round off a fantastic weekend.

Chester is a brilliant City, full of character and I would highly recommend a visit to anyone. I also can’t speak highly enough of the race, organisation and course.

I was also seriously astonished by the amount of good luck messages pre race, and congratulations afterwards on Facebook, Twitter, text, email and in person by almost all my friends and they are all massively appreciated. Thanks.

Now to recover!

Scott Martin (9/10/14)