Background
This whole thing started with Manchester Marathon 2020. I cannot quite remember how I ended up signing up for the Marathon, I think it may have been seeing a few of the other Norwich Road Runners signing up but I ended up in anyway. After months of training (rain, freezing cold and many days where I could not be bothered) with the Road Runners & Lucy Ring who was also running Manchester it was a huge blow when Manchester was canned due to Covid. I was convinced I would never done one because it was proper demoralising putting in all that graft not for it to go ahead. Plus, Covid and lockdowns were not kind to me and I lost all my fitness and looked and felt like crap, that paired with the stressful overseas move.
After being part of a new running club in Colorado, Revolution Running is all really tailored to marathons at the end of the seasonal program. I think it was this, paired with the fact every single runner always asks another running ‘Have you done a marathon?’ or ‘How many marathons have you done?’ meant I just wanted to get one done so I can say, ‘Yes, so f**k off!’.
Booking the Race
Eugene was not one of the target races for the club but it was the previous year and club members seem to love it and most importantly, it’s at sea level, so I signed up and targeted the turn of the year to start my training. I think at the time I just assumed there may be lots of Revolution Running folks doing it, but I was wrong. I think in hindsight, despite Eugene being beautiful and seemingly a great race for a first timer,I would definitely make sure I book a marathon that folks around my pace are training for. I also booked the Ralston Half Marathon along the way and the Newport Half for when I was back in the UK.
The Dogs Trust & Fundraising
The Dogs Trust is close to my family and I. My sister has worked there since she was in her teens working up through various roles from canine carer right the way through to now deputy manager of the new Cardiff Dogs Trust Centre. We have always supported The Dogs Trust and we had 2 rescue dogs of our own until our beloved Maddie passed away last year. So this was for the Dogs Trust and in memory of Maddie.
I want to thank all the people who donated and help me exceed my £500 target raising £544!
Thank you to: Morgan, Lucy Ring, Shane Boyle, Eleanor Jarvis, Nick Randall, Jeanette Webb, Andy Wickless, my niece and nephew, Nai, Craig and Bear, Anna Boyles, Dave and Kim Lewis, my Godsons (Brad, Charlie, Ellis), Daniel Graham, my parents, Travis Austin, Huw Davies, Caroline de Broise, anonymous, anonymous, Rourke McCollom, Sally Hopper, Ross Feldman, Sopheap Min, Eric Janssen, John and Mary, Nicola Ayres and Alex Hurley. You are all very much appreciated, in my very best US accent “I appreciate you”.
Training
As I didn’t go home over Christmas and New Year, it gave me plenty of time to build my plan and I was determined to stick to it. I had no quite considered how grim the winter would be in Colorado, the period of which most of my training would take place, but I managed to really stick to the plan for the first 7-7 and a half weeks. I visited the UK which threw me of course a little bit but the kind Rhondda Valley Runners allowing me to attend some sessions along with the Newport Half Marathon meant I still felt like I was on a mission. Plus, I had not had any cut-back weeks prior to the UK trip so I felt I needed a cut back then anyway. Unfortunately, a European Away with The Arsenal isn’t the best for any sort of fitness let alone marathon training so I felt pretty grim heading back after that.
When I got back I jumped straight back into it was into the 18 and 21 mile long runs which I managed to do. The 21 miler would have been a big confident booster but I went out with the Boston guys who were running 23 and unfortunately 23 was just too much for me so I had a painful 2 mile walk back from my end point. I tried to take the positives in that 21 was my longest run ever and I still had plenty of weeks to go.
I did a solo 20 mile run which gave me a good confidence boost but towards the 15th/16th and 17th week I was really fed up and was just looking forward to it being over. I kept up some running but I don’t think I did enough miles, and due to my loathing of solo running, I probably peaked my runs a week or two too early with the Boston crew.
Here is my plan, I worked out over the course of the 17 weeks (including the races) I ran a total of 520 miles which I think is impressive, even if I did tail off from my plan. I started to bed in the new shoes (Novablast 3 fire shoes) that I had for a while towards the end ready for the marathon day (Spoiler Alert: I wish I had trained in better shoes like those, I would have done less damage).
The Trip
As I left booking my Eugene flights quite late, I ended up going early to Portland for 1 night which was an absolute hellhole. I was glad to get to Eugene for a few days which was beautiful and the weather was toasty. I walked miles on my first day which I had read countless times not to do pre-marathon but walking miles exploring is my absolute go-to when travelling.
Eugene really is a great city and I was pretty excited to race in it, even if the overriding emotion was fear. The expo was very cool because Eugene is Nike town, all the marathon gear is Nike and I treated myself to a very swanky Eugene Marathon hoodie (as well as a cap).
Nike Shakeout Run
The day before I headed to the Nike store (Nike was born in Eugene, Oregon) and they hosted a shakedown run along with the Oregon track club. It was a great little shakeout run and I met some great people who were also aiming for same time as me (3:30). For the rest of the day I tried to limit walking but I did end up going to the Hayward field to get a glimpse of where I would hopefully be finishing tomorrow. Other order of the day was to get some pasta lunch/dinner than just chill out with snacks, hydrate and watch hockey in the hotel room.
Raceday
The race started at 7am so it was a 4:20am alarm but I barely slept so alarm was not needed. I sprung up, had a shower, started to take on my electrolytes and chomp on some Cliff Chocolate Chip bars for breakfast. The weather after being toasty for my trip looked cloudy and perfect racing conditions so I stuck with my normal routing of under armour etc despite me planning to make some changes the night before.
I headed to the shuttle to take us to the starting line and I had a little bit of a wait there. After checking in my bag I hung around the corral and thankfully caught up with the people I had met at the shakedown run and also the 2 x 3:30 pacers who I was hoping to spend the next 3 and a half hours with.
As we headed off in the race, it was perfect conditions in my eyes, a nice drizzle, proper UK weather. I was with the pacers or slightly ahead for around 6-7 miles and at that point one of the ladies who I met yesterday and I pulled away but I was still very much holding back. At around 12-13 miles I was still very comfortable and very consistent. She pulled away at that point but she sped up as opposed to me slowing down and as we went through the checkpoints I was feeling really good and really confident but still mindful I had never experienced anything beyond 21 miles.
The support on the course was great and it was a packed race for the first 11-12 miles because both the marathon and half were on the course together, once the half marathoners pulled off to their route I had my first wobble around 13-14 miles. I had been fuelling ok up to that point but I remember when somebody shouted half-way it made me feel a bit queasy and uneasy, so I really had to grit my teeth for about half a mile and thankfully it than dissipated and I felt back to being strong. I definitely performed better and had less mind struggles when there was supporters and all sorts of weird and wonderful signs around.
At mile 14 I ended up running in tandem with these 2 guys, in hindsight I wished I had said hello and introduced myself whilst running but I didn’t and we just kind of ran together in silence. Unfortunately, I pulled away from them as they dropped back a little towards mile 15 or 16 and that was a shame as I actually had envisaged us being a trio right through until the end of the race.
I was still feeling very strong up to mile 20, although my fuelling had gone wayward a little. I did not fancy any more of those Cliff Bloks even though I didn’t feel nauseous and I couldn’t really bring myself to eat the peeps either. Additionally, water and nuun (electrolytes) intake was so difficult as this was the first race I had used aid stations. At every aid station before the half marathoners left the route it was a war zone and until the latter stages I bet I barely took on any fluid really most of it would have been on the floor or on my face.
As we approached the 20 mile mark my mind started playing tricks with me then, reminding me I have only run to 21 before and how bad that run ended. I almost knew by the time I got to 20-21 I was going to struggle at this point of the course. I had words from my mate in my head saying do not walk until you absolutely have to so I spent a mile trying to convince myself I did not need to stop. At the mile 21 mark I had slowed down a little but given the time I had got ahead of my 3:30 pace group I was absolutely comfortable with that.
Unfortunately mile 22 the inevitable happened and I slowed right down and had to walk for some steps to be able to continue running, it was at this point I took on better water and Nuun as I walked through an aid station. At this point I was only mildly panicking because I felt I could go again and I knew I was still quite ahead of my 3:30 group.
It was mile 23 where it then got worse for me, more walking occurred and my mile pace was 11:25 a total shocker. It was this mile where my 3:30 group had passed me and tried to encourage me, but I could only really keep up with them for 200 metres or so until I walked again. The support and encouragement again was fantastic and that kept me running for as much as I could again before walking. I also noticed a young lad who was following a similar pattern to me, I would take over him then he would take over me when I stopped further on and we alternated like this for the whole mile. It was quite funny as we saw each other and spoke at the end of the race at bag check and admitted we both kept each other moving.
After taking a break walking and entering a part of the course where there was of support I somehow managed to pull out an 8:15 minute mile at mile 24, this is where I thought OK I am back in business!
Unfortunately, the cramps and pain really hit in mile 25 and I was having tingley feeling in my hands and fingertips which freaked me out a bit, It was a bit demoralising having to walk past spectators trying to get me going again, I did try and run as much as I can and as often as I can.
A spectator on a bike came up to me to fist pump me at the end of mile 25 and it gave me a boost to get going again and as I was the 3:40 group passed me and the pacer was really vocal, shouty and encouraging and that mixed with the fact I was adamant I was not going to be near my absolute maximum target 3:45 I got going again and pulled out a 9:52 in mile 26. Then due to his encouragement and despite both quads were trembling I managed to put in a really strong finish down the stretch before the stadium and into the stadium over the line.
Afterwards was a world of pain, my quads and hamstring were in agony and I was wincing in pain. I couldn’t stand still or really talk to anybody, so instead of taking in the great surroundings of the track and stadium, I ended up grabbing my bag and heading back to the hotel. It was like a scene from band of brothers at the end, people limping, sprawled out everywhere, some people chundering, some had bloody legs and knees and his all trying to get up the stadium steps was a hell of a sight.
I was in agony make no mistake about it and there would have been some small disappointment with missing out on the sub 3:30 but mostly I was just proud I put myself through it, I finished it with a very good time of 3:38:50 and I couldn’t quite believe I had done it – plus, the medal was stunning! I was planning on video calling my folks after the race but I was just in so much agony I couldn’t really speak.
Lessons Learnt
Some stark lessons for me and although these might not follow the rule book, we all know our own mind and body
- I must train for a marathon with other people as I hate solo running. I need people similar paces to be doing it. I was able to pick up the Boston folks but the timelines were not aligned and this only really came into play for Saturday long run. For my optimal performance I need to find a group to go through the whole plan with
- Fuel and Hydration – I may like the Bloks but they’re just not practical so I need to work with gels in my normal training long runs with the running club and figure out what works for me. I would genuinely consider going with a reservoir again next time, or if I do not then I would walk through the aid station, take the fluid on board properly and then catch-up.
- Personally (and my running club big boss disagrees) I think I should not have held back as much in the 20 miles, I had so much more and I am convinced whatever pace I did those 5 miles would have been the same for me, so if I had run say 7:30s comfortably then my bad 5 miles could have still meant I get the time I desired.
- Don’t start full training too early! I got super bored and fed up by the end, looking back I think I started a bit too early because my base level of fitness was not there. With me being right into running club etc now I do not think I would need to do a 17 week plan.
- My Novablast 3’s meant my feet were undamaged completely, I need better shoes to do the training in so that they don’t get wrecked like they did along the way.
- Keep up the cross training and strength and conditioning – it will help
One & Done?
Now I said 100% I would be 1 marathon and done, and it is yet to be seen but I must admit that I am the type of person who will look at that PB board every day and know that I should be somebody who certainly does sub 3:30 and really could and should be around 3:10 – 3:20.
So watch this space… whether it will be this year, next year or never again is still a mystery.
Next up for me is Boulder Bolder but that’s at altitude so it will be no hope of a PB. My goal is now is to figure out how to conquer this altitude to get my timers closer and then plan in sea level races to get my 5k under 19, my 10k under 40 and my half under 1:30.
Last thank you!
Another big thank you to those that have donated but also to the folks who gave me moral support along the way. I had great support at Revolution Running, Runners Roost, Orange Theory Fitness, Rhondda Valley Runners and from friends and family.
Would I advise to do one?
Hmmm this is tough question, I suppose the overriding feeling is YES, because it’s such a monumental achievement. However, I would say if you love running like I do (short and fast) then the marathon commitment and training does threaten putting you off running and falling out of love for it. I really had times where I fancied packing the whole thing in. Still, if you are committed, disciplined and would not mind sacrificing your frequent 5,10k and half races then this is probably the game for you!
Oh and despite me saying how good the Eugene folks were along the course (and they were), there were a couple I could have gone and slapped in the face. There was one excited American who shouted ALMOST THERE at 3 miles, dickhead.
