Brathay Windermere Marathon

[running4rwanda]

A belated report from the Windermere Marathon - my first marathon in something like 15 years ! I didn't know what to expect, except that it would be hard, and I wasn't wrong.

Because I hadn't done a full marathon for so long, I had no particular target, apart from getting round, but had in my mind that I could manage 3:30, which would mean approx 8 minute miling all the way round. So I planned to do the first mile steadily, in about 8:30 - 9:00, then get into my stride, and see how I went on.

I felt comfortable from the start, but as soon as I reached the first mile in 7:30, I knew I'd blown it. Pace judgement was difficult because of the nature of the course, but I tried to relax into a more sensible pace, and was still on target at 15 miles, but then started to slow.

The last 6 miles were painful, but I still managed to keep running, managing to pass a few other runners in the uphill stretch to the finish, and finished on 3:38:39.

Six months ago, I would have been delighted with that time, but I know I could have done better, if I'd run a bit more sensibly at the start.

Still, there's always next year

[Antonio247]

Well done, Running4rwanda.

I think you should feel proud even if you didn´t do it under the time you expected. You should bear in mind that in a flat marathon with ideal weather conditions, you would probably have reached your 3 hours 30 minutes target.

Saludos desde Almería