April 2012

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

...of course says "heel inserts", but I don't think I can go changing the profile of my footwear a week before the race, without testing it over a long distance.

Definitely not! Stick to the horse drugs and you'll be fine.

[Sweder]

Everyone of course says "heel inserts", but I don't think I can go changing the profile of my footwear a week before the race, without testing it over a long distance.

Not a great idea, that's akin to trying out entirely new shoes in the race. I'm with MLCMan, keep taking the tablets, test drive a wee bit of strapping and see what comes along. Strength wise you're as ready as it's possible to be.

[glaconman]

I concur with the lads.

The length of the race could be in your favour. If you were hammering a 5k you might find there was a higher risk of acute damage. Whereas a steady pace with good supporting shoes should only result in some post-race soreness.

Spending 50 quid on a couple of massages before the race would also be money well spent. It's less than a tank of petrol and could help reduce any anxiety you have about race day.

Good luck Dan.

[Sweder]

Just wanted to say before the build up madness gets too loud, good luck for Sunday. May the road rise to meet you and give us a wave at 13 (across the road) and 22.5 (on your right at the top of the hill after the M22 water station). Will give you a big cheer!

[El Gordo]

Just wanted to say before the build up madness gets too loud, good luck for Sunday. May the road rise to meet you and give us a wave at 13 (across the road) and 22.5 (on your right at the top of the hill after the M22 water station). Will give you a big cheer!

Seconded.

The good luck, that is. Can't be there in person to exchange waves , but will be watching from my armchair for some of it at least. Not sure I'll recognise you without a gorilla costume -- so I'll make sure I wear it this Sunday. Boom boom!

It's been a privilege, as always, following the training updates and we're now all hoping that the recent twinges don't turn into anything more threatening. We'll be waiting anxiously to find out.

All the best.

EG

[Antonio247]

Best of luck on Sunday, Dan!

[marathondan]

Thanks very much folks. It all feels very surreal right now. Firstly, I've always been going into this wondering if I've set myself an impossible target. Now, I don't even know if I'll even make it through the first mile. I haven't run more than a mile in the last fortnight, and I know running always feels uncomfortable after a layoff, so will I be able to hit my stride? And now, every time I step outside, it seems to be raining hard, and I wonder what it might be like to be out in that in a flimsy vest for the last hour of a marathon. I'm going to pack a long sleeved top as well, although it goes against my race day instincts. The weather can't be as bad as Point to Pinnacle, but I think it could get pretty nasty if we get a cold, heavy downpour, or even a hail shower, towards the end.

But of course, there's the race day factor. It's a while since I've experienced 35,000 runners and a million spectators.

So I wouldn't say paranoia is the word - I've done a few of these now, and I know that even a DNF isn't a disaster in the big scheme of things. Just a huge sense of anticipation, knowing that there's a big spectrum of possible results from failure to finish to a new PB.

I made the pilgrimage over to Docklands today to pick up my number at the Expo. I took Emma with me, which was particularly special as I'd made the same journey three years ago with Naomi when she was a similar age. It's a two hour train journey each way, but she spent most of the outbound journey with her nose pressed against the carriage glass, and we buried ourselves in Dr Seuss for most of the way back. The Expo itself was the usual fairly pointless affair, but we saw lots of balloons and TV screens and tried free energy bars, and picked up just a tiny fraction of what the atmosphere will be like on Sunday.

It will rain, but it will still be an amazing festival of humanity.

Hope to see you on the course, Sweder.

If anyone's interested, there's a tracker / results service here - my number is 18940.

Tally ho!

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

Best of luck Dan - you'll be running through the middle of the night my time, so I won't promise to be following you on the tracker, but I'll certainly be looking forward to seeing your result and reading your race report.

Two hours each way to get to the Expo?! Goodness, you'd want to finish the darn thing after all that wouldn't you? Why can't they just mail out the race packs?!?

All the best!

[Bierzo Baggie]

Forget about apes
And large sticks of rock
And those cold moonlit runs
Without any socks

Tomorrow’s your day
London’s your stage
The sub 4-hour target
Is yours to engage

And if you’re short of the mark
Then do not dismay
Cos it’s the journey that counts
At the end of the day

Good luck marathondan, your marathon campaign has been a worthy and memorable one, in all its lunar phases.

[marathondan]

MLCM - all part of the commercial operation I guess. The idea is that Londoners can just drop in, and those from further afield will be down for weekend and can go on the Saturday. I fall between two stools in that I'm close enough to travel to the start on the day, but the Expo is that bit further into East London. Never mind, I had a great day with my little girl.

BB - ! You should go into the greetings card business!

I think I realised while I feel so surreal. After two weeks without running, it feels like I haven't done any training. It's the bad dream of rolling up on the day without having prepared at all.

Feeling fine though otherwise - ready to bring it on.

[Sweder]

Good luck marathondan, your marathon campaign has been a worthy and memorable one, in all its looney phases.

Hear hear!

[Sweder]

Bit late on Saturday night but just left the JDRF pasta party. We have 195 runners, 26 with type 1 diabetes, set to raise +500k on the day. I'm buzzing, and all I'm doing is clapping and cheering. Wish I was running (yes my legs have recovered fully). Look across the road at 13 miles and, if you can, give us a wave. I may have moved on from 22+ (we're up the hill from the Texaco just after Mile 22 marker) by the time you get there but my guys will give you a massive cheer anyway.

Just heard from Niguel that he'll be taking part - aiming for 4:20 - 4:30 ish - so hope to swee hiom out there too.

[marathondan]

Alarm set for 5.30 but awoke at 4.30, dreaming that I couldn't turn the alarm off and why is there a bicycle on the landing? Lovely clear skies out here, but rain forecast for mid morning in London. To vest or not to vest - still undecided.

[Sweder]

Vest baby! The Vest is the best.
Run Dan, run!!

[Sweder]

Dan through halfway in 1:54
Go Dan Go!!!

[El Gordo]

Dan through halfway in 1:54
Go Dan Go!!!

And old RC friend Nigel in 2:11.

[El Gordo]

Dan through 35K in 3:14. Estimated finish 3:54.

Dan through 40K in 3:46. Estimated finish 3:59....

Looks like Dan got home in..... wait, just give me a couple of seconds..... er..... 4:00:02.

Considering he wasn't sure if he would get through the first mile, this is a great run. Well done Dan.

Stop press -- And Nigel through in 4:29. Great stuff. Let's hope he drops by with a reportette.

[Antonio247]

Well done, Dan and Nigel! ¡Enhorabuena!

It´s wonderful to have the prodigal friend back. It´s been a long time without any news of Nigel.

Saludos desde Almería.

Dan through 35K in 3:14. Estimated finish 3:54.

Dan through 40K in 3:46. Estimated finish 3:59....

Looks like Dan got home in..... wait, just give me a couple of seconds..... er..... 4:00:02.

Considering he wasn't sure if he would get through the first mile, this is a great run. Well done Dan.

Stop press -- And Nigel through in 4:29. Great stuff. Let's hope he drops by with a reportette.

[marathondan]

So the "A" target of 3:45 quickly fell by the wayside, the "B" target of a PB (3:50) went sooner after, and it was clear that it was going to be touch and go for the "C" target of sub 4. There isn't an epic tale to tell, but the story of that tantalisingly close finish should at least be recounted. Will gather my thoughts and report back in due course. Thanks for all the good wishes!

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

Perhaps not a PB, but going into a marathon with a plantar fasciitis injury and coming out with a cracking 4 hour finishing time is one great effort - congratulations Dan, you may not feel quite like it, but you've done yourself proud. Well done!