I am not going to lie, from about 5k to the end I knew I was pushing hard, the marathon is very long way to run at high speed and its quite easy to listen to the logical thoughts telling you to slow down or stop and walk!  (came at about 24 miles for me).

We had a top weekend having travelled down on Friday, me and Rose shared an apartment with two fellow DAC runners Janet and Glynn.  Most of Saturday was spent at the Expo (which was across the river from our apartment), we had burgers for dinner and a posh spaghetti bolognaise for tea (Janet and Glynn also had pudding).

Facebook was going crazy, lots of positive vibes flying about.  Had a good nights sleep and got up a bit after 6am.  We planed to leave the apartment before 8.  Food for me before the race consisted of a bowl of porridge, a banana and a SIS energy bar.  On to the crazy packed trains and off to the start area which split us up.

I arrived at my start area at about 9:15 and conditions were ok, it was a bit cool, dry and a bit breezy.  Did toilet queuing, water drinking and handed in my bag.  Quick 2 minute warm up and joined the que to enter the fast good for age start, bumped in to former DAC club runner Ciaran Murray, it was nice to have a catch up having not seen each other for 5+ years.

We had great support from people travelling from Doncaster and across South Yorkshire, thanks to you all!

Kit list – £60 Mizuno Wave Inspire Trainers, £10 Puma Socks, £5 Aldi Cycling Shorts, Doncaster AC Vest, High 5 Gel Belt and Garmin.  Glide on the nipples.

I had hoped to loose some weight in the 4 months building up to the marathon but this did not happen.

It took about 45 seconds to get over the start line and I ran the first couple of miles steady.  I then decided to get my average pace to my target race pace over the next 8 or 9 miles.  I never saw any of the official paces (this was good, if I had seen the 3 hour pacer I would have shot myself lol).

I had 7 SIS gels, I decided to take one a few minutes before the start and then one every 30 minutes.  I more or less stuck to this, I had an extra one in the last 30 minutes.

I went through half way in 1:25:14.  I was a bit disappointed by this as I was going for 2:50:00 and I know that running a negative split is bloody difficult, I have never done it (I have never tried to do it).  Five years ago I was told that to get an idea of my marathon time I should take my half marathon PB, double it and add 15 minutes.  My half marathon PB currently stands at 81:14 so this formula would get me 2:57:30.  Luckily I have always ignored this.

I was feeling quite strong in the second half, 7 months ago at hull I ran the second half 10 minutes slower than the first half, this was an awful second half and I felt much stronger this time.  I ended up running the second half about 1 minute slower than the first half which on reflection I am pleased with.  Spotted a few local club runners in the second half, some amazing runs.

My finishing time was 2:51:24 which got me a PB of about 2 and a half minutes in my 5th marathon, my 5th consecutive PB and 5th Sub 3 hour marathon.  I am hopeful I have a lot more to come in the coming years.

My training plan included 16 races, all distances from 1 mile to 21 miles and on all surfaces from cross country, track, road, grass and trail.  London was race number 17 in 2016.  I have run PB’s in half marathon, 30k and now marathon.

I remain a low mileage runner (averaging between 30 and 35 miles a week), basically I do two hard runs each week – a track session at Doncaster Athletic Club and a race.  All the other runs are either recovery runs (Slower than 8 minute miles) or long steady runs at between 7:45 and 7:15 pace, I trained loosely on the principles described in the book “Advanced Marathoning”.  I am mainly self coached but Paul Brown at Doncaster AC has made me work on my technique over the years and others at the club have helped.  I put my Doncaster AC vest on with pride and I think about my club when I am suffering.  If I up my mileage to 200 a month I simply will not get to the start.  Basically the book I was following guided me to run my recovery runs a lot slower then I have previously.  Also to run my long runs slower than before (with the exception of TMP runs).

Photo by Joe Ormshaw – Doncaster AC’s London and Manchester Marathon runners (4 are missing) – what a team, I am a very proud club captain!

I had one mad week in Wales with Carl Ryde where I ran 82 miles, 2 runs a day along the coastal paths.  I was not sure I would manage this but I surprised myself, increased my calorie intake and had a great time with Carl, his family, Rose and our family and Janet and her family.  This was probably my highest mileage week ever.

My longest run was a 15 mile run to Norton, and then completing the Norton 9 Race so totalling 24 miles.  I like this run, it gives me the confidence I can run the distance and I aimed to do it in 3 hours.

Monthly totals (This includes running with beginner runners with the Doncaster Pacers):

January 2016 – 152 miles over 19:07 hours

February 2016 – 133 miles over 16:11 hours

March 2016 – 176 miles over 22:29 hours

April 2016 – 139 miles over 18:09 hours

I am very proud of my fellow athletes at Doncaster Athletic Club, some were new to running last year and others seasoned marathon runners.  We all supported each other.

Recovery wise I feel good, I ran 5 miles on Tuesday at 10 minute mile pace and 8 miles on Thursday at 7:25 pace (both club runs) and this morning I did parkrun at 6:10 minute miles.