Training Log Archive: ondrejpavlu

Event: Melbourne Marathon
 

Melbourne Marathon 2017 - 2:45:14, 51st overall

The plan was to do 3:55/km average for 2:45. My confidence wasn't quite up there - was racing a lot and the prep was not ideal and towards the end actually felt like I was stagnating (and not enjoying road running anymore). But anyway on an absolutely perfect day (8 degrees at 7am, blue sky, no wind), I started as usually a bit faster than I should have - averaging 3:45 splits in the first 5km. While people were flying past me, I was trying to slow down to get into my target pace. Which I eventually managed and then ran perfectly even splits 3:53-3:54 for 20km.

The only annoying thing was personal drinks station at 12km - basically boxes with tiny numbers in two rows completely off the course and I actually had to stop and find it. 24km was much better but I managed to drop it there. At each I had approx 400ml of Tailwind (which I then drank gradually in the next 3-5km) and GU gel.

Around 29km the classic marathon wall was closing with my splits getting dangerously close to 4mins. I ate another gel and then a train of about 7 runners caught up with me, running at around 3:50 and I knew I had to suck it up and jump in. That was awesome, we nicely cooperated, some chats (there was a Newcastle Flyers dude among them) and together made it back to Yarra River.

But then all it took for me to fell apart was hill up towards Botanical gardens and missed personal drinks station - not sure how it happened but that just pissed me off and I let it to screw up my mental game. I logged two splits at nearly 4:10 and then got an absolutely paralysing side stitch, haven't experienced something like that before and - very ashamed - I even had to stop for a bit to walk it off. Some cheers from dudes having their Sunday brekkie across the road woke me up and I started running again. Not quite 3:55s but at least I was back in sort of a good mood and gave some smiles to photographs. I knew I had earned some seconds at the beginning and that I was still good for 2:45ish

On the final descent towards the MCG I got a stitch no.2. Was battling it for a bit and then decided to quickly walk it off again in order to be able to enjoy the final lap around the MCG. That worked out well and I finished in 2:45:14, with ONE SECOND to spare on my target time. Solid execution in my books.

Overall, great race, great atmosphere and don't think I could have run much faster. That would have required a bit more marathon specific training plan. So even with the same mileage (70-90km/week) there is definitely potential ... but I can't really see myself trying to beat this time any time soon if ever. Lazying about on trails is more fun, that's for sure.

C • Nice! 7

final pre race day shakeout, dropping off personal drinks, dynamic stretching, some strides etc.

another long day at work followed by drinks with Melbourne mates. Good that the super busy work week collided with my taper week :)

Melbourne sightseeing, bib pick up etc

Wanted to do SSS in easy mode (before Melb mara) but got stuck at work until 7 so had to give it a miss. Probably good because I can't really do a race in easy mode...

easy on grass