Training Log Archive: dkonotopetz

I woke-up at 5:00 am. and I made my way to the start line a short distance away (1.7 km.) at Nayo National Stadium. At the start area the security was tight. I took some pictures, checked my bag, got ready for the start of the race and made my way to the start line into the mass of people. The weather was really nice for running (12°C), but I knew that the temperature would rise quickly when the sun got up. At the start line I noticed some liquid running on the street and then some more until there were small ‘streams’ running all over the road. It must have been some Kenyan pre-race jitters and/or getting rid of the extra weight in the form of urine. It was quite shocking, but you have to do what you have to do I guess. The gun went off and I focused on not starting too fast, as I knew there would be lots of fast people off the start. I passed the 1 km. mark in 4:21, 12 seconds behind my target pace. I continued along through the downtown area of Nairobi and I took a gel at the 6 km. mark and out on the Meru Nairobi Highway at the 12 km. mark. I was feeling good as I made my way back towards Nayo National Stadium. There were some hills around the 17-19 km, which I tackled by focusing on increased leg turnover. Some people seemed to struggle in this part of the course that I passed. I took another gel at the 18 km. water stop. Just before the half-way point a foreigner passed me at the U-turn point on Langata Road. I tried to stay with him, but he was simply stronger than I was. I passed the half-way mark in 1:36:34. The heat was rising rapidly at this point as I headed out onto the mainly un-shaded Mombasa Road (around 25 degrees). My pace slowed, although I felt like I was putting in the same or greater effort level. Another foreigner passed me just before the 23 km. mark. He said “good job, 23 km”. I kept him in sight for a long time (until around the 30 km. mark). I took another gel at the 26 km. water stop. Around the 29 km. mark I saw the first foreigner that passed me some distance away in the ditch taking a turbo dump. Kenyan food is different than western food…I was feeling low on energy after the 30 km. mark as I hit a mini ‘wall’. I took another gel at the 33 km. mark, which seemed to help a little. My body was quite sore, especially my halves. I focused on the finish line and finishing strong, on the 4th continent that I have ran a marathon…Africa! Overall, not a bad marathon result, although I was hoping for better. I did not walk at all throughout the marathon and I am proud of that despite difficult conditions including elevation (1,795 km.), warm weather, hills and many U-turns (12) on the course. I finished strong and I beat many Kenyans! I placed 164/438 overall and 152/363 in the Male division. 67 runners ran under 2:30, 101 under 2:45! 67/438 people ran under 2:30:00, 101/438 ran under 2:45 and 129/438 people ran under 3:00:00, unbelievably fast field of runners! Absolutely crazy!

Route: https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6979817
Results: http://www.championtravel.co.za/results/index.php?...
Race Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9ZNbQMY3LM