Training Log Archive: johnd

Time to reflect on the last few months. For me it seems Marathon success is a delicate thing . My goal for this round of training was to get a time of 3:27 that would qualify me to run Boston in 2018( when I'll be 50). Back in July when I started the schedule the notion of running that fast seemed utterly far fetched but I had enough experience to understand that if I was to hit all my training targets and the running gods favoured me I might be in with a shout. As week after week produced a cumulative training effect I started to wait for the inevitable hiccup that would bring reality crashing in but that never happened ,( this was definitely down to the ice baths after every long run) I just seemed to be running faster. I started to dream. This was what Marathon training should be like ,I had a degree of fatigue but overall felt fine (even with a catalog of life pressures). Notably enjoyable highlights of the training were the hot runs and subsequent swims in the summer, the long run in Pembrokeshire,a sub 9min/mi 23miler, breezing through the Beachy Head Marathon and the massive confidence boost the "Simulator " gave me at which point I really believed it possible. Even the weather throughout has been magnificent ( including on the day of the race ,a cool overcast 14c) All the stars seemed to align . The less I seemed to care the more the portents favoured success.
I First noticed a raised resting hr last week and I'd woken up covered in sweat a few mornings, Ann had been unwell all week but by the time I had arrived in Valencia there was nothing to do but ignore the queer goosebumpy shiver I experienced on a warm sunny jog on the Saturday my hr was oddly high too but the momentum was too strong at that point to consider any other option other than lining up on Sunday. The nerves at the start didn't seem to settle after a few miles and the feeling of cold seemed to get worse , even though I was drenched with sweat, it was too laboured and the cool breeze felt like it was cutting into me . I avoided checking my hr until 10m not wanting to know the inevitable and when I did it was clear that the cruel hand of fate would not allow me to proceed. The game was up , I slowed but goal realignment didn't seem sensible and when I saw the Ciudad Arts and Sciences was near I stopped, dry heaved for a few minutes, tore off my number and shuffled the mile or so to the bag check relieved it was all over.
Marathon failure is not something I am a stranger to so I'm stoical enough not to be too upset. The process is something you have to love and I have enjoyed getting fit and trim,it has been a worthwhile project , and I fully cheered the runners as they came past me as I stood at the side of the road at km 40 basking in their radiance as they became transfigured and beatified by the realisation that they were going to make it .Soy correador.

Event: Valencia Marathon
 

DNF