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London Marathon 25:04:10. I was very happy to get my place in last years London marathon through the club ballot system but due to injury I was unable to use it. Luckily though I was able to defer my place to 2010. My training was going really well up until mid January, then disaster, yet another injury. The same one that took me out of last years race but this time on the other side on my right achilles tendon. I was devastated to have my first marathon under threat once again. This time with out the option to defer as you can only do it once! With my last achilles injury taking a little more than four month to recover I hoped and prayed that this one was not as serious. I immediately went to see a physio for treatment and advice. The treatment went well and left me with a positive attitude and it looked likely that I would recover in time for the race. It took me six weeks before I was able to attempt a run. It went ok, a small amount of pain but OK. I was on track to make it to that start line again. I accepted of course that I would have to forget about my target time and just concentrate on getting there and being fit enough to enjoy the experience. Right up until three weeks prior to the marathon my ankle was not 100%. There was always a small amount of discomfort after my training sessions. I would finish and have to ice and take ibuprofen on occasion. In the weeks leading up to the marathon I began to get very excited and annoying to be around for my poor fiancee Lisa and her son Luke. After hearing the London marathon theme at the start of the Wilmslow half. I downloaded it and played it around the house. They did not share my excitement on hearing the theme but did a very good job in tolerating me and showing support. My enthusiasm and love for running has almost certainly come from my late father Gerard Bouttell. I remember the same behaviour in him leading up to and coming home from this race. So as a small tribute to his memory I felt compelled to run my first London marathon with his number from 1987 pinned under mine. Only this time the number would be travelling a lot slower. With family and work commitments I don’t have the time to commit to reach the same standard to run a 2:31 marathon. I travelled to London with my good friend and best man for my forth coming wedding Craig. So it was not until assembled on the start line that I saw Brian Roberts and then Kevin Mcloughlin from the club. Brian has had more resent injury problems and wasn’t sure if he would finish. After a quick chat with Brian and Kevin we were on our way. My only strategy was to start at 7:30 pace for a few miles and pick it up from their after getting into my rhythm. I was pleased that I wasn’t able to go faster because of the crowed as I’m terrible for going out too fast in races. After 2 miles or so the crowed opened out and was soon running 7 min/mile and feeling very comfortable doing so. In the distance I could see one of our club vest. On getting closer I could see it was Diane Jobson. After saying a quick hello to each other we carried on. At approximately 7-8 mile Tom Gibbons caught me up. We chatted a little and at one point I thought I’ll stay with him but then decided to let him run into the distance. Tom was in better shape than me with better preparation going into the race, it would have been foolish to try to keep up. I then felt the need for a toilet break and began looking for an appropriate place to do so. After my quick pit stop I rejoined and bumped into Martin Clemants. I asked how he was feeling and his reply was not positive. He too needed a Paula Radcliffe pit stop and disappeared . At the halfway marker my pace was still constant and I was feeling strong and enjoying the atmosphere created by the crowds. I spotted my mate Craig just after Tower bridge shouting and encouraging me. The course then headed towards the Isle of Dogs. The crowd were still amazing but I didn’t enjoy this part so much. At mile 17 my pace began to slow and my legs did not feel so good now. I used one of my gels and slowed to consume a full lucosade in the hope that would make me feel better. It did but not for long. I now needed the strength of mind as the strength in my body was gone. I looked left and right into the crowds to take my mind off how I was feeling. Their was a young girl with her Mum carrying a box of Mars bars. I didn’t have one but it helped as it made me think of my Dad. The marathon he did was The Mars London marathon. I put my hand over our numbers and began to imagine him running next to me as we did when I was younger. I then saw two familiar figures Paul Mcgough and Jonathon Skidmore. It was more of a shock to see Paul than Jonathon walking. Jonathon has had trouble with his ITB! I felt for Paul as I know how hard he’s worked to achieve a sub 3hr time. I believe he’s capable, it just didn’t go right on the day. The last part of the race was the worst I’ve ever felt while running. Maybe I’d of finished better if my earlier pace was slower or if, I’d of had more time for longer runs after my injury but there is no point in thinking about “what if’s”. Congratulations to all the clubs members who finished. Well done! Wayne Bouttell.
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As ever weather forecast when I do London, means hot sun, thank god on the day, the weathermen didn't get it totally right. No wind ad light rain and only got sunburnt when the sun came out around 12. |
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Paul McGoffe 3’35’38. I’ll cut to the chase and let you know my London Marathon finish time straight away. Thanks for the support and good wishes from everyone, they were and still are much appreciated. Again I have been conquered by a marathon so it still remains the ultimate race for me and more unfinished business. The Race. When collecting my number on the Saturday I finally found out what pen I was in after entering the race 2 years ago. It was pen 1 so it meant I must have put a predicted time of 2’59 or quicker down on the entry form. On the train over to the start I sat down and had time to think of the race and the nerves built up so much I was nearly sick. Fortunately when walking over to the starting area there was too many other things to think about and the nerves eased. I entered the start area with Brian and after a last toilet break I got to my pen and was no more than 30 yards behind the start line, the elites and UK championship athletes when the gun went off. In all honesty when everyone was shuffling forward up to the start line I was holding back a little as I didn’t want to be pulled along too quickly in the first mile. I didn’t see any club members at the start line and that suited me as it was my race and only my race against the clock. The gun goes we are off….. 1 – 7’25. Held up quite a bit but it’s not a bad thing. 2 – 6’45. on pace, brilliant. 3 – 6’19. looks quick but it’s a down hill mile and didn’t feel any faster. 4 - 6’34. looks quick again but comfortable. 5 - 6’31. looks quick again but still comfortable. 6 - 6’53. Mile 6 is where I caught up to a pace guy and thought stick behind him. He had a small red flag on a long thin wiry flag pole. It had writing on but I never got close enough to read what it said. I presume it was the sub 3 pacer as the next 13 mile my splits were cock on for a sub 3 time. Quickest being 6’40 and slowest 6’53. He had a small group sticking to him like glue but I drifted from 60 yards behind him to as close as 20 yards behind him without putting any different effort in. I just made sure I never passed him. I noticed I was running with the same people for all that time. For all those miles I was in good shape, breathing was spot on, heart rate was good, didn’t feel tired. I was able to take on water easily and then get my breath back in no time. I was happy with my half way split, I had ran within myself, the feeling was good. I took a gel after 14 mile just because it was in my pocket but I didn’t feel like I needed it. In my mind I knew anything can happen in a marathon and the real race starts at 20 miles but keep calm and see what happens. At 16 I thought, good I’m into the last 10 miles so start to count down now. The way I was feeling I seriously thought with 6 mile to go I’m giving that pacer a run for his money. Everything was clicking into place, I could do this and even if I did start to hit the wall a sub 3’10 and GFA was still achievable. 19 – 6’45 20 – 7’45. The first ping of cramp in the left calf. The pacer is drifting away. I thought no not now. 21 – 8’45. Cramp biting the left calf every 400 yards or so. Pacer gone and I knew it was game over. 22 – 11’24. cramp went into the quad muscles and it was getting impossible to run. 23 – 15’00 24 – 13’50 25 – 13’50 26 – 14’08 F – 3’35’38 The last miles speak for themselves. I was still looking at my watch and thought if I can shuffle as much as possible until the cramp hits me I can still get a PB. I achieved a 4 minute PB and I’m happy about it. The crowds are immense, I cant remember a quiet bit on the course and I should know because walking for 6+ miles you have time to see peoples faces and hear there shouts of encouragement. You can look them in the eyes, just in my case it was hard to take knowing I couldn’t do anything about it. Ok it didn’t go plan and I didn’t get my sub 3, I didn’t even get a time I wanted but I’m still happy with how it went. If I was to do it again I would do it at the same pace. The pace I was going I believe was my pace. A pace I was comfortable with and could have sustained to the end if I didn’t get cramp. But I’ll never know and the race is 26.2 miles and not 13 or 19 and my finish time was 3’35’38. The last 6 miles were torture not just for having to walk but to walk through the crowds wanting you to run. As I was walking I got to see all my club team mates, well their backs anyway. Andy Race was first (3’00’35) to pass, Kevin, Tom, Skid, Wayne, Brian, Clem, Lucy, Diane. I said in the pub on the afternoon the 2 bonuses from the race was I got a PB and I got to see all my club mates in the race. It was one h3ll of a relief to get to that finish line and was quite emotional when the lady put the medal round my neck. The race t-shirt says LonDone 25.4.10 on the front. I joked with peoples that mine should say something like “Londone, I was undone” So what went wrong? Cramp, it’s as simple as that and unfortunately when you get cramp it’s game over. Everything was going brilliantly until the cramp got me. With so much on your mind I forgot to take my salt tablets before handing my bag in and I realised that a minute or so before the gun went off. I always take them before a big race. Would 6-8 tablets have saved me? Maybe, maybe not. Training wise more longer runs at marathon pace would have saved me and that’s what I am going to do next time. So is there a next time? Too right. Well done everyone who ran. The first timers, the PBers, all finishers. Tom, good for age time, quality. Wayne – superb and great report. Jon – well done, I know you’ll be back for more. JP, the ballot opens on 4th May, I’m entering and I recommend you do too. There’s nothing else like it.
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The London Marathon 25.4.2010 The training had gone well throughout the winter even with the deep snow and ice I had managed to get my mileage in. So I was confident of achieving my goal of a 03:30 marathon. I ran Paris on the 11th and managed 03:41 but was still confident that a 03:30 was achievable. I was in the blue start pen 3 for London and quickly settled in to my pace of 8 minute miles, Lucy passed me going really well and after a quick hello she was off. I don’t often see, or look for celebs but I passed Iwan Thomas at about mile 4 and then said hello to Gordon Ramsay at mile 10 he looked well and truly knackered. The first half was to plan at 01:44 and I felt ok the crowds especially over Tower Bridge give you a huge lift and help to keep you going, but by mile 18 I started to feel pains in my quads and left knee, the mile times started to slip to 9 minutes then 9:30, but even with the pain its still a fantastic event and I really enjoyed running down the Mall to the finish in 03:44:46. I had failed again in my quest for a 03:30 marathon but I was happy to finish still running and with a smile on my face. This was my 9th marathon will I do another ? will I keep trying for 03:30 of course I will Well done to all the other club members , It was great to see them at the meeting point all be it briefly as they were off to the Pub for a well earned drink and I had to find the Coach which was taking me back to the Hotel Ken Farrell |