This year I hadn’t planned on running Chester marathon but Liverpool instead. Well that was the plan until Simon offered me his number, how could I refuse? It would be impolite!
So instead of having a weekend break from running marathons before Liverpool it was marathon 3 in 3 weeks. After an ok time in Berlin of 3:26 last week how would I fair in Chester?
Conditions on the day were perfect, cool, calm and sunny. I had no excuse for a slow time. I decided to keep inside 8 minute miling and see how my legs felt. Surprisingly they were doing good and the first few miles were nearer to seven and a half minute miling. This continued on to 10 miles and half way, all I could think was surely I couldn’t keep this up. I ran most of the race with “Badger” Matt, great company and he kept my mind off how quick we were running, thanks Matt!
As I moved into the second half of the race I thought to myself this can’t last but started to wonder how hard I could push my legs. As I ticked the miles off and pushed on to my surprise instead of slowing, my pace was becoming slightly faster. I started to realised that a sub 3:15 was on the cards. And possibly a good for age place in London? No surely not? From last year I remembered the 2 hills in the last couple of miles, surely they would slow me down and I would falter at the end for this fast early pace?
As I came to these hills I knew sub 3:15 was still on if I pushed hard so with gritted teeth and I went for it. Mile 26 was flat along the river bank and back to the race course. My Garmin bleeped telling me I had run my second fastest mile of the race in 6 min 59 seconds! I gave no let up over the last 385 yards finishing in 3 hours 12 minutes 57 seconds, my fastest time since 2002 and another negative spilt.
All I can say is thanks to Simon for giving me his number and I hope he has as much success as me in 2 weeks time at Abingdon.
