MDS 2009 - Keith

Sunday, October 14, 2007

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!

Having learned from our mistakes with the Maggie’s Bike and Hike, James drafted a timetable for Saturday to ensure that we arrived in Inverness with plenty of time to register and check in to the Youth Hostel the objective being to avoid all stress and potential panic. It seemed to work to good effect and, as a result we were able to find time to watch both Rugby World Cup games.

Because we were in the Youth Hostel we visited the local supermarket to collect the last minute essentials such as bread and milk. Each of us had our own master plan for what we would eat on Sunday morning. My selection was cereal (which I had taken with me), and toast with peanut butter. James had also opted for the cereal ( he had brought his favoured choice) and toast option. Whilst within the supermarket Seamus announced that he should really buy something for his breakfast as he hadn’t got that far in his preparations. With an entire supermarket to choose from and the knowledge that the following day he would be running further than he has ever run before, you would expect a choice of cereal or porridge or toast or some other slow burning carbs to be the likely option. Imagine our surprise when onto the conveyor belt appeared a six-pack of coconut macaroons and a bag of jelly babies!!

While preparing the evening meal in the hostel I heard a voice say, “you guys, running the marathon tomorrow?” followed by, “ You’re not from Dundee are you?” followed by “Are you team hot running?” This was Graham Kelly another nutter who has decided to run the MDS in 2008. He had recognised us from the MDS website forum, his preparations for the marathon included some fell running in the afternoon and a couple of tins of soup for tea. A fair difference from watching two games of rugby and a huge plate of chicken and pasta!! We exchanged some stories of our journey so far and wished each other well for the following day.

At ten o’clock we decided to go to bed, however, because the hostel was fully booked with other competitors we were in a 6-bed dormitory, this resulted in all three of us getting very little sleep.

The alarm clocks went off at 6am to allow us time to eat and digest our breakfast, and then we were dressed and off to the finish line to board one of the 25 or so coaches which were depositing the participants in the middle of nowhere.


The three of us at the Stadium prior to the start.

We were waved off by Fiona and Leigh who announced that because there was no real points of access to view the race that they would have to pass the time by visiting McDonalds followed by a trip to the cinema, the hardship!!

We were very lucky with the weather, it was crystal clear, sunny and with no breath of wind. The buses dropped us at the start line and before long the count down had started. Seamus and I had decided to stand at the 4hrs 30min marker with James towards the front of the 4hr starting point. These points are only to stop slower runners being stampeded by the fast boys when the gun goes off. As the event was being televised there were helicopters and film crew covering the start. A pipe band marched through the runners then we were off.

As I have said before I was never looking to run as fast as I could only to finish and finish comfortably. As such I was carrying a 3 litre camelback with a weak mixture of water and electrolytes as well as 6 energy gels which I would have at every 45 minutes, and 1 energy bar which I would nibble throughout the run. Seamus who had opted to run with me also had some energy gels and 1 litre water pack.

It is an amazing feeling to be running with so many other runners, as far as the eye could see both in front and behind there were hundreds, all running for different reasons. Coupled with this was the weather and scenery, the best in the world in my opinion. We were surrounded by mountains and for most of the run we were parallel to Loch Ness. The good thing about running on B-class roads is you can’t see the route very far in front of you. Which means you never really know what’s just around the corner. Which for this route was definitely a good thing, as more often than not it was another hill!!

Seamus and I were able to keep a pretty good tempo for all of the run and for those interested in mile times etc I’ve posted them all in my training diary. The key factor for me was my heart rate. As mentioned previously in another blog my heart rate for the Dundee Half Marathon averaged 181bpm, I simply wouldn’t be able to keep that going for the length of a marathon. I was delighted to pass through the half marathon point of the race with an average of 159bpm and a time of 2hrs 3min.

We were given great receptions at all the small villages and hamlets we passed through on the route, it really spurs you on when people shout encouragement and particularly when we heard “Come on HotRunning!”

I had been dreading the notorious hills at miles 18 and 19 through Dores. But to my surprise I felt quite strong and plodded my way up them with little difficulty. I have to say I never really felt that I “hit the wall” at any stage, I was definitely tiring and my legs were beginning to ache but that would be expected and certainly wouldn’t stop me running. Seamus and I both began to look forward to the 45 minute Gel time, as it’s little things like that that give you a wee boost.

As the race moved through the twenty mile marker Seamus and I were passing several runners, some of whom were in a real bad way and were lying at the side of the road waiting for the tail van to hoover them up, I guess I was surprised at the number of people walking, and in a bizarre way this gave me more enthusiasm to keep running all the way around. As we entered Inverness there was still 3 miles to go and it is definitely true what they say, these are the longest three miles. It was about this time that I mentioned to Seamus that I hoped that James, whom we hadn’t seen for the entirety of the race would finish under 4hrs which I know had been his target.

The last 2 miles is a bit of a mental battle not only the distance but that the route doubles back along the riverside and you can see the runners about 1 mile in front of you, not only that but the route takes you around the sports centre before you actually enter the stadium to cross the line, this means that for the last 15 minutes you can see the finishing post but don’t actually seem to get any closer to it!! This is good training for the mental toughness that we will need for the desert I am sure.

The feeling I got when we entered the stadium was fantastic, we instantly saw Leigh and Fiona bouncing up and down at the finish line and I was delighted that the whole event, the training and preparation, the tactics for hydration and nutrition, the pacing and heart rate monitors had all come together to allow us to cross the line exhausted but in the over all picture reasonably comfortable, a medal was hung around my neck - MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!





The boys crossing the line!!

I was delighted, and when we met up with James I was shocked and amazed to find out he had ran 3hrs 30 mins which is quite incredible, a fantastic achievement.

I’m sure if I was to run another marathon I would like to aim for sub 4 hours but one step at a time, and for once we had achieved everything we were aiming for.


With our medals

The major stats are as follows,

Distance :- 26 mile 365 yards

Official Time :- 4hrs 16 mins and 56 secs
(this time is taken from the race microchip I carried with me, and is the actual time taken to cover the distance, this differs slightly from the “gun” time which includes the length of time it took me to cross the start line with the thousands of other runners)

Average heart rate :- 162 bpm

Max heart rate :- 191bpm

Calories burned :- 5379

I’m now off to Berlin on Holiday to see about recouping some of those calories I’ve got through, Ein beir bitte!!

Cheers

Friday, October 5, 2007

Pre-Match Nerves!

My bags are packed; shorts, running vest, selection of socks, trainers, water packs, heart rate monitor, generic portable music system, Vaseline and nipple plasters!!

I don't think I've ever been this nervous before an event, two sleeps til the marathon and I'm already worrying. I'm sure I can make the distance but I just don't know in what condition I'll be crossing the line. The Loch Ness Marathon ranks as one of the top three marathons in the UK to complete. It is also renowned for being one of the tougher routes as the course contours the south banks of the Loch from just outside Fort Augustus to Inverness.

I've convinced myself that I'm not interested in the time, but being as competitive as I am I guess there are certain targets I'd like to aim for.

I tell myself "I'm not bothered"
Then "Between 4 1/2 and 5 hours would be fine"
Then "About 4 hours is where I should be aiming for"

I don’t know how Jimmy and James will fare for this one as all of our training has been erratic to say the least, so in much the same fashion as the Dundee Half Marathon we’ll see each other at the start give best wishes and then do our own thing, along with 2300 other competitors.

Ultimately in the big picture the time is irrelevant, as I know I'll not be thinking of times in the desert!! So I think that the best result would be to get around the course and still be "comfortable" as I cross the line.

As well as the times, I'm in a quandary as to what to take around the course; do I take my 3-litre water pack or my 1.5 litre? Do I fill it with water or do I put some electrolytes in? How many energy gels should I take 4/6/8?? How many jelly babies should I take? What music will I listen to?? Bare in mind I am the nutter who tends to suffer greatly with any event that lasts beyond 2.5 hours!!

Sometimes I think I'm turning the marathon into one big experiment for future benefit, I guess this is what we should be doing, learn now so we know for later.

Also going through my head is the poor performance I had in the Dundee Half Marathon, which is still fresh in my mind and I'm torn as to whether to go for the good time or for the education.

My preparation has not been fantastic it has to be said, however I’ve learnt my lesson from the Dundee Half and I've definitely been tapering for the last two weeks to the extent that I almost feel desperate to go out and do a really hard session, I suppose this is a good thing.

I don't think I've ever drunk as much water as I have over the last 2 weeks, I'm even considering putting a plaque above the urinal at my work!!

We leave tomorrow to register at the Inverness Sports Stadium, it's great that my wife Fiona, and Seamus's fiancé Leigh will be coming with us for a bit of support. Again, learning our lessons from the Maggie's Bike and Hike, we are leaving early and giving ourselves plenty of time to arrive and check in.
We have even planned to take all our own food so as not to cause any stomach upsets. I've been nominated as chef for tomorrow night so chicken and pasta and bread it is. I'm taking my own cereal so as my breakfast on Sunday morning is the same as always and I’ve even bought the water that I'll use to fill my water pack with!!

I’ve checked the weather forecast – sunny intervals and good visibility with little or no wind – sounds perfect to me!
I intend to get up tomorrow morning and go for a very light jog, perhaps 2-3 miles pack the car and then we’re off, let’s hope the next blog you read is a happy one!!

Another few miles of the journey completed!!

Cheers