A spring marathon ... rejection and other choices

It's the beginning of October and many running forums are already alive with the discussion of when you will find out of success or failure to secure a place through the ballot for the London Marathon.  Early October the organisers say but with the recent change to an online entry the old 'test' of the date when you cheque is cashed is no longer the early notification.  But will the disappointed of rejection mean an end to the dream of a spring marathon.  Initial thoughts might be that those cold winter mornings can be spent tucked up in bed wrapped in the duvet rather than at least three layers of running wear. 

This article is then for those commited runners for whom a spring marathon is an essential part of the training year.  For these runners those base miles of building fitness for 26.2 miles of pounding then form the basis of a summer of speed work and shorter 5k's and 10k's where new PB's are achieved and fast races are enjoyed rather than avoided.

Rejection from London may in fact open up a new motivation and fresh challenge to the travel savvy runner.  My own experience from this time last year a rejection from London was the spring board to an overseas marathon with a group of fellow local club runners.  We went to France in early April and completed the Paris Marathon.  It was a trully brilliant trip where new friendships were forged and a life time of stories will be told about the entire weekend.  So what choices are there for the spring marathon and what aspects should you consider before making your commitment.

Weekend breaks to European capital cities are nothing new but combining it with running the marathon does need to include some other considerations.  But first let me list out the marathons you can consider.

Starting in March 2010

Barcelona
When: 7th March 2010
Registration: already open at €45 until 20 December 2009 then €55 until 31 January and finally €65 until registration closes 21st February 2010
The route: looks a little undulating with a gentle climb to 4km then downhill most of the way to half way remaining falt until a gentle climb to the finish.
The website: http://www.barcelonamarato.es/

Rome
When: 21st March 2010 (the date is subject to change due to a possible clash with elections in Italy and a decision is due by early October)

Registration: already open at €35 until 23rd November 2009 then €42 until 21st December rising to €55 until 28th January 2010 and finally €65 until registration closes 8th March 2010
The route: currently the website is not displaying information on route or course profile which is promised as 'coming soon' however it suggests the marathon is a sightseeing tour.
The website: http://www.maratonadiroma.it/

Monaco (from Monaco to Italy via France... through three countries!)
When: 21st March 2010
Registration: A medical certificate is required*. Now open at €32 until 15 December then €42 until 8th March 2010 and finally €50 which unusually for a marathon includes entry at the Expo the day before the race
The route: course profile suggest a climb between 7 and 8km and a few undulations thereafter until another climb between 30 and 33km thereafter a downhill section and flat to the finish.  For fans of F1 you get to run from the GP race start.
The website: http://www.monaco-marathon.com/_marathon/marathon.php?lg=en

Moving into April the choice includes

Paris
When: 11th April 2010

Registration: A medical certificate is required*. Now open at €58 for the first 16,000 entries then €74 up to 32,000 and finally the last 5,000 at €90
The route: an undulating course with no major climbs but a run through a tunnel for about 500m which has a short sharp up ramp when emerging into daylight!  Superb sighseeing potential as you head down Champs Elysees, Louvre and Tour Eiffel to name but a few.
The website: http://www.parismarathon.com/index_us.html

Zurich
When: 11th April 2010

Registration: online registration now open at an entry fee of CHF110.- and includes unlimited travel day pass for Zurich and a pasta party and a finisher technical T-Shirt
The route: route description suggests a scenic and flat route including much of that alongside the lake
Website: http://www.zurichmarathon.ch/

Boston
When: 20th April 2010
Registration: A qualifying time is required - a qualifying time by age group is set out on the website and where this has been achieved at a race with electronic timing the race name and runner Bib number is included in the Boston race entry form and the organisers make their own verification.  Now open online and for non-US residents the fee is $175.  The 114th running of this race in 2010 and one of the 5 Marathon Majors. Maximum participant numbers 25,000
The route: a downhill course profile but Hearthbreak Hill does what it says on the tin.
Website: http://www.bostonmarathon.org/

And finally in May 2010 the choices include

Belfast
When: 3rd May 2010 (Bank holiday Monday)
Registration: online entry open at £30 less 10% discount as an early bird until 9th October and remains open until 16th April 2010
The route: scenic and covering all parts of the city
Website: http://www.belfastcitymarathon.com/

Prague (sponsored by Volkswagen and Tesco amongst others!)
When: 9rd May 2010 (Bank holiday Monday)

Registration: online entry open at €55 until 31st December, rising to €70 until 9th April 2010.  Then €80 until 4th May and even at the Expo entry is possible for €100.  Includes free public transport and a adidas T-shirt for finishers
The route: scenic and covering all parts of the city and apparently according to the website it has been voted (not sure by who) as one of the most beautiful marathon courses in the world.
Website: http://www.praguemarathon.com/en

Edinburgh
When: 23rd May 2010 
Registration: online entries already open and operated on a first come first served basis so when all places sold it will close.  Fees are £42 or £40 if a member of a SLA or UKA affiliated club
The route: officially the fastest UK marathon based on research by Runners World so PB potential is there for the taking.
Website: http://www.edinburgh-marathon.com/
 
So the choice is extensive and there are more that can be identified with a little bit of digging.  I noted above that Paris and Monaco require a medical certificate*.  This is a requirement for some overseas races particularly those in France and can be obtained from your GP however there is a standard format and it needs to include the key phrase 'does not present contraindication to the practice of running' and an example certificate can be downloaded from the Serpentine website.  My only reservation with this is that GP's will charge you for this and I personally paid £15.  Prices are not 'regulated' so GP's are free to set their own prices for this.
 
My last element of advice would be if possible to stay the Sunday night in your city and travel home on the Monday.  Firstly it means after the race you can return to your hotel and relax, secondly you can then have a big night out after the race and let your hair down (trust me Saturday night out will be subdued as you seek pasta and avoid alcohol).  Lastly and just in case if a medical issue arises you won't have missed your flight and have all the problems with making alternative arrangements to get back home.
 
Good luck with the considerations and look on rejection from London as an opportunity to go further afield for the spring marathon.

Urban Running - London

Working in and living close to London means urban running is something I have done for many years. With work colleagues my first tentative return to running since school involved heading out at lunchtime to run along the Embankment and across one of the many bridges and along the southbank before return to the north side and back to work. Further out from the centre I have run parts of the London Marathon route or jogged through Greenwich Park. And even used the Canals of eastern and north London.

When marathon training I have run some of the superb routes identified by the Serpentine Running club including the excellent route 'The Boat Race' or 'Last Half of the London Marathon'. They also have some excellent runs mapped for the Royal Parks or the Regents Canal.

So this morning on the BBC local London News a story caught my attention. The combination of two favourite activities Running and Sightseeing in central London. This involves visitors to the capital joining in with other like minded individuals to explore various areas on foot with a guide to navigate and explain. A little bit of internet research identified that this concept is popular in London and other major cities. There are at least three providers of this in London:

• Urban Running Tours (see sights on the run)
• City Jogging Tours
• London Sightseeing Runs

Of these three organisations that provide this two would appear to be affiliated with an organisation known as Global Running Tours that markets the various organisations that offer this in other major cities including the US New York, Chicago and Washington DC and in Europe for example German Running Tours. And in a city I have visited myself in South America, the truly wonderful Buenos Aires.

So you get the picture, you are new to a city and are eager to explore the city but also you want to maintain your fitness or de-stress after meetings and here is the perfect combination of a tourist opportunity and something so much better than the hotel treadmill and Sky Sports News to while away the time.

However there may be a downside to this and that would be that these tours are not free. Each website presents the prices and routes and my research suggest that they are typically £25 for a 5 to 6 mile route. Now that may compare favourably with other types of tours in London but I have always thought that a combination of Tourist Information or a tour guide book (Lonely Planet etc) and Google Maps would suffice to work out a running route of 5 miles in London. When travelling myself I have always managed to work out where to run. But to give a truly insightful understanding of the history and context of an area or buildings you need a Blue Badge Guide who will have undertaken training and be qualified to provide that information.

Probably this 'running and sightseeing' concept does work for some people and provides a safe and supported opportunity to run and get some local knowledge when in London (or another major city) for a few days. If anyone wants to go for a run for free then I suggest they use some of the resources of local running clubs or running sites including MapMyRun, RunningAHEAD or Fetcheveryone that have a directory of running routes submitted by users.

Berlin Marathon race report

Crossing the start line the START button was punched on the T6C and I was away and due to the forward start position the pace felt okay. I don't remember seeing 1k or 2k markers but was instead running with a couple of runners in distinctive yellow tops printed with BRAZIL. Even going through the early water stations I tracked with them. The water stations were not civilised they involved a fair amount of pushing and elbowing fellow runners.

I had decided not to to use the footpod with the Suunto instead was just going to punch the LAP button at each 5k. Also the advantage of this was that I would not be endlessly checking pace. Instead the emphasis was to 'feel' the pace and use other runners as my pacers.

After a while the Brazillians were left behind and for a while I don't recollect now who I was following but I was passing other runners and maintaining what I felt was the right pace for the sub-3:15.

Much of the first half was a blur; I recollect some bands playing loud music and in the eastern part of the city some huge speakers on a balcony blasting out the music. Around half way I punched the watch and saw the time of 1:35:xx (I only looked briefly so really the seconds were never seen). The time was just what I needed. I was ahead of a 3:15 schedule and I felt absolutely fine. I had a little mantra in my head about no gain without pain but at this stage the legs were fine and the breathing was steady. Water stops had provided sips or gulps as required and although it was warming up the cap was keeping me cooler. Whenever possible I was staying in the shadow of buildings.

I was also taking the gels I had brought with me. The first was taken at between 11 and 12k then the next was just after half way. In between I was helping myself to banana's given out periodically.

So the race was progressing but the 5k after half way did seem to take longer but I think it was probably due to being more conscious rather than internal focus.

After the 30k marker was passed I recollect a wave of emotion coming over me. I had 12.2k to finish (less than an hour of running) and I knew I was going to achieve the goal. I had to re-focus and a girl that had come passed me had become my running companion. We frequently switched from pacer to lead over the second half of the run and it was keeping me going at a perfect pace.

By 38k the Reichstag came into view and I begun to feel that the end was insight. Then the course turned and what came into view was a 2k+ straight run. Mentally this became tough just at the same time the legs started to complain. The pain I am sure had been there for some time but what happens as it reaches a certain intensity is the feeling that the stride is shortening and its hard to maintain the pace. I was willing the race to finish. I needed to get to the end and I told myself I never needed to run another marathon!

The course turned and even included some cobbles until after another long straight stretch of road but then the Bradenburg gate came into view and the finish line beyond it. I was probably 400m to go and I noticed that the time clock was approaching 3:10. I started to sprint. Pain in the legs forgotten. The sub-3:15 was in the bag but now my thought was I had some seconds to get to the finish and complete a sub-3:10. I crossed the mats and punched the STOP button and looked at the time. It was 3:09:51. Yessss! Brilliant! I had done it! I was sure that the official time would confirm that sub-3:10.

As I wandered in the area immediately after the finish line I received my medal and seached for the girl in the blue top to congratulate. I shooked her hand and asked her time. She responded 3:06 I think, meaning she probably started from the pen behind me. Good run!

But then I continued to walk towards the baggage area and pick up more water and a goody bag. I was elated and felt I had not just gone sub-3:15 but absolutely smashed it.

Marathon Goal updated

As an infrequent blogger I see that the last post of substance was regarding the London Marathon in April 2009. I was supporting my sister that day rather than running myself because I had, just a few weeks earlier, competed at Paris. My Paris marathon had been a PB and as such how could I complain. And yet I was disappointed in my cautious approach and had commited to an autumn marathon almost immediately. It was to be in Berlin on a course which by general consensus was flat and therefore fast. So my sub-3:15 goal was set and all I had to do was recommence the training.

This also coincided with collection of the new road bike under the Cycle to Work Scheme and I continued my cycle commute to work but with a new enthusiasm and quicker speed. I was some weeks cycling to and from work every day resulting in 24+ miles per day and almost an hour and half cycling. This regular cycling meant I was finding it difficult to fit in time to run but these low impact cycle work-outs were maintaining / building the fitness. This continued until going on holiday in late July and then I ran everyday along the Promenade des Angles. I ran what I suppose I would call 'Tempo' by pushing the pace although not running for too long. I varied the pace some days and included running up the steps to the Chateau as repeats after a shorter run. On my return home I continued to emphasise the running over cycling although I did cycle to / from work at least a couple of days per week. But I also included running home from the office.

During August I completed the 'Race the Train' event and then in September another tough off-road race Eridge Park 10. These races were completely different from the upcoming marathon but would challenge me not to run fast and set PB's but instead to provide variety in the training. Alongside this were some shorter 5k races to give confidence on speed.

After Eridge Park I did one last run around local roads on the Tuesday and then no further training. On the Thursday I went out for the day as a volunteer at a triathlon for school kids which was hard work spending the day on my feet.

Travel to Berlin was very early Saturday morning and including the trip to the Expo to collect number and chip meant a long day on my feet. Evening included a meal in a nice Italian restaurant and then early to bed.

Race day morning started at 6am sharp with alarm and then down to hotel breakfast, First thought was breakfast was full of a lot of other runners followed swiftly by the excellent discovery that porridge was available. So a large bowl of porridge with honey and milk washed down with a few cups of tea. Plus a banana and a slice of toast completed the fuelling. Back in the room I consumed a bottle of water with an added tablet of electrolyte mix. By 7am I stopped drinking as we left the hotel.

We walked slowly in the direction of the Tiergarten and noticed another large group of runners heading down into the U-Bahn. We followed them. Emerging on the eastern side of the park we followed the slow snake of runners heading towards the runners 'camp'. It proved more hard work than it should to find the bag drop but after some circular walking it was located and then it was a relatively short walk to the start pens. Two last toilet stops ensured that there would be no mid-race toilet break. Once in the pen I sat on the side of the road and waited. The time was passing slowly but I felt calm and relaxed. The pen was busy but I was reasonably placed and with about 5 minutes to go I dispensed with the yellow bag and gently warmed up with a few movements.

Then the race started and although there is always that false moment where nothing happens the mass of runners slowly edged forward.