A marathon and the after effect

The plan for the summer 2011 was to achieve another Boston qualifying time.  The Target was to be at least sub 3:30 and hopefully a better than that time to get me into the early entry phase.  With the huge increase in popularity the Boston organisers had developed a new entry process that opened early if you had a better than the minimum for your age grade.

In the early part of the year I had not actually entered a race but had talked about entering a April marathon but come the time and despite being in good shape I did not do it.  I think I felt somehow I was not ready despite having done much of the training, particularly the Sunday LSRs.  That meant to refocus on the autumn and after some hesitation I settled on the Nottingham marathon.  It seemed to have a good reputation and was a Sweatshop branded event.  From what I could tell the profile was undulating and was suited to a good time.

My training was not perfect due to the frequency of my cycling commute but I progressively reduced the cycling and increased the running to and from South Quay to Hackney and also included some mid week long runs the entire way home.  Summer time training I never find easy with holidays and the warm weather but on this occassion I managed to run in the heat in Ibiza but not the planned longer distances over 10 miles.  Nonetheless this summer was not hot so no impact when running here.   I just don't seem able to follow a formal plan and so I use my own instinct on frequency and how to use my existing journey to and from work as a basis for 'training'.  I typically ran 'hard' on the shorter 4 mile morning and evening legs and 'easy' on everything else.  However by virtue of some new found level of fitness some of the 'easy' runs turned out pretty quick with sub 8 minute miles not that hard to achieve.  There was not much racing as part of this programme but the Dartford Half turned out well and boosted my confidence early on but after that it was only Nottingham.

I was pleased with my organisation of the journey to Nottingham by train and the accommodation in a budget hotel within a mile of the start.  And although the meal in the pub the night before was below average quality it was fine.  On the morning itself I had planned in detail my food and drink and it was as good as can be hoped for when away from home. The usual porridge supplemented with energy drinks and then off to the start.

The hanging around is always the worst part of any race.  You get to the start in good time but then what to do.  The village area was busy but I just needed to rest and wait.  As the time for the start approached I headed over to the baggage area and stripped down and pinned on the bib number.  At this point I was able to help out someone who did not have safety pins and that gives you a good feeling to lift you before the start.  Then I was off the pens, but again more waiting.  Eventually we were on our way.  Much of the early miles are now a blur of memories but somewhere around 5 or six miles in I was conscious of running with someone.  At first you match stride and then I spoke to him and asked about his expected time.  The conversation was unexpected as I really would say I don't have a conversation when running, particularly not at race pace!  But we stayed together chatting intermittently until half way.  His plan was not to run fast here but use it as a training run for his preparation for Amsterdam.  After I went on and he slowed it took a bit of time to adjust to not having the pacing effect of another runner but the route was more challenging in the second half.  The toughest section was a combination of an out and back road and then the run around the national watersports lake at Hurst Pierpoint where the wind almost stopped me running.  The mental strength at this stage was being drained but I tried to focus on getting to Boston.  The route took the runners back to the Trent and alongside the Forest ground and then around the meander of the river before crossing over and turning back towards the park and then the finish.  The second half had been slower and the time ticked past 3:10 but a sub 3:15 was possible.  Over a ramp and a sprint to the finish caused some leg pain but it was temporary as I realised I had finished.

The usual routine of medal, goody bag and baggage tent followed by changing and a search to find the railway station which turned out to be a couple of mile walk.  Then something to eat from subway and the train home.

The next morning I am in good shape and decide that I will use the Brompton and train to commute to work.  I rush out the door and although initially the plan was to use Elmstead Woods I convinced myself somewhere on Watts Lane that I should switch to Chislehurst.  I whizzed onto the main road infront cars and sped towards ... disaster!

My recollection is foggy.  But I was aware that the roads were wet from rain earlier.  I realised that I had been going a bit quickly and decided to 'feather' the brakes.  I moved out from the side of the road and as I descended further down Summer Hill I remember at one point saying in my head ' that is not good ' as the rear wheel was no longer firmly on the road and I was starting to fly through the air.

I hit the road hard... very hard.  My wrist watch took some of the impact. My head was without a helmet but stayed away from anything hard but my left arm and left hip took the impact the bike slid beyond me.  I recollect quickly getting up and grabbing the bike and hobbling to the road edge. I was winded and hurt but could not tell how bad... was I going to be alright?  Initially I fumbled for my phone to call Sara.  My fingers shook and yet I called her to come and get me.  I lay down on the pavement and at first declined the suggestion of calling an ambulance from the biker who had stopped to help me.  After a short while I changed my mind.  A crowd gathered and people all were helping; local residents, another biker or two and then the ambulance paramedics.  I was feeling so tired and dazed that I have no idea on time.

A few things stick in the memory.  A discussion about pain levels; my heart rate being low; and their eagerness to cut my clothes that I pleaded them not to do.  The Gore top cost a fortune!

The A&E was efficient and I had a range of views of my hip and leg x-rayed and the good news was nothing was broken.  I was taken out of A&E and placed somewhere else but there was nothing much they could do.  By the end of the day I went home.  Hardly able to move. 

Something of a contrast with my condition post marathon.

Recent progress and forward view into 2012

I was woken about 4:30am with the sound of heavy rain beating against the window and wind howling through the trees.  I had briefly considered getting up early but was not able to resist the comfort of staying in bed so was finally woken by the iPhone alarm at 5:50am.  The forecast had been for rain and strong wind but I was pleasantly suprised to find that the sky was now clear and wind was not as strong as earlier.  I followed my usual routine except I did not put on the kitchen TV for BBC 1 Breakfast as that would enevitably slow my getting ready and the news is always such a steady stream of 'bad' news.  Nonetheless I expected rain so took the decision to wear the overshoes and stuff the lightweight jacket into the backpack for when the rain came.

The commute journey is a routine and I have been back riding to and from work since returning from the fall in early September.  I feel I am making good progress and fitness is coming back now as a result of the continuous pattern of 5 weeks of riding daily the 13 miles each way.  I consider it at a 'satisfactory' level but not yet to an 'endurance' level. This was proven on Saturday morning on the 40+ mile ride with BCC where I was lagging behind the level 3's on the climbs and was not able to maintain the cadence on the gently undulating sections.  However, what was most concerning was my fear on the descents.  The fall that so badly bruised my hip has also taken away my confidence on the road with anything that looks like it might cause me to come off the bike.  Drains, manhole covers, potholes and adverse cambers all scare the hell out of me.  I have to find a way of overcoming this if I am going to ride any distance beyond to and from work.

The Enigma Ethos attracted some positive comments during the ride.  It's my new winter bike and commuter and so far its proved remarkably comfortable and enjoyable to ride.  Also what might appear to be a trivial feature but are in fact an important addition are mudgards that keep me clean.  No more the dirty splash marks of road grime (petroleum and bitumen) on my shorts and jacket.

The new steed does mean a decision needs to be made about the much riden Trek 1.9 that now sits unused in the garage.  I need to clean it thoroughly and then have it serviced before putting it onto eBay.  I don't intend to be gready about the sale price but anything above £250 will be very satisfactory.  I know that is not very much towards the replacement that could be half as much again as the Ethos but that will be a higher specification Ti frame with hopefully Chorus 11 groupset and matching quality wheels.  But that is not until May or June 2012.

The next few months will comprise a juggling of both marathon training and cycling.  I have two milestones for 2012.  Firstly in April there is the Boston Marathon and then in September the Ride Across Britain (or Lands End to John O'Groats known as 'LEJOG').  I know I cannot compromise on the marathon training as I intend to run a sub 3:30 time which I would consider a respectable but not a leg damaging time.  Whilst I might be able to go faster I have said to anyone prepared to listen "this is my last marathon".  I am not entirely convinced of my own resolution to stick to that I am sure that when I am pounding the streets in February for 3 hours or 20 miles I won't for a moment want to commit to any more after Boston. 

A LEJOG has been something I have had on a 'things to do' list for a while and had assumed that I would do a 'supported' rather than the 'unsupported' approach.  With a support vehicle all the spare kit, clothes, food and drinks are off the bike leaving the rider to just enjoy the ride.  Unsupported can be based on carrying a tent for camping whilst others are with accommodation in B&B's pre-booked.  But I have gone for this organised event with the 960 mile route in 9 days which is fully supported but has a camp set up for each night stop.  It also includes a training programme and pre-event activities to get you to the starting line ready for the challenge.

So far I have signed up for the training programme at an Intermediate level though the Map My Tracks service and the associated RAB private Rider Hub which is a closed community for the participants.  As a result I have discovered to my great pleasure that a clubmate from BCC has signed up for the event.  We are currently discussing the various sportive events for spring and early summer as a compliment to the training rides.

Lastly I have purchased a Kindle edition of a recent LEJOG account called One Man and LEJOG by Antony Last which is helping me appreciate the scale of the challenge ahead.

Tomorrow I want to look back on the success of the Nottingham Marathon and the nightmare that followed.