PREVIOUSLY ON THIS BLOG (always wanted to say that!)…..screw it, I’ve left you hanging at the start line at the time of the gun signifying race start long enough. On with the descriptions of the marathon itself, from the perspective of a first timer with a Gatorade bottle in one hand and a bag of lollies in the other in case the fuel on the course wasn’t enough.
As is the case with most other mass starts, it wasn’t a mad rush to the timing chip activation point, but after that it was very much game on. As usual there were many who were looking to go a little faster at the start than they had anticipated, while others were settling in for a long day at the office. The space between runners was cramped at the corner where Federation Square and Flinders Street train station meet, but once that corner was negotiated and runners started to use the tram lines which had been cleared of the famous mode of Melbourne transportation for the morning, it was time to find space to get the tempo that a runner wanted. The long straight run down St.Kilda Road heading towards the beach saw me keep pace with the 4 hour pace runners as I had wanted to do for the bulk of the run. Skipping the first drink station was not exactly planned but as I approached I felt this made sense, for many runners would crowd the tables looking for the first sign of refreshment. Plus I had trained to run for about 6km, or about 40 minutes of running before looking for hydration so the body was used to long periods without replenishment.
Entering the Albert Park area passing the Junction Oval saw us enter the Grand Prix circuit, a part of the course that I will revisit for the final run of the year at the City2Sea in mid November. It was hard to recognise without the walls lining the roads as they usually do when Sebastien Vettel blasts off into the distance leaving others to squabble amongst themselves. It was even less recognisable than my first experiences at the Albert Park lake as a very young tacker which were spent along the old Lake Oval (since demolished to become firstly the South Melbourne Football/Soccer Club ground, then the headquarters for Athletics in Victoria) feeding ducks with cheap loaves of bread.
It was there I started having a little chat to other runners about the weather, which is something I couldn’t think about doing if I was at an elite level. It was nice to know that there were like-minded individuals out there giving their all. Others were doing the same thing, especially to the older “Spartans” in the field for they had trodden these paths many times before and their words of wisdom would be as if they had come from a sage. After heading into the pit lane past the first personalised drink station which next year I should certainly take advantage of I decided to increase the tempo slightly to try to catch and eventually pass the 3:50 pace runners.
From there it was along Fitzroy Street adjacent to the tram lines of the famed St.Kilda tram towards the beach and eventually down Beaconsfield Parade. This area of the course reminded me of the 3rd lap of the half marathon course I ran 7 days earlier, the brain was certainly thinking about just where the 180 degree turn was! Unlike last week however I felt more confident in the conditioning and continued to run strongly, although I did half jokingly utter to the leading runners on the other side of the course to slow down so we could keep up (I doubt anyone else, let alone those runners, were listening with any intent). The split at 20km showed I was travelling on course to complete the aim of a 4 hour marathon, certainly I didn’t expect to find later I recorded a 1:47 split time at the timing mat just prior to half distance.
The 25km marker was at Elwood Park, after negotiating a path through a car park I sensed the first signs of trouble. Sadly the Gatorade wasn’t of much use and I couldn’t find a way to consume the lollies easily. After rounding the turn to head back towards the city, I felt that I needed to ease off, although I didn’t anticipate dropping to walking pace (and I wasn’t the only one). Having entered unchartered territory having run further than I had ever run before in a single running effort, the task of starting again after a short walk was increasingly difficult not because of exhaustion but because of fatigue in the upper legs (the skins on the calves meant I had no pain or even discomfort in that region, a surprise given a reasonably lengthy history of injury). But start again I did passing Luna Park (last visited on December 28 1997, externally it didn’t look as though it changed much) and relatively charging back up Fitzroy Street into St.Kilda Road. Signs were still good passing the 30km marker and a quick glance at the app on the iPod indicated I had over an hour to reach the MCG finish line before the goal time.
Sadly the body started to let me down. After trotting towards the Southbank precinct, I started to feel pain in my left big toe with about 6km to go, pain that I had never experienced before. Indeed I had felt some pain in the left foot in the weeks before the marathon, but I attribute this to wearing new work boots and this pain this still lingers only when I wear work boots given they are the only pair of covered shoes I have without some sort of extra inner sole protection. At the very least, I felt I was close enough to at least walk towards the finish following the course looping back towards St.Kilda Road. As the frustration mounted, completed with a tennis like bounce of the empty Gatorade bottle as I passed one of the many spectators, the rain that had been forecast and had been threatening for most of the morning started to fall. It made the walk long and miserable as the goal time of 4 hours passed whilst out on the road.
Fortunately the pain in the toe abated for long enough for the final kilometre incorporating the loop into the MCG. This was where a silver lining to not completing the course in the time I anticipated, for approaching the MCG I ranged alongside a spartan named Jim Hopkins who was about to finish the event for the 30th time. Thinking it would be a good thing to respect an elder statesman of the event I decided to ask him just how many times he’d finished at this finish line (4th time as it turned out), and thought that at least there may be some attention at the finish line (there wasn’t a lot that I heard). It was a slow march across the finish line, but a march across the finish line ahead of 2300 finishers and a handful of those who started but didn’t complete the journey is better than a trip to the medico without the satisfaction of finishing. As I wandered towards the tunnel I felt I needed to emulate the feat of former AFL star Matthew Lloyd and toss a few blades of hallowed MCG turf into the air, before taking in the atmosphere as I exited the arena.
Opting not to even bother looking for a post-race massage that apparently was available (there were even some asking for directions in an English accent), it was time for a quick stretch and a light refuelling consisting of sports drink and a banana. I’m sure I sat with my belongings in the bowels of the MCG where I had sat hours earlier for at least 40 minutes trying to regather my senses before I decided it was time to depart the scene. Whilst the overall winner of the race headed to McDonald’s, whose outlets obviously aren’t as plentiful in Kenya as they are in the Melbourne CBD, I comforted myself with a feed of KFC, the very food that in so many ways typified my physical appearance in the years between 2009-2011.
It has now been close to 4 days since I started and completed my first, and certainly not last, marathon. Incredibly the pain in the knees was gone by the Tuesday, and apart from occasional bursts of discomfort in the toe all pain the legs experienced disappeared 24 hours later. Perhaps constant movement that is required when sorting parcels helped in this regard, maybe it was the day that I used a bandage to cover the upper right leg assisted. Possibly it was the over-replenishment of energy in the period afterwards (blame Hungry Jacks in Melbourne and Pumpkin Soup served at the Brisbane Virgin Lounge) that made me feel like I needed to get active again to return to some sort of normality. In any case, I doubt I will be able to run another marathon this weekend, and I am content with the remaining schedule I have set in my running consisting of the Run Sydney Half-Marathon next weekend and the City2Sea in November in Melbourne, a sister event to the City2Surf and the City2South where I participated earlier this year.
What I did do on the Monday afternoon while sitting in the Virgin Lounge in Brisbane was to set out some sort of agenda for 2014. You can find the agenda I have provisionally set out for myself at https://mhjeffrey027running.com/planned-events/ which as the schedules for football and work become clearer will alter. By the time I approach the start line for this event next year, not only will I have had hopefully more experience over the distance, I will definitely improve upon the benchmark I have set following the 2013 Melbourne Marathon.
For the purposes of this blog today, I have decided to split this into two parts. Perhaps it will be easier to read, maybe it makes it easier to apologise to everyone for being such a tease. However such is the tale that can be told from the entire event that it makes sense to do it this way.
Wake up time was at 3:30AM, which this week was actually the CORRECT time. Those who read my previous post will realise the error of assuming what time it was at the start of the dreaded Daylight Savings period will know I needed to learn from this error. I was conscious of turning up to the start area as early as possible, knowing that it would take half an hour’s walking to reach clothing drop, and at least another 5 minutes stocking up on fuel supplies (don’t worry, I don’t sniff the petrol) at the good old 7-Eleven which unlike Perth was located in every second street in Melbourne’s CBD.
I did get away from the motel a little later than anticipated or planned, yet I still knew I had ample time for all that I needed to do. This included showering, attaching the bib to the running top, applying the support garments to the legs (although I didn’t attach insulation tape to ensure the calf Skins would not fall to the ankles like they did in Adelaide. Turned out I didn’t have to worry), slipping on the warm weather gear over the top of the running attire, applying the zinc cream (yellow this time rather than the normal white), and finally making sure the electronic devices were fully charged before attaching the iPod to the arm to listen to some tunes on the way.
The morning was in comparison to Central Queensland conditions rather frigid, although the cold didn’t affect ex-Melbourneites such as myself. It probably wouldn’t have made a difference if I only wore half of my warm weather clothing too, for unlike many northern colleagues I can put up with a little cold weather. As I ventured down Russell Street I was actually a little more worried than normal that someone would attack, but nobody even bothered me on my way. Perhaps they were more concerned with the rubbish dump that materialised outside a 24 hour Hungry Jacks necessitating a temporary closure as their outlet was cleaned. Maybe they were more worried about securing a taxi as the case is just about every Saturday Night in the city. There was a slight worry when I reached the Federation Square/Flinders Street station corner as officials were setting up part of the course, but gaps in the fence at a crossing ensured I would move on with ease.
There wasn’t a massive crowd in the bowels of the MCG as I arrived to drop off clothing, as expected when it was 5:30AM with the bulk of the field trying to reach the city without public transport options. Being alone you do notice the diverse nature of such fields, three-quarters of those who were there when I arrived were asian, and when I left I noticed a mini bus full of the elite Kenyans who would as usual go on to dominate proceedings. But there were a few true blue Aussies in the area as well, many of them who would have pounded these pavement paths several times before.
It was a slow move towards the start area, which was a short walk across the footbridge at Batman Avenue, a stone’s throw from Rod Laver Arena which for the international readers is best known as the venue where Grand Slam tennis dreams are realised every January. A quick stretch adjacent to the MCG nets was my immediate focus, and flexible thinking was the key as I lunged my way across the bridge. I didn’t do a lot once on the other side, a quick sit down to adjust the shoelaces and a little hop across the road for a peep at the Yarra River to clear the mind was all I wanted to do.
With 20 minutes to go it was time to pick out a starting spot. Almost every event now has timing systems that activate upon a competitor crossing the timing mats at the start line, so starting towards the front of the field isn’t necessary unless you wanted 5 minutes of fame on the hour-long highlights package shown at a later date. I positioned myself near the 4 hour pace runners, given my goal for the event was to beat them. The minutes counted down as the PA announcers declared this the biggest field ever in the event with over 8000 starters, then minutes became seconds.
And at 7AM sharp, on the morning of the 14th of October 2013, a bang from the starters gun signified the beginning of the journey, a journey that would personally begin a minute later……
TO BE CONTINUED!!!!!!
Just a little 7 minute video I knocked up so that for some reason the masses can hear me speak about anything and everything before the big run. Better head for the showers now, it will take a while to get to the start line and I’m not paying a cabbie. Sadly Firefox users may have to use another browser given the site seems to be inoperable again for Firefox users, but that rant is for another time as usual.
There may be another pre-run rant if I can be bothered at the start area, that video may appear in the main race report which should come up within 48 hours of the finish.
It’s funny how you remember the first time you managed to do things that you either had to do or held an ambition of doing. So many times you think that something’s going to happen, that it will play out exactly either as you planned or had dreamed about (as a kid you tend to plan in dream form rather than formally). So many times what you’re about to do is so daunting you have second, third and even fourth thoughts of doing it before heading to a starting point to find it isn’t as bad as you thought it would be.
So as my maiden flirtation with the monster called the marathon approaches, perhaps this little posting will put my mind at ease somewhat. Yet the same thoughts I’m sure will enter the mind at various stages tomorrow (Saturday) and as I approach the start area for the siren (the substitute for a gun) to signal the feet to start pounding the pavement in earnest. Thoughts I’m certain will range from “Am I good enough to do this?” to “Did I leave something I needed to get on my own bed thousands of kilometres away?” Certainly I’m anticipating that the questions and thoughts will change several times before I cross the stripe on the hallowed turf of The G (That’s the MCG, the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the overseas readers) sometime around lunchtime on Sunday afternoon.
Undoubtedly one of the doubts that I’ll have to confront will be preparation, or lack thereof. Whilst I’ve been happy enough with the training I’ve completed certainly I would have loved to complete longer distances or achieved longer stints at a higher tempo. But then again even the very best runners I’m sure at some stage would think that some part of their race preparation wasn’t finished to their satisfaction. Given that the last major run I had was a local half-marathon last week completed in a tick over 1:57, the so called experts would have cringed I went so far so close to a major event. Yet this was something I was always confident of starting and finishing, for as stage actors need their dress rehearsals before opening night of a high money Broadway musical, runners need some sort of practice race to simulate what they want to do before their ‘curtain call’.
Was the 1:57 half marathon satisfying on a personal level? In some ways it was given the warm temperatures (24 degrees air temperature at Yeppoon would have translated to over 30 at road level, at least that’s what it felt like with minimal breeze about) and the nature of the course which in reality in my opinion didn’t really suit my preference in a route. Three laps of a virtual pancake flat course may have been conducive to slick times but it actually seems harder to complete from a mental sense. I always seem to be looking for elevation changes, or simple changes in landmarks to maintain focus and motivation. However the organisers deserve all the praise that they receive, the small team running the whole show with several events throughout the morning catering for an ever increasing number of participants handling the pressure with relative ease.
What did I learn from last weekend that I can use for this weekend and other runs into the future? For starters I doubt I will be considering taking on a honey shot towards the end of the run. Perhaps the fact this was the first time I had consumed honey in its pure form for several years, and certainly the first time during any form of exercise meant that the body wasn’t used to the flavour entering the body causing a negative reaction. Perhaps I should stick to old fashioned soft lollies at some point on Sunday, although I’m not sure how I’ll be taking them on board for it seems there are only fluid stations on the route. Perhaps it wasn’t the wisest idea also to have a second helping of potato bake the night before, but given the amount prepared by my sister (who had a nearby base that was much closer to the race precinct) how could I say no?
The other thing I will have learnt relates to sleep, or more to the point adjusting the clock on my phone to the time zone I am in at the time and waking up at the appropriate hour. Thinking that my phone automatically detected the time of day the alarms were set accordingly as they usually are on a Sunday (employment dictates the alarms are set at such times often). After having a bath, YES A BATH, NOT A SHOWER, and dressing accordingly including applying the strapping to the ankle that was bothering me most of the week and the calf skins, I noticed that the time on my phone was exactly an hour ahead of the time indicated on my iPod. My worst fears were confirmed when I turned on the TV to catch the garbage that is early Sunday morning television……the phone thought I was in a time zone where Daylight Savings applied (Queensland is a state that RIGHTLY doesn’t observe it, but that’s an argument for another forum) and I had indeed risen an hour earlier than I should have. At least this week the phone will indicate the proper time after I manually change the settings sometime shortly after landing at Tullamarine tomorrow.
So just how will I prepare for the marathon on Sunday? Not too much will alter in terms of a warm-up and stretching routine so long as I’m able to find sufficient space for the dynamic warm-up an hour before the start. Like so many other participants however, travelling to the start line is a concern with public transport in Melbourne on Sunday’s not commencing until an hour AFTER the marathon start (as a point of reference, it generally starts just after 4:30AM on most lines during the working week and close to 6AM on a Saturday). From past experiences it will take at least a 40 minute walk from my motel room to the start area, plus a 5 minute stop at a local 7-Eleven to stock up on fuel which as usual will consist of Gatorades and probably a chocolate bar which is about the extent of the solids that I consume in the hours before major physical activity.
The one thing I will be leaving until I prepare to leave for the start line is exactly what I’ll be wearing at the start line. Perhaps I am being spooked by the colder conditions forecast for Sunday, given the need to adjust to conditions close to 20 degrees cooler in air temperature by comparison to what is being experienced at home. The decision will be whether I feel I need to wear the long sleeved skins under garment under my top (a 2012 model Western Bulldogs training jumper I donned in Adelaide) or not. It’s not that it would be the first time I’ve worn it in race situations, indeed the first time I wore this was in Geelong 11 months ago and I used it for the City2Surf amongst other events this year. I’m more concerned that the body will be excessively warm considering I’ll be wearing it for 28 more kilometres than I’ve ever worn it in races, and that I couldn’t wait to shed that layer after crossing the finish line. The fact that I’ll have a layer of warm clothing over the top of the race kit before the start won’t be a consideration; those clothes will be dropped off at clothing drop-off well before the start.
Anyway, if you want to track my progress on Sunday morning (Australian Time), then simply head to http://www.mapandrun.com/ after the start of the marathon (GMT +11 at this stage). It will ask for the the bib number of the competitor which you would like to track, which in my case is number 7491. Note that some sources have indicated that it may not work if I’m too slow to reach the 30km mark (roads do need to be periodically re-opened) but I’m confident of reaching this point within the 4 hour time limit before I have to use footpaths to complete the course. After all, I’m hopeful of reaching the finish line at a time close to when the officials redirect competitors to the alternate course at 30km.
For those of you competing on Sunday, see you at the start line. I promise not to go too fast, and there’s no hint of sarcasm in that statement either!
The following is a video that I hastily recorded to demonstrate just what training gear I wear on a typical training morning. Hopefully what I wear isn’t that much different to other weekend warriors out there. Once again I apologise for the wobbly picture that sometimes appears, perhaps one day I’ll be able to purchase a professional camera and tripod kit or (more realistically) I may be able to steady the hand for a steady picture.
As for the training, I feel as though I’m getting better and better at going further and further. Tomorrow morning (27 September 2013) will be another long run where I should be covering a distance beyond the half-marathon. Then on the weekend sometime, probably on Saturday I may hit the hills during the morning before a little kip, and then witnessing a Hawthorn premiership win against the Purples.
MHJeffrey027 Running 