Race review

5 hours 1 minute and 44 seconds or thereabouts.


That was yesterday, my second marathon, the second time I have run 42.2k, and the second time it's taken me more than 5 hours.


My wife asked if I was disappointed with my time, and the answer is no, I am happy. I have come to terms with being a slow marathoner. If I get faster then I get faster, if not then shit happens, while it's a race it's not just about the amount of time it takes to finish, it's as much about being a part of something bigger, and simply finishing.


So here is the buts of the race that stood out.


At the start I said goodbye and good luck to me ex-colleague who gave me a ride in as he was placing himself for a faster run. The air was filled with nervous tension from the first timers, excitement and an element of apprehension for the pain that we were all about to endure.


Across the line and away we go. I settled into a pace slightly lower than I had planned with the first couple of k's at 6:20min/k, but I didn't mind too much as at this point I had decided that chasing times wasn't really why I was here. I focused on easy strides and cruised along with the crowd.


A the 4.2k mark some dick head announced to the runners around him that we were 10% through, some people need yo learn to shut up. Shortly after this I saw one dude wearing Vibram five fingers, and another wearing bare feet....that's hardcore.


Along st kilda road I saw a guy with a hat shaped like a block of cheese, and another one with a knitted beard warmer.


I had to stop for a wee break in Albert park, and once that was sorted I was happily cruising along.


At the 9K aid station I spotted a colleague who was volunteering so I made sure I grabbed a water from him.


I noticed that a lot of the running clubs had their own aid stations for their members this year, which was great for them to pick up gels drinks etc.


We hit StKilda and headed towards Port Melbourne. I like this leg because the faster runners are on the other side of the road, and it appears that you are running to the spirit of Tasmania, along here I saw 2 people on bikes in tiger suits who were growling at the runners.....very odd indeed.


Got to the turnaround, and there is about 4k where you can see the 20k marker as it was a big inflatable arch. This was not a nice part of the race as it just didn't feel like I was getting any closer to it. Along here I was feeling good, legs were happily ticking over and although I had resolved to just run it, I noticed that the 4:30 pacer was behind me, which caused a lot of confusion as I would have sworn he was in front of me. Of course this had me thinking what if, what time etc.


At about the 23k mark, the what ifs where laid to rest when I had to start having some walking breaks, as I was starting to struggle. I had felt this welling up for about 4k and I had told myself no walking until 25k but I didn't meet that goal. I kicked my own ass back in to the task at hand and pushed on.


Somewhere between StKilda and Elwood I almost hurled. There was a stench of rotten seafood coming from some kind of creek or storm water running off, and it was bad.


We ran through a couple of parks this year and came back onto the road to continue on to the turnaround, one of the parks was awesome, we ran up a slight hill and had an amazing view of the beach and the crashing waves.


Back on the road and around the turnaround I spotted a Spartan(a person who has completed 10 Melbourne marathons) and I asked him how he was doing, he said "I'm fucked mate" I asked him how many is this for him, and it was his 10th Melbourne, and last he told me. I kept running leaving him behind, and went round the turnaround. He gave me a wave as I passed him in the other direction.


The people that live down here are really nice, despite having no car access to their houses a lot of them are out the front with lollies, some with bananas and all of them with encouragement.


Back across the puke river and on to StKilda, a lot of people are passing me now, but a lot are walking, especially after the 30k mark. I am packing a dude that looks like a midget who is running and walking too so we are constantly passing one another.


Just before the 30k marker some weird old dude is crossing the road and slows down in front of me and stares me down....all I can think is get out of way you sill old bugger..and eventually he did. I really don't know what the hell that was all about.


Through StKilda and back towards the city. Lots of people telling us we were on the home stretch now, and to keep up the amazing work. We passed all the running club tables but because their members had all passed by they were handing out everything they had left, water, gels, power aid etc. There was a guy who had gone and bought 2 boxes of icy poles and was giving them to runners. Community spirit is alive and well.


On StKilda road I spotted a runner ahead and focused on pacing him. I passed him as he was running slower, then he passed me when I was walking. We continued on for several k like this. Eventually we started to encourage each other and he offered me 2 weird looking pills. I asked what they were and he said they were some sugar lollies, so I took them. At this stage I needed all the help I could get. No cramps yet but I was hurting.


We continued to sort of run together, and had a chat, it was his first, and he had been suffering through ITB cramps since the 5k mark. That really sucked for him.


Around and under the arts center, and some other runner how we were doing for time, 4:11 which I said wasn't too bad for 36k.


At the this point we hit some minor hills through the park and back up towards the shrine,down domain road, I got chatting with a nice lady spartan at this point who was asking me how many I had done etc. When I said it was my second she said, well your in now, I replied with well and truly in probably in over my head but in all the same.


Along StKilda road back to up to Flinders now, and and there were a lot of aid stations, my friend with the ITB issues is powering a head now shooting for a sub 5 hours. At this stage I just didn't have it in me to push it was hard enough to keep running. I realized that there was about 1.2k to go.


Along Flinders st and I could see the MCG the end was in sight, I started to push, then I realized that if I could push enough then I would be able to crack the 5 hour mark....shame I didn't realize this earlier.


I ran hard passing a lot of people, pushing as hard as I could. I was running at a sub 6m/k pace which felt like I was sprinting, around through the backstreets behind the G and then onto the last bit of road...up hill....some race director needs to have his ass kicked for this. 41.9k and they have the finish line up a hill....damn, doesn't matter pushed anyway to get up there, and over the line. The garmin says it took me 5:01:44 we will see what the official results say.


Up the hill and there was my wife and the kids, screaming there hearts out in support. This gave me an amazing lift and got my ass up the hill and over the finish line.


At the finish line I almost collapsed. One of the marshals came and made sure I wasn't going to hurl collapse or both, and then we got ushered out of the finish area by a cop. I had a drink, collected my show bag, called my wife and arranged a meeting place. On the way there I got the most insanely intense calf cramps I have ever experienced. 


One calf first and it was so intense I couldn't put my foot flat on the ground at all. Then the other got jealous and wanted some cramp action, I was standing on tippy toes in agony while a lot of people just looked on. Eventually I forced my feet back on the ground and hobbled off to the meeting place.


Compression socks on in the car and they have been ever since (excluding showers etc) these are amazing wonderful things and I owe them a lot. My calves feel great.


My wife made a comment on facebook about the supporters at the marathon and how its hard for them to get organised, wrangle kids and be there for their runners. I would like to say a huge thanks to everyone who made the effort to be there for runners, and all the other runners.


The supporters really made the day, from handing out snakes, icy poles, cheering us on no matter that the slower runners were still plodding along. They drove us to run when we were walking, keep running when we wanted to stop, and finish the marathon.


So I would like to acknowledge that its hard for the supports to be there on the day but it really does make all the difference. So thank you everyone.


Daniel