Marathon Debut - 2hrs26m57s

Edinburgh Marathon - 25th May 2008

On a warm but very windy day i took my place on the start line of the Edinburgh Marathon, the race started and a good size group of runners myself included headed the race around the streets of Edinburgh. After a couple of miles it was down to three of us and an Irish International runner pulling away from us. The gap opened up to about 20 metres and i decided if i was going to win this race i had better jump the gap, so i did just that with no problem what so ever. Shortly after the other two runners managed to get across and we went through the first 10k in 32 mins 31 seconds at which i found very easy, especially as Williams from N.Y.Moors sounded to be struggling with the pace. The 10 mile went by in no time and by the Half way point i can honestly say i was not even sweating and i was finding the pace more than comfortable. By fifteen miles i was almost tempted to attack as i felt the pace was to slow but decided to wait until at least 23 miles before i did. At the 18 mile point i was starting to get some strange twitching feeling coming from my legs and by the twenty miles my legs had decided enough was enough and i slowly but surely dropped off from the other three. With six miles left i was confident i was capable of running a decent pace without loosing too much time. Twenty four miles and the legs had never known this feeling before but still the mile markers seemed to come quite quickly. The last mile was the hardest by a long way but you know it's the last one so mentally it's not bad. I entered the Race course to finish in front of the Grandstand which was packed out with supporters and spectators and with 100 metres to go i could see the clock above the finish line and if i sprinted i could get to the line in under 2 hours 27 minutes for a £100 bonus. Somehow, i don't know how , but i managed to sprint them last 100 metres and the crowd cheered like hell, what a feeling. I finished 4th in 2 hours 26 minutes 54 seconds which was one and half minutes behind the Irish international runner who was the deserving winner. Within 5 seconds of crossing the line my body ached all over. My legs were as stiff as hell and rightly so but then my shoulders were cramping up like hell, something i've not had before.
In my opinion you can't compare any race to a Marathon. The difference even between a 20 miler and the Marathon would be like comparing a 100 metre race to a Half Marathon. As all Marathon runners have said to me over the years, "you've got to do at least one marathon".
I see why now. Because once you have done one you won't be able to resist doing another.
To say i am over the moon with the result is an under-statement.
Another positive result is i feel would be capable of running a Sub 2hrs 23 minutes. You see ! already i'm thinking of doing another marathon.