Two years after taking the plunge and entering my first marathon, come Sunday morning, I’ll be lining up for Melbourne Marathon number three.
I can happily confirm this will be the first occasion where I’m confident not only of greeting the finish line, but that significant progress will be made on previous efforts.
A couple of sub 90-minute half marathon outcomes in recent months served as pleasing affirmations that being able to run with a goal beyond completing the course – a monumental accomplishment in itself – is now possible.
The body feels as sound in the immediate countdown – the dreaded “taper” phase – as it ever has. Even though I’ve been there and done that on several previous occasions, it takes resorting to the perusal of various runners’ forums to assure myself that heavy calves and aching feet and ankles are a good sign that I’ve given myself sufficient rest.
This manifests into paranoia about a non-existent scratching sensation in my throat, angst when another soul sniffles, much less coughs, and sneezes are also part and parcel.
That nagging desire to pop the shoes on for a quick 10-kilometre session has also been a constant presence in recent days. “Have I done enough?” has been a recurring sentiment, which I’m certain is a view shared by the more than 7000 competitors set to take part on the day, when the answer is that nothing can be done in the final 100 hours or so to alter the path which has been set.
Even as I compose this piece, on a Friday afternoon, it serves a purpose shamelessly greater than informing you of this wonderful event which unites so many people from all corners of not only this country, but the entire globe. It is distracting, and protecting my mind from those incessant, irrational thoughts, that more can be done.
The other half is the race day factor. That’s just how it is with a marathon – you never know what could happen on the day, there are infinite variables which can make the largest differences. It’s no good dwelling on them, everything than can be done was weeks and months in the past.
What can be done? Enjoying sufficient sleep, consuming enough water and electrolytes, devouring enough carbohydrates, but most importantly, staying off your feet is paramount in the final 48 to 72-hour window. You need to allow the body to be as primed as it can be for the torture which is to be imminently endured. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve taken part, there is always going to be a toll.
So to Sunday on a personal level. With returns of four hours and 13 minutes on debut in 2012 and three hours and 40 minutes last year, complemented by three hours and 22 minutes at the Great Ocean Road Marathon in May, the ambition is to cross the line in under three hours. Failing that, the old adage becomes applicable – there’s always next time.
That’s the ambition. What the outcome is? That’s the unknown.
Good luck to all participants, officials and attendees, it’s going to be a great morning – if not once it’s over for the former group.
matt
Guest
Sounds good Bayden - nothing wrong with aiming high and your early splits definitely consistent with a ~2:50 I think you are young and have plenty of upside - if you feel you have a 2:50 in you I have no doubt with your dedication that you will achieve it All the best and thanks for sharing your experiences - very interesting Cheers
matt
Guest
Well done MJ!
MJ
Guest
I managed to get the time I wanted by a couple of minutes, last 6km was a struggle with the left thigh/quad causing grief. Also didn't take on board drinks until after 10km which replicated my training, but really looked for the personal drink at station 2 (original Lucozade) which was earlier than expected on course.
Bayden Westerweller
Roar Guru
1. I definitely went out harder than desired to compensate for being stuck in traffic. I was however tentatively aiming for somewhere around 2h 50m considering that I felt as good as I ever have prior to a marathon prior to the start. 2. Refer to above - I probably lost track of my pace as a result of the frenetic start instead of easing into a solid rhythm as you describe. 3. A combination of what I've described above - resulting in the calves tightening up, and slightly warmer than desired conditions definitely added five-ten mins to my result. A. I've tended to eschew energy gels mid-race, instead stacking up on the electrolytes beforehand and relying on drinks stations and snacks such as bananas or snakes to replenish. Yesterday I avoided any re-hydration until the 9km mark when I'd worked my way to where I wanted to be initially - mostly due to time concerns, I was reluctant to lose any more time immediately after working it off. From then on, I hydrated at most stations, probably not enough on the electrolyte side though, only three of the ten contained Hydralyte. B. It's hard to describe my own style, I'd say it's nimble. I've been told that it is "natural" by others, but it's hard to say without seeing much footage of myself. I've done limited research into optimising it further, especially when it comes to maintaining the calves, which seem to suffer the most beyond 30km. I would say that I suffer very few injuries - mostly niggles, so it's probably a case of refining little things here or there rather than wholesale change. I'm sure your stride "re-invention" was indeed worth the time, the satisfaction of being able to run pain free and at pace is hard to describe!
matt
Guest
Hi Bayden, More a sharing of ideas than an imparting of knowledge! Forgive if any of following is off the mark :-) 1. I think you went out to hard - amazing splits through 18k but asking for trouble! (Unless you seriously were shooting for sub 2:54?) Do you use a GPS watch? Some runners I know hate using them in races. But for me, in my marathon, it was perfect for helping me control my pace and avoid going out too hard. I swear by it and highly recommend them as well worth the investment. 2. I can;t speak for the crowds as I have not done a run of this size for so many years - so I can appreciate the desire to get out fast in order to get ahead of the traffic and to find a rhythm in a less crowded strip of road. Still, in this regard I would have deliberately slowed after 10k, not sped up! 3.Based on your half-marathon credentials and ever improving fitness I think you had a sub 3 in you today. Obviously the heat / just having one of those days (i.e. things outside your sphere of control) might explain it. But there are two other factors worth exploring: A. Fuelling - doesn't seem an issue for people these days, but is it safe to say that you stayed hydrated and also kept getting the energy into your body during the race? E.g. even the stock standard Gel each 10K strategy seems good for most. I am confident your fuelling would have been on the money as you have good experience under your belt. B. Technique (I have not seen you run so I can only speculate if this may possibly apply). Those with not great technique can still run 5 / 10 and even 21k in fantastic times. But beyond that, your body just starts to pay too high a price - muscles give way and when they do, the whole stride breaks down. It's on this last point I am most interested to hear your thoughts and depending on your answer, it's an area I'd encourage you to do a lot of research into and subsequent focus on. If you are already across what I am alluding to, you can appreciate it's a helluva lot more than "forefoot running" or "natural form running"! I've spent 3 years now re-inventing my stride (I'm now 40, and I still have a ways to go) - but it has been so well worth it - I run so much faster and injury free than I had ever dreamed possible for myself :-) Anyway, congrats once again and well done - when you do break 3hrs I hazard to guess you'll suffer a lot less than today! Cheers
Bayden Westerweller
Roar Guru
Hey Matt. A little disappointed but really not too upset, it was still a huge improvement on my previous effort - sub three hours, and hopefully more, is definitely on for next time! It was quite a warm day, this didn't help the cause, my calves felt like concrete from 30km, there was really nothing I could do. I also got bogged down at the start so had to compensate and even though I ended up being ahead of schedule as a result, it meant I didn't have as much in the tank as I'd have liked. By all means, I'm open to any knowledge which you'd be happy to impart, there's always something to learn! Thanks!
matt
Guest
Hi Bayden, I don't really know you (obviously!) but I checked a few minutes ago with huge interest of your result. Missed out of course (and I would love to hear the tale) but a gallant effort nonetheless. Was it a hot day and did this get to you? I am sure you are absolutely gutted with the result - but you toughed out that last 10k so all credit to you. Well done! I'd love to be able to share some ideas with you - I have no doubt you can go a lot better than 3hrs in the future. Congrats to you and all finishers
Bayden Westerweller
Roar Guru
Definitely looking for a positive split in the back 21km. Sub 1h 30m (1h 27m-1h 28m) for the first 21km, followed by sub 1h 25m, hopefully closer to 1h 20m (1h 22-23), allowing time then for variables, three hours is on the cards. Ran 1h 24m and 1h 23m half marathons in the past couple of months quite comfortably, if I can replicate this in the second half then things are looking good! You learn something new each time, things happen on the day, there's never a definitive answer. I adhere to your advice, it is certainly wise!
Bayden Westerweller
Roar Guru
Good luck tomorrow, hope you achieve your goal - it always helps when you have some previous knowledge to work on! I'm looking into competing at GC next year as my first interstate attempt, heard good reviews from others who have participated.
matt
Guest
Sounds like you have private well. What's the plan in terms of half way split? I just missed 3 hours in July and I don't think there is anything I could have done different. The only possibility was my mental toughness. I dropped 1 min in the last 10k to come in 52s over the mark. Others bled more, some as much as 5-8 mins. Still, I wonder if I could have 1. Kept more focused at repeating my various mantras and 2. Kept focus on the technique. Shorten the stride and keep turning those legs over at as close to 180 as possible. Could I have done more in the first half to not being on mental fatigue sooner? Probably The best thing I did was follow this advice. In the first half don't be an idiot. In the second half don't be a wuss. All the best to the author and to all others running tomorrow!
MJ
Guest
I'm aiming to go under 4 after just being outside at the Gold Coast on my 30th birthday. This is my 2nd attempt at Melbourne so at least I know the course and have a strategy to get under 4.