Florence Marathon
29th November 2015

Home : Race Results : Runners Pages
 

 

Official Results

Richard Pooley 3.56.58

 

My one and only previous marathon was some 20 years and 8 months ago, after which I vowed not only would I never do another marathon, but also that I would never run again!

Roll on 15 years from that dark day and it was suggested by some that to slow the pace of a thickening waistline I might want to think about doing some exercise! That’s when nervously I joined Bedford Harriers. Roll on a further 5 years and I found myself being talked in to running a marathon with my youngest son and heir, Jack. Your offspring can be so persuasive!  Not for us was a marathon in the UK adequate. Oh no, only somewhere in mainland Europe would do and Jack knew just the place, having spent some of this year living there – Florence in Italy.

So, race entries secured (Jack had to have a medical certificate at the age of 21, I didn’t – figure that one out!), flights booked, hotel booked, inadequate amounts of training completed and on Saturday morning we were off - bright eyed and bushy tailed but somewhat fearful of what lay ahead.

We arrived around midday, checked in to our hotel and made our way to the Expo to pick up our numbers and avoid being suckered in to buying more running gear or entering future marathons from all around Europe.

Saturday afternoon and evening were spent wandering around Florence and finding pasta (a challenge in Italy as I am sure you can appreciate!) and beer to ensure that we were sufficiently carb loaded for the race on Sunday.

A 6am alarm call on race day was followed by what breakfast we could get (and keep) down us and a 45 minute walk to the start area. The race was due to start at 9.15 so arrival at the gathering point at 8.15 was great to get acclimatised and in the mood for what we were about to do! By the way, what should you eat before a marathon? Jack tells me after I had shovelled them down, that cheese and cold meats are possibly not the most sensible things!

As, in the eyes of the organisers, we were marathon virgins we were positioned in the 6hr+ pen - this being despite predicting our finish time as 4 hours. So sharpening of elbows commenced and we set a plan to work our way through the runners in front to catch up and stay with the 4 hour pace setter for the rest of the race – that should bring us in comfortably ahead of target of 4 hours.

9.15 came, the gun sounded and slowly we made our way to the start line. The temperature was 4 degrees so we were grateful of the warmth of our fellow runners who numbered over 10,000. But sun was forecast and indeed for most of the race we ran in temperatures of 8 degrees and full sunshine.

As you would expect from a big city marathon the organisation was fantastic. Drinks (water, salts, hot lemon tea) every 5k, sponges shortly after each drinks station, from 15k fruit at each drinks station with cake being added to the menu from 30k onwards. With that much food and drink available it was easy to forget you were meant to be running a marathon?  I stuck to the hot lemon tea and the gels I had got used to consuming on my training runs.

Running over that distance with a buddy I have discovered is a good idea – if only to keep the pace right and keep you “in the zone”. 

The first 5k was slow as we fought our way through the crowds but from thereon in our plan of running around 5.30 per km was maintained until 35k.  At 30k I suggested that as Jack seemed to have more in him he should go ahead. That was the first mental spanner in the works as I had lost both my time keeper and my mental crutch but the impact wasn’t really felt until 35k when the mental doubts crept in and time for the last 7k dropped to just under 6mins per km.

Fortunately the plan of staying with the 4 hour pace setters worked and I crossed the finish line in 3:56:56 – over 50 minutes quicker than my previous nightmare.  Jack clearly upped his pace in the last 12k and came in with a time of 3:50.11.

My only criticism of the race was the 25 minutes it took to get from the finish line to collect your medal. By this time I was cold and my legs were locking up. This delay was created simply by the vast number of runners finishing around the 4hr mark.

So, medals round our necks we made our way, slowly, happily and having achieved our goal, back to the hotel for a shower (I didn’t dare have a bath as I thought I might not be able to get out once in!).

It took me 5 years of running with Harriers to build the confidence to do to run a marathon again and to bury the nightmare of my previous performance. I have to say that, they may not realise it, but without the help of Ken, Jenny, Mark and Chris, plus the various people who have to put up with me running with them on Harriers nights, I wouldn’t have got there. Running with a group and being able to share experiences makes training enjoyable.

Would I do it all again? Well actually I don’t have a choice as shortly after entering for Florence I got confirmation that I had a ballot place for London.  Now I know how I felt after the race and how much I had left in the tank I have a pretty good idea where I need to do some work for next time. So a new target has been set and training starts tomorrow!  I can retire from marathon running after London  - or can I?

 Saluti.

 Richard Pooley