I have just returned from a week's holiday in North Wales, incorporating the
first ever running of the Chester Marathon. This was the first race that I
have been the only Bedford Harrier in a race, so I knew that as long as I
finished it I would be first man (and first lady too I suppose!).
The race starts to the east of Chester at the city's rugby ground, and I
collected my number and chip the evening before. It was a good job that the
weather was sunny and calm , because the people issuing the stuff were stuck
outside on the pitch....a bit of rain or wind might have resulted in a
randomisation of all the bits of paper all over the ground. Otherwise the
event was well organised, although the 'presence' of the event at the
beginning was perhaps a bit vague. Having no fellow Harriers to chat to (other
than Fiona!) was not problem, and I made a few good new acquaintances, mainly
in the toilet queue.
The race itself loops twice around a local village and then follows a
greenway, an old railway track west through Chester and down to Queensferry
and back. It is slightly downhill on the way out, and it feels harder on the
way back! The support was good at various points on the course, and for the
first time I had my name emblazoned on my shirt, so the cries of 'come on
'Bedford Robin' really helped.
This was my fourth marathon, and the second this year. So far I have achieved
a personal best on each occasion, although I haven't yet quite dipped below 4
hours. Each marathon is different and I find running them is a profound,
quite emotional experience. In my flush of youth 10 years ago in my 40s I
would never have imagined being able to run a marathon, and the fact that I am
doing so now and recovering quite quickly from them shows that the old body is
getting used to the abuse, and shows how great it is to belong to the
Harriers. Each marathon also gives you a little more experience and knowledge
of how to process your performance and treat the next one. One thing is clear
to me: the long preparatory miles are important, but the tempo sessions are
also crucial; not quick interval stuff, but relatively long surges of
controlled 5k and 10k pace stuff to get the body used to doing it. So I know
that if I want to go below 4 hours I will need to do a good mix of long runs
and tempo.