Hills, Australia, Lady Gaga, Paper Cups and 42k!
By Paul Grinham
Event: North Dorset
Village Marathon
Location: Sturminster
Newton, Dorset, England
Date: 6 May 2012
This time last year, I
had never run further than 4 miles. At the end of May 2011 I entered
a major city centre 10k race with some work colleagues to raise money
for Cancer Research. I was hooked and signed up for the half marathon
at the same venue in September.
Having completed the
half, my first though was “could I run a marathon?” I figured
that I was part way there already and if I was ever going to do it,
now was the time to step up the training further and give it a crack.
My first thought was the London Marathon in April 2012, the only
event I was aware of, until I realised that entry is via a ballot
carried out a year in advance! I could have maybe got a charity
entry, but was daunted about how much sponsorship was required and
was worried in case I found that I couldn’t cope with training.
Disheartened, I searched
online for other events and suddenly realised how many marathons are
held each year. I found the North Dorset Village Marathon listed on
the Runners World Website. It had only been running for 3 years, but
had fantastic reviews and it was held relatively close to where I
live, so travel wouldn’t be an issue. The entry fee was very
reasonable, so I had nothing to lose and no excuses…. I signed up
on the spot.
Race head quarters were
located in the High School at Sturminster Newton, a historic market
town in the county of Dorset in South West England. A rural area,
surrounded by rolling green hills and farmland. The race would take
us through the countryside, via an undulating course of mainly quiet
country roads, finishing with a mile and a half of trail, which was
previously the location of the towns railway. We would be running
through 10 different villages along the course, each unique and
containing a mixture of traditional thatched cottages, slightly more
modern homes, manor houses and farms. However, much of the course was
lined with trees, hedges and a number of bridges. One of which still
bears an original 19th century sign proclaiming that “Any
person wilfully injuring any part of this County Bridge will be
guilty of Felony and upon conviction to be liable to be Transported
for Life (be deported to Australia!)” I did wonder for a moment if
it was still valid!
We were welcomed to the
pre race briefing by a Town Crier, in full traditional costume
calling “Oyez, Oyez, Hear Ye, Hear Ye!” Very rousing at 8.15am on
a chilly Sunday morning! The town crier read out some pre
announcements such as congratulating a couple of runners who were
starting there 100th marathons this morning and then
handed us over the race organisers for some final details.
The 400 runners were then
walked down the road to the start line. This was when the pre race
nerves really started to kick in. Being a relatively small field and
a qualification event for the county championships, I had worried
that it may have been a bit “clicky” and full of super fast club
runners. Whilst there were a lot of serious runners, the banter was
good and there was a very friendly atmosphere. I bounced around to
keep warm in the chilly air and found a place near the middle of the
pack. Suddenly the Town Crier rang his bell again and we were off!
What a great way to start the race, makes a change from a starting
pistol!
The first mile and a half
took us north up a steady incline, past the high school where the
race head quarters were located. I darted across the road to wave to
my wife, children and other family members, then got back amongst the
pack and enjoyed the thrill of finally getting started after all the
months of training through the cold dark winter.
At 2 miles, we turned off
the main road into the country lanes and after a sharp corner I found
myself at the crest of a hill with a stunning 20 mile panoramic view
across the county. Looking down the hill I could see a human snake of
runners winding down the hill into the distance. This one of the
things I love about racing and I always find it an inspiring sight.
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| First Finish!! Photo by Paul's wife, Suzie Grinham |
After the first 10k the
runners were staring to spread out into smaller packs. I was feeling
good, although a little faster than my initial plan. My target when I
had signed up was simply to complete the course. After getting
through the training, some further races and clocking up some 20 mile
long runs, I had set myself a goal of getting round in under 4 hours,
requiring a 9 minute per mile pace. One of my biggest pre race
worries was getting caught up in the excitement and going out too
fast. However, I was maintaining an 8.30 pace and feeling comfortable
with it, so hung in there and focused on keeping steady. I don’t
wear a GPS watch, so the mental arithmetic in calculating my pace
helped pass the time and there were very good mile markers along the
course.
At around the 8 mile mark
I was with a group of 3 other runners, with a large gap before an
after us. We rounded a corner and saw the first of the big hills
ahead of us, we came at it from an angle and could see people running
what looked like a 45 degree angle, about 150 feet in less than a
quarter of a mile! We nodded at each other and joked that “this is
the start of the hills then!”. Although none of the hills were any
higher than this, they seemed to be unrelenting. We were either going
up or down, never flat! The few “level” sections all had a slight
incline in one direction or the other. I loved the variety, but it
subtlety took it’s toll.
Between 10 and 13 miles,
I was still running at half marathon pace and I realised I could not
keep it up. I wanted to stay with my small group of runners as I
thought that if I watched them get ahead, it would crush me and I
would start trailing off badly with nobody to keep pace against.
However, by mile 14 one of our group had dropped back and the other
two had ended up behind me after a water stop, leaving me setting the
pace. I slowed to let them past, but they didn’t and in the end, I
made a dive into the bushes for a “toilet break” and let them
past. I came out behind them and followed for a bit before being
realistic and letting them go on ahead ahead.
Mile 14 – 19 were a bit
of a blur. There were more open sections with less people out on the
course cheering us on. Mile 15 – 17 in particular were quite
torturous, taking us along and up Rams Hill. All I could see was a
long, open, uphill road ahead of me with individual runners dotted
along it. The first of our group who had previously dropped off, came
back past me at this point and I lost a couple of other places. This
hill was tough, not due to the elevation, it just didn’t seem to
end! The skies had also cleared and it was getting hot and sunny.
I think this was the
toughest section of the race. I used every trick in the book to
distract myself, from counting to 100, focusing on breathing,
repeating mantra’s. I even borrowed Coach Kens “Keep moving
forward, all day”, although it did mutate into “all f’ing
day!!” through clenched teeth!
I don’t wear an iPod
when racing, I like to be able to hear other runners, marshals and
supporters, and soak up the atmosphere. I ended up singing to myself
at times instead, not out loud though! Most of the songs were upbeat
rock, such as Bon Jovi and the Manic Street Preachers, but for a good
couple of miles, all I could here in my head was Lady Gaga’s Edge
of Glory! (Yikes!)
At the water stop at mile
19 I saw the two guys I had been following earlier, looking a bit
worse for wear and was glad I hadn’t tried to stay with them. I
grabbed some jelly babies and water and carried on.
My fuel strategy had been
a gel after 45 minutes and then every half hour. I managed to time it
so I could open and eat the gel before getting to the water stop, so
I could grab the water and go. What I hadn’t accounted for was how
difficult it was to grab a plastic cup of water without it splashing
everywhere! Luckily a couple of the water stops had bottled water and
I was able to take the bottles with me for the next couple of miles.
The water stations were
excellent, being located roughly every 2-3 miles. We had a choice of
water, orange squash, flat coke, jelly babies and raisins. Runners
were also able to deposit their own water bottles at race
headquarters, to be dropped at two of the stations. All the
volunteers were excellent, getting water to you as quickly as
possible and giving you shouts of encouragement to send you on your
way.
Along the course, people
were standing in their gardens cheering runners along, or even coming
out to the roadside. In a number of random places along the course,
children were holding out bags of sweets for runners to take from as
we went past, very cute and much appreciated!
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| Marathon fever! Photo by Ken Michal |
Whilst talking about the
people involved, a special mention really needs to be given to the
marshals. The roads were not closed for this event, but the marshals
kept us clear and safe from traffic, even when crossing a couple of
main roads. The runners were given priority at all times and all the
marshals were enthusiastic and encouraging. I always tried to give
them a wave, nod or a thank you to show appreciation as they were out
there a long time. I did notice some runners ignoring them, but karma
will catch up with those guys! In some of the more isolated areas,
marshals were cycling too and fro along the course to check we were
okay and motivate us, this was a nice touch especially in some of the
more isolated areas when you are out on your own.
Around mile 20 I started
to get past my difficult patch and although I had never considered
not finishing, I started to really believe that I was going to
complete the course without a catastrophic meltdown. I was catching
back up with and passing other runners and this helped boost my
confidence and push me on. This wasn’t an ego trip about beating
other people and I hope they weren’t having too much of a difficult
time out there. I know it is tough when you are struggling and other
people are passing you. Even though I was feeling better by this
point, someone a lot fresher looking would still come cruising past!
Lesson learned, balanced pacing!
Mile 20.5 took us past
the ominously named Gallows Corner! Fortunately there was no sign of
any hangmen!
The next couple of miles
took us along a much narrower road, where we came across some riders
leading their horses. Although we slowed our pace, if that was
possible! One of the horses got a bit spooked by a group of strange
looking sweaty people in bright coloured lycra running towards him
and starting bucking across the road. The rider managed to get him
under control and we eased passed, apologising and politely pointing
out that there would be more like us coming through soon!
This was the last hilly
section, again nothing too serious, but a continuous plus / minus
80ft set of undulations. I prefer these to the long, stretching hills
such as mile 17. With the short ones, although steeper, you can get
your teeth into them, then cruise the down hill, the dig in for the
next one, like interval training!
After cresting Gold Hill
at mile 22.5, we left the last of the hills behind. I was passing the
furthest I had ever run and it felt great. Knowing the end was in
sight was exciting, but also disappointing, as it meant the race
would soon be over.
After following some
smaller country lanes we left the road for the final stretch, 1.5
miles of light trail. By this point it was very sunny and I had not
taken on enough liquid, (squishy cups!). I was feeling slightly
dehydrated and stopped twice to relive cramp. I refused to stop for
long and pushed on. I usually have a burst of speed at the end of a
race, due to the excitement of seeing the finish line and wanting to
spend that last bit of energy. Exhausted, I managed what I hoped
passed for a surge for the last 200yds, with people lining the side
of the course willing us all on for the final stretch.
Crossing the line was
emotional and I did start to well up a bit inside. The next few
moments were a blur as I had my medal hung over me, a tee shirt
thrust into my hands and my wife and children running over to give me
a great big hug. I then made a bee line for the refreshments stand
for more jelly beans and water. Although, I had slowed in the second
half, I had managed to finish in 3 hours 51 minutes, which I was
pleased with, but the experience itself was the biggest reward.
Thank you for taking the
time to read this. Either you have raced before and know what it is
like, in which case I hope it has brought back happy memories. If you
are thinking about entering an event, get out there and do it, you’ll
love it!
All Day!
~Ken
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