| 18 May 2010
Running a marathon without stopping has been one of my goals for the last 20 years. Whenever I participated in goal setting workshops or when I sat down thinking of all the things that I would love to do in my life, running a marathon was always written down. But it was always assigned to the “some day” category. This is my true account of the journey of training and actually running the marathon... an experience that tested me like no other...
A combination of turning 40 and seeing an unflattering photograph of myself prompted me to transfer this goal from some day to Aug 23, 2009. Training for a marathon also served as an experiment. I wanted to see whether training for a marathon could fit in with my normal work and family commitments.
What I found was that the training required for a half marathon was able to easily fit into my lifestyle without compromising other areas. However, the training time required for the full marathon distance did begin to interfere with a few family activities. In saying that, it was not the actual time training that impacted things. The major challenge was that a substantial amount of time was required to recuperate from some of the longer and more demanding training sessions. For example when I had to go on a three hour training run I often needed to have an extra hour or two of sleep to recover. This recovery time often cut into family time.
The Lead Up To the Marathon
Having trained in temperatures in the low 20s C, a Brisbane winter heatwave was predicted for the weekend of the marathon. The temperature for the day of the race was expected at 31 degree C. This required a change in preparation because heat stroke during a challenging event such as this was a definite possibility to the unprepared.
For the two days preceding the event I started drinking like there was no tomorrow. I probably drank 6-8 L of water a day as well as a couple of electrolyte drinks. The key factor I use to measure my hydration state was my urine colour. It was critical to ensure that I drank enough to maintain clear urine leading up to the race.
Needing to be awake by 4.30 am to be ready for the 6am start, I hit the sheets by 6.30pm. I didn’t fall asleep until 8.30pm but the extra two hours just lying there helped me to wake up refreshed and raring to go.
The Start Of The Race
There was a couple of thousand half marathoners starting with the 300 marathoners lined up for the 6.00am start. Event though the sun was just coming up, the temperature was already in the early 20s (Celsius).
I lined up at the back because I left my last toilet break to the very last minute. The big challenge for all runners was to stay hydrated enough to handle the hot conditions but also not to consume too much liquid so you end up having to take continual toilet breaks along the way.
I didn’t even hear the starter’s gun go off. I just noticed that the crowd of runners was beginning to walk slowly forward. It took nearly two minutes for me to cross the starting line. The initial stages of the race were an exercise in side-stepping the masses as I searched for a group of runners that were going at a 4- hour race pace.
After weaving through over half the field in the first four kilometres, I came across Alan, who was a pacer runner. He was a seasoned marathoner wearing a flag indicating that he was running at 4 hour marathon pace. I had found my home. At about the 6km mark a group of about 20 marathoners had formed a pack around Alan. It was interesting to notice that there was very much an instant bond formed among us. I had always thought of marathoning as an individual event but here we had formed a team.
I noticed how I felt stronger and more assured running with these fellow marathoners with the same goal. There was no sense of competition among us. Under these challenging conditions teamwork and mental support was essential as hydration.
With my new running gang, I developed a good running rhythm. I was pleased that I was easily maintaining the desired pace to achieve my goal.
At about the 10 km mark I heard a shout of “Paul” coming from my right. I jerked my head around and saw my wife, Angela and my son, Daniel waving in support. The fact that they got up so early to come down to show their support for me sent a lovely boost of energy throughout my body. It was better than any sports drink or energy bar.
One motivating factor behind my training for the marathon was to be an example to my children of the importance of regular exercise. Anytime I was about to embark on a training run, they would often ask, “Why are you going for your run?” and I would reply “So I can be fit and healthy, so that I can play with you a lot. ” They would smile and nod their approval and I would be off.
At the 16 km mark, I passed the first victim of the hot conditions who had collapsed and was under the care of the attendant paramedics. The first half of the race went very much to plan. Bits of advice from the experienced marathoners like running slower in the shade and when to pick up the pace were invaluable for the challenging second half of the race.
At about the 27 km mark, after over 2 and a half hours of running I began to feel some tightening of my outer thighs as the lactic acid started to build in my legs. Many of the initial pack had to drop off the pace because of the heat. There were now just seven off us remaining in the pack.
In recent training I was a bit worried about muscle tightness in my calves and hamstrings but yoga, stretching and a great massage helped alleviate those concerns. My electrolyte replacement drinks and my sports carbohydrate gels were now vital to prevent cramping and minimize muscle fatigue. Training and preparation had ensured that I had plenty of supplies available. Energy and fitness wise I was feeling great. I was running strong.
At the 32 km mark we had been running for just under three hours an hour to complete the next 10kms in to finish the marathon under our goal of four hours… a very gettable pace.
But the experienced marathoners advised us that we would begin to tire and the sun was now noticeably very hot. We drank and threw water on us at every drink station to keep our cool. At the 36 km mark I was really beginning to feel the fatigue in my legs. Quite simply, my thighs were screaming for me to stop but my heart and lungs were feeling good.
Our group was now down to 3 runners and two pacer runners. My heavier feeling legs were having trouble keeping up with the others as I would drop back 5 metres but I hadn’t run this far to give up now. I would then surge and rejoin the group. The race was really beginning to test my mental strength.
This is where I was able to draw on my training. Since there was 6km to go I visualised that I was just going on a 6km run.
Two of the other runners began to surge forward about 50 metres over the next couple of kilometres but I stayed with the pacer runners. Knowing that this was my first marathon these experienced marathoners kept making sure I was alright mentally and physically. Mentally I was holding up well. Not finishing after pushing myself more than I ever have was simply too painful to contemplate so it just wasn’t an option. All I had to do was to manage the muscular fatigue in my legs.
To do this I had to really focus on my running form and technique. Again I could draw on my experience of training sessions where I had to do the same.
With 2km to go an amazing thing happened. I realized that something that I had always written down as a goal was finally going to come true. My eyes began getting all misty under my running sunglasses. My mouth quivered as if I was going to cry. My body tingled. I turned to my pacer and thanked her for her support along the way and said, “Let’s crank it up shall we” She responded with an effortless burst of speed. Our stride lengthened as we braced for our final effort.
A group of women pushing prams, oblivious to the fact that there was a race on were blocking our course 30 metres ahead of us. Knowing that my legs were so fatigued that would not be able to suddenly stop or change direction, I yelled out, “Out the way, runners coming through.”
More from good luck than good management a small gap appeared where we could run through without hitting the side barricade. “See there’s plenty of room. There’s no need for the attitude,” sneered one of them I we sped passed.
I was that full of adrenaline at the time I felt like turning around and walloping this woman. “You want attitude,” I thought to myself. “I’ll show you some bloody attitude”. I continued to curse the rude woman under my breath as testosterone was pulsating through my body trying to squeeze out every last ounce of energy out of my tiring body.
With 1km to go, I surged again into a full-blown sprint. “Go for it” screamed out my pacer in encouragement as I took off.
I was flying, I caught up and whizzed passed the other members of our running pack that had gone ahead. “Keep going man,” encouraged one of them as we high fived each other as I ran past. For the next minute for some inexplicable reason, my legs no longer hurt at all as I ran as if my life depended upon it. I could see the time clock at the finish line showing that I was well under four hours and I was going to achieve my goal.
I could have sat back and basked in the glow of achieving my goal. But I had too much testosterone and adrenaline coursing through my veins and my competitive instinct spotted one final challenge. I was 150m from the line and 70 metres ahead of me was another runner jogging a lot slower.
No way was I going to let him get to the finish line before me as I gave it all I had and passed the other runner 10 metres from the finish line.
Finding it difficult to stop because of my fatigued legs my momentum was stopped with the help of an ambulance officer as I flopped into her arms. Gasping from my sprint I stood up tall and smiled in the knowledge that although exhausted I felt great.
I bent my head down to gather my breath and looked up and saw my wife and children smiling. My eyes glassed over with emotion as I said to myself, “I did it.” I thought I was going to cry with joy right there and then. They say that it takes fewer muscles to smile than to frown and I think I didn’t have enough energy to cry. Instead my drained body opted for a smile of absolute elation as I was swamped by my adoring children. I was not ashamed to say that I was really proud of myself and I enjoyed the experience and challenge of it all.
Would I do it again? Most certainly.
The Recovery
The recovery was an amusing experience. Having completely fatigued many muscles in my legs it was very interesting over the following few days trying to perform basic activities that I previously took for granted. Squatting, walking up or down stairs and getting up from sitting were just not an option for me. As much as I tried to will my leg muscles to work, many of my leg muscles simply refused to work until they had sufficient rest to recharge.
It took 36 hours to regain my energy levels and a further 36 hours until my legs returned to normal.
Having been doing so much running for the last year, to help even out the load on my body and to avoid overuse injuries I am going to do more cycling and weight training but still do the odd run.
Over the last year of training for the marathon my weight has dropped 5kg and waistline has shrunk and inch or two. Not only am I physically stronger and fitter but the mental strength and the effect on my overall spirit is where I see the greatest benefit. I also have a reference for feeling tired and fatigue that I will NEVER forget. Anytime I hear myself commenting on how tired or exhausted I feel, I now can paraphrase Crocodile Dundee with ” That’s not exhausted. THIS was exhausted!”
