My Milton Keynes Marathon Story

May 6th 2013 the day of the Milton Keynes Marathon and my second attempt at the event to achieve a sub 4 hour race. The weather conditions were completely on the other side of the spectrum compared to last year, hail and wind was replaced by bright sunshine and temperature destined to reach 22 degrees C.

I was feeling good, I had slept well and woken in good time to have breakfast. My kit had been prepared the night before so it was time to relax as best I could until I had to go. Based on the weather conditions I made the decision to carry with me a drinks bottle to replenish the electrolytes which would be lost in the heat. My immediate support team which consisted of my wife and kids along with my father in law and his girlfriend, had planned their strategy on where to be throughout the race. Their support along with that of my sister in law, her husband, their son, my wifes mother, her husband and the Olney Runners team would ensure that I received that marathon pick me up at a number of places.

arrival at the MK Dons Stadium

Race strategy in mind, maintain a low heart rate, keep the pace down and conserve my energy for the last 13.1 miles with the intention to target completing the final 6.2 miles in an hour or less. The race got underway slightly later than the planned time of 10:0am and the challenge was on!

The first thing I noticed that although I was running at 9 minute mile pacing my heart rate had shot up into the high 170s, touching the low 180s. This I wasn't expecting as from my training at this pace my heart rate should be reading in the range 155 to 165bpm. So this is what comes from training in winter conditions to suddenly find yourself actually racing in summer conditions, which with it being a bank holiday was not expected in the UK. I continued wary of my heart rate but not wanting to slow the pace beyond 9.5 minute miles as I thought this would leave me too much time to make up in achieving my goal. Support was excellent enroute although I was a little dissapointed that there were no bands, the MK Marathon organisers had thrown out a battle of the bands challenge but this didn't appear to be a big enough attraction. What was amazing is that there were more bands out last year in the hail and wind so why the route was not flooded with music this year I had no idea.

Enjoying the crowd support I continued running strong ensuring that I maintained hydration by sipping on the water I was carrying. I was further refreshed by a supporter that had taken to spraying down the runners with his garden hose...all the runners could not thank him enough! There was little in the way of breeze so the temperature remained high so any opportunity of running in shade was taken.

early race stage, still managing to run strong!

I pushed on through mile 16 picked up by the family support but by mile 18 tiredness started to creep in and the heat was taking its toll. I could feel my pace slowing, something that I had been able to track by keeping the 4:00 hour pacer in my sight but now that imaginary piece of elastic that joined us was being stretched. By mile 19 I experienced my first cramp with my quads tightening, this caused me to walk until the tightness had gone. From this point the miles came and went in a mix of running and walking accompanied by a second bout of cramp.

not looking as happy or feeling as strong

My sub 4 hour target drifted away, I had no energy to increase my pace and it was now just a battle to complete the race. Even in the last 3 miles I still had to mix running with walking which proved a little disheartening as it was stretching out the length of time that I would still be captured within the event. My beacon of light was the sight of the Kentucky Fried Chicken shop which I knew was located just outside the MK Dons stadium, so for the final 1.2 miles I picked up the pace as now I could sense the finish.

Entering the stadium was a great feeling and although I felt I had mustered up enough strength to look as though I was finishing full of running, I was later told by family and friends that I looked exhausted. I could hear the shouts of encouragement from the stands but had no energy to look up and survey my surroundings, I was focussed on getting past the finish line and tracking down some much needed water;

My Garmin Stats - Milton Keynes Marathon 2013

So I finished, a little dissapointed with a time of 4 hours 23:29 minutes which was slower than last year. I was however happy to have completed the distance and also grateful that unlike last year when I had to contend with getting out of wet clothes in freezing conditions I could now just enjoy the sunshine;

finishers t-shirt in hand, I smiled at the start and could smile at the finish!

Thank you to everyone that came out to support me and to all those that sent me messages of good luck. Having this level of support makes such events not only enjoyable but in this case definitely bearable. All that's left now is that unfinished business "a sub 4 hour marathon"....when's the next race?