Well another marathon trained, raced and completed. It has been a long year regarding the long runs after Londons disastrous time I wanted to do much better (and not be ill) our training has gone well and to plan mostly, but never having done two marathons in a year we hoping things would go well for us considering my heal and shoe problem I am pleased with my time of 359.37. I was hoping for around 350. Liz and I went down Saturday morning to check things out, with Hazel and Meg following that evening, thanks to Liz &Chris we stayed at the holiday inn which was ideal being only a mile away from the start/finish , four in a room Hazel's cough, trains and Liz, Hazel & me needing the loo so we didn't get much sleep and up early with Hazel strapping her feet (I don't know how she managed it I'm sure I would have lost mine in my shoes).

This race in my opinion is not as well organised as London,the loos were at the far end of the park not near the start area, plenty of lucazade though! I lost Hazel & Liz just before the start but saw Karl & David lined up so decided to start with them my plan was 9min miles or at least half way by 155, I was determined to set off slowly and not get carried away this first half is quiet hilly in parts, Karl and David started to get away about 3m so music on I just trotted on , 5m in 45Min's 7m in 63Mins then I missed a few markers, 10m was 1.30 at mile 12 it was like a stampede with the half marathoners racing for their times ,ready for my second gel I started them at 6m and thought I'd do every 6m ,got to 13m at 1.55 bang on schedule feeling fine , as we left everyone to go on the waterside it was very windy and lonely but I kept my pace going gelling every 6miles I quite liked the second half but for the wind around the lake it was a head wind and it felt cold adding 9Min's onto my time in my head at every mile was my calculation I needed to be under 3hr at 20m i did 2.58 , at this point my quads were burning, heal was fine though.

The wind was particularly bad about 21m and I'm getting tired so I have lucazade & water in each hand, water for my thighs! I reached 24m in 3.35 at this point was still thinking a Pb was on made it to 25m in 3.46 at this point I think you could say I hit the wall cramp in my foot and dizziness's I had to stop (twice ) but I could see the park and finish . Why did this have to happen now I was nearly home, I thought I was running fast through the gates into the park but it took me 13Min's to do that last mile , apparently I looked bu****d and felt it , I am so glad meg was there she was a life saver for us all I didn't know what planet I was on but 20Min's later had recovered enough to hold Liz up walking back to the hotel.


So would I do this again ? prob not .
Does anyone know why I hit the wall and what can I do to avoid it next time.