With a cracking selection of historical and iconic sights to choose from for the route it was no surprise Liverpool was chosen, and with a cracking skyline at the start which used non other than the historical Albert Docks and the 21st century Echo Arena as start and finish points it was a great sight.
The day began at 5am for me as Mr and Mrs M were both running the event. I'm sure you will know Mr and Mrs M from my previous blogs as they are fellow runners from Southport my hometown and they kindly give me lifts to and from my charity events.
Mrs M was running the half which started at 8am as opposed to 9am for the marathoners, but the early start to the day was ideal as it gave me more time to get ready and eat, and then take more food with me to eat each hour up until the hour before the run as with a 26.2 mile run in front of me every bit of energy was a plus.
I went into the Echo arena to the baggage area etc while Mrs M handed her stuff into the baggage check and we all said a few hello's to fellow friends and runners from the RDB group, it was good to see a few others from the Southport area Vicky and Rachael in particular as I know them both and we actively encourage each other with our running.
I watched the halfers set off on their merry way at 8am and then wandered around for a bit outside the arena and absorbed the atmosphere while I waited patiently for the minutes to pass.
It was now time for me to get ready myself and dump my excess clothes etc in the baggage area and ready myself for the run ahead as I walked out the arena towards the start.
I promptly bumped into another two running friends Ben and Darren, both superstars in running in their own way, and Mr M as well who I had lost earlier in the crowds.
A couple of minutes later another running friend from Southport Mandy appeared from nowhere enclosed in a bin bag which didn't appear to have any holes in for her arms so it was quite an amusing site.I was promptly told my lips had turned blue which was probably an indication that I wasn't particularly warm at this point as I hadn't gone for the pre race bin bag look today.
So we said our farewells, good lucks and break a legs and went to our respective starting corrals ready for the off.
9am and we were off on our way, and of out off the Albert Docks and then past the Liver Buildings and Pierhead and then into the city streets.I had decided to run behind the pacer for a 3:45 finish time so i would not have to concentrate on my pace, and it also became apparent that this was a good tactical move as we turned left,right,left,left,right and who knows where else through the streets, and I would of been lost myself if I had been on my own.
We continued on and went down Matthew street and the famed Cavern and Cavern Walks and then off out of the city towards Everton and Liverpool's respective football grounds with was quite a trek and already quite tiring at the pace we were going, but that was my chosen pace for a decent time so I stuck with it.
On our way back into the city we saw a few bands along the way but not a great many and not as many as appeared to off been promised for the event, but then again I hadn't chosen this marathon for the music as it is merely a gimmick to most runners.
We promptly appeared at a dual flyover and a very confused Police officer who couldn't decide which way the runners were supposed to go and I watched in amazement as people went over the flyover on the left and then turned around and went down the one on the right and then turned around again and went down the one on the left and believe it or not turned around again and down the one on the right ....and finally down the correct one on the left which really should of had a marshal at to point the confused runners in the right direction because the Police officer had no idea and failed to park his bike in the way of the offending incorrect flyover like a sensible person would do.
Onto mile 11 now and we were back in the city and past the town hall and through a `cheer point` where people had gathered to cheer the runners on, and a friendly face at the roadside with camera in hand was a welcome sight and non other than fellow RDB legend Martin C who is taking on the Comrades Marathon in South Africa next week all 50+ miles off it!
Martin managed an amazing feat in itself, that feat being able to get a picture off the illusive Les Jackson smile that only seems to come out at ridiculous times like when i am in severe pain for example..
We continued on past the Albert Docks again and then out to the south of the city on an almost similar route to the usual Btr Liverpool half marathon route and also the route that the Rock'n'Roll half'ers had taken before us today.
We sadly turned up Upper Parliament St which was a shock as I thought they had taken it off the route, so we had a long draining climb up this hill which was a challenge especially when the pacers were relentless in keeping the pace fast all the way up lol.
Now we were approaching the parks of south Liverpool and in particular the lovely Sefton Park, but I was now starting to seriously feel the ache and pain in my legs of the long run and we were at roughly 15-16 miles so I stopped at the next water station and refilled my bottle and added some `tailwind` which is an energy powder with electrolytes in to help with the run.I had earlier had a stitch which I struggled with for a few miles due to the fact that I think the mix was too strong, and I had to wash it through a bit with just water which seemed to help, so this time I made a weaker mix.
I decided from now on to run my own slightly slower pace and have little stretches and little walks every couple of miles which then enabled me to speed up a little for the rest of the next mile and often brought me within a 100 metres of the 3:45 pacing group.
I maintained this strategy from pretty much there on as my legs were really suffering and I couldn't get the lactic acid build up and pain to go away, and at one point I even took a couple of paracetamol to try and reduce the pain and also to stave of a stiffening back and mild back pain as my running posture was starting to get sloppy.
The miles went on and I was now at roughly 21 miles and decided on eating half my Mars bar I was carrying as I was getting hungry.at this point the 3:50 pacing group went past me, although the pacer had lost his pacing balloon marked 3:50 which I found funny, and I tagged onto that group for a while upto 22 and the approach to the famed Promenade at Otterspool.
I decided to take my one and only gel which was going to have to get me through the final 4.2 miles off hell and mental torture and mind games you play with yourself as one part of you says "just stop and walk" and the other bit says "run or fail", needless to say I did both as I said "sod it" to the 3:50 pacing group and carried on with my stretch, walk and run strategy which was working for me and I had enough time just to still hit sub 4 hours which has always been my main target and what I've been after since last May when I failed it on my first marathon attempt.
I had to give myself a serious talking to to ensure I did enough to get me in under 4 because I knew if I failed I would have to do another marathon to try again, and I was not prepared to do that as I had now realized that I infact hate road marathons!
On I went for the final miles having little stretches and walks and then running on and watching the time go by and reminding myself that I have to get under 4.
It's the final miles and with all the pain shooting through your muscles and your mental resolve failing that you have to remind yourself why you are there in the first place.In my case it is to raise funds for worthy charities and for people who have been through real pain and torment in their lives and people who would jump at the chance to be able to swap places for the day and be in my place at that moment instead of what they are suffering day to day.
Spurred on by why I was there I was able to finally get to the finish approach and could see the welcome sight of the Echo arena and several hundred yards of supporters cheering us all on which was vital as we are all suffering by then and the cheers help us feel a hell off a lot better and help us to the end.
Finish line in sight and I sprinted in (in my mind anyway)over the finish line and a welcome sight of a clock showing me I had the elusive sub 4, infact It was in the end a welcome 3:57:30 :)
I promptly got my medal and took a welcome bottle of water and took a very very welcome chance to sit down and try and rest while I stayed and watched fellow runners come over the line one by one and observed how thoroughly proud everybody looked and how knackered they looked as they often are seconds from passing out and collapsing as they have given their all to reach the finish.
The first sight I got was a lovely row of Lucozade, water, cereal bars, banana's and crisps and I promptly took a few of each as I was going to need a serious restock :)
Next was collect your free t-shirt time to go along with your seriously heavy bling the Rock'n'Roller medal which was the thickest medal I've ever seen.
It was time now to reclaim my bag and look for Mr and Mrs M who I managed to spot enjoying a comfortable seat in the seats that surround the arena, so I joined them for a well earned rest,recovery,relax and restock of calories while we waited and watched our fellow running friends from RDB come in one by one.
After safely seeing everyone in it was finally time to hit the good old Rigby's pub and join our fellow runners who had already done the half and the earlier finishers of the marathon.
Once in Rigby's and with a welcome pint in hand it was time to say hello to fellow friends and runners some I'd seen before the race and some I hadn't and it was congratulations all around as we rightly said well done to each other and marveled at a host of new Pb's by people and great first time marathon times for newbies.
It was good to finally meet a lot of newbies to the RDB family and to meet people I had chatted to in the group over the recent months but had never met face to face.It was good to finally meet Nikki, Sarah and Catherine and their friends ( see pic below) who I had chatted to on RDB but never met before and it was nice to meet new friends who were genuinely happy to meet me as I have never found it easy to make new friends as I'm a pretty quiet type of bloke.
So after several well earned and quite hard to swallow pints ( as post marathon my body doesn't seem to appreciate the challenge ) I decided it was time for home and said my goodbyes to whoever was left in the pub as it was now almost 9pm!! and I was pretty hungry.
So it was a train journey home and then my local pizza parlour for a well earned Calzone pizza and promptly stuffed my face.......and then asleep on Facebook at my keyboard :)
After a good nights sleep it was time to go online and retrieve my results (see below) and to look back on a great day, great event, great friends new and old and a new hobby/pastime I hope I never tire off........until the next one folks, thanks for all the help, love and support, God bless you all :) xx
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