London Marathon in all its glory

They said it wasn’t possible, that running a negative split was a things of dreams, but after 2 hours, 40 minutes (this picture was taken) and just over a kilometre to go, I was about to achieve just that.

A negative split is running the 2^nd half of a race quicker than the first, a potentially difficult feat that requires discipline (or just a very slow 1^st half!)

Before this run, my only other experience of ‘fast’ marathon courses were Bournemouth 2014 & London 2015 where I ran 2:45:27 and 2:45:42 respectively, on both occasions I was aiming for sub 2:40 and you can guess what happened, a nice quick start, 1:19/1:20 at halfway and a slow and very uncomfortable last 10k.

I had entered this race with a fresh plan, to get around in under 2:45:00 therefore giving me a PB and the qualifying time to enter the race for 2 years in the Championship Start area, 2 hours 40 can wait.

With this attitude towards this huge event, I had put less pressure on myself and managed to stay injury-free in the build up, ironically probably able to run the 2:40 I so wanted, but I stuck to the plan: to average at 6:16 per mile.

I was lucky to enough to be starting the race in the Championship Start area, just behind the elites, reserved for men who have run a half under 1:15, or a full under 2:45, (similarly for women;  1:30/3:15). I knew the first few miles would be quick, with all the early race excitement, being surrounded by hundreds of runners capable of sub 2:45 and the lovely long downhill section during mile 3.

The first 10k before reaching the iconic Cutty Sark are relatively quiet miles with pockets of spectators, this gives you a warm up of what’s to come. There are all sorts of banners, flags, clangers, witty cheers and the noise, nothing can prepare you for the constant noise! In 2015 I made sure I had my name printed on my vest in bold letters and people really do let you know your name; I’ve been a spectator at races and there’s nothing more fun than shouting someone’s name at them, hoping it’s going to help them out (it does for me), I especially like to call out an alternative version to their name to make them think I know them: e.g. Vest: Jonathon, Cheer: “Geddon Jonno!!”.

There are also many little people on the route, many of them reaching their little arms out for a high 5. For the 1^st few miles I was running with a man dressed as a banana and someone with Spongebob Squarepants on his vest, the kids loved that: “Look mum Spongebob GO SPONGEBOB!”, you get the idea.

Through Cutty Sark and I can only describe it as similar to a football stadium when the players walk out, just a wave of cheering, it makes you feel like a celebrity! With this noise came the urge to run faster but I try to just chill and “MIKE!!” I hear in the crowd, it’s Ishtar coming to support her sister for her debut marathon, a big smile and a wave are exchanged. 100 metres later and it’s another familiar face; Kat Watts looking out for her super-fundraising husband Andy also running his first marathon, I can only imagine the excitement that they are feeling and the emotion their runners are experiencing.

The next few miles are a blur apart from trying to stick to my pace plan and drink as much Lucozade as I could get my hands on, not normally my tipple but any drink with electrolytes in is a good way to try and avoid cramp in the later miles.

Somewhere around mile 12 I see the frantic waving and shouting of Sophie, Nancy and Tom, my support team. I told them that it was too easy, it was a risky strategy; being so confident so early in the race!

Mile 13 and Tower Bridge; this year I was able to appreciate the views, running over it is probably the first uphill in the run so I tried not to overdo it. The other side of Tower Bridge and the course goes along a road that you come back on later in the race. With a start time 30 minutes before us, I could see some of the blind runners running with their guides in the IPC (International Paralympic Committee) race, what a massive inspiration they are, they had started 45 minutes before us and were currently on mile 22. I went though halfway at 1:22:08.

As we headed onto the Isle of Dogs, we went through a tunnel, it felt long; no cars ,crowds, no music, no GPS signal for our fancy watches, just a few of us runners and the 15 mile marker with a big digital clock= 1:34:50, 51, 52 tick tick tick, a quick bit of mental arithmetic, we’re still on course.

There is a short, sharp slope at mile 19ish and I specifically remember it from the previous year as this is when I started to suffer and slow down. This year I ran straight up it, just to get it out the way and focussed on the road ahead, to get of this Isle!

The highlight of the race for me has to be reaching mile marker 23 and expecting to see 22; this section of the race runs in the opposite direction to the runners reaching the halfway point (where I had previously seen the IPC runners). You run facing other runners for over a mile. I had concentrated on pacing each mile and not getting carried away that I had actually skipped a whole mile! I knew my splits were still ahead of target so continued on my way, just hoping and wishing I would not get cramp, (which had got me at a recent 50k event with 3 miles to go).

Apart from taking on electrolyte drinks and water I have found the best way to avoid cramp is to not allow yourself to believe it’s nearly over; if you keep telling yourself the run is still a couple of extra miles more than there actually are then you seem to be able to get your head down and focus. With less than 3 miles to go, I kept thinking 5 to go, with 2 miles to go I told myself I still had at least a whole parkrun to go (5k).

The last few miles of the London Marathon along the river are so iconic, having watched the race for years on TV, seeing the pros run along the river, come past Big Ben, to turn at the Mall, past Buckingham Palace (Happy Birthday Ma’am), this was my chance (again) to be a part of that. The wall of noise has now reached a climax and you just want to KEEP RUNNING!!

As you turn for the finish (with cramp still asking for permission to appear), you see the sign 200 metres to go, you don’t care anymore, you know it’s over (you pretend it isn’t) and you make a beeline for the finish gate.

The time on the clock is always slightly out but I was well under 2:45 and it was just a case of how many seconds can I knock off?

My final time was 2:44:10 which breaks down in halves as 1:22:08 and 1:22:02. The elusive negative split had been achieved (just). I’m not sure I’ll enjoy a race this much again!