Thought I'd share my first marathon experience in case anyone finds it interesting
Race Progression:
- Mar 2024: 53:37 10K
- Mar 2025: 23:50 5K
- May 2025: 1:57:29 HM
- Mar 2026: 50:38 10K
I started running 3 years ago. While training for my first HM I entered London ballot, thinking I had a few years. You can imagine my shock and horror when I got in on my first try.
Late 2025 tried to slowly build my base and peaked at 25mpw before having to take time off due to knee pain. Did some physio and by mid-Jan the pain had gone. Unfortunately this injury meant I was behind but I used a self-made plan, aiming to still get some decent long runs and increase mileage. Training went very well, hitting my paces and setting a 10K PB at a comfortable effort, until mid-March (6 weeks out) when I was doing about 25mpw.
Recovered from illness but super high heart rates. Pain and swelling in my right knee after long runs. I decided to prioritise the long run and cut almost all the midweek miles. Only to then suffer from cramps on my last 3 long runs at previously comfortable paces. I wasn’t sure if this was down to fatigue or bad hydration, sleep, iron deficiency, all of the above? For the taper I picked up some light gym work, dialled back the miles and vowed to lock in my hydration and sleep for race day.
Race Day
I knew Sub-4 was basically off the table (my goal after the HM) but thought I’d be conservative and pick it up if I felt good, expecting 4:00-4:30. The knee felt good and I hoped the taper had worked some magic
The first half was cruise control, I split 2:05. I was forcing myself to drink, eat salt sticks and dumping water on my neck. But alas, after 12 Miles turning towards Tower Bridge I felt the first warning sign in my right calf and I knew it was going to be a long day.
Miles 13-20 with a combination of pickle juice, quick stretches and dousing my calves in water every 500m I was able to hold back any serious cramping.
By Mile 21, all my strategies were in vain and meanwhile my quads also decided to clock out. I remember thinking “I do 8K all the time, why won’t my legs work” and “these miles are much longer when you’re walking”
Maybe due to the severe slow down, maybe because the end was in sight, by Mile 24 I finally found a shuffling form that didn’t trigger any cramping. I was able to enjoy the last few miles and let the crowd distract me from my burning quads. I came over the line in just over 4:45
Takeaways
I'm not sure I 'enjoyed' it. I wasn’t expecting any miracles given my training and injury so can’t complain about the result, although would have preferred to be closer to 4 hours... I think I nailed the carb load, hydration and fuelling was good, and did my best to stay cool. I wish I was able to enjoy the crowd more in the trenches of Miles 20-24, but it was fun at the end and nice seeing my family and friends earlier on. All things considered I gave everything I had on the day and am proud I was able to power through in my first marathon experience.
Perhaps as initially feared, I think I may have done the marathon a year too early. The block was cut short at both ends and I still don’t know why my running tanked at the end of the block. I don’t think I went out stupidly fast, 2:05 half should be comfortable. Maybe a few more HMs (and 20k+ long runs) gives me a chance to troubleshoot and build endurance.
I have even more respect for anyone doing the marathon. I didn’t like the all-encompassing nature of training, but may revisit the distance in few years, maybe to lock in a sub 4 time. For now, back to the shorter distances as I’d love to get the 5k time down to 20 minutes.