Run Liverpool Marathon : My First Marathon
Despite a 50 minute delayed start, sunshine, wind, rain, severe leg cramps, never ending hills, being overtaken by Scooby Doo and a magical mystery tour around two parks I managed to complete More »
Marathon Warm Up Event – The Preston 5k
Last week I took part in the Preston 5k which was part of the Run Preston 10k event which also contained a fun run. I viewed this run as my marathon warm More »
Marathon Training Peak – 20 Miles
My marathon training has just peaked with a massive 20 mile run which took me 3 hours and 6 minutes and it took part mostly to a backdrop of heavy rain, very More »
Run Liverpool Marathon : My First Marathon
Despite a 50 minute delayed start, sunshine, wind, rain, severe leg cramps, never ending hills, being overtaken by Scooby Doo and a magical mystery tour around two parks I managed to complete my first full marathon: The Run Liverpool Marathon.
I’ve done a few race events now and for me the most stressful part of the day is getting to the start. Running a 10k, half marathon or full marathon for the first time involves lots of training over many months and the anxiety of making to the start line kicks in a few weeks before for me.
“What if I get injured?”
“What if I get a cold?”
“What if I sleep in?”
“What if I wake up in 28 days time and everyone has turned into a zombie?”
Thankfully, my last few weeks of training past without incident and after setting and checking my alarm a couple of dozen times the night before, I was up and ready in plenty of time on the day. My wife Abigail very kindly agreed to drive me to and from the start/finish and provide moral support and we set off on time for our journey from Preston to Liverpool.
An hour later we had parked up in one of the designated Run Liverpool Marathon car parks and arrived at Moorfields train station for our short trip over to the race start at Birkenhead Park. We joined the massive ticket queue that stretched out of Moorfields station and I nervously checked the time; it was just before 8 o’clock, plenty of time till the race start at 9:30. We eventually made it to the head of the ticket queue and I think we were amongst the last people to buy tickets before it was announced that they would let people through and tickets could be bought at the other end at Birkenhead Park Station. Down on the platform I tucked into by breakfast, two pieces of wholemeal toast with peanut butter (I still don’t like peanut butter after eating it for 5 months).
After a bit of a squeeze getting out of Birkenhead Park train station (where no one was asked to buy a ticket by the way) we arrived at Birkenhead Park and met up with my parents in law Janice and Stuart would had kindly travelled up from Surrey to lend their support. With my immediate family supporting me from afar down under in Australia, I was very grateful for Janice and Stuart’s attendance and it meant a lot to me to see them there. We all made our way towards the start and I got changed and smothered my feet and inside thighs with moisturiser.
I jogged across the field and back and went through my stretches and then headed towards the blue zone to take my place amongst the waiting crowd. Half nine came and went and we were all still standing there waiting to get moving.
It was a strange feeling standing with all those other runners at the start of my first ever full marathon. Although I was surrounded by strangers, we all had at least one thing in common; we were about to attempt a full 26.2 miles of marathon. I looked around at the faces that surrounded me, some worried, some nervous, some relaxed. I thought about all the hours of training that had gone into this crowd. I thought about the people who wouldn’t make it. I hoped that I would.
Soon it was announced that the start had been officially delayed to a chorus of groans as runners headed back out onto the fields to keep warm and start their preparation all over again. I wasn’t too bothered about the delayed start and was able to find Abi and her parents again for a chat while I stretched again. Forty five minutes later we were given the 5 minute warning and I headed back over to the blue zone to squeeze back in.
I waved goodbye to Abi as the crowd squashed up waiting for the start. At about fifty minutes late the start was announced and we slowly shuffled forward. I kept my eyes on the right hand side of the barriers to try and spot my friends Mark and Charlie. As I approached the start I spotted them and headed over for a high five as the shuffling crowd broke into a run. A few seconds later I past under the start and I was off, I’d started my first ever marathon!
I said out loud “I’m running a marathon” as the realisation set in. After five months of training and a few weeks of fund raising I was on my way. My chosen charity was The Willow Foundation which provides psychological and emotional support for seriously ill 16 to 40 year olds through the provision of special day experiences. For more information about the good work The Willow Foundation do visit www.willowfoundation.org.uk/Home.
Just 26.2 miles to go then I could call myself a marathon runner!
Whilst I had been waiting for the start of the race (for 50 minutes) I was under the shade of the trees. Once I got out in the open however I realised that the sun was actually out and it was quite warm running through the Birkenhead Park for the first mile or so.
Once I was heading out of Birkenhead and crossing the first of the bridges out towards Seacombe, I was hit by a wicked side wind which threatened to swipe my vest clean off me! I’ve always hated running in wind so I just got my head down and carried on.
The next few miles seemed to drag as we all headed towards New Brighton up a never ending hill. We reached New Brighton and turned left to run along the coast. On our right the runners that were ahead of us could be seen running back in the opposite direction. It was at this point that I spotted Scooby Doo, or rather a runner dressed as Scooby Doo, and he was about 25 minutes ahead of me!
A couple of miles further on and I was running along the bank of the river Mersey. This was a very pleasurable and flat 2 mile stretch with excellent views across the river towards the Liver Buildings; my eventual finish.
We headed back into Birkenhead crossing to same bridges as we had several miles earlier and towards the Queensway Mersey Tunnel. I was looking forward to running through the tunnel as I have driven through it many times and I was expecting a unique running experience. As I entered the tunnel My Garmin Forerunner 305 beeped its complaints as it lost its satellite signal leaving me with only my heart rate and time to monitor. Entered the tunnel everything seemed to go very dark while my eyes adjusted. As I headed steadily down hill towards the centre of the tunnel and the centre of the marathon the atmosphere was quite eerie as individuals and groups randomly shouted sending echoes bouncing off the walls.
Half way through both the tunnel and my first ever marathon, suddenly I was running up hill and towards the tunnel exit. This was by far seemed like the longest and toughest hill I had ever run up but I was determined to keep going while people around me were slowing and dropping into a walk. I took a left and as I headed towards the exit I could literally see the light at the end of the tunnel and I could certainly hear the drums.
Leaving the tunnel, the huge Royal Liver Building which I had admired from the other side of the river miles earlier loomed over head. The cheering crowds contrasted nicely against the quiet loneliness of the long tunnel. My legs felt heavy after the long ascent out of the Queensway tunnel but I now knew I was over half way through which felt great.
Just a few minutes out of the tunnel I heard my name called and I looked to my right to see my wife and my parents in law shouting and waving frantically. I ran over with the intension of stopping for a chat and a stretch. As I approached Janice shouted “well done, keep going” and I found myself taking her advice and running on past them. I was glad to have left the tunnel behind and the climb out had left my legs feeling heavy but it wasn’t long before I would be facing another hill challenge.
Turning left onto Parliament Street I could see a huge hill stretch out in front of me. I kept a steady pace and got my head down and plodded on. The Hill seemed to go on and on and I could feel the heaviness returning to my legs. I was determined to make it up the hill without stopping and about ten minutes later I finally reached the top and levelled out allowing my legs to recover slightly as I headed towards the first of the two parks.
Entering Princes Park my legs were tired but apart from that I felt fine. I made the decision to stop and stretch at some point in one of the parks. I passed the 19 mile mark and closed in on the big two zero.
My left leg was aching quite a bit so I decided it was time to stretch. I pulled over on the right hand side and stretched against a tree. It felt strange to be stood still after more than 3 hours of continuous motion. After quite a painful stretching session I continued on my quest. After another ten minutes or so of winding around the park the ache in my left leg had grown into quite a pain so I decided to stop and stretch it out again. I moved over to the side of the path and found a tree. As soon as I stopped my whole left leg cramped up! The pain was immense and shot up and down the front and back of my leg as I slumped against the tree unable to even walk!
A concerned lady on her daily dog walk through the park approached me with some advice “keep moving son, not long to go now”. Without looking up I thought to myself what is she talking about, there’s still loads to go! I took her advice however and started to stumble forward as best I could. I turned around to thank the woman but she was gone. Each step was painful and my leg felt on the verge of another full cramping. When I tried to run the pain was too much and I thought my race might be over. I thought my marathon could be over and I felt terribly sad that I might not be able to finish.
I walked slowly for about another five minutes then eventually broke into a steady run. I ran for about five minutes then the pain in my left leg became too much and I had to slow to a walk for a few minutes while the pain faded away.
This was to be my routine for the last five miles of the Run Liverpool Marathon. I would run for a while as the pain (now in both legs) increased, slow to a walk to let the pain fade, then run again.
Once the winding pathways of the parks were behind me I knew that I was only a few miles from the end. I headed down a very welcome downhill section back down the Parliament street hill which gave my legs a bit a recovery as the crowds spared me on. At the bottom of the hill I turned right and I knew it was in the home straight.
The crowds all along the course had been brilliant and their kind words of encouragement really helped in the tougher sections and they were needed and well received in these last few miles.
I knew from studying the course layout that there would be a final left turn a couple of hundred yards from the finish line and I strained my eyes trying to spot it.
I struggled on through the drizzle and when I finally did spot the last bend I felt a huge relief and great sense of achievement. Almost an hour earlier I had been slumped against a tree unable to walk and I thought the marathon had beaten me, but now I could see the end, the end of five months of training, dozens of early mornings and hundreds of lonely miles.
As I rounded the last corner I heard the familiar voices of my personal fan club, I looked over to see Abigail, Janice and Stuart smiling and waving fanatically. I managed to raise an arm and wave as I turned to face the finish line.
Crossing the finish line I slowed to a walk and then stood still as the fenced off crowds around me clapped and cheered.
I’d finished, and on the same day that I’d started!
I struggled through the finishing area with the rest of the other satisfied finishers. Someone put a medal around my neck, someone else gave me a banana, another person gave me a bottle of water and yet another person wrapped a futuristic foil blanket around me and then I was released out into the crowd.
I met up with my supporters and posed for some photos. My legs were killing me as I stretched them out and I needed a sit down so we headed to a nearby coffee shop.
After a rest and meeting up with my best mate Gaffa and his daughter Ava I said my goodbyes (and thanks) and Abigail and I set off home.
The next day had been booked off work to allow me to recover. I spent the day sitting on the couch watching DVDs apart from a two hour trip into town to prevent my legs from stiffening up. It was painful to bend my legs and I felt generally very tired.
It was a few days until the aches disappeared and I started to feel normal again and a week after I was missing running and looking forward to getting back to the gym and back out on the road.
Below is a screen shot from my RunKeeper activity from the Liverpool Marathon…
The obvious question which I’ve been asked quite a lot is “are you going to run another one”? My answer for the couple of days immediately after was “no, definitely not”, then after a few days it was “well, maybe”, then a full week after I found myself looking at a calendar and list of upcoming marathons in the north of England. As I write this I am currently not booked in for any other events but I think it’s only a matter of time until I get the urge again.
Thank you to everyone who sponsored me, donations can still be made here www.justgiving.com/chrisbrownliverpoolmarathon.
Run Liverpool Marathon Pace Chart
This brilliant marathon pace chart came as part of the Run Liverpool Marathon race pack and was included in the race instructions booklet.
It enables runners and spectators to assess where runners may be depending on their marathon pace and expected finish time.
Marathon Warm Up Event – The Preston 5k
Last week I took part in the Preston 5k which was part of the Run Preston 10k event which also contained a fun run. I viewed this run as my marathon warm up event giving me a chance to fine tune my race day preparation.
I ran the 5 k with my wife Abigail who had been training for 8 weeks for her first race event.
Living in Preston it was nice to be able to walk to the start of the race in plenty of time and not have the stress of travelling on the morning of the event. We arrived at Preston flag market as the 10k runners were starting to arrive back after their trip around through the parks and back. We picked up our chips and attached them to our shoes. I would much rather have had the timing chips posted out to me with the race pack allowing me attach it to my shoe in plenty of time instead of having to sort it all out just before the start.
The start was delayed a few minutes while we waited for (and welcomed home) all the 10k runners. Once the inevitable man/woman in a gorilla suit had crossed the line the organisers set us up for the 5k start. I felt very relaxed and I was enjoying the feeling of not worrying about the distance or the pace or the time, this was really my recovery run after my 12 miles the day before and should be well within my comfort zone.
Abigail had trained for the previous 8 weeks and this being her first race event was a little nervous and very excited. After a countdown (which I quite liked) the starting horn sounded and we were off, heading out of the flag market and towards Avenham Park with Abigail setting the pace and me running along side.
As we left the noise of the city centre and through the quiet side streets quite a lot of people were over taking us, I knew Abigail had been training with a running watch and that she would set a steady pace along the whole of the 5 kilometres so I was sure we see some of these early sprinters again later on.
The pack stretched out a bit as we entered Avenham Park down a very steep hill and then right just before the Japanese gardens towards Miller Park. Turning left along the river we over took a couple of people who were now slowing or walking which always gives me a bit of a boost.
Abigail maintained the pace we had started at as we snaked back through Avenham Park. Heading out of the park meant that we had to tackle the first of a few big hills and I could feel the previous days twelve mile run in my legs. Abigail had experienced hill running in her training and even though she found it hard she battled against the urge to walk and carried on up all the hills overtaking walkers on the way.
We headed back through the city centre and as we took our last turn into the home straight Abigail opened up for a sprint finish! She streaked ahead as the announcer read our names out and crossed the line in 33:26 minutes, an excellent first every 5k time.
All in all the Peston 5k event was very enjoyable and as far as could tell it was very well organised and went off without a hitch. I am already looking forward to next year’s 10k!
Run Liverpool Marathon Route Time-Lapse Video
I was just having a look around the Run Liverpool Marathon website and I came across this amazing time-lapse video of the marathon route, looks like a bloody long way! check it out…
RunLiverpool Marathon Course from RunLiverpool on Vimeo.
Marathon Training Peak – 20 Miles
My marathon training has just peaked with a massive 20 mile run which took me 3 hours and 6 minutes and it took part mostly to a backdrop of heavy rain, very heavy rain.
I started the day sat in front of the T.V. at half five in the morning eating peanut butter on toast (I hate peanut butter) and flicking through the channels trying to find that beach volleyball I was watching the week before (strictly for sporting interest you understand). An hour later I was stretching on Penwortham Bridge with my waterproof jacket on having done my slow warm up run.
The first couple of miles were fine and the rain had slowed so I decided to take my jacket off and tie it around my waist as I was getting quite warm. Ten minutes later I was cowering under a tree hastily getting back into my jacket and feeling the cold. The rain grew steadily heavier until it was bouncing off the pavement and my feet were soaked. Soon after the dampness of my feet reached their maximum level my “waterproof” jacket took early retirement and my soaking was complete – with only about 12 miles left to run.
The beauty of early morning running is that you often get what would normally be a busy road all to yourself. I checked around to make sure there were no early morning dog poo collectors and then I raised my gaze up to the heavens and shouted at the clouds:
“Come on!”
“Come on!”
I had decided to meet the weather head on and not let it beat me. I was as wet as I could be and I was as tired as I’d been on a run in a long time but I was still going, it hadn’t stopped me, and it wasn’t going to.
In the last mile before the turn around (I run out and back) I had a couple of quick pains down my left calf. The pain was sharp and quite intense but it came and went in the space of about two seconds. I stopped and stretched out my calves and temporarily pealed my t-shirt and jacket away from my body. This seemed to solve the calf pain which occurred only once more before the end of the run.
The rest of the run slowly past with the rain alternating between heavy and heavier. My hips started to ache and neck and shoulders went through their usual periods of pain before loosening up a bit. Annoyingly I had to stop to tie my shoe laces a couple of times and each time I did a mixture of rain and sweat dripped down the inside of my jacket sleeves and down on to my hands.
I one point I ran past a house that had a full breakfast on the go. The smell of bacon cooking made my stomach turn summersaults and the hunger kicked in. I promised myself that I would have a bacon sandwich before the weekend was out (which I did).
Eventually my Garmin beeped for the twentieth time and I slowed my run to a fast walk. Within seconds I felt the cold and my legs started to stiffen. I stretched, walked, stretched again and walked again until I was home. I pealed of my soaked clothing at the doorway and my wife appeared with a towel and a sympathetic expression. Now for the fun part of the big run, replacing those lost carbs.
This was the furthest I have even run and the worst weather I have ever run in. Although the summer has been really bad I have been quite lucky when on my weekend long runs and this was the first time I had ran in heavy rain, and I’m glad I did. When I start my big 26.2 I can’t choose the weather and should the rain start to pour I know what to expect and I know I will be able to cope. Someone once told me that nothing worth doing is easy, I hope they’re right.
Run Liverpool Marathon Race Pack
I’ve got my marathon race number – and it’s a corker!
The excitement of receiving your first marathon race pack through the post is… well, about medium. How is excitement measured anyway? Assuming excitement is measured on a scale of one to ten with ten being the most excited I’ve ever been… actually, I’ve probably only ever got to about four, but pretend I’m the excitable type, then a marathon race pack dropping on the door mat is about a 5-ish.
The race pack was easily identifiable as it was marked with the Run Liverpool Marathon logo on the front. I didn’t open it straight away instead deciding to go out for my 6 mile run and let the excitement build. Whilst running I fantasised about what my number could be. Maybe “1234” that would be pretty special. All the 7’s well that would be awesome! I just hoped it wasn’t just a random order of four numbers that didn’t mean anything, how disappointing.
Once in from my run and re-lubricated I opened my Run Liverpool Marathon pack and pulled out my race number, I wasn’t disappointed. “5432”. Brilliant! What a number! I’m tempted to write a “1” on the end, or maybe I’ll find runner “0001” and run along with them constantly on my left hand side.
For those that are interested the race pack contains:
Race Instructions Booklet – Containing race day information, spectator tips, route maps and a brilliant pace chart to help you work out where you might be at any given time dependant on your pace, great for spectators wanting to cheer people on.
A Letter – Containing all sorts of useful information about how to get to and from the event.
Advertising Material – Including flyers for gyms, running magazines and bizarrely a postcard advertisement for the Run Liverpool Marathon, for which I have received the race pack for, and for which entries closed many months ago, strange.
A Super Cool Race Number – See above.
What’s Next
Well, once the race number excitement dies down (which will probably take a couple of days) I’ll consume the race information and start planning my race day. I’m running in the Preston 5k as a warm up event. I’ve a lot to consider. I only live an hour and a half away from the start line so I could travel down on the morning of the race or originally being from that part of the world I have good friends in the area and could crash over at someone’s house the night before maybe. I also need to choose a pub to down some pints in after the race (only joking).
I’m Running a Marathon… I hope
The problem with running is it can become addictive. The feeling of progression and the achievement of setting yourself a target and training towards and ultimately meeting that target can leave you wanting more. Over the last year or so I’ve run a couple of 10Ks and a half marathon and soon I will be attempting my first ever full marathon; the Run Liverpool Marathon, the long and winding road race in aid of The Willow Foundation.
I’ve been running seriously for about a year and I’ve been training specifically for the marathon for the last 17 weeks with just a few weeks to go. A few days ago my training peaked in terms of distance and I ran 20 miles, mostly in heavy rain. The peak in my training means a peak in effort and ultimately a peak in fatigue. I regularly have the urge to go to bed immediately after my working day is over.
I recently received my race pack which was quite exciting and has provided me with all the information I need to start planning my race day. The race pack popping through the door gave me a boost and made everything real and reminded me how far I’ve come in my training and how close the big day is.
The next few weeks will see my distances slowly reduce while my body recovers and rests ready for the big 26.2. This decrease in distance prior to a big run is called a tapering period, and I’m looking forward to it. A reduction in miles, a winding up at the gym and the growing excitement (and nerves) means I might even be able to stay up past nine o’clock!
Please consider sponsoring me…
7 Motivational Ideas to Take Your Running to the Next Level
If you feel like your running is going nowhere fast and you can feel your motivation slipping away try putting these simple steps in place to give you a kick in the pants and help take your running to the next level.
Set yourself a goal
The first and easiest step to taking your running to the next level is to set yourself a goal. This doesn’t have to be an epic Eddie Izzard like running achievement but it needs to be big enough to get you moving. Distance, speed and run frequency are all good starting points when deciding on a goal but take care not to aim too high or you could be setting yourself up for a fall before you even get started.
Record your runs
If you’re not doing this already then you are missing out on a very easy way of motivating yourself. There are many ways of recording your running online such as RunKeeper.com (my chosen method) and RunningAHEAD.com (which I’m yet to try). The simplest method of recording your runs of course is to manually make a note in a running diary. Make a note of how
you felt before, during and after your runs and keep a weekly total. By recording this information your running progress will become apparent and fuel your motivation for future runs.
Register for a race event
Find an organised event that suits your running level and register for it. Do it now. You will feel better when you’ve done it and all of a sudden your running will have a purpose and you will be running for a reason. If you have a charity that is close to your heart then get in touch with them and tell them what you’re doing and raise some money.
Treat yourself to some new running gear, but hold it back!
Buy yourself that new pink running vest you’ve had your eye on. Hang it up somewhere where you can see it everyday but don’t allow yourself to run in it until you reach a certain number of miles, or a certain number of runs.
Run an unfamiliar route
Maybe your running is getting stale because you are bored of your route. Get the A to Z out or fire up Google Maps and pick another route. Don’t be restricted to your home town either. Take a drive to a neighbouring town or catch a train into the countryside. Maybe visit a friend for the weekend and arrange a run together.
Run at a new time
The monotony of your regular runs could be caused by the time of day you are running. If possible try running at a completely different time of day. Even the busiest of runners usually get a choice of time for at least for one of their weekly runs, so switch it around a bit. It still surprises me how many people have yet to try morning running.
Buy a subscription to your favorite running magazine
If you’re the kind of person who still enjoys the feel of a magazine in your hands then why not take out a subscription to your favorite running mag. The monthly thud as your magazine pops through your letter box will serve as a regular reminder to get out and run, and of course the magazine will be full of tasty articles and product reviews.
Of course running motivation is a very person thing and what works for one runner may not necessarily work for another. Try a few of the above suggestions out and let me know how you get on.
Do You Run Loops or Out and Back?
Treadmill runners need not read on.
The subject of this post does not concern you.
I’m serious, your eyes aren’t required here, feel free to choose another post.
I’m only joking… please continue to read, please.
The reason for my attempted exclusion of the treadmill plodders is obvious when I pose the question:
Do you run a loop or out and back?
You see treadmill running starts and ends in the same place with no route required, and I’ve never been a fan of treadmills for that reason. Spending a hard hour running and ending up in exactly the same place and not having even been anywhere seems a bit strange to me (the author reserves the right to change this opinion when the snow starts to fall).
For the road runners amongst us however the exact path of our journey needs to be considered to ensure safe passage. Start a run not knowing where you are going and you could end up not covering enough distance, or running too far, or even having to stop to check Google Maps on your smart phone.
A runner’s environment is a very individual choice. Some people prefer the local park and some prefer the local dual carriageway but once you’ve chosen your scenery the loop or out and back question can prove a difficult decision.
To run a loop (that is to run a continuous route bringing you more or less back to the start) will provide a constant changing view and (hopefully) a steady uninterrupted running momentum. The out and back run however will require a turnaround at some point.
My running schedule consists of a general increase of a distance either weekly or fortnightly as I train for my first marathon. For this reason I choose the out and back run as it allows me to easily increase my distance without having to work out a new route.
The downside of this is that I have been running along the same stretch of road every Saturday morning for what seems like a lifetime. I’ve seen road works come and go, shops close and re-open and the best part of a house built! Only the last extra mile provides me with a previously uncharted expanse of pavement.
The excitement of an actual full mile that I’ve never ran along before is a welcome distraction.
…what will be round this next bend?
…what will be past the next roundabout?
…Oh, it’s just more pavement.
Running this regular route however also means that I generally see the same runners each week giving me a chance to practice my nod along the way. So it’s not all bad.
Top “Running” Gear
I was watching Top Gear (obviously on Dave) a few days ago and it occurred to me that the format could be tweaked to turn it in to a running TV show.
All we would need are 3 hapless presenters with bad hair (OK, I’ll be captain slow), a dog and a drafty shed on the side of a running track. We would have to have a secret tamed athlete as well known as The Stint, dressed all in white and wearing a full face balaclava.
Star in a reasonably priced pair of running shoes would see a series of celebs sitting on a bench promoting their latest exploits while nervously waiting to see what their 400 meter time is.
The weekly challenge could consist of the presenters pretending they don’t know what’s about to happen as they are asked to design and build their own shoes and clothing and then race each other to a specified location. For the Christmas special the team can be dropped off in the middle of a desert with only one camelbak between them and no map or energy gel.
The cool wall would be full of running equipment with those 118 head bands and knee length running socks firmly on the “not cool” side.
What other TV shows could be tweaked to provide a running theme like this?
