The first challenge on this new found goal of "just running", was to do the Melbourne Marathon. Bearing in mind this was only 6 weeks after Ironman Canada, I wasn't going to be in perfect shape.
Despite this, I had set a goal... sub 4 hours. My ironman marathon PB was 4.32 set at Kona in 2008, and I wondered whether I could go under 4 hours. My half marathon PB is 1.49 so I thought I was a chance, but I just wasn't sure how much the Ironman would have taken out of the legs.
Race day was perfect... weather wise, and I arrived at the start with only minutes to spare so there was no nerves and not much waiting around. Ok I'll admit it, I left home a bit late and was saved by a great car park.
There was a lot of people crowding the roads for the first 8km which was good to keep the excitement in check. But I was feeling great and when I hit the open roads around the Albert Park Formula 1 Grand Prix track, I "put the foot down" and scooted past the 4 hour pacer who I had been previously keeping in sight.
I rolled out the next 10kms at about 5.15 per km and was feeling very comfortable. I went through the half way point in 1.53 and all was looking good for a sub 4 hour time... assuming I didn't hit the "wall".
Then 27km came and the quads started to tighten.... By 30km the tightening was really painful. By 32km it was like... oh crap, still 10km to go. But go I continued to go... I wanted to get under 4 hours.
At 35km I felt like I was running on someone's else's legs, I couldn't really feel them. Then there was a slight downhill at about 38km.... oh my god... the pain, the insanity of running on blocks of wood that used to be legs!
Finally that enormous downhill slope (of maybe 1%!!) was past and it was shuffling along, still at under 6 mins per km, to the finish line, located in the mecca of sport in Melbourne, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Through the under ground entry and onto the arena and around to the finish. Four hours was well and truly covered. Finished in 3.51.42 and I was extremely pleased with the effort.
Compared to an ironman, I felt aerobically terrific. Normally I am completely shattered after an ironman, but after a marathon I felt fine. Sure my legs felt worse than they have even felt before... but they would recover!!!
So the test of running versus ironman... definitely the running bit was fun.
The next day at work... I had to step up a small step. I had to stop, and think my way through it. Two girls asked me if I was ok... it was extremely painful lifting my leg!! I had turned from 42 to 92 in one weekend!!
As you can see below, I wasn't looking that fantastic when I finished... the quads were completedly shot to pieces and there was definitely some leaning happening!!!
It would take me a month to get over this event.... but I did now have a sub 4 hour marathon to my name!!!
Definitely more marathons coming up in 2010!!!
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