Steve's quest to complete 500 marathons by the year 2010 continues follow his progress through 2008

I completed my first marathon of the year, a new event near to Gloucester with an undulating 3 lap course which finished in the village of Epney. It was a beautiful day, you couldn't have wished for better weather in January and I was pleased to finish in 3:15:55 for 16th position (8th Vet) out of 148 finishers. I've been training quite hard over the winter break, but you never really know what fitness level you're at until the first race. In fact, I picked up a bit of a hamstring injury over the break, which I'm pleased to say hasn't hampered my training to much and appears to be on the mend. So yesterday, I was keen on not striding out to hard until I was fully warmed up, which ultimately helped me to run even splits.  

I keep thinking that I now only have 53 marathons to go before I achieve my goal of 500 in under 3:30 and while my times remain at around the level they are, I would actually accomplish my goal with an average time of under 3:20. However, every time I get a little niggle, now more than ever before, I worry that it could be the start of a serious injury which would not only threaten doing the 500 by 2012, but also the average time I'm aiming for. However, I must remain positive and take each marathon one by one, the old cliché I know, but that is the only way.

I completed the Draycote Water Marathon yesterday in a time of 3:12:23, nearly 10 minutes quicker than last year, which was good enough to see me finish 3rd vet and 7th overall out of 100 starters. This 5 lap course has some undulations in parts, so you do start to notice them by about lap 4. Anyhow, I felt good at the start and probably set off a little quicker than I had planned, therefore I wasn't able to maintain my 1:35 first half pace in the second half, not that I'm complaining though, its a sub 3:15 and I was more than happy with that at this stage of the season. Another two marathons and it will be another landmark, 450, then 50 to go. Got to stay focused, keep training hard and try to maintain these finish times, I would dearly love to finish the 500 challenge with an average time of under 3:20, that would be sub 200 minutes!

Have just come back from a 460 mile round trip to Redruth in Cornwall at the weekend having run the undulating 2 lap Duchy Marathon. I completed it in a time of 3:13:26, which was more than 11 minutes quicker than last year, good enough for me to pick up the 3rd vet 45 prize and also finish 17th overall out of 154 finishers.  Despite having to battle against the usual strong headwinds along the coast road for 3 miles on each of the laps, I managed to run fairly even halfway splits which I'm always pleased about, but even more pleasing was running the last 6.2 miles in 45 minutes flat. Always a good measure of marathon fitness to see how long it takes after the 20 mile point!  So, although I had a couple of niggles leading up to this one, sore ball of toe on right foot and an ache in my left knee, it seems as though the regular icing with a bag of frozen peas has done the trick again. This was not only my 3rd sub 3:15 of the year, but another one well under the target finish time, fingers crossed I can stay injury free and keep this going. 

Another long round trip, this time 540 miles to the Dumfries Marathon which is held every two years. Having gone through halfway in 1:34 on this 1 lap course, I thought I was on for the 3:08 time I did 2 years ago, but alas, the strong freezing cold arctic headwind for the last 6 miles took its toll and I finished in 3:10. I was pleased though, it's another run well under the 3:15 barrier and I came 11th place (5th vet). It's also a significant landmark, 450, only 50 to go now!!

I woke up to 4 inches of snow on Sunday and wondered whether the race was on, but after a quick call to the organiser to confirm, was on the road to run marathon number 451. This was the usual 2 lap course with 2 good climbs on each lap, so I was pleased to run 13 minutes quicker than last year to record a time of 3:12:15 for 25th place and 3rd V45. I was also pleased to run equal splits of 1:36 for each lap and still feel good at the end. I can't believe what a difference a year makes, this time last year, I had a horrible niggling hamstring injury and my times had drifted lower. This year, I feel good, my times so far have been a lot more consistent and my averages are coming down slightly, I hope and pray this continues. I think that upping my training has also helped as I'm now running around 80 miles a week in preparation for this year's 10 marathons in 10 days challenge in May where I will attempt to break the combined time record that was set last year.  So, onto the big marathon next Sunday in the capital,  good luck to everyone running it, remember, if its your first time, start off steady!! 

I completed the London marathon in a time of 3:02:35 which got me 1276th place out of 35,044 starters and 142nd in the Vet45 category. So very happy to finish in the top 4% of the field and better last years time by 10 minutes despite running the Taunton Marathon only a week ago in 3:12. Having clocked 1:29:56 at halfway to give myself the slim chance of breaking the 3 hour barrier, I decided in the closing miles that I wasn't going to push too hard and risk injury which would have compromised my 10 in 10 challenge starting in less than 4 weeks time.  So, at 24 miles, I relaxed a little to enjoy those final minutes along the Embankment and into Birdcage Walk and really soak up that atmosphere. As usual, it was absolutely electric, even the heavy showers didn't seem to dampen the spirits. Afterwards, I enjoyed a thoroughly relaxing massage in the Spinal Injuries Association post race hospitality tent and got to meet Princess Anne who is the Patron of SIA.

I completed the Shakespeare Marathon yesterday in a time of 3:12:57, nearly 11 minutes quicker than last year's time,  which got me 47th place out of 748 finishers and 5th vet 45. Having gone through halfway in 1:36:50,  my plan was to try and do equal splits, in the end, I was actually slightly quicker on the second half, despite the warm 20 degrees weather. I felt good at 20 miles and pushed on a little to try and get well under the 3:15 rather than just inside, so i was really pleased in the end to run the last 10K in just under 45 minutes.  This was my last marathon (and long training run) before going up to Lake Windermere for my attempt to try and break the fastest combined time record for 10 marathons in 10 days of 37 hours 39 minutes (that was set last year). Just looking at my diary, I've run over 1200 miles in the last 15 weeks including 7 marathons, so now I will enjoy the taper period before the onslaught which begins in 12 days time!

Since breaking the record for the fastest 10 in 10, I've found motivation a little difficult over the last few weeks. Coupled with the fact I've had a bit of a hamstring niggle, training hasn't gone as well as I would have liked. So this marathon was going to be a good test for me and I'm pleased to say it went better than expected. I finished in 7th place out of 98 finishers with a time of 3:11:17, more importantly I picked up the 1st Vet 45  trophy to go with the 1st Vet 40 I got here last year.   Analysing the race afterwards, I'm a minute and half slower than last year, however the weather conditions were certainly not as good with strong head winds to contend with for 4 miles on each of the 2 laps. I went through halfway in 1:35:40 and continued this pace through to the finish with even splits. My last 10K was under 45 minutes and I felt strong enough to push hard in the latter stages to chase down and pass 3 other runners in the final mile, 2 of whom were in my V45 category!. So overall, I was happy with my performance, it's another sub 3:15 and another marathon towards the target. 

Having ran this 2 lap marathon course many times before, I knew there were a few undulations including a half mile drag at the 10 and 23 mile stages. Conditions were very good though, a light breeze, overcast and the threat of light showers, so I decided to set out at just over 7 minute mile pace. This got me to halfway in 1:33, an almost perfect halfway even split as it turned out and I still felt pretty good despite a slight niggle in my groin, so kept the same pace going through out. I hit 20 miles in 2:22 and although I slowed a little on the half mile uphill drag at 23 miles, once back on the flat again, I had a bit left in the tank to run the remaining 2 miles pretty hard and therefore complete the last 10km in just over 44 minutes. My eventual finish time was 3:06:34 which put me in 31st place out of 293 finishers and 8th V45.   Looking back, this is my fastest ever Wolverhampton Marathon, I ran 3:10 on this course last year and was pleased then, so to run 4 minutes quicker this time and I'm a year older, who says you don't get better with age! Seriously though, everything is going good at the moment and I'm well on course for the 500 in sub 3:20. I'm not sure how long I can keep knocking out these times, but I'll certainly try and keep them going as it helps keep that all important average time well inside the target. 

This was my 3rd time running this marathon and I was determined it would be 3rd time lucky and get a sub 3:30 on this course. So as last year, I ran the 1st lap in 1:41, but unlike last year, the signs didn't blow down and I didn't go the wrong way on the 2nd lap! I was in 10th position at halfway and felt strong enough to continue pushing at the same pace to pass other runners over the 2nd lap. In the final couple of miles, I speeded up to pass yet another runner and complete a slightly negative halfway split in just over 1:40 to record a finish time of 3:21:34, my fastest ever on this course.  This not only got me the 1st V45 spot but also the prize for 5th male overall.  Out of well over 100 starters, a few pulled out at halfway, so only 99 actually finished. Not surprising really, given this is without doubt the toughest road marathon in the British Isles, with several steep (and long) 1 in 4 climbs. The winning time was 3:03 and only 8 runners finished in under 3:30 which gives some idea of the severity of the course. There's hardly any flat bits, it's pretty much all up or down, which is very demanding as you just can't settle into any kind of rhythm. I know I went the wrong way last year, but even so, I was 11 minutes quicker this time and was not only pleased to take the 1st V45 spot, but really chuffed to finish in 5th place.

I didn't realise at the time, but I sustained a painful injury at the Langdale Marathon that has put me out of action from running up until last week. So on very minimal mileage and cross training over the previous 4 weeks, I was pretty apprehensive about running the distance again. However, I thought if I can just take it steady and run a consistent pace with a shorter stride length on a fairly flat course, I might get round in a reasonable time and more importantly not aggravate my healing injury. That was the plan anyway!.  Well it appeared to work, albeit with a few aches and twinges, I managed to maintain an 8 minute mile pace and record 3:28:55. Sunday was all about finishing in one piece and trying to record a time below my target which I achieved. For once, it didn't matter about positions as nearly 5 weeks ago, it was painful to walk, let alone run! So, the challenge appears to be hopefully back on track, I did have to miss the Loch Ness Marathon in between time, but I guess that doesn't matter too much in the bigger picture. I'm determined to get the job done and achieve the target average finishing time. With 43 marathons to go, the body is obviously starting to creak a bit, so maybe I'll have to slow down a little, for a while anyway!!  

 This was always going to be the real test for my ongoing injury, not just because it was only 6 days after running the Leicester Marathon, but also the nature of the course. Although its not quite as demanding as Langdale, I would still put it in the top 3 of the toughest UK road marathons. However, despite the tough course and horrendous weather conditions, I completed my 458th marathon in a time of 3:34:54 for 133rd place out of 1166 starters. The weather conditions really were atrocious, the worst I've ever known  in a marathon with gale force winds and driving rain making running quite dangerous in parts. Not surprisingly, quite a few failed to finish and there were a few minor injuries from runners being blown over!   As at Leicester, my plan was to run at 8 min mile pace and treat this marathon as a long training run as I knew the steep climbs and descents would certainly aggravate my injury if I ran any harder. So having passed through halfway in 1:44, a sub 3:30 looked very possible, however I lost valuable minutes in the last steep climb at 21 miles and subsequent steep descent into Llanberis which ultimately cost me the sub 3:30. Looking at the results though, I'm quite pleased to finish in the top 12% of the field considering the injury situation and of course the nature of the course in those conditions.  Its definitely not one I will look back on to say I enjoyed but it certainly was an experience! 

I completed number 459 on Sunday at the Cornish Marathon. Starting and finishing in Pensilva, this is a tough out and back course over Bodmin Moor with several steepish climbs throughout the whole course, fortunately though, the weather conditions were a lot milder than normal for this time of year.  Still not fully fit after coming back from injury, I started off at 3:20 pace and reached halfway pretty much bang on in just over 1:40. However, I felt okay so pressed on a bit harder in the second half reaching 20 miles in just over 2:30 and then running 46 min for the last 10k for a finish time of 3:16:51 and a negative split by nearly 4 minutes. At halfway, I was in 35th place, but passed 14 other runners in the second half of the race to finish in 21st place out of 213 finishers and 4th Vet45, so top 10% of the overall field, but unfortunately just outside the prizes! The winning time was 2:45 and less than 20% of the field finished in under 3:30, so considering the lack of training miles in my legs, I was pleased with my effort on what is probably the 4th toughest road marathon in the country and as it turns out, I finished 3 seconds quicker than last year!  As always, the traditional hot Cornish pasty was very welcome at the end!

 Florence was a new marathon for me and my first in Italy, so that's 22 countries I've now competed in. A record 9000 runners entered this, the 25th running of the Florence Marathon, a pretty flat course throughout, however there are parts run on old cobbled and stone slabbed roads which make it a bit heavier going on the old legs. Apart from that though, I was looking forward to a half decent run, that is until the heavens opened about an hour before the start! This in itself wasn't the problem, it was the fact we had to be lined up in our time related starting pens 45 min before the gun or have to go to the back of the field. This meant standing in one place in the pouring rain for nearly an hour wrapped in a bin liner, getting wet and cold, certainly not ideal preparation before having to run 26 miles.  Anyway, we eventually got going but it took until about 5km before I managed to get the legs moving properly, after that, I never really did feel completely comfortable as my stomach wasn't feeling quite right. I got to halfway in just about 1:37, slightly down on what I expected, but given the the long wait at the start in the rain and my stomach cramping, I was more than happy to settle for a sub 3:15 if I could just maintain this pace. After halfway though, the legs really did begin to tire and my stomach wasn't getting any easier, I wasn't sure whether to stop and throw up or just carry on and hope it would wear off. I certainly didn't feel right and I knew it was going to be a slog to the end as I was already starting to count down the Km markers, but at least they were coming round quicker than mile markers do!  Surprisingly, I managed to maintain the same pace to reach the 32 Km (20 mile) point in 2:28 and even continued this pace up to about 39 Km before I began to get a bad cramp in my right foot, which is all I needed. I had no choice then but to slow right down as it worsened, but at least my stomach was feeling a little better. After a slow 40th Km, my foot had eased off and I looked at the watch to see that I needed to run the last 2 Kms in 9 minutes to get under 3:15. So it was a case of getting the head down and just forcing the legs to move, I took my last drink at 40Km and just went for it. The last cobbled street after 41Km didn't help, but once back on the tarmac for the final half Km, I moved up another gear and really started to shift. I felt like throwing up, but just kept the legs going until the final couple of bends to the finish, back on the cobbles again and finally the long finishing mat to the line.  3:14:51. Job done. (And no, I didn't throw up at the end!) This was a hard fought marathon and in the end I was really glad to get the sub 3:15 and finish in the top 10% of the field. I've certainly had easier and more enjoyable runs on much tougher courses. So it just goes to show that it's all on the day and flat courses don't necessarily mean the fastest times.

As the Luton Marathon was cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, the Hastings Marathon was to be number 461, a one off centenary marathon to celebrate the first and only ever Hastings Marathon in 1908. Starting and finishing outside the town hall in the city centre, over 1200 runners lined up in the freezing cold ready to run this one lap course on this the last UK marathon of the year. No-body seemed to know what the course was like, however a local Hastings runner did warn of a steep climb out of the town for just over a mile and then pretty much undulating the whole way round until the final 5 miles along the seafront. How right he was, after 2 miles, I was already having to work pretty hard to climb the first steep hill which seemed to go on forever. Then some respite as a downhill approached, however this was short lived as another uphill soon followed. After another couple of miles, I soon realised that this was to be a familiar pattern for the course, either going down or up hill!. That said, I was keen to stick to my race plan of running at 3:15 pace as I finally started to settle into my normal rhythm.  I reached halfway in just under 1:37 having just negotiated yet another climb at 13 miles. This was bang on where I wanted to be and I continued to maintain this pace all the way to 20 miles which I reached in just over 2:27. It now seemed to be getting colder and I wasn't looking forward to the final stretch along the seafront as I guessed it would be against the  biting cold sea breeze. At Bexhill On Sea, the turn around point, we were directed onto the sea front and the final 5 miles to home. Despite the freezing cold I was still maintaining the same pace and I continued to press hard to reach the finish in 3:13:15 which I was very happy with, it was an even split time from halfway and another sub 3:15 on the total. After thawing out and checking the results, my position was 67th and 8th vet 45, not bad out of 1175 finishers and very pleased to be in the top 6% of the field.   So that's it for 2008, next marathon is Gloucester in January, can I take this opportunity to wish everybody a very merry Xmas and a happy new year, don't forget your Xmas morning training run!! RegardsSteve