Well, I couldn't have asked for better weather, about 7 degrees and sunshine - so much better than the freezing, windy, dismal rainy day that was last year! Started out ok, weaving through the 10km racers but I got an unbearable stitch and had to stop to the side after only 6 kms, probably since I was busting to go to the toilet at the start line. After relieving myself I managed to find a comfortable tempo. I went out aiming for a B.Q. time but I was quick to realise that I just hadn't done the long hard runs in training necessary to keep up that constant pace. After I came to that realisation I aimed for 3:30 and gave it my all to get there. The hill at 36km and at 40km were killers and I don't think my eyes were open for most of the way up them. I'm still very happy with taking over 12 minutes of my time in Berlin and nearly 27 minutes of my first marathon here one year ago. Now the question is, am I going to kick up the training to get me to that B.Q. time? My girlfriend hopes not, she want's a bit of muscle back! We'll see... Splits were: | 5km | 00:24:56 (0:23:02) | 0:23:02 | 09:34:56 | | 10km | 00:49:06 (0:47:12) | 0:24:10 | 09:59:06 | | 15km | 01:12:55 (1:11:01) | 0:23:49 | 10:22:55 | | 20km | 01:36:58 (1:35:04) | 0:24:03 | 10:46:58 | | 25km | 02:01:46 (1:59:52) | 0:24:48 | 11:11:46 | | 30km | 02:27:04 (2:25:10) | 0:25:18 | 11:37:04 | | 35km | 02:52:38 (2:50:44) | 0:25:34 | 12:02:38 | | 40km | 03:19:52 (3:17:58) | 0:27:14 | 12:29:52 | | Finish | 03:31:19 (3:29:25) | 0:11:27 | 12:41:19 |
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