A potted history of my running life and my marathon memories . . . . . . . well some anyway.
Running has been a major part of my life. As a child I would always run to the shops for my mum and get great delight in her saying, on my return, ‘you can’t possibly have been there and back in that time’. Games with friends in the street always included me organising running races between lamp posts or round the block. Fortunately my grammar school had Cross Country on the timetable and annual races between the four ‘Houses’ (so many stories here but I won’t bore you with these…).
It seems strange now to think back and realise for my first 15 years of full time employment, I would probably only run once a week at the weekend and do my ‘long run’ (5 miles! round the Ratcliffe, Thrussington, Rearsby block, and I’m sure I never kept a note of my times).
So, with all this running (5 miles remember!) I entered the first Leicester Marathon in 1979. How strange, I had to pack up at 10 miles! Note to self – must increase training! Therefore, when September 1980 came round, and with a long run of 10 miles under my belt, I got on the start line of the second Leicester Marathon. At 15 miles now, why does my head feel so weird? Who’s controlling my legs? certainly not me! But my wife Lyn was getting quite concerned at my state, and I decided I shouldn’t continue any further.
Then things changed! In September 1981, three Wreake Valley School teachers put an ad in the local paper, asking if anyone was interested in meeting up and running together. Approximately ten people met one evening in a classroom at Wreake, and it was decided to meet up twice a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays. We were able to use one of the classrooms before and after the run, which certainly helped on winter evenings.
I had only been running with these other Wreakies for 3 weeks when the third Leicester Marathon took place, but I had now managed a 15 mile run, so no problem this time! Unfortunately the extra mileage took its toll on my feet, and when I got to the Clock Tower for the second time (2 lapper) at 20 miles, I had to pack up with blistered feet, so painful I could only just about walk, and there was no way I was going to walk on a marathon.
As most of you have already found out, once you start running with others, your running capabilities progress tremendously, and the early ‘Wreake Wrunners’ club nights were no exception (yes that’s how, for a laugh, we spelt our club name then, look carefully at the photos showing ‘WW’). So much so, that having watched the first London Marathon earlier that year, I set my sights on doing the fourth Leicester Marathon next September. Problems getting a place were unheard of.
So it was that year of 1982 after much better training, getting tips from other marathon runners etc. that I completed my first marathon without stopping. Poor Lyn was a great help but got well and truly soaked for it (something she didn’t realise, but this would occur again, and again). I finished 218th in a time of 3:32:20.
It was 1987 in London when I first managed to break the 3 hours (2:58), a truly wonderful day. It was sponsored by Mars and the Space Blankets provided as you finished were silver and red. Imagine therefore the view across Jubilee Gardens (which is where it used to finish in those days) being a mass of shimmering foil and red flashes, quite staggering to see.
For the next few years I changed my main training months to July, August and September so that I could enter the British Vets Championships Marathon, which always took place on the first Sunday in October at Stone in Staffordshire. So much easier to get out the door being warmer!
It was one of these Marathons when Wreake managed to get three runners sub 3 hours (me, Steve Garner and the late Geoff Brown) and by being first team, were crowned British Vets Champions (and even made it into the newspaper, see image). We all received some very posh Tutbury Crystal glasses.
My times were gradually coming down by a couple of minutes, and got down to 2:48. We used to say, having done the training, your predicted marathon time was double your best half marathon time + 6 mins, and my half marathon at this time was 1:19.!!
Then came 1992!!
On July 5th, my training log said ‘Yes, this is the day! my first day of marathon training, so, keen to get started, got up at 6:20am, looked out the window – windy and raining, got back into bed! – great start, Ah well, it was my birthday after all!’
My aim, once again, was the Vets Marathon at Stone on October 4th, 13 weeks time.
My marathon training that had worked for me over the last few years, assumed that, at the start of training, I was usually running up to 30 miles a week and then I would increase by 10% each week i.e. 30, 33, 36, 40 etc. I made sure I recorded each run, where I had been, how I felt, time taken, and of course the mileage. As the weekly mileage increases, it is so important to vary the distances and hence the pace. If you go out for a 2 or 3 mile run, you know you can go that bit faster because it’s shorter. (I still have my training timetable should anyone be interested)
Over these weeks I was reading Ron Hill’s book ‘The Long Hard Road’. It’s an incredible biography of how he managed to run every day, regardless of where he was or whether he was injured. Quite inspiring for a runner, boring as hell for a non-runner!
After 11 weeks, with 4 longer runs of 16m, 2 x 18m and a 22m, I peeked at 77 miles a week, the most I had ever reached. Knees had a slight ache and I always wanted to drink or eat, although not really hungry (Not had this before). I started my two weeks of winding down by doing a very hilly Ashbourne Half Marathon. I’ll never forget the three Ethiopians that turned up on the start line and just disappeared into the distance after the gun went off. They finished together in a time of 65m 10secs and claimed the £1000 for breaking the course record. (Something they repeated around the country apparently, before going home somewhat richer)
Nothing longer than 6 miles after this, doing 41 miles in the first week and then 27 miles for the last week. From the Ron Hill book and other Scientific Reports I had read, I had become used to doing the Carbo Starve – Carbo Load diet. (Well it worked for me so I kept it up). I’m sure some people will say there are newer methods these days but eh.
The theory behind this (and I apologise for those who already know it) is that at around 18 miles the body runs out of Glycogen and then starts trying to obtain it from other parts of the body. This usually results in the runner ‘hitting the wall’ as it is called, and has the effect of disorientation and ‘wobbly’ legs. (Been there, done that, not good!). So I drastically reduce the amount of carbohydrates on the Monday – Wednesday before the race, and then, when the body is crying out for Carbs, I eat extra Carbs on the Thursday – Saturday (ooh how I look forward to the Thursday) and the body takes in more than normal, allowing it to build up it’s reserves and more.
When I totalled up my mileage since July 5th, I was rather surprised to find I had clocked up 607 miles, the most I had ever done.
So, Sunday October 4th eventually arrives. As for any normal race day for me, I ran at 6:30am up to Rearsby and back (2m). Lyn had got my breakfast ready – 2 Weetabix, boiled egg and 2 rounds of toast (race started at 11am). With bag packed the night before, I got changed, no race kit on yet, and checked my toe nails. Lyn and children Amanda(14) and Simon(17) and I set off at 8:15 and drove the same route as usual, so arrived at 9:45 and got a place on the car park again. Barrie Peel and his wife Barbara were already there, Mick Taylor and Pete Kirby arrived later. Checked that all our names were registered – 228 starters, and then got changed. I used to put 2 parallel strips of micropore plaster on the bottoms of my feet and then slightly smear with Vaseline, then talcum powder in my shoes. We then went for a jog down to see the start area, back by 10:45 so I could take trackster bottoms off and walk with Lyn etc to the start. Simon was in charge of the camcorder! Lyn’s parting comment was – ‘remember you’ve got your secret weapon’, this is what I had called my new, lighter racing shoes, New Balance NBX 900.
The route (see map left– well you knew there would have to be a map didn’t you?) was one small anti-clockwise lap of 5.5m, followed by two large anti-clockwise laps of just over 10m. This large lap was two complete contrasts. You ran in a nort-west direction through scenic country lanes to Barlaston, only then to run for 4.5 miles south-east along the dual carriageway of the A34, passing the town centre by just a quarter of a mile. Great for the spectators as Lyn could easily walk between the town and the A34 to see me go past, not so good for the runners, but the support was to become very welcome.
The new Lady Mayor got us off on time. Lyn had a Stop Watch as well to synchronise times, as I had given her a list of times I was aiming for. I had decided I must start off at a good pace to beat my mental barrier of getting on the right times of my best run i.e. 5:45 for first mile, then 12:06 for 2 miles. However, only managed 5:55, missed the 2 mile marker (or forgot it) but reached 3m in 17:58 – what?? I had never run this fast before and this was a marathon, not a 10K.
[I will digress here to voice my opinion about start pace. I strongly believe that IF you have done the necessary training AND you have done the distance before, and hence ‘know you CAN do it, you shouldn’t start off running slower than you are used to and have achieved regularly in training. I always found that trying to run slower made my legs ache more and felt lethargic, and you never make up the time later on. OK, rant over!]
As we approached the 5 mile marker, some official was calling out the times – what would he say? I knew I had hoped for 30:31, so was delighted when he said 30:15. There was a small group of us at this stage (always a good idea in my opinion), and I felt as though I was ‘doing my bit’. Left shoe lace feels too tight, would I have to stop? carried on for now. Saw Lyn in Stone town centre at 32:58 instead of 33:10. Some of the group started to pull away as we went up out of Stone. I got to 7m in exactly 43 mins and then 8m in 49 mins. This 6 minute miling lifted me somewhat over the drag of the next mile and a half up through Barlston. As I turned onto the A34 and up hill slightly to the 10 mile maker, I wondered again what my time would be. I kept thinking I must have slowed although felt quite good. I couldn’t believe time of 61:31 – never done this time before. I was running with a guy called Greg at this stage, a local from Stoke as we passed my group. Went through 13 in exactly 1:20 – this is too good to last surely. I was told I was 28th. After next water station I got away from Greg, sights now set on next group who were not too far in front. There were 2 or 3 of us together as we reached the Timekeeping Official at 15m – 1:32:25 (had predicted 1:34) and family there again in Stone, now 1:36:50 (1:38:12) – 21st now. I kept telling myself the next 3 miles were the tester, in previous years I had always lost it here as we climbed out of Stone. On my own as well but kept the same distance from the guy in front, so can’t be too bad. Barlston seemed miles away, but after this it was mainly downhill to the A34.
Well, I was now approaching 20 miles. I had deliberately not looked at my watch at 17, 18 and 19m, and knew I was aiming for 2hrs 7mins. What would the watch say, I hardly dare look! …2:04:53!. It was a good job no one was watching me here as they would have thought I had flipped, surely I couldn’t lose over 2 mins and miss a PB – unless the pace had been too much of course. Odd sunny spells now but nothing serious, quite a chill to the breeze really. I then caught and passed 2 others who had gone past me earlier. We had ran together for a while, slightly faster, so it probably helped all of us. I hear a few shouts from Simon as I approach 23m and Lyn’s green shell suit (remember them?) stands out well, and Amanda is clapping and shouting. At the drinks station at 23.5m took an electrolyte drink. It didn’t help when it first splashed out the cup and up my nose, but got a good drink. A definite help this year was that the next person in front was never too far away. My objective was to catch them, run alongside to get my breath back, then move on. I kept concentrating on my shoes – my legs didn’t feel heavy so trying to push my feet forward further on each stride.
The turn for home came and then the magic 25 mile marker- where was it? I had done 2:40 before but now 2:37:40. Desperately trying to work out what my finish time would be but brain not working too well. As I approach the town centre, I realised my vision was much better this year – there was Simon waiting for me. As he urged me past another guy , I was worried he might get me disqualified by running alongside. Would I get inside 2:47? A quick look at my watch after the U turn into the finish area and I see 2:44 something – well, the feeling was indescribable! I finished in 2:45:23 with hugs from Lyn, Simon and Amanda.
St Johns were there again with blankets for everyone. I soon got the shivers again although didn’t feel cold. Simon swapped my blanket for a Space Blanket and made me run to the end of the field and back, which surprisingly I managed this year.
I would like to have seen the other Wreakies come in but I was shivering a lot now so Simon came with me to the changing rooms. Showers were lovely and hot. Pete Kirby came in having done 3:06 and had got first over 60 again. Got out just in time to hear Barrie Peel had come in 3:18, 17 mins inside his London time – he was delighted. Barbara couldn’t believe he was in front of Mick Taylor, but Barrie said that Mick had been walking with leg problems. I made Barrie run up and down the field. If I had to, why shouldn’t he ? Mick came in at 3:23, OK but couldn’t explain the tight muscles. Simon went to check the finishing positions, I had come 13th and had gained 8 places in the last 10 miles and done the last 6 miles almost 1 minute faster than PB times. I was a little disappointed to find I had come 4th in my category, by 1 minute and also that we hadn’t won the team prize this year, so coming away empty handed apart from a china mug and a T shirt.
Will I do another marathon? Of course not! . . . . . but ask me next week.
We left at 3:30 and tried to stop off in Burton on Trent at the Ski Centre to have a go on the Toboggan Run, but it wasn’t opening for another 2 weeks, just being tested today. We arrived home at 6pm, and we all agreed to go to the Carington Arms to eat. A few phone calls came in from Wreakies asking how I had got on. I ate a good steak meal and the Lemon Meringue Pie went down a treat. After a while at home, I left to go down to the Brookside pub in Barkby to meet up with the others. Congratulations came in the form of 2 free drinks for me. The Whiskey Macs were most welcome and resulted in a decent night’s sleep.
As usual, I made sure I ran a couple of miles the next day. Those 2 miles took me 16 mins and seemed such a long way, but I’ve found it helps tremendously with the recovery. I managed to get to club night on the Tuesday although my quads were a bit tight. Word had obviously spread quite quickly because the congratulations kept coming. I decided not to run with the faster group tonight but still ended up running 7.5m, felt too slow really. Thursday night’s club run was back to normal for me, and we did a 7 miler in 43 mins.
So, that was how I peeked, and yes, I did carry on doing marathons (my favourite race distance for sure), the last one, my 14th, being at Manchester in 1999, aged 53, and finished 48th in a time of 2:53. The downward slope had started ……
So, can I wish you all the best in your running career and hope that you get to achieve your goals. You will need the dedication, runs in the bad weather, longer runs, some on your own as well, because the mental barrier needs to be trained as well as the physical side, and prepare you for perhaps racing several miles with no one visible, only your own thoughts, and last but not least the support from your partner and family if at all possible, something I have been very fortunate to have all these years, and am sure I could not have achieved it without them.
Dave Palmer
Wreake Runners
December 2018
Dave has written two great books on running and walking routes in Leicestershire, find out more here.