This is the short version, details to follow when I get back to London. It was very ugly today, temps 77F, but in the sun easily over 80. Running under blazing sun and bright skies. I was boxed in first 3 miles on a narrow road and Erasmus bridge -> slow pace from the start. I also adjusted pace for the weather, half in about 1:52:30. It got really tough after 35km, but at 38 I kind of hit the wall, I think, as I slowed down a lot. It felt like a training long run, not a race. I was ready for at least 3:40. When I was at 39km, organizers announced that the marathon is "stopped" and everyone should just walk to the finish, due to the heat and many people dropping out (14 people were hosptalized). Very upsetting. I decided to keep running and ignore their "order". Not sure if the results will even be counted. Nothing is posted on the website yet, I might have barely qualified for Boston and London, but I also might have just missed it by few seconds. Finish clock said 3:47:xx, but it took me about 2 min. to cross the starting line. It may not even matter, if results are not counted.
UPDATE - 04/16/07 - I do have a time posted, chip time 3:45:45, gun time 3:48:00, 24th in age group. Here are official splits from 5km posts (in Dutch, but self explanatory):
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| Startnummer F1150 |
|
| Naam |
Maria Imas |
| Woonplaats |
London (GBR) |
| Afstand |
Fortis Marathon Rotterdam |
| Categorie |
V35 |
| Totaal plaats |
1171 / 4337 |
| Categorie plaats |
24 / 114 |
| Snelheid |
11,215 km/uur |
| Netto tussentijden (verschil) |
| 5 kilometer |
27:22 (27:22) |
| 10 kilometer |
53:47 (26:25) |
| 15 kilometer |
1:20:05 (26:18) |
| 20 kilometer |
1:46:23 (26:18) |
| Halve marathon |
1:52:15 |
| 25 kilometer |
2:12:36 (26:13) |
| 30 kilometer |
2:39:07 (26:31) |
| 35 kilometer |
3:05:54 (26:47) |
| 40 kilometer |
3:33:06 (27:12) |
| Bruto tijd |
3:48:00 |
| Netto tijd |
3:45:45 |
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So it looks like I'm okay for BQ, but not good enough for London, has to be <= 3:45:00, although I may check with them to be sure. Full report still to follow, it's too late now (just got back home from the airport).
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FULL REPORT - 04/17/07
I spent first 3 miles boxed in on a narrow starting road, and had to watch people in front of me and not to step on their heels, the pace was around 8:50/mile. It was too slow and very frustrating, but I couldn't break through the crowds. After first 5k, it got a little better, and I sped up a little. I ran mostly by feel, although I was checking my Garmin for overall pace. Water stations were very crowded, and they slowed me down, especially the first 2, where I saw my average pace drop into 9:00/mile. Afterwards, it would go down to 8:25-8:30. I spent a lot of effort trying to stay hydrated, drinking 2 cups of water at every stop and using all the sponges available. I passed half in 1:52:15. Really slow, considering 1:42 I ran 5 weeks ago... It was frustrating seeing all my goals crash, but I didn't want to end up in the ambulance or have to drop out. So I kept plugging along at the same pace. It felt like a long training run, not a race. I wasn't pushing it until after 30K. I felt thirsty all the time, despite all my drinking. I took 4 gels with 200mg sodium in each of them, and it was probably a good idea as I didn't have any muscle cramps at all. My stomach behaved perfectly as well. It got really tough after 35K, but I started pushing it a little and kept mostly the same pace, but at 38K mark, I kind of hit the wall, at least I fell my pace dropping significantly.
To make matters worse, when I was at 39K mark, the organizers announced that the entire race is cancelled!! It was in Dutch, but I understood "marathon" and "stoppen". Everyone was ordered to walk to the finish due to heat and dangerous conditions. It was very demoralizing, because all of a sudden I didn't know if times would be counted at all, and I was struggling already. Still, I was so close to the finish, I decided to press on. But it was hard, and I walked the last water station at 40K (the only one I walked). I started running again, and shuffled past 41K mark, and then I saw signs 500m to go. At that point I attempted a kick, and I was able to have a strong last 500m (well, relatively, maybe 8:20 pace). I read later, that runners behind me were forced to the finish on the shortcut path, cutting about 12K loop from the course. I don't know what's going to happen to the results, as many people didn't run the full distance. It's a mess, I've never seen this happen in a big marathon.
Despite great fatigue, I finished in relatively good condition, I was able to walk (although not easily), and compared to my previous marathons, I felt very decent. Probably another indication that I ran well below my potential on the day.
I recovered quickly with lots of drinking and some food after the race, and besides severe quads pain (which is usual for me after a marathon and is probably a function of time spent on my feet than effort), I'm fine. Overall, a very frustrating experience, having put 4 months into training for this day. Nothing I can do about the weather, but maybe I should have pushed myself more.
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