Belfast Marathon

Just back from Belfast Marathon, which is also celebrating its 30th year. When it started out it had 3,000 runners, and while there are now 20,000 people lining up on the day the other 17,000 entrants are made up of relay runners who run it over four legs, and also walking entrants. I guess the bottom line is the race has grown and survived by making it this format, despite the Marathon entry itself not growing, whereas here in Bristol the Marathon was lost but replaced by our very successful half instead.   

  It’s had its logistical problems and critics in the past, but let’s be honest, it’s great to see a sporting event be maintained over three decades despite the obvious ‘troubles’ that have gone on here, indeed, the route passes through two of the most notorious roads in Belfast’s past, there are murals that tell their own story, and there is still a ‘peace’ wall in place here that straddles the former divide and still shuts at crossing points at various times and occasions..I found this somewhat ironic when I thought back to running Berlin Marathon last year, where their wall is famously no more..

Anyways, lining up at the start was pretty random, despite signs for times and positions it was very much all in, so negotiating the early miles on the road you were running through walkers and some relay ‘fun’ runners, not ideal if you were seeking a decent finish time.

I’ve made it plain I wasn’t, I left my watch off like I said, so plodded along where it suited me. However, conditions were hot and sunny, there was some welcome breeze, but a distinct lack of cloud cover or shade, so no avoiding the heat.

Course wise, I was surprised at how hard and hilly it was, that wasn’t on the tin, some hilly miles were mentioned, but by my reckoning at the very least the second quarter to halfway was a long gradual climb, six miles or so of it, quite taxing on the legs and my knees in particular, and I was concerned at how tired my legs were too early on for comfort. Speaking to other runners later this was a general consensus, I was not alone in my thoughts!

Some might say my late taper meant tired legs, however, my troubled training meant this was unavoidable, and I also remember running the two Marathons in 7 days last Autumn my legs felt fine, so maybe it’s just one of those Marathon unquantifiables where anything can happen over 26.2 miles, it can catch even the best out.

So, it was going to be all about getting round on this day, and I really didn’t want to completely fall apart and end up walking, or worse, not finishing. Despite no watch I hit the halfway marker with some knowledge of how I was going by listening to those around me, I realised I’d clocked around the same time as at Taunton Half a whole month ago, despite feeling much improvement since then, but I also knew my stride wasn’t good at all and my knees were aching, so it was all about holding it together today.

What goes up etc meant after some pleasant downhills carried me along a bit the race then flattened out towards its conclusion back into Central Belfast, taking in dual carriageways and a rather narrow towpath stretch running alongside the sea, which was pleasant enough, but very exposed and hot here with rather too long between water stops.

Thankfully water came, I’m hitting the late teens to early twenties here, slowed down and getting parched by the dehydration, I was also using cold water on my knees to ease some of the aching. I’d been using my own supply of energy gels through the race, there were intermittent energy drinks provided too, and I worked through a pocketful of jelly babies for energy and sugar hits. Unfortunately I lost a crown on a tooth at mile 18 while chewing on a jelly baby, that and the dental bill I face cheered me up too!!   

Soon enough the last few miles clocked down, I kept digging and could again guesstimate my time, irrelevant?! Nah! I knew a distant hope of 4 hours 30 had passed, but wanted to keep this side of 5 hours, so at the last couple of mile markers I actually asked the time, I hit mile 25 with 15 minutes to spare, surely a last mile in 15 minutes would be easy?!  

Nope, it wasn’t, I groaned as another long stretch of hill appeared before me, however this was where some of the best crowd support lined up for the last mile finishing stretch, I took comfort from the calls for Dave from the crowd, yes I wrote my name on my number for encouragement here as I knew I’d need it, and I had a chuckle with some of the crowd as they encouraged my weary face as much as my weary legs!

At last I turned a corner and could see the Finish in sight, I had nothing left, a minor stitch, and even felt a little sick, but was pretty sure I’d kept sub 5 hours, and as the clock appeared I saw 4.58 as I crossed the line, giving me a chip time of 4.56. You don’t want me to record the seconds do you?!

I raised my arms as always remembered for the finish line photo - don’t obstruct your number - and was rewarded with a lovely medal, a warm bottle of water, and a bag of crisps!

Much more than that though, I’d done it, Marathon no. 7, my slowest time over my second toughest course, but I’d done it! This was a long long way off doing only a couple of months ago, if I was a beginner I’d have thrown in the towel, thinking this running lark is way too hard, however, I knew if I got through the suffering I could work my way back, suffer I did, and so, I am.

I’m still working back, I know that, and I’m continuing to seek improvement, I feel much better in life, not just running, and I think running is one of the keys to seeking happiness and contentment in this material world. Man.

Once again I salute all who ran here, especially my friend Lou who joined me in the Marathon club despite always saying never, he clocked a great PB of 4.15 and enjoyed every mile with a smile, especially after a last minute injury scare, so well done to him and thanks to all the friends who supported us, there were approx another six Bristol runners listed in the race programme, no clubs mentioned, but if you’re reading this please share your Belfast Marathon experience with us here! Onwards and upwards!