@MajorRage said in My Turn ... Running Down A Dream:
In hindsight, I only really have myself to blame. The Garmin wasn't giving me accurate miles / km and I hadn't figured it out.
I did the first 10k at 55 mins as planned, and then upped to consistently run between 5:15-5:23 p/km for the next 10. Problem was though, that I wasn't. I looked at my official split and I did that 10k in 54:50, I should have figured this when I went through the half at just under 1:55 as if I had been running at that pace, it would have been 1:52:30 ish. The next 10k was fine at around 55 mins as well, but that seemed right to me as the Queenboro bridge is just a mile long hill, which was a killer. I started to struggle here, but I knew I had time in the bank to play with so wasn't overly concerned. Just slowed my pace a bit and then the calf started to twinge around the 35k mark. So I backed right off.
I got to 24 mile mark with about 23 mins left to beat 4 hours so 11 min miles, which I knew was tough but do able. But then central park was just not quick. The trail was thinner and the crowds were pushing the barriers back so we had to walk some of it due to room. And then about 5 times young people ran in front of me to take photos of their friends. Selfish selfish selfish New York fluffybunnies No other word for it. At 40k, running is borderline impossible, so having to make sudden lefts/rights just kills you. I estimate I lost 90 seconds to 2 minutes because of this bullshit. Anyway, it got to 1 mile to go and I had 9 minutes to do it. Everything was done but I just fucking went for it. Ran through the twinges / cramps and just hit people who got in my way. Got to 1k to go, had to do it in 5 .... then 800m to go in 4 minutes. I was completely gone, no idea where the energy came from, memory is a little hazy but I know I was thinking of Kieran Read talking about championship minutes. About 400m to go I just couldn't keep the pace, just couldn't do it and really started to wobble, things started to go darker and I was probably at risk of blacking out.
Then 50m short of the line, the calf properly cramped and I was done.
I gave it everything, but I shouldn't have been in that position if I'd just got my maths right earlier.
Took me about 30 mins to find my wife after which I think was fortunate, as if I'd seen her straight after the finish I think I genuinely would have completely broken down and fallen part. I literally pushed myself through my breaking point and broke & had a little cry to myself just after the finish.
It really was absolutely fucking unbelievable and 3 days later back at home, I have nothing but incredible memories. Outside family related things, it's the best thing I've ever done, no question.
I lost 12kg this year training for this and pushed myself harder than I ever have before at one of the greatest events on the planet.
About an hour later, one of my best buds sent me this quote from Rudy. And I bawled again. 3 days later, I think it's appropriate.
In this life, you don't have to prove nothin' to nobody but yourself. And after what you've gone through, if you haven't done that by now, it ain't gonna never happen
Outstanding effort. My memory is a little hazy but iirrc your first marathon was a remote one during Covid and involved you pit stopping at home to take off your jumper? Anyway, you have a decent record of your journey right here!