Öland marathon was a fantastic race. It started at 17:00 which is a cool start time. I have never started a race that late before. I guess Stockholm marathon is the latest, used to start at 14:00, but started 11:30 this year (and might continue to do so)
Pre race preparation
As most of you know I am currently on the LCHF diet (Low Carb High Fat). This means that normally I don't eat any carbs at all. But during the races I usually skip that diet. For this specific race I actually had some carbs a few hours the race. I had two energy bars before the race.
First 10km
The track of Öland Marathon consist of 4 small laps around Löttorp (2.1km)and then 3 long loops down to Kalmarsund. So first you run one small lap and then you add a big loop. Repeat three times and finish with a small lap.
I used the same strategy for this race as Stockholm marathon. I wanted to start at appr 5:30 pace but I didnt want to have a heart rate above 80% (which is 160 for me). This was impossible. It basically didn't matter what I did, the HR was 162 as the lowest. I started the race in 5:08, lowered the pace, second in 5:18 and at around the third km I was at the wanted position 5:30 pace. A lot of runners passed me during these first 10km. I was really afraid to run too fast since I didn't want to die during the last 10km.
10km - Half marathon
Passed the 10km mark at 54:30, just about the same time as Stockholm mararthon. I felt pretty ok and the stomach was able to take the Vitargo energy drink that I drank a lot at every station (three stations, one every appr 4km).
During this part of the race I managed to follow some pretty fast runners. I think that we had a pace of 5:20. Felt strong at the moment and we passed 15km at 1:22 sharp. I said to myself that if we maintain this pace then I will pass 30km at 2:44 and I will be able to do sub 4 again.
I passed 1/2 marathon at 1:54:30 and I said to mysefelf - good! Keep it up and start to increase speed!
1/2 marathon - 30km
This was a strong phase for me. I started to increase speed and passed some runners (there were only 80 runners in the race so not that many to pass). I had an energy bar and some nasty fel which kept me going the entire race. The surrounding was very nice. The small small village of Löttorp. We passed the village centre 7 times during the race and at every passing the speaker screamed your name and eveyone in the nearby restaurant they cheered frantically. Fantastic surrounding (I think that Mr Legend would love this race).
I passed 30km at around 2:40 (I think). Now I thought that I will probably have a finish time somewhere between my Stockholm marathon time this year (3:42:30) and Mr Legends Stockholm marathon time (3:49). I tried to increase speed now - would be nice to have a good time. Felt strong.
30km - 42.2km
Legs were pretty tired but I managed to pass a few runners that were fast. I think that I did kms now in 5:03-5:10 pace. Drank Vitargo, had my last gel and thought - just go for it now. Take all the runners you can see! I passed 5-6 runners during 32-37km. Every one of these runners that I passed was a small race in the race. I never realized that I would come down to 3:42. Instead I thought that I might reach 3:45. When I passed 40km (and the village centre) I noticed a guy running, appr 500 m in front of me. I decied to have a go at him. I started to spring (I think I had 4:50s or faster during the last 2km). I didnt get him but it helped me in getting the great time.
The time? 3:42:10! My fastest marathon so far i still Stockholm marathon 2007, 3:41:39. That marathon was in 29.6 C. This marathon was in appr 22 C. So the race 2007 was of course much better. But still, fantastic that I can do these fast races. Now I have three races with just 50 seconds difference. Amazing!
Would I recommend Öland Marathon? Absolutely. A great and nice race.
Pre race preparation
As most of you know I am currently on the LCHF diet (Low Carb High Fat). This means that normally I don't eat any carbs at all. But during the races I usually skip that diet. For this specific race I actually had some carbs a few hours the race. I had two energy bars before the race.
First 10km
The track of Öland Marathon consist of 4 small laps around Löttorp (2.1km)and then 3 long loops down to Kalmarsund. So first you run one small lap and then you add a big loop. Repeat three times and finish with a small lap.
I used the same strategy for this race as Stockholm marathon. I wanted to start at appr 5:30 pace but I didnt want to have a heart rate above 80% (which is 160 for me). This was impossible. It basically didn't matter what I did, the HR was 162 as the lowest. I started the race in 5:08, lowered the pace, second in 5:18 and at around the third km I was at the wanted position 5:30 pace. A lot of runners passed me during these first 10km. I was really afraid to run too fast since I didn't want to die during the last 10km.
10km - Half marathon
Passed the 10km mark at 54:30, just about the same time as Stockholm mararthon. I felt pretty ok and the stomach was able to take the Vitargo energy drink that I drank a lot at every station (three stations, one every appr 4km).
During this part of the race I managed to follow some pretty fast runners. I think that we had a pace of 5:20. Felt strong at the moment and we passed 15km at 1:22 sharp. I said to myself that if we maintain this pace then I will pass 30km at 2:44 and I will be able to do sub 4 again.
I passed 1/2 marathon at 1:54:30 and I said to mysefelf - good! Keep it up and start to increase speed!
1/2 marathon - 30km
This was a strong phase for me. I started to increase speed and passed some runners (there were only 80 runners in the race so not that many to pass). I had an energy bar and some nasty fel which kept me going the entire race. The surrounding was very nice. The small small village of Löttorp. We passed the village centre 7 times during the race and at every passing the speaker screamed your name and eveyone in the nearby restaurant they cheered frantically. Fantastic surrounding (I think that Mr Legend would love this race).
I passed 30km at around 2:40 (I think). Now I thought that I will probably have a finish time somewhere between my Stockholm marathon time this year (3:42:30) and Mr Legends Stockholm marathon time (3:49). I tried to increase speed now - would be nice to have a good time. Felt strong.
30km - 42.2km
Legs were pretty tired but I managed to pass a few runners that were fast. I think that I did kms now in 5:03-5:10 pace. Drank Vitargo, had my last gel and thought - just go for it now. Take all the runners you can see! I passed 5-6 runners during 32-37km. Every one of these runners that I passed was a small race in the race. I never realized that I would come down to 3:42. Instead I thought that I might reach 3:45. When I passed 40km (and the village centre) I noticed a guy running, appr 500 m in front of me. I decied to have a go at him. I started to spring (I think I had 4:50s or faster during the last 2km). I didnt get him but it helped me in getting the great time.
The time? 3:42:10! My fastest marathon so far i still Stockholm marathon 2007, 3:41:39. That marathon was in 29.6 C. This marathon was in appr 22 C. So the race 2007 was of course much better. But still, fantastic that I can do these fast races. Now I have three races with just 50 seconds difference. Amazing!
Would I recommend Öland Marathon? Absolutely. A great and nice race.
Yo El Maco!
SvaraRaderaFantastic race and excellent summary!
Great El Maco, truly great!!
SvaraRaderaImpressing race El Maco, you seem to be in good shape.(I´m not!) /Mr Mizuno
SvaraRaderaCongratulation El Maco, very impressive :-)
SvaraRaderaThis is the kind of stories a like most of all. A "brand new marathon" (at least on LR)successfully performed & commented by El Maco.
And yes, of course I must now consider to do Öland myself as well (hehehe), but next year it will be impossible when the jubilee-marathon comes up, so perhaps in 2013.....
I am just curious now (will have a look myself in GC), when did you permanently passed your 85% HRmax-level ?
Mr L./.