The preparations for this race were maybe not ideal. At least I didn't run much this last week. But the previous weeks I have been running a lot and as you know - I had the winter vomit disease just a few weeks back including Växjö Marathon. Next time: The taper period needs to start much earlier!
Pre-race
The conditions were optimal. No wind. That is no wind - zero wind and up to 10 degrees C. This is November and 10 C in November is a blessing.
I met up with Mr Legend 1 hour before the race. We were both pretty relaxed and felt that we will try do to this "on the fly". No marathon anguish etc - just do it. We walked down to the start area and after 10 minutes the race started.
The race
1-21.1km
There were actually two races going on. 8.1km race and marathon distance. That meant that when the start happened there were many people who were running their legs off. Incredible fast start. I tried to keep a normal El Maco slow pace. That was basically not possible in the beginning. I think that most of the kms were in the 5:10 area. Some faster and some were slower. But we were fast - no question about that.
Mr Legend was right away ahead of me. During the first 15kms he was always appr 200m ahead of me. He looked fresh and I decided right away not to try to race him.
The track was interesting, nice and pretty tough I have to say. When I say pretty tough - it wasnt deadly. But it had some huge inclines. Since it was a six lap track you had to climb these a lot of times during the run.
After 16km I noticed that Mr Legend talked to some guy while running. They lost their pace doing this so all of a sudden I was ahead of them. Mr Legend ran up to me and we had some quick chat. I was ahead of Mr Legend appr 1km. After the huge incline he passed me and after passing he increased pace dramatically. That km (after Mr Legend passing me) I did a 4:54 km. That means that Mr Legend probably did it in 4:20. He was so fast. After that I never caught up with him again I saw him all the way until 33km but I was nowhere able to catch him.
The race until 21.1 km was nice. I noticed that the HR was a little bit high, appr 170. But why not go for it this time. I passed the 1/2 marathon distance at 1:49:40. I have never started a marathon this fast before. Mr Legend probably passed that distance at 1:49:20.
The kms after that were fast. I tried to maintain the same pace. Would I be able to perform the same pace during the second part of the Marathon I would be sub 3:40. So up to 28km I was on that time actually.
28km - 36km
After appr 28km I noticed that the legs were like my legs have been in my historical marathons (hence 2010 and earlier). Hence very stiff legs. My back thighs were "crampishish" and I understood that I will not be able to keep the pace. I drastically reduced speed at 32km. From 5:10 to 5:35 pace. The legs were now really really stiff. I didn't care at all about the time anymore - just to finish.
36-42.km
Passing the last "finish area" (hence the area that you passed six times) I took some sport drink, cucumber etc. Started to run again and OUCH!!!! OUCH!!!! What the FxxCK! Left knee! Left knee!!!??? Those of you that are familiar with my injuries know that I have only have problems with my right knee. So now all of a sudden - in the middle of a race I had pain in my left knee. Speed was reduced to 6:15-6:45 pace. I ran at the side of the street where the grass was. Meant a lot slower of course. The pain was pretty significant. I had to walk in the inclines and I was really afraid that this was something very bad.
I managed to do that last lap - very slowly. Crossing the finish line at 3:50:23 was a good feeling but I needed to know how the knee was. Lied down and felt pretty ok after all. I hope I am not injured now. Will not run today but wait another day or two.
Race review
The race was nice. Very nice track I have to say. My biggest complain concerns the food that was served. Basically nothing at all. Just salty cucumbers and some suger things. I would have wanted bananas or something else. Not good.
El Maco
Pre-race
The conditions were optimal. No wind. That is no wind - zero wind and up to 10 degrees C. This is November and 10 C in November is a blessing.
I met up with Mr Legend 1 hour before the race. We were both pretty relaxed and felt that we will try do to this "on the fly". No marathon anguish etc - just do it. We walked down to the start area and after 10 minutes the race started.
The race
1-21.1km
There were actually two races going on. 8.1km race and marathon distance. That meant that when the start happened there were many people who were running their legs off. Incredible fast start. I tried to keep a normal El Maco slow pace. That was basically not possible in the beginning. I think that most of the kms were in the 5:10 area. Some faster and some were slower. But we were fast - no question about that.
Mr Legend was right away ahead of me. During the first 15kms he was always appr 200m ahead of me. He looked fresh and I decided right away not to try to race him.
The track was interesting, nice and pretty tough I have to say. When I say pretty tough - it wasnt deadly. But it had some huge inclines. Since it was a six lap track you had to climb these a lot of times during the run.
After 16km I noticed that Mr Legend talked to some guy while running. They lost their pace doing this so all of a sudden I was ahead of them. Mr Legend ran up to me and we had some quick chat. I was ahead of Mr Legend appr 1km. After the huge incline he passed me and after passing he increased pace dramatically. That km (after Mr Legend passing me) I did a 4:54 km. That means that Mr Legend probably did it in 4:20. He was so fast. After that I never caught up with him again I saw him all the way until 33km but I was nowhere able to catch him.
The race until 21.1 km was nice. I noticed that the HR was a little bit high, appr 170. But why not go for it this time. I passed the 1/2 marathon distance at 1:49:40. I have never started a marathon this fast before. Mr Legend probably passed that distance at 1:49:20.
The kms after that were fast. I tried to maintain the same pace. Would I be able to perform the same pace during the second part of the Marathon I would be sub 3:40. So up to 28km I was on that time actually.
28km - 36km
After appr 28km I noticed that the legs were like my legs have been in my historical marathons (hence 2010 and earlier). Hence very stiff legs. My back thighs were "crampishish" and I understood that I will not be able to keep the pace. I drastically reduced speed at 32km. From 5:10 to 5:35 pace. The legs were now really really stiff. I didn't care at all about the time anymore - just to finish.
36-42.km
Passing the last "finish area" (hence the area that you passed six times) I took some sport drink, cucumber etc. Started to run again and OUCH!!!! OUCH!!!! What the FxxCK! Left knee! Left knee!!!??? Those of you that are familiar with my injuries know that I have only have problems with my right knee. So now all of a sudden - in the middle of a race I had pain in my left knee. Speed was reduced to 6:15-6:45 pace. I ran at the side of the street where the grass was. Meant a lot slower of course. The pain was pretty significant. I had to walk in the inclines and I was really afraid that this was something very bad.
I managed to do that last lap - very slowly. Crossing the finish line at 3:50:23 was a good feeling but I needed to know how the knee was. Lied down and felt pretty ok after all. I hope I am not injured now. Will not run today but wait another day or two.
Race review
The race was nice. Very nice track I have to say. My biggest complain concerns the food that was served. Basically nothing at all. Just salty cucumbers and some suger things. I would have wanted bananas or something else. Not good.
El Maco
A top class report as usual. Not so nice with your left knee problem, but hopefully it was not that bad. I also believe you where not fully recovered from the Vinter vomit disease.
SvaraRadera