Hello from NYC

It has been a while since I last blogged…

Since my Gold Coast (GC) glory, I had many up and downs, but I think they cancelled each other out so I pretty much stayed the same. 

Therefore I haven’t really blogged.

I am writing now from NYC, two weeks and two days before the Boston Marathon 2017. My dream race. Many amateur runners’ dream race. And my dream is now reality. So what has happened in my life?

Training and injury: my training has become more mileage heavy, with 6 runs a week. As an endurance junkie I have been coping quite well with this. However, my speed as gradually suffered due to a nagging calf injury since GC. I have since got help  and it should be fine for the Boston race day. But speed wise, I have trouble hitting anything equal or faster than my 10k race pace without my calf turning into concrete. Realistically, I won’t be able to achieve what I did in GC, but I will be happy to get something in the sub-3:45, which is still a solid time, so I won’t complain if I get that.

I guess sub 3:30 will have to wait.                                 

Racing: I did a few races since GC, notably City 2 Surf, Blackmore (pacing 2H half), Stromlo 10K…and a bunch of Striders and SMC 10Ks and Parkruns. Unfortunately I haven’t hit any PB since my GC marathon glory. In fact I went backwards – I was slower than I was in GC 2015! I partly blame my injury, and also the lack of motivation. These two factors is reflected in a dismal post GC times.

 Anyway I’ve signed up to the NYRR 10K race next week – I will see how I go. 

It’s freezing in New York, so I just plan to chill a bit, carb up with bagels, and get over my jet-lag. Temperature is meant to climb from 3C to 13C between today and tomorrow, so will see. I might go for a 25 tomorrow.

The Gold Coast Marathon 2016 Race Review

Let’s start my entry from the results – I ran a Boston Qualifier at the Gold Coast Airport Marathon!

Being female has its advantages, as my time of 3:32 has given me a good clearance of the BQ standard. That is, the chance of being accepted into the Boston Marathon next year is very high based on the law of averages over time.

So read on if you are interested in the pre-race, mid-race, and post-race brouhahas.

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Almost eight months of training and it all comes down to this day. I have tried to rehearse this moment three months prior to the event but it did nothing to calm my stress. Waking up at 4:45am, clearing my bowels, what to eat before...I have practised as much as I could think of what race day would require.

Obviously I wasn't the only one who was on nerve overdrive (well all except one person, an army dude who exhibit calm even in a real life war...), as my friends were also pacing up and down the apartment and tried to start an awkward conversation but it only came out as nervous breathing. At 5:59am sharp I said: “One minute one minute. Move move move! Out out out!”. For a moment all nerves came out but was quickly regenerated when we saw fellow runners at the tram stop.

Loads of runners getting ready to
squeeze in...we know we are on 
the correct platform.

The tram was full to the brim. Luckily two of us here have lived in Hong Kong so this level of crowdedness feels like home. Transport is free between 4am to 3pm by the way (I only noticed it when I removed my bib later in the day...) but in the morning we just took the word of a fellow runner. I don't think a ticket inspector will be able to get inside the tram to check all our tickets.

Eventually we made it to the start, But not without a few obligatory selfies at the start line and in our club tent to ease our pre-race nerves.

Breath in...

    

Once we reach our tent we made a beeline to the toilets. This year the toilet were not as clean or ample or pink – there was a long queue at the main race precinct so knowing there will definitely be more loos in other parts of the ground, so we venture to the left and right for loos. Bingo! And zero massive queues.
On the way back I did a small warm up jog and took some photos as the sun rise further to increase the start line temperature. Temperature was a lovely 10C and a light breeze. Just the way I like it.

Does my back look big in this?

The gun goes off at 7:20am and the first wave of runners was off. There were three waves of entry, all around 3 minutes apart. I have self-seeded myself in the first wave so I can stalk the 3:30 pacer. My goal today is to get a BQ so anything better than 3:35:00 will be perfect - enough to squeeze into the third wave of registration. If I felt good I will try to push for a 3:30 but knowing marathons, I will make a call at 32KM.

0-5km: I placed myself well behind the 3:30 pacer. As a pacer myself ironically I don’t really like to follow the pacer, but I like to stalk the pacer. In a race I find it less draining when I am in my own world. Some people like to follow one from the start but I prefer to run on my own for any race greater than 10Ks. The start felt great and I stayed with my race plan of cruising through the first 14km. It felt as if I was moving through slow motion, so I know I am in a good place. There was a drink station very early on at around 3km, so as a rule I stopped and walked through. Most people at this stage will run through but I thought – if my race plan is to walk through every station then I will stick to it. 
5km split: 25:05

6-10km: At this point I have started to get into a comfortable rhythm. I continue with my “walk the entire drink station strip” strategy, as much as I wanted to just run pass it. The crowd is still relatively thick due to the narrowness of the course at this point but I have started to overtake people. My average pace has slowly picked up to an average of 4:58min/k.
10km Split: 24:54

11-15km: As we head to the turn this body of mine decided to finally fully warmed up. Wakey wakey. As I turn I saw my running bestie around 500 metres behind me. Wonder if he will catch up…
15km split: 24:53
16-20km: Soon after the turn I am also starting to hear my friends on the right side calling my name. It was a weird as I can only hear them but it felt like a distant echo. Later on over lunch they said they were slightly worried as I was looking a bit grumpy and was so far away from the 3:30 balloons. I must have my racing b*tch face on…(the photos from marathon-photos have confirmed my suspicions). Pace wise I have kept it well and stayed at an even 4:58 average.
20km split: 24:48
21-25km: As we head away from the Esplanade, I am enjoying the most comfortable segment. I think it is because the gels finally kicked in (already taken two and reaching out for a third). At this point everything felt beautiful, my average pace has hit 4:57 and I even got a chance to glance at the beach on my right. However, a couple of Ks after passing the half way mark my mind and legs have started to wander...
25km split: 24:58
26-30km: I am starting to feel my hammies! But I kept going and did what I was doing many Ks before. Run and then walk the entire strip of the water station. Around this point runners run past the finish at Anzac park. It was kind of good that we are on the farther side so we cannot see the finish. The commentator at the tower called out my club's name "Here comes another Sydney Strider visiting the Gold Coast". His voice gets repeated over the next speaker so it was kind of funny. 
30K split: 24:58
31-35km: I was getting tired (duh!) and my legs are starting to feel stiff. I knew it wasn't the wall but it was just sheer fatigue. Oh dig deep dig deep I muttered... The pain will pass. My mind was starting to fall asleep and suddenly I heard my two friends from my paddling past called out my name! (They have long finished their Half). My mind suddenly woken up and then next moment I can see the refreshment station.
35K split: 25.49
36-40km: I am still running fine but forcing myself to take more time to walk through the entire drink station strip.
40K split: 26:01
41-42.2km: I had to take a drink at the last drink station. I chucked some cold water on my legs and face to wake myself up. It was strangely welcoming...! I can also feel my hamstrings twitch from fatigue. I forced myself to walk 20 steps every 300 meters. My pace has now dropped to 5:01/km which means I will finish at a 3:32.

And I did. Once we passed the finish I headed over to the railings on the right side and quietly sobbed. Plus I wanted to rest my poor fatigued legs before heading over to the shirt and medal stand. I don't know how long I squatted down there, but a kind volunteer unscrew the lid of a bottle of water and handed it to me when I finally stood up.

I am happy with the result, not only it is a personal best time by almost 17 minutes but also a Boston Qualifier by a more than 7 minutes. It should be sufficient to qualify.

And so we all achieved personal best times.

Back in our apartment where we used our sunny window sill to dry our Endura-drenched shoes and bib...

p.s. I saw this banner on the next day. We noticed a "3" was stuck on the "5". I really like how they reused this banner...

The Gold Coast Marathon Race Expo 2016

Hello from the Gold Coast and welcome to the Gold Coast Marathon expo 2016. We made our way to Broadbeach convention centre (the last stop on the 777 bus (left)) to collect our bibs and bobs. It was an interesting experience at the race bib collection area. I might have queued at a line happened to be manned by a particularly grumpy lady. I was collecting the bibs for two of my other friends, and she demanded that I show her proof that they want me to collect their bibs! Perhaps it was the rule or something but I have never had anyone demanding such documentation. Lucky for me my friends did email/message so politely to collect their bibs on their behalf...

The most ironic thing was - she didn't check my ID when I collect my own bib. Now that is confusing.

Anyway, moving on to the next part of the expo is to collect our Pace our Race Bands and safety pins for our bibs:

   

We had to present our QR codes that came through our registration for the band. Once we find that, scan and a band comes out. Personally I don't use the band but it is a nice reading for me to calm my nerves before the race. It becomes more of a souvenir for me.

   

Straight after the Asics sponsored Pace Band counter is the Asics counter with lots of Asics stuff for sale. Personally I find their stuff fairly average...and prices way above average.We got to taste what we will be given to drink on course tomorrow. Endura. I tried that pineapple one which they labelled it will be the race drink...It tasted like diluted cough syrup. I hope they won't serve this flavour...

This wall was my favourite part of the expo. This was where they placed everyone's name, in alphabetical order, onto the banner. It wasn't too difficult to spot mine. We were meant to find our name, and I am glad they have lined up all our names in alphabetical order.

The expo overall is not too bad. It's fairly basic and does the job. There are some good stores and some good bargains (e.g. I saw some race belts for $10 and bottles for $3). I wasn't keen to buy anything as I can only do a carry-on bag, but it is a potential haven for bargain hunters.

Afterward we made a beeline to our apartment at the Q1 on Surfers Paradise. (my review is here) It was the tallest building in Australia at one stage, but now it is only the tallest on Surfers. Nice apartment with lots of natural light which I liked. The Pool is nice too, but it's really just for the eyes only. Unless, of course, you would like to give the 'ice bucket' challenge a go, hotel pool style.

The weather is expected to be a pleasant 10C tomorrow. I am glad. Everything has gone right so far so I believe tomorrow will be no exception.

 

Happy new running year and my shot at a BQ

Chomping a macaron outside Marie Antoinette's place

After the Berlin Marathon and the obligatory post-race post-mortem brouhahas, the natural next question is: what’s next love?
I have a myriad of possible races I could do, but, what do I really want? During my stay at Paris after Berlin, thinking about my race plan over a macaron…naturally…I thought – you know what? Let’s give Boston a shot! It is the next "big" marathon out of the big 6 if you rank them alphabetically....!

I will need to improve by a minimum of 15 minutes from my Gold Coast PB. Is that even possible?

Let me finish my macaron first…

I have no plan of attack. I have heard speedwork will make you faster, but  I have no clue of what they mean. To improve of my current marathon time of 3:49 I will need to reduce around 35 seconds per KM over the course of the marathon. I have no idea how to achieve that. I know how to run more, but clueless otherwise.
Over a catch up with my running buddies one fine day at our regular club runs, my good friend G heard my desire to get a Boston qualifier, and my cluelessness in achieving it.  “You should get a coach if you can afford it.”
That has led me back to a while ago when I had some running analysis done earlier in the year (the dude said I am a bad runner because my quads are out of proportionally large ha ha!). He also mentioned I should get coaching if I want to improve. And so a coach it is.

And so I signed up to a coach to train towards a BQ started in late October, about a month after Berlin. My first session with him was a shock to the system. It was on a boiling 40C day (the hottest October in 2015!) and Mr Coach said “we will do a 5K tempo run around the oval”. Oval? 5K? at 5min pace? 40C day? I wanted to faint before he even finished explaining the workout. 10 laps later I was down to walking speed so he just told me to finish this lap and move on. It was shocking in every way possible. But I was determine to make it happen.

Fast forward to Patriots' Day on 18 April 2016…

    

I have a very good friend who currently resides in Boston, and I always fancy visiting her as well as a desire check out what Harvard is like. Running marathons has given me an extra incentive to go travelling. Knowing that I am keen to run Boston, she venture out to the side line on race day 2016, and took some snaps of the leading man (centre and right) and woman (left). The lady wasn't leading until mile 20 (I think!). I like her grittiness.

After thanking her for her photos, my Boston friend replied: “See you in 2017 :-)”

My interval running buddies

By then I am around 6 months deep in the training phases with those 30K long runs and speedwork. As I reside too far to training with the squad on a regular basic, I invited some of my local running friends to join me during my weekly interval sessions (photo on the right) . They happily obliged, and were especially enthusiastic with the hill sessions…NOT! It was fun doing intervals with them, not only for our weekly catch ups but also taking the sheer pain in doing speedwork. It was also nice to be speaking to other human as opposed to just me and nothingness at 5AM. Usually it is just me and the occasional bird and unleashed dog.

And so now I am waiting at the airport lounge waiting to board my flight to the Gold Coast – in 24 hours time I will know whether all these training was able to get me to where I want to be.

Race reviews and upcoming races **updated 5 JULY 2016**

Okay folks, here's the latest race reviews!

I have also added races that I will do soon, so I will add more race reviews as I run them!

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Upcoming races:

20 November 2016

Stromlo 10K

https://www.stromlorunningfestival.com.au/

It's the lastest trend in hill training - run on Hills. I plan to hit these nasty hills again in November.

18 September 2016

Sydney Half marathon - 2H Pacer

www.sydneyrunningfestival.com.au/

Pacing the 2H bus again. I like this race. Nice views. The crowd not so much. The dodge GPS signal - not so much either. But it's a nice race and I like the harbour views.

14 August 2016
City 2 Surf

http://www.city2surf.com.au/

Well I registered - again. Not my favourite race but the atmosphere and the sheer volume of people is electrifying! 

Red group again - and of course it will be crowded, just a faster crowd...! This time I will give sub 65 a shot.

10 July 2016

Sydney Harbour 10K/5K

http://www.sydneyharbour10k.com.au/

I like to pace the 5K group which is mostly made up of single digit youngsters and future Olympians.

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Completed races:

3 July 2016

Gold Coast Airport Marathon

http://goldcoastmarathon.com.au/

I gave this race another go and got BQ with 7 minutes and a bit to spare. Nice...! (and it was a 17 minutes PB).
GC is also a nice holiday destination, and the best Hurricane out of all its franchises. I also like the beaches and resort swimming pools there, even though I don't intend to be swimming or sunbathing at this time of the year when the water is sub-10C.
Race expo is here.
Race report is here.
Food review is here.

15 May 2016

SMH Half Marathon

http://www.smhhalfmarathon.com.au/

Once upon a time ago this was my first half marathon...when the route was still two laps around the city somewhere. How time has changed!
I finally attempted this run properly. This time around I actually trained for it and managed a 1:40 - a 6 minute PB.
It was a good test of my fitness and yes I am way fitter than I was 12 months ago!

10 April 2016

Canberra Half Marathon - 2H Pacer

http://www.runningfestival.com.au/

I've decided to ditch my Canberra marathon racing dream and pace the half marathon this year. I love the 2 hour group - it's a massive running milestone! The joy on runners's faces as they pass through the finish chute in 1:59...how could I say no to pacing this group again! On the right is is a photo of me with my group. From memory most of them hang on and came in under 2 hours.

22 November 2015

Stromlo Running Festival 

http://www.stromlorunningfestival.com.au/event.aspx?e=2

So I finish my year on "fake" trail (or so I was told). I have decided to do the 10k option and I did smash those hills under an hour. I felt good at the first 2-3ks and thought I can breeze in under 50 minutes, but once those hills became a reality my legs felt the reality. Yes, I am out of training! After piling on some extra pounds from Berlin kebabs and bread I think it's time to shed some pounds and rebuild my fitness.
It was a fabulous run otherwise. Love it and will definitely be back in 2016. Here is "Deeks" De Castello - the dude that won Boston so many years ago. He created this race and also bakes healthy bread in Canberra.

1 November 2015

The Sun Herald Summer Starter

http://www.summerstarter.com.au

I was only a 5km@25min pacer for this race. Just for fun, and it was fun! I was pacing the next generation of race machines and those kids really making us adults look like snails. It's a fast and flat course. Not very crowded and you can easily smash a PB here and get a placing! Had I remembered my bib I would have been 9th female (well, pacers don't count, but you got the gist!). Here is me pacing a future gun runner.

29 September 2015

Berlin marathon

www.bmw-berlin-marathon.com/en/

I didn’t achieve a PB as I have hoped, but it was a Marathon Major and I was very proud at finishing it. I don’t find the race that crowded to be honest – I think it has to do with the group you allocate yourself into. I was in the 3:30 crowd so I had a good “traffic” flow.

9 August 2015
City 2 Surf

http://www.city2surf.com.au/

I never liked this run. I mean, never. But somehow I kept getting roped to do it every year with the tagline "it's gonna be FUN and it's ONLY 14Ks"

Well so I entered, partly because I qualified into the red group and yes, I nailed a sub70.

26 July 2015

M7 Westlink Half marathon

https://regonline.activeeurope.com/builder/site/tab2.aspx?EventID=1131106

Well I won a club comp so I'm in. Just the half. The run is stupidly undulating and its a good run if you are very serious and don't get moved by the lack of crowd support.

12 July 2015

Sydney Harbour 10K/5K

http://www.sydneyharbour10k.com.au/

First time pacing 5K @25mins. It's a bit fast for me in all honestly, but oh hell - why not...

5 July 2015

Gold Coast Airport Marathon

http://goldcoastmarathon.com.au/

In all honesty the course is not as flat as it claims to be. I would say Amsterdam is way flatter. It is a very well organised course and the atmosphere is amazing around the residential and touristy areas. It does get hot and sunny so make sure you slap on a lot of sunscreen! See my post on GCAM15 for a lengthy review.

17 May 2015

SMH Half Marathon

www.smhhalfmarathon.com.au/

Last minute filler as the half's pacer. Not sure if they had pacers before but whatevs. I haven't done this route since it became one big lap as opposed to two. The only surprise was that the route was actually quite boring compare to Blackmores or Canberra. Nice atmosphere though. It is a bit hilly and I don't mind it.

12 April 2015

Canberra Time Half Marathon

www.runningfestival.com.au/

I am delighted to be pacing 2hrs again! The crowd and the course was perfect as always. I also had a great pacing partner. Lots of fun!

I am thinking about doing the full next year so watch this space.

14 March 2015

6 Foot Track Marathon

www.sixfoot.com

I qualified on my 4:13 - hahahahahaha - sh*t time for a flat marathon but who cares - I qualified.

Check out my 3 blog entries in March on it.

It is a run that has everything thrown at you. If you qualify, do it!

31 January 2015

The Sun Run (10K)

http://www.sunrun.com.au/

My club Sydney Striders ran a competition recently and gave away tickets to this run. It will be a great opportunity for me to get into race mode and also get my legs moving a bit faster.  #gostriders

**updated - run done! This Dee Why to Manly run was quite undulating - you do start on a rather steep hill, and then you hit another kilometre of hill at the start of the 7KM...A very scenic run. Like the C2Surf minus the ridiculous crowd.

I think went too hard up the first hill....and i wasn't able to hold my pace so I did miserably at the first 5KM. From the 6th kilometre I started to feel better...

25 January 2015

Standard Charter HK Half Marathon

http://www.hkmarathon.com/

Pulled out due to training clash. Dear Sibling will be doing it on my behalf...:)

According to her the race was quite pleasant (her start was 8:45AM) - temperature was pleasant; the crowd was ok...but towards the end there were lots of people trying to cross the road in front of competitors, which caused a lot of annoyance. She also said it felt much hillier than Amsterdam, with an elevation profile of 400m+ (Amsterdam was...20m!). Overall a decent route and she is keen to do it again.

19 October 2014

TCS Amsterdam Marathon

www.tcsamsterdammarathon.nl/en/

My third marathon. First one in Europe.

Start time: 9:30AM

Route: Flat (25m), but narrow lanes. Really would help my time if I was in an earlier group. 

Temperature: around 13 degrees - it was a bit windy and rainy as I headed towards the Amstel.

Organisation: Not too bad. Drink station was very well stocked with bananas and sports drink.

Other comments: Very, very crowded if you were mid-pack like me.

21 September 2014

Blackmores Sydney Half Marathon

www.sydneyrunningfestival.com.au/

My second half pacing race

Start time: 6:15AM

Route: Undulating...you basically run the hilly bit of the marathon course (which also happens to be the most scenic!)

Temperature: 15 degrees (?) it was nice a cool in the morning

Organisation: can be improved. the KM markers were disastrous. My GPS was not also working due to the event being in the CBD (building blocking signals...) so that didn't help. (see my earlier blog entry...)

Other comments: it's not a bad Half - but I won't try to aim a PB here. Take in the view while you can. Hills at Pyrmont can be painful.

16 April 2014

Canberra Half Marathon

www.runningfestival.com.au/

My first pacing major event pacing gig

Start time: 7AM

Route: Fairly flat. Not particularly scenic but you get to see our capital at its finest.

Temperature: 15 degrees (by far has the best running temperature)

Organisation: No bad - in fast it was quite good. My only complain is the drinks station - for some reason their water tasted like chlorine!!! I was feeling sick from dehydration at the end...

Other comments: The half also runs concurrently with the full and ultra. This year they made conscious change so that the others don't get annoyed with us "Half". Small crowd so you are guaranteed a clear run.

16 February 2014

Standard Charter HK Marathon

http://www.hkmarathon.com/

This was my second marathon. It's was so bad I just had to do it again - ok - fine - the real incentive is a nice participation prize is you complete the course under 3:30 ok? i.e. there is hope for us mortals!

Start time: 6:05AM

Route: Very undulating (800m+). Some flats toward the end. Route is very uninspiring - runners essentially running up and down highway flyovers and tunnels. Strong crosswind as you cross Ching Ma bridge.

Temperature: Cool but humid (90% humidity!) Gets stifling in the tunnel.

Organisation: By far the best organisation in every possible way. Great baggage drop off -pick up. Ample amount of drink stations. Friendly volunteers along the highway (no one else is allowed on the highway to cheer runners on, so the water station volunteers did an amazing job)

Other comments: Not a fast route. You also run into the half marathoners towards the end so they might affect your pacing a bit.

20 September 2013

Blackmores Sydney Marathon

www.sydneyrunningfestival.com.au/

This marathon will always be special. It was my first marathon!

Start time: around 7AM

Route: Undulating (400m+). Flat around Centennial Park. First 15KM is amazingly scenic, but boring up to 30K(around Centennial Park, especially seeing faster runners running towards you...in some figure 8 routing...). As the route approaches Hyde Park, it opens to all people (at around 30K) - so you might run into unsuspecting pedestrians. 

Organisation: Ok, but road markers need work. Ran out of GU for us back of the packers.

Temperature: Quite hot if you are doing around 4:30 onwards

Other comments: Not the fastest route, but can be fast due to wide road and a small field (around 2500 people)

And that's a wrap for now!

Just a cute photo of my pooch with fruit...

Berlin Marathon 2015 review

It wasn't a bad effort. I crawled back at 3:53, the 1898th person to return.

But man, I was disappointed at how I was unable to enjoy the run at all (well - from 35km I felt better but of course it was a bit late!). It was after all an overseas marathon and enjoyment should be the primary goal, and the entire time, I was biting my lips wishing to be curled up in the medics tent.

On the way to the start of the start line to the clothing drop off...

I knew deep down this marathon effort will be doomed from the night before the race, where I had stomach cramps and visiting the loo more times than normal. Stupid gastro! I tried to keep my fluids up but I knew it was too late.

Anyhoo morning comes and I felt dizzy. I tried to stay positive but it's a bit difficult. 

It was a long congested walk from the entry gate to drop my clothes off...why do they placed the female clothing drop off section all the way down the back I do not know...my number section was down even further back.

Obviously we were all late and the Germans seem to have been lax with their timing today (all clothes need to be dropped off by 0830 according to the brochure). All the girls in my section were petrified they cannot drop their clothes off as we all passed 0830.

On the way to the start line I was looking for the toilet. There are simply not enough loos to cater for 40,000 desperate butts out there. Well, there were bushes so everyone, my butt included, just went au naturelle. Note to self: don't step into the bushes in the Tiergarten.

And the gun went off and the speedy elites shot off. I was in the E group so I was amongst some very speedy mortals. I felt slightly better now but still feeling ridiculously dizzy. Well I told myself I am here so I had to do it.

The atmosphere was really wonderful throughout the course. The crowd cheered and kids high-fived everyone. To the crowds, I must have look like I want to conk out, so they called my name and cheered me on throughout. At 5km I saw a fellow club mate and chatted to him for around 10 minutes. Eventually I hung back saying that his pace was too fast for me. The guy said he hasn't run in two months! But he looked good and looked in a good sub 3:40 form.

I saw him again around 15km at a drink station and I told him I am behind pace and I want to curl up and die...he said he was feeling the same too.

My pace was around 5:20min/k from 10km but by the time 30km hits it has dropped to 5:29min/k. My first goal of a triumphant 3:44 finish went down the drain faster than I can flush the loo and an equalled GC effort of 3:49 went just as quickly. At 30km I was just hoping to maintain the same average pace and take it home a sub-4 Hours. I had to walk a few times along the way too...20 steps each time just to reduce that cramping feeling, in addition to my normal water station walk.

One interesting addition to the drink station beverage norm was iced tea. Yes - the Berlin Marathon serves iced tea. I think they were available twice and it was such a welcoming fluid. I downed at least two cups at each station. They were so tasty...

I first saw the 3:30 bus flew by me around 20km...that's them near the finish.

At around 35km I started to feel better, probably from drinking iced tea.  Of course by that time I am too tired to pick up the pace. My poor butt was doing its best to keep me moving...my calves and quads are dead but knowing that I am going to finish and pick my medal soon, my spirit has suddenly lifted and I did my best and managed to maintain the same pace.

By the time I got to the Brandenberg gate at 3:51, Mom has already left the spectator area thinking she missed me after telling her I shouldn't be worse than GC! Unfortunately I was 4 minutes slower and according to her that is when she left for the Family Reunion Area. Oh well.

I am still quite pleased with my gallant effort. If this is the worst that could happen then it's still pretty good stuff. I haven't figured out why I was getting what I got but maybe because I had dodgy water? Food? Koffee? Coconut water? Cramp wise quite possibly my form is still poor or just the need for more stretching and speed work. Something to work on :-)

I ended up engraving my medal. At the time I was a bit upset about the finish time but when I saw the engraving stand on the way out I go...that would make a great story to tell one day. Mom felt my dilemma so she said: "Here is 10 euros – go and get your medal engraved and be proud!”

So that's a wrap! Hope you've enjoyed reading my review while I finish off my beer and breztel!!!

Berlin inline skate marathon

The Berlin marathon festival runs over the entire weekend, with Saturday featuring races for kinders and also an inline skate championship. I really looked forward to spectate the inline skating and it did not disappoint at all.

These guys finish the marathon distance in less than an hour. I think a new record was set today too (will confirm later).