Marathon 2007

May 2007::

5) I did it!

I did it! I have completed the Sheffield Half Marathon 2007!

And I did it in quite an unbelievable time considering it was my first ever competitive race - 1 hour 42 mins and 54 secs, which it turns out was even enough for 962nd place too so was within the first thousand to finish! Even better :-)

Runners' shadows

Overall I enjoyed the run and the weather I thought was pretty perfect for running.

I'd planned on running with my friend Mark the whole way around because we'd done a few training routes together in Sheffield, but I dropped back at the start because I always start quickly and so managed to successfully pace myself well over the first few miles.

Annoyingly I wasn't able to collect water at the first two drink stations as there were no full cups there ready, but I made sure I got some at the third stop past Hunters Bar - at the seven-mile mark, by sprinting ahead of the large pack in front!

I am obviously very pleased with my run. I'm absolutely delighted that not only did I manage to complete it well under my target of 2 hours but I also managed it without ever wanting to pull up and walk.

But what struck me most about the run was the effect of people at the side of the road applauding.

Andrew Burgess

I'd never really thought about it but it really does make a difference and really helps you keep going, especially when you see someone you know cheering you on! 

The atmosphere along Ecclesall Road was absolutely unbelievable as was the support through the city centre, and to run over the line with a trumpeter in the stadium playing the Rocky theme tune, it was a very fitting finish.

I'd like to thank those who turned out, especially my amazing family who made the very long trip North to see me.

Despite the tiredness that afternoon, me and Mark still made it to the pub that evening for a pint of the appropriately named "Triumph"...

Will I do another race? Probably. Will I do the Sheffield Half Marathon in 2008? We'll see...

4) 2 days to go

I'll be wearing number 1920 on the day and I'm aiming to finish within the two hour mark.

I haven't really looked at the course yet in case it puts me off! Me and my best friend are going out this afternoon to check out the course this afternoon for the first time though...

I haven't quite decided yet but I may well be wearing my green Bordeaux shirt during the race.

I'm now having to start to watch what I eat, going to bed "earlier" and stopping the snacking which is harder than I thought, so I'll be glad to get this race done!

The weather isn't exactly being nice to our predictions for what it'll be like during the race, hopefully it won't be really really hot, but whatever it is it's going to be one heck of a challenge.

3) 13 days to go

I've now moved back to the UK leaving sunny Bordeaux behind. It took all last week to organise my leaving (packing and saying my goodbyes etc), which meant that I didn't go for a run that week.

But the Sunday before (April 29, 2007) I managed to complete my training schedule and successfully ran 13.1 miles!

On your marks, get set... GO!

I ran this comfortably within two hours which was a real surprise.

I do think though that the run the week before was the breakthrough as I (somehow) managed to run 10 miles in a heat above 30C - I think it was 34C...

Needless to say I was extremely tired and dehydrated afterwards and I couldn't really move for days after that. I really hope I won't feel like that after the half marathon!

Today I felt really guilty that I hadn't been for a run since my 13.1 mile the Sunday before, so I forced myself to do a little run.

I think it was in the region of five miles which wasn't too bad, although the English weather conditions weren't (as expected I suppose) too favourable!

I hope to go for a few more runs of a similar distance during the week and one a bit longer at the weekend before really getting myself ready for the day itself, which is suddenly feeling very close!

2) 51 days to go

I jinxed myself when I said it was hot out here. It's been wet and very miserable ever since!

In a run scheduled at five miles, I had to run in the rain for the first mile, a strong head wind for the second mile, hot sun for the third and then even a spot of hail during the final part!

I've been feeling much more tired all the time and so took a few days off last week.

March 25, 2007 was very significant in terms of my training because it was the Bordeaux half marathon and 10k run.

I really wanted to enter the 10k run as I figured it would be a really useful experience, but in the end couldn't. After many emails and calling numerous numbers, I found out I needed an official certificate from the France running association and a medical certificate saying that I could run.

So in the end I decided I'd just go for my run as normal on Sunday. I ran 8.5 miles (in the drizzle) in 64 minutes - a time which I'm still amazed at.

My favourite route takes me into the heart of a nearby town, Pessac. Although this isn't a very hilly region, the first part is gradually up hill, followed by a gentle down-hill and then a steeper long climb to the finish.

I haven't changed my eating pattern much. I've always eaten plenty of salad and pasta (well I am a student!) I'm not a big drinker anyway, but I occasionally have a beer in the evenings - although never the night before I go for my big run on the Sunday.

I'm really only hoping that I'll finish the race, but any time under two hours will be amazing. Maybe something in the region of 1h 45 is realistic.

Considering I've never ran a distance such as this, if I can do it, surely anyone can!?

1) 60 days to go

I must be mad. I've always been a short-distance runner, so why am I putting myself through weeks of distance training and having to endure the heat and constant stares of the locals as I run?

I'm not sure if I;ll ever know the answer to these questions for certain, but this year I am running the Sheffield Half Marathon.

It's less than two months away. I've walked this distance before – I walk everywhere – but having to run it is just a little bit different, and I have never entered or been a part of any race of this size. It's a bit daunting.

Bordeaux

I actually don't remember the exact time when I agreed to run it with one of my university housemates; being a student I had probably had a few drinks beforehand, but whenever it was it has presented me with what is one of the biggest challenges of my life to date.

This year I'm a third year French student at Sheffield University and this is my year abroad, so I've had the "luxury" of being able to train in the South of France, which as you would expect is significantly warmer than Sheffield! I've spotted at least one lizard on each of my runs so far...

From very early in my training I saw massive improvements in my general fitness and strength. Back in January when I started, I ran two miles in 16 minutes and was in agony at the end. 13 miles seemed a long way off!

Now, it’s week eight of my training schedule and I finished last week with a 7.5 mile run in exactly an hour (and was still able to stand and breathe afterwards!)

Every Sunday, the scheduled run increases in length by one mile until it eventually reaches 13 miles.

Slowly but surely that marker is getting closer, but I still can't escape the thought that for my 13 miles training run, I will have to run from one end of Bordeaux to the other – supposedly the fifth largest city in France.

And so, I will be truly overjoyed when I cross that finish line in May, whether I manage to run the whole distance without collapsing, or crawl it, hop it or even walk it!

And I am sure that no matter how tired I'll be, I will find the energy required to make it to the nearest pub for a celebratory drink!!!

Andrew Burgess, 20