My 2006 Gold Coast Airport Marathon
By Margreet Dietz
As you suggested, I tried to visualise the race in the last
couple of weeks but found it hard to do. I had been thinking
more about this race than I was aware. It has been on my mind
probably already since I first did the Gold Coast marathon in
2003. My time then, which was 3:24, was a PB by some 45 mins
even though I also stopped a lot in the final 8km because my
quads were so sore. So I was pretty sure I could go faster than
3: 24.
Somehow 3:15 was the magic number but seeing that this was
pretty close to some the finishing times of a couple of female
running friends who are much better runners than I am, it also
seemed unrealistic. But that was the time I had in mind some six
months ago when I decided to do the 2006 Gold Coast marathon.
That was my dream time, the sort of `if I have a perfect race
than maybe I can do it'-time. But in the last two months as the
result of your training program became very apparent with a 10k
and a half marathon PB, I just knew I could do it.
So the final five weeks leading up to the marathon it became
more of a `I will do it' goal (though there were still the
moments of doubts as I am sure you have noticed in some of my
emails). I am pretty sure I thought about the race and my
goal briefly every day.
The last couple of days before the race I just couldn’t think
about it any more. I felt there was nothing left to think about.
I had done all the work, I was healthy and was feeling good so
all I could do was give it my best shot.
On Saturday especially I just wanted the race to start. (It was
very inspirational to see all these amazing famous marathoners
the day before the race during your motivational talk: I am sure
I wasn’t the only one who was extremely impressed all these
people got together to talk to us!)
I didn’t feel nervous though I was feeling a bit mixed. On the
one hand I knew I could achieve sub-3:15. On the other hand I
also knew that it wouldn’t be easy and that you haven't done it
until you cross that finish line.
Starting with the pace group of John and Jeff was comforting. I
did take every km split, though, to make sure I was happy with
the pace. The first km was a bit slow as we had to zigzag
through some other runners but after that the splits were almost
all sub-4:37. While I felt comfortable, I also hoped it wasn’t
too fast because I had just only thought about running 4:37kms.
I stuck with the back pacer, Jeff, and decided that even though
it was a few seconds per km faster than I had anticipated and
that it was a bit of a scramble at the aid stations, it was
really nice to just make sure you see that red balloon and the
3:15 sign bouncing around ahead of you.
I repeated a million times my `relax and achieve the max’-mantra
because I couldn’t help having the thought that 3:15 takes quite
a bit of effort. I felt it was quite hot between 10 and 15km or
so.
After 54 mins of running, I took a gel. I had a total of 8 gels
during the race and took some water at every aid station except
the first one.
In each of the five marathons I have run, my quads have always
been extremely sore. In the 2003 Gold Coast one they were
already quite sore by the time I passed 25km so I kept thinking
I wonder when that will happen today. But amazingly I still felt
good when we passed the 32km sign. I decided to run a bit ahead
of Jeff and ran in between the two pacers until 34km.
We were on the homestretch. Given that I still felt okay I
decided I would speed up slightly and latch onto John's group.
I slowly caught up to them by 35km and felt fantastic
until 37km. I stopped taking km splits at 36km because by then I
was pretty sure I would make it sub 3:15 and needed all my
energy to focus on running. Then it all became a bit sore and
tight.
John was fantastic. He just kept talking and saying just the
right things. I needed all my energy and willpower to stay with
him and the others because I knew if I would give in just a
little bit it would be so much harder on my own.
I was smiling and feeling very emotional during the last km.
Even though I had felt confident I could do it, you just forget
how difficult a marathon is until you do the next one and feel
those final 5-7kms.
My official time is 3:13:02 and I still can't quite believe it.
I thanked both John and Jeff after finishing because they were
both amazing and made such a huge difference, especially John's
motivational talking in those final kms.
I wanted to thank you in person but you were obviously talking
people across the line. So thanks Pat, I have never felt better
in a marathon even though it is a PB of 11 mins and 21 secs!!!!
It is the most amazing feeling and I still have to pinch myself
that I actually ran that time.
I am very, very inspired to stay on your program and feel quite
committed to improve my running further.
Margreet Dietz
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