tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13273897.post5814574531717437790..comments2024-02-06T10:16:40.971+00:00Comments on Diary of a Rubbish Marathon Runner: The "A" RaceThomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07802380462713592586noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13273897.post-79527307285015161662014-08-10T23:34:50.851+01:002014-08-10T23:34:50.851+01:00awesome, thomas. many congrats. martyawesome, thomas. many congrats. martyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13273897.post-32101338966123158562014-08-06T17:18:03.329+01:002014-08-06T17:18:03.329+01:00That makes more sense w.r.t time of "4 hr&quo...That makes more sense w.r.t time of "4 hr" splits, I suspected it might be the case but didn't know the precise time of start.<br /><br />Interesting response to taking caffeine and ended up going too fast subsequently. I took caffeine during the West Highland Way Race but took it as part of an electrolyte drink, with just 60mg of Caffeine per 330ml drink. I think I drank around 5 or 6 of these through the day so will have a more subtle but even hit from Caffeine through the race. <br /><br />I suspect that going too hard for any section will lead to double hit of possible slow down later - when we run harder we burn through glycogen stores quicker and build up fatigue quicker, and we also slow down digestion which means less fluids and energy are digested and dispensed into the blood stream and liver. If you keep stuffing in fluids and solids food quicker than you are digesting it then gastric stress is just around the corner.<br /><br />For these long ultras where we are running relatively slowly the margin for digesting food whilst moving should be wider so in theory we should be able to eat and drink more without problems, but this is likely to be tempered by the increasing levels of cortisol and adrenaline through the race that will likely hamper digestion. This is just speculation though... I haven't ever seen an scientific study of ultras that covered these issues...<br /><br />As for 2nd place, you were so close to 2nd and 3rd that small tweaks in pacing/eating/drinking and mental state/focus would have put you in contention. It sure would have made for a even more exciting finish with 3 runners all racing right up to minute. In situations like these you'd hope to be able to put in a clear gap and maintain it as sprinting for the finish has to be painful even if it would be super exciting for the crowds.Robert Osfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16960356368117573952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13273897.post-64669167319055952822014-08-03T13:27:17.039+01:002014-08-03T13:27:17.039+01:00The time on the printout says 23:32, 4:47 into the...The time on the printout says 23:32, 4:47 into the race, so the start was not as fast as you might have thought (150 miles pace instead of 180).<br /><br />I did run a bit too hard around the halfway mark, after taking caffeine. I subsequently ran out of energy at the 23 hours mark. Slightly better pacing might have given me second place instead of fourth, but that's impossible to say for sure.<br /><br />Anyway, I had decided to go for it, and have no regrets. Sometimes you just need to take risks.Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802380462713592586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13273897.post-26305413765310394002014-07-29T11:24:17.443+01:002014-07-29T11:24:17.443+01:00Great stuff Thomas, followed race progress via twi...Great stuff Thomas, followed race progress via twitter feed and was very happy to see you achieve your goal.<br /><br />One of the twitter posts on the 4hr results was a bit of a concern though - doing 30+miles in 4 hours gave the illusion that several runners were pacing themselves for a 180+ mile 24hr race, and that included you! <br /><br /> https://twitter.com/energia24/status/490265900218867712<br /><br />Perhaps the twitter snapshot was done a bit later than 4hrs but if not it does suggest many runners started out a bit too fast. One can't predict how much faster one might have gone with more even pacing but for sure that level of discomfort in the second half of the race will have been directly related to this relatively quick start.<br /><br />The good news it that pacing an area you can easily improve upon for your next 24 hr race, and it's now inevitable you'll have to do a few more as your country/countries need you!! :-) Robert Osfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16960356368117573952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13273897.post-16879805537695935812014-07-28T13:24:12.243+01:002014-07-28T13:24:12.243+01:00Unbelievable achievement, Thomas, congratulations!...Unbelievable achievement, Thomas, congratulations! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13273897.post-24191890348670782362014-07-27T14:51:26.255+01:002014-07-27T14:51:26.255+01:00Well done Thomas. Can't wait for the book!Well done Thomas. Can't wait for the book!Trying to runhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18259498798524185264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13273897.post-8315919090025808172014-07-27T10:30:50.246+01:002014-07-27T10:30:50.246+01:00Amazing performance - you're a hero!Amazing performance - you're a hero!TokyoRacerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10293712044402763377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13273897.post-39859765705104255632014-07-27T04:15:18.796+01:002014-07-27T04:15:18.796+01:00Wow.
Just WOW! Wow. <br /><br />Just WOW! Bronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17918419392714537159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13273897.post-80560634870088473842014-07-26T15:14:52.594+01:002014-07-26T15:14:52.594+01:00(Hardly) never ever doubted you'd achieve your...(Hardly) never ever doubted you'd achieve your goal. Seriously well done after a long focused training programme... Just goes to prove that if the work is done the rewards will come. Brendanbriceyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06537061506035169437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13273897.post-7069265206516689162014-07-25T16:18:23.593+01:002014-07-25T16:18:23.593+01:00Superb running accomplishment Thomas, excellent re...Superb running accomplishment Thomas, excellent read as always. Best of luck with recovery and going forward with future running goals.Shane James Whittyhttp://www.whitford.ienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13273897.post-43022671613144480042014-07-25T13:02:10.842+01:002014-07-25T13:02:10.842+01:00Well done Thomas and enjoy your break now with the...Well done Thomas and enjoy your break now with the family. Your report does a good job of bringing out the mental aspect of these races - All in the head as Br. Colum (David Rudisha's coach) would say. <br /><br />I'd seen Jan Uzik in my neck of the woods over the past year and his economy of movement alays impressed me. Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05739196746383254321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13273897.post-16240853297871756012014-07-25T07:04:26.161+01:002014-07-25T07:04:26.161+01:00Good report Thomas. You could probably estimate yo...Good report Thomas. You could probably estimate your 100 mile time a bit closer than 16 hours 15 minutes going off the lap times and rough speed you were running at the time.Ewenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01093209634556111656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13273897.post-25814839246423302052014-07-24T21:00:03.723+01:002014-07-24T21:00:03.723+01:00Very impressive. And another great read - congrat...Very impressive. And another great read - congratulations!Kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13647087003740791714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13273897.post-25090287404606965642014-07-24T09:30:03.637+01:002014-07-24T09:30:03.637+01:00Savage stuff altogether man.(and that's just t...Savage stuff altogether man.(and that's just the race report) Really epic- unreal running stuff. To think when you started blogging and running all those years ago you would have the natural talent and ability and capacity to take you this far.The rest of us can only dream. Plenty of recovery now<br />CathalAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com