Miles 0-20

Feeling good. Legs were happy to chug along at 7:25 minute miles. Running with the tight 3:15 pacer pack of around 10 was a massive psychological boost. Took a gel at around the 10k mark, then another at 13.1, along with an accidental Maurten at a water station. Made a mental note not to overdo the energy intake. Noticed a few runners dropped off and disappeared by Hampton Court.

Miles 20-24

Departing from Hampton Court Palace, I felt slightly tired. Not enough to cause alarm as I was still keeping up with the pacer - but I was questioning as to whether I could hold on for another 6.2 miles. My mouth was a bit gammy, which I interpreted as not having drank enough water. I tried two Clif Caffeine Bloks which didn’t give me the chewy sensation that the good old Rountree Fruit Gums gave me in training miles. Each water station stop I did was sloppy also, clumsily slowing down to grab paper cups and careful not to spill the contents. I felt panicked for a good few minutes after each water station in fact. I did these miles behind a guy wearing a gilet and very pungent body odour.

Miles 24-26

Fatigue setting in. Struggling to hold it together. Most of the pack we started with had disappeared behind us, and all that was left was the pacer, a guy in a white shirt and another guy with a hydration vest. Thought to myself that maybe it wasn’t the day for 3:15, and that I’ll still get a good time if I drop off now. This was subsequently rebuffed with the feeling that seeing the pacer run ahead into the distance would be a crappy way to end the marathon, so I kept with him. I debated whether or not to take another gel, but decided that at this point I will just try and hold on, as it was buried deep in my running belt and I was too mentally fatigued to find it and open it.

Landing forefoot now triggered some muscle spasms in my calves. These were the pains that could easily end my 3:15 attempt, so I attempted to avoid planting my foot too much on the front. I took special care when descending small ramps not to trigger the spasms. I wonder if this was down to general fatigue, muscular imbalance, not enough salt or water.

Miles 26-26.2

The final turn onto the finishing line made me jump into fight mode, and I summoned whatever energy I had to run to the finish in form. It wasn’t a full out sprint, but I was certainly passing a lot of people in the final few hundred meters. Crossed the line in 3:15:18. Very happy!