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On the Bank Holiday Monday on 6th May, a record-breaking number of runners with a massive 5,000+ runners dashing around the usually quiet town of Milton Keynes across the 3 different races of Marathon (over 2,000), Half Marathon (over 2,500), Corporate Relay 10K (over 500). It was cold early in the morning just under 10oC – perfect temperature for running. What a difference does a year make! Last year during the London Marathon it was 29oC (the hottest ever recorded in the London Marathon’s history) and a week later during the Milton Keynes Marathon it was even hotter with 31oC. So, with the very cool weather this year, I was hoping not to repeat the disastrous time of 5 hours 45 minutes I got last year.
Although I was blessed with the cool and dry weather, I still had a mixed feeling about it. This was due to not enough long-distance training as a result of a nasty chest infection which lasted nearly 3 weeks. I already felt I wasn’t in a PB shape. There was no way I could smash my 2014 record of 4 hours 28 minutes in Milton Keynes. On the other hand, I tried to be positive and take advantage of the favourable weather. I set on my GPS watch my fastest threshold of 10 minute/mile and my slowest threshold of 11 and half minute/mile. If I ran faster than 10 minute/mile, my watch would beep and vibrate. If I ran slower than 11.5 minute/mile, my watch would beep and vibrate twice. If I didn’t pick up my pace after half a minute, my watch would beep and vibrate again. During the first half of the race, my watch was quiet. It was a good sign. It meant that I was running the pace between my fast and slow thresholds. For sub 11 minute/mile, I would be able to finish under 5 hours. I crossed the halfway mark in 2 hours 19 minutes. I was still within the window of my sub 5 hours target. Then my watch started get really noisy because my pace dropped to over 11.5 minute/mile particularly during the uphill. I started getting a bit nervous that if I let my pace slip to over 12 minute/mile, I could easily go over 5 hours finishing time. Having not done enough long run training over the last few months had already taken the toll. My legs were very stiff and sore by mile 16. I took my own isotonic gels every other mile from mile 8 onward. By mile 18, I had to grab more gels provided by the organiser to fuel body further. From mile 18 onward, I took one gel every mile until mile 25. I worked out I had taken a total of 14 gels!!! My legs were tightening, and my pace continued to drop during the uphill.
Luckily, the last 6 miles are mostly downhills and I managed to pick up my pace to under 11 minute/mile. By mile 22, I was on 4 hours 3 minutes and I was still within my goal pace as I’d got 57 minutes to finish 4.2 miles to get sub 5 hours. Despite my legs which were already shattered, I pushed on. When I turned into the MK Dons Stadium for the last 400 yards, my legs had turned to jelly. All I could remember was that I was just dragging my legs to cross the finish line. I finished in 4:50’06”. I was happy I had managed to get nearly 10 minutes below my 5 hours target. The crowds were great along the last few miles and the atmosphere was fantastic at the stadium. It was a great race.
John was already waiting for me at the grand stand. He finished his half marathon distance in 2 hours 40 minutes. He took a video of me crossing the finish line and you can see how exhausted I was in this short video:
If you don’t get the London Marathon place through the public ballot and unable to raise £2,500 to get a charity place, you can’t go wrong with choosing to enter the Milton Keynes Marathon or Half Marathon. It operates on first-come-first-served basis. The route is very spacious with zero congestion. OK, it is hillier than London Marathon, but this is the only downside I can think of.
I hope to go back next year and if so, it will be my 7th Milton Keynes Marathon.