re: London Marathon Done!

Well after months of training, injuries & struggle the day came & went pretty quickly!

It was a really good day a bit of rain at the start before we all set off but the weather was favourable, although I think it topped around 18-19 deg.

Ran the first half comfortably but was boxed in with people loads of the time & rarely had chance to run a free speed without weaving & dodging people & I was aware that I had to save some energy for the end!

Second half pace dropped off slightly & miles 21-25 were really tough physically, I wanted to maintain pace but I just couldn't manage it so I settled for trying to achieve just under 10min miles & that was maintainable until the end, hopefully though if I do it again I will train harder so that I can run an even or negative second half split & if that happened I could get a 3:40 finish without too much trauma!

I have exceeded my fundraising target so it has been worth all of the effort from me & those around me to promote the marathon & fundraise so thank you to all of those poeple!

I will be entering the ballot on the 4th of May for next year so hope to run it in 2011!

Ian

Final Update!

Well this time in one week it should be all over, well I hope so anyway! Been a reasonable last 2 weeks, done a reduced training schedule including a 12 mile run last weekend lots of gym sessions inbetween, some smaller runs & a 7 mile run in my race kit today with & a 1:45 ride out on my bike too!

A couple of visits to the gym planned for this week but lots of rest hopefully before the big day, the amount of rest will depend on the amount of volcano ash in the air by the looks of it!!

In general my training has gone OK, I have had though my fair share of injuries the highlights include major IT band in the left knee, slight IT band problems on the right knee, both Achilles strained & lots of minor aches & pains around the ankle & lower leg inc some minor shin splints! Hopefully now though I will be fit for the day! Bring it on

Fundraising has gone OK & I really hope to hit my target on or just after the race itself, www.justgiving.com/ian-kelly

Lets hope it is dry next sunday but not as warm as it was today!

Ian

progress..........

Well it's been a couple of weeks since my last update as I have been really busy with training & work.

Thankfully training has been going really well, did some running in Dortmund, some good 1 hour up tempo runs during the week & have been down the gym quite a few times in the last few weeks as a bonus. I have now completed my last long distance training run & managed just under 24 miles in 3:35 on bank hol monday. Many thanks to Emma who dragged herself out of bed v early on her Bank Holiday to come with me for my last long run on her bike & well done for powering up those hills!

The last long run was good & it gives me confidence to go into my taper period knowing that I comfortably ran just under 24 miles in training! Hopefully on the day with a bit of R&R I will be able to run slightly faster than I have in training but we will see, lets hope so!

I am really really glad to now finally enter the taper phase of training & I am going to back off a little to give my body chance to recover & repair so I will be raring to go on the day, 2 weeks this Sunday OMG!!

Still planning a 13 mile run this weekend, a few gym sessions & I will get out on the mountain bike but it will be a relaxed schedule!

Still looking for extra donations to hit the target, please donate @ www.justgiving.com/ian-kelly

Here is the route over the last run!