Zurich Marathon: 3hrs 36mins 39secs

So I finally got the monkey off my back and completed my home town marathon.

The weather was perfect, overcast morning with no wind and 13 degrees. What wasn’t so perfect was my lack of preparation, so I had no idea how I was going to run. NOt only had I missed several weeks, I was still get over a bad chest and had “puffing” twice a day for a fortnight on my inhaler. I had also blown up on my last long run at mile 16 so anything could happen.

Anyway, I was committed and I wanted to “tick the box”.

I set off at reasonable 7:45 pace and got to half way in 1:43 but by 25km my thighs were tightening up and the back ache really kicked in. I had to walk and stretch through a few water stations.

I shared with last 6 miles with another English guy (Sam from Southampton) running his first marathon who was also suffering with cramp. We pulled each other through and that really sums up with spirit of the marathon. Two miles out on Bahnhoffstrasse I saw Jasmine and the kids which gave me the little extra boost I needed.

This one hurt like hell and was a sober reminder that if you want a good time you have to put the miles in training, if you don’t you will pay on the day.

The after race Guinness was very welcome.