4:04:49

I think I've now just about recovered enough after Sunday's race to compose a short message!

I completed the Sussex Marathon in a time of 4:04:49 (see results page), which I was very pleased with, considering the course!

The day started early (porridge at 6:30) with perfect conditions for running: dry, clear and cool. There was an excited hum around the start line and we were off! The first 10k loop was fairly picturesque, and not too challenging, other than a reasonably steep downhill towards The Powder Mills. The course wound back round towards Battle and past Battle Abbey, before heading back to the start, where the first fuel/drink station awaited (banana/Mars Bars/Haribo/Sport Drink/Coke/Water)... By this time, we had all settled into a rhythm and began to head out on the first of the two 10-mile long spurs. It was clear from the start that it was going to get tough as soon as we headed out toward Penhurst, a long and winding downhill inevitably would lead to an uphill slog, not to mention the knowledge that we would be doomed to repeat those hills...and then do it all again once more. Eventually the road led to Ashburnham and the turn around point, once again a rather cruel and steep downhill turning into a cruel and steep uphill after a swig of water.

I didn't have any major mishaps along the way, despite rather seriously stubbing my toe on a large traffic cone after about 16 miles (I have the bruised toenail to prove it), the marshals even deftly directed us across the traffic a few times.

When it got tough, I thought of what my mum had been through, and all the kind donations people had given and pushed on.

By the time I was on the second return leg, my hips were threatening to seize up entirely, and my legs had turned to jelly, my knees to dust on the steep downhills and there was still the last big hill to go. My run had turned to a jog, then a trot, then a shuffle until it slowed to a limp for a couple of hundred metres or so. As the 24-mile sign appeared, I vowed to struggle on and up the pace.

As I neared the top of the hill, I thought I was in danger of coming in under 4 hours, which buoyed my spirits some, but this would have required a superhuman effort over the last couple of miles, and I no longer had the strength. I somehow managed to carry on, pressing toward the finish. As the end came into sight, my spirits were lifted by the sight of my partner and family awaiting me, and after a swift high five, my nieces joined me for the run across the line. I barely managed to protest as one of the marshals asked my niece whether she'd like to "give daddy his medal", and nearly toppled over as my legs tried to adjust to staying still after all that time.

There was nothing for it but a sit down, and later a bath, roast lamb, beer and a curry (I had burned over 2,800 calories!).

When I finally managed to get the data from my watch, I realised that there was 674m of ascent in this race, which explained the torture! I will probably look to do another marathon in future, but perhaps a flatter one (for comparison, London only has 189m over its course!).
o
Thanks for everyone who has given so far, for those who wish to do so, please visit my justgiving page.

2011 Sussex Marathon

24 hours to go!

Tomorrow is the big day! I've been enjoying tapering my training; my last long run was 'only' 10 miles and I took Tuesday night's Valley Striders session very easy.

Donations have been coming in thick and fast,  you've donated over £300 so far, so thanks to everyone! My target is £500, so we'll see how it goes.

We arrived in Sussex yesterday and today is a rest day before the race. There are reminders of the event everywhere, like the signs above for miles around, articles in the local press etc! Quite an exciting time, and weird to think that by this time tomorrow it should nearly be over.... But before the big day, 500 runners need to collect numbers, and get those all-important carbs in.

Please keep donating at www.justgiving.com/mhmarathon2011, come and cheer me on if you can or tweet using hashtag #mhmarathon2011 (I'm @mikerhiggins by the way).

Thanks for your support!

Why I'm Supporting The Stroke Association

I'm running the Sussex Marathon on 3 April 2011 for my mum.

Last year, she suffered a TIA, a Transient Ischaemic Attack or mini-stroke. It was quite a scary thing, a fleeting moment that left her confused, and worried us all. It took a few months and many tests before doctors could even positively confirm what happened, but it's a relief that it wasn't more serious and that she is feeling better.

I am raising money for The Stroke Association.

In 2009/10 The Stroke Association spent approximately £2.6 million on a wide range of vital research covering stroke prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, stroke support and service provision. The Stroke Association also supports training for doctors to specialise in stroke care, and training for nurses and therapists to pursue careers in stroke research.

The Association's ability to support such research depends entirely on its fundraising success, including legacy donations. Such gifts are essential to enable them to find out more about what causes stroke, how to prevent and treat stroke, and to provide services for the hundreds of thousands of people whose lives are shattered by stroke each year.

I've only set myself a small target (£500), but every penny The Stroke Association receive in donations is crucial. Please visit my justgiving page and donate what you can.

Thank you.

Estimated final Sussex Marathon Route

Getting closer...

The day is nearly upon me. I've been trying to get as much training in as possible, which has not been easy with a new job and trips to Scotland and Sussex to squeeze in, but I've somehow managed it. Today's long run was 20 miles, which brings me up the mileage I needed to be ready for the Marathon, which is now only 2 weeks away. It's an exciting time, to say the least, but I will confess that I am also more than a little bit scared. When I posted the Estimated Provisional Course a little while ago, I had a look at the course, and didn't think it seemed that bad. However, I was down in Sussex the week before last, and took the opportunity to drive around part of the course...and it scared the life out of me. It seemed to be 26 miles of constant steep uphills and downhills, and this meant seriously downgrading my expectations; I was now hoping to complete the course, rather than aim for a particular time.


In the last few days, however, there have been a couple of small boosts to my morale, the first being the Final Course Map being posted online, which has reduced the scale of the course somewhat, and perhaps cut it down to more manageable levels (for example, the final 3k are no longer a continuous uphill, rising sharply for the final few metres)! I feel a little more positive as a result, to say the least. The second boost has been receiving my fundraising pack from my chosen charity, The Stroke Association. They have sent me sponsorship forms and a natty running vest, which I shall be pinning to the back of my Valley Striders vest.


Most importantly now, as the date draws ever closer, I am looking for your help. Please donate some money to help a great cause at www.justgiving.com/mhmarathon2011 (as I write the total stands at just £20), and please send me tweets of encouragement to get me through the next 2 weeks (#mhmarathon2011).

Right now, I need all the help I can get!

One foot in front of the other

Well, since my last proper update I have survived the Brass Monkey Half Marathon in a reasonably respectable time, and I now have my justgiving page set up.

I hadn't run a half marathon since the 2008 Hastings Half, which I ran in a sliver over 2 hours, so I really didn't know what to expect. My best time ever was at the Leeds Half Marathon 2007, which I did in 1:51.27, and I knew the Brass Monkey course was fast, and that I was doubtless better trained than I had been previously. When training for this race, I knew that I was coming back from illness, and that I needed to set myself a reasonable time, so I calculated an estimated time from a previous parkrun: 1:45. This seemed like a reasonable goal, and one I could achieve by running 5 minute kilometres, which seemed a very sustainable pace on my training runs.

When race day arrived, it seemed there was a real buzz, and I found myself starting further forward than I anticipated. When the gun went off, there was a real surge from the other runners, and I found myself going much faster than anticipated for the first few kilometres. I finally settled down into a pace that was slightly faster than my target pace, but a manageable one. The course was very flat, aside from a couple of bridges near the start/end, and it seemed everyone was speeding by as I tried to stick to a steady pace. I decided I would review my pace at the 6-mile mark, and when it came around, I decided to up my pace to around 4:40min/km and review at around 9 miles. After an hour, and a much-needed handful of jelly beans I was still feeling strong, and began to pass the people who had overtaken me earlier in the race. Again, I switched up a gear, and sped up to around 4:30/km, and felt I was still going strong. I felt reassured that I still had some energy in my legs to finish strong. By the time we arrived in Bishopthorpe, I was going for around 4:20/km, way above my target pace, and the finish was almost in sight. By the time we entered the racecourse, I was flying, and managed a sprint finish! My time was 1:37:41, which I was really pleased with, and gave me the reassurance that my training had been going well!

So training continues unabated, and the date for my marathon comes ever closer. One thing spurring me on is the launch of my justgiving page, on which I am raising funds for my chosen charity, The Stroke Association, more on which to come. I have set myself a modest target, which I hope will be achievable with your help.