Road to the Marathon of Groningen

I ran my 4th marathon in Groningen on the 31st of May!

The training

• I ran the marathon of Rotterdam just 6 weeks before this race, but really wanted to run a marathon that was organized for the first time in our own city. I started carefully training during the first week after the marathon (Wed after I could only run 2,5 km and did a total body workout on Thur and ran normally on Friday and in the weekend). I did an adapted training plan with a max long run of 25 km and switched the long runs to Wed, as I could ask my parents in law to help with the kids then.

• I noticed that I was still tired from the previous marathon and was feeling more out of it. The long run was also harder than expected but other runs went all right.

The days before

• The NL was hit by the first heat wave of the year the week before and I don't do well with the heat. I was looking at the weather forecast several times a day and thought to run 1/2 marathon if it is above 22 degrees. It turned out to be 22 degrees indeed and I decided to run the full marathon.

• 10 days before I fell on my shins, knees and hands when running back from the physio appointment. Thankfully it was a very superficial scratch but I needed to drop out one run. I also dropped 2 more runs the week before because of the heat (30 degrees!) and one due to an unexpected late shift.

The race

• I wanted to run under 4:30 but it became obvious that it is not possible as it was too warm... Wanted to go under 4:40 but needed to let that go too. Ran with 4:45 pacers, just behind them from the beginning, but needed to let them go. Was ahead and then behind 5:00 pacers after the toilet breaks, but passed them around 30 k. My total was 4:55 (incl talking with my family and 2 toilet breaks, without it my stopwatch time was 4:50).

• In the beginning after slowing down, everyone passed me but then I started to pass lots of people from 30 k.

• First part without any cloud or tree cover was really heavy, I was doubting if I can finish, as my HR 165 by 6:20 or under. I then slowed down to even 7:20 to lower the HR under 160, then was able to run at 6:40 with HR 157 or so.

• Met my family 3 times, at 27k, 38k, just before the finish line. I was extremely thankful.

• The spetactors were great, from the boerengezinnen with kids to all the people out at Eelderwolde and Onlanden, everyone with water hoses, water pistols and sponges and cups of water, and then of course all the people in the city center, Noorderplatsoen and Zernike.

• The course was divided into 3 parts: a loop to the North (Zernike-Reitdiep-out of the city-back to Zernike, then to Noorderplatsoen and to the south (Eelderwolde, Hoorsemeer, back to the city), and looping back to Zernike. Zernike has never been so far!

• Finishing with our daughter was just amazing. The best marathon finish so far!

Clothing

• Clothing: Fusion shorts, light Craft running socks, Asics Nimbus shoes (1 size up, size 40 --> no blue toe nails!), well worn Nike singlet, light cap, my running vest.

Fueling

• Took a lot of water and sports drink before as I was not feeling very well the evening before and also at night due to the warmth.

• 500 ml sports drink before, a banana, 1 gel and some water (1 h before the race, gel 15 min before)

• During the race: gel at 7, 14, 21, 28, 36 km; Dextro 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 38, 40 km; 2 l sports drink, 500 ml water and at least 10 cups of water on the way. This amount of gels was all right but so much water led to needing to go to the toilet 2x. There were also not enough toilets to be found.

Recovery

• I had a glass of water after finishing, a few sips of sports drink and a banana before biking home (home in 15 min, what a big benefit of a race closeby!). At home more sports drink and supper pretty soon, in the evening some snacking with ice-cream, bread, watermelon. I was feeling better than expected, also my legs were better than considered. Now it is the day after and I'm going on on sports drink and having had a big lunch and a dinner provided during a course I'm attending. So far so good. Seems to be that drinking and eating a lot the day of and after the marathon is the key.