London Marathon 2005 - My story contd By Fergus Malone

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By the time I returned, I was bored with running. I found it difficult to do the long runs. From my readings the major school of thought for marathon training holds that you don't have to do big runs each time you run (if training 3 days, 4 days, 5 days...) but rather lots of short runs, i.e. 25 - 45 mins, with one long run a week, increasing the mileage of the long run gradually, .e.g. 10 miles, 12, 14, 17, 19, 22 over a period of months. Still, I would at least try and put in 4 days on the treadmill even if that meant two of the runs were only 20 minutes.

Unfortunately, I had a few niggly injuries, busted toe, and an old hip injury which has come back to haunt me. That meant the longest run I did before the big day was 16 miles on the road with my running partner and that was only three weeks ago. My original goal was to get up to 22 miles but for the last 8 weeks my hip has been giving me jip. I abandoned my 19 mile run two weeks ago at 12 miles. My hip was really hurting. I couldn't risk a major injury before the race. Not such a bad idea as the running literature demands that you reduce training radically in the last 3 weeks before the marathon. I was having real doubts about being able to run the 26 miles and decided beforehand if things were unbearable I would stop and walk. Further, in light of this years training, injuries etc., 4hrs 30 seemed a more realistic finish time.

The big day

Not much sleep the night before. Three shredded wheat for breakfast! Weather forecast - cold and rain but no, it was sunny, warm and bright. Me and my running partner arrived in Greenwich Park for the start. Nervous? Yes!! I went to the loo about 4 times in the preceding 20 minutes and lost my running partner in the process. Ah well, with thousands of people everywhere, what could I do? As I waited for the start in a pen full of runners, the bloke standing next to me did a Paula Radcliffe on the road (i.e. took a piss on the road directly in front of him).

No time to go to the toilet with the clock counting down. People stared in fascination not disgust.

9.45am - the starting-gun went. We were off. Within 500 metres from the start line I heard shouts of: Go, Fergus, go! I was a little bewildered hearing my name as I couldn't recall inviting anyone to watch the start. Then it dawned on me that I had followed advice and written my name on the front of my shirt in big letters. This advice turned out to be very sound.

Wherever, I ran people shouted my name over and over. Momentarily, I had grandiose ideas that a larger section of the enormous public, and enormously supportive public, had turned out to see me! The atmosphere was amazing. At 8 miles I was struggling, but carried on. As I went over Tower Bridge (12 + miles) the crowds were massive. I hit the halfway mark in 1 hour 49. A Sub-four hour time crossed my mind if I could just keep going.

At sixteen I was in pain but my speed was good. I stopped to move my hip - it was hurting. After a 30 second stop to stretch, I ran on. God, I was tired. My body and mind were telling me to stop. I just kept saying to myself, no, just carry on. Then shortly after a couple of swigs of lucozade (complimentary on the route at about 3 or 4 mile intervals) and some energy gel (which I carried myself), I got a rush and everything was alright again for half a mile or so.

The further I went, the bigger the crowds became. There was nowhere to hide if you stopped. The crowds urged you on.

Still, the further I ran, the more I came across runners who had stopped to walk. Then 10 minutes later the odd one would pass me. At 18 miles I was knackered but ok. I thought I would take it two miles at a time rather than a countdown of 8. I knew if I stopped to walk it was unlikely that I would get started again, so I just carried on. At 21 miles the timer read 3hrs 2 mins.

Just over 5 miles to go. Sub four hours was looking achievable. At 23 miles I so wanted to stop but continued. The sun was bearing down on us. Water stands are every mile and a swig or two is a must particularly in the heat.

There are showers en route which you can run through to cool down. I took that opportunity at 23 miles. When I reached 25 miles I knew I could run to the end. I did.

On Pall Mall I picked up the pace, waved at the crowd and could hear cries of Go Fergus, Go Fergus, Go Fergus. My mood lifted to elation. I was in my element. My finish time - 3hrs 50, 35 seconds. I was very pleased with myself!! I found my running partner an hour later. His race hadn't been so good. Do it again? It's a killer, but yes! I ran to raise money for the Free Representation Unit.

The Free Representation Unit (FRU) is a charity dedicated to the provision of free legal representation to those who cannot afford paid legal representation, before Tribunals in the Greater London area where legal-aid is unavailable. Founded in 1972, FRU is one of the country's foremost providers of free legal service.

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