Southdowns Marathon 2011 - Race Report

I had thought that a sub 4hr run on this course would be a good effort, but would see how I felt on the day as I had never run quicker than 4:12. Admittedly, I always tend to do this race as a training run for other things so this does give some insight into why 4:12 was the best effort as yet.
The journey to QE Country Park was very straight forward and once parked up near the finish area made my way to the coach which takes us to the start over in Slindon. The amusing thing is that the coach drivers usually take a couple of attempts to find the start at Slindon, but this year the driver found it first go.
Had a good chat with a runner called Blades (yes, this is his name), who was doing this race for the first time, he asked if I had done many Mara's, after I said I had, and listed a few he was asking for a few pointers, which I did my best to answer. He was an interesting bloke, works in the City, lived in New York for 15yrs etc so was good to talk to. He is aiming to do the NDW 50miler in August to celebrate his 50th b-day, I may also be doing this race, so said I would look out for him.
When I got to the start area I had a wonder round and found Ian Berry (Pacer from Brighton Mara) and we had a quick catch up and discussed our amazing offer for November from Darris and Star (CLIF Bar Pace Team organisers) as well as his 4 Marathons in 24hrs event next weekend (copying my ideas!).




Ian Berry (who ran a very impressive 3hrs29)

 


Just before the start with all the other runners

 I knew within 2 mins of the start that to-day was going to be a good run, 7.15pace felt fine and before I knew it there was only me and 2 other runners from the early start setting the pace. A serpentine runner was slowly going away and was too quick for me, on the first long climb I went past the 2nd placed runner who was breathing pretty hard and I didn't see him again. From here on I ran pretty hard and maintained my posistion to the first CP and up the hill that follows, I then stopped to take a quick picture on the BIG 2nd hill and was overtaken by the runner who had been just behind me for the last 4miles.



Great Views

 My speed on the flats and downhill sections I was pleased with, but having not done much in the way of big hills for a while I did struggle on the ups (and there are plenty on this course!) But having a little walk on the big climbs did allow me to a) take pictues and b) admire the amazing views over the downs and c) catch my breath, the views and the really good course is why this is one of my favourite events.

I had forgotten how many small steep climbs there are in the last few miles, I had somehow convinced myself it was relatively easy over the last few miles (should know better having run it twice before).


No one in sight - Might have gone off a bit quicker than
the other early start runners.

  
I knew I was on for a good time fairly early on in this race, but just how good was going to be decided over the last few miles. I tried to keep up with the relay runners who were running the last section as this would ensure I didn't slow down too much, although some of them were too quick for me at this stage of the race.

The last mile or so is slightly downhill, which is good, and I had a good run against a relay runner along this last mile or so, he was putting in an effort and I was matching it (well most of the time). Into the last 1/4m and you head into the woods for a little bit more trail to the finish, and it was here that I managed to get ahead and keep pushing for the finish.

Yet another BIG hill

A bit more effort over the last 100m or so and across the line in 3hrs37mins, which is a 35min PB for this course. Very, very happy with that and as per normal ran this off the back of a normal training week (no taper). I think I also scraped home in 48th place out of the Marathon runners, which is great.

So next year if I am fit and well I suppose I will be looking at trying for a sub 3:30 time, but one things for sure it wont be easy, as this is a tough Marathon, but a very enjoyable one. 



At the finish, with my mate Ryan who had run
2 legs of the relay.

Southdowns Marathon tomorrow

I am looking forward to the Southdowns Marathon tomorrow, it is one of my favourite races. It has great scenery, a tough course with 5500ft+ of climb, it is on trails, the organisers (2:09 Events) do a great job and the goodybag is really good (has a Salomon tech t-shirt among other things).
A few runners I know are running tomorrow, so if I am lucky I may see a couple of the runners who were Pacers at the Brighton Mara and a couple of other runners I have run with during Ultras, so hope to have a quick catch up before the race.
I have never tried to run this event really hard, and never gone under 4hrs in the last 2yrs I have run it, however, with the Classic Qtr Ultra in 2 weeks time, I may need to take things a little easier than a full out blast, but will see how I feel in the morning.