Not junk

I had cause to check something in my junk mail folder last night and realised that it was more than two months since I last reviewed it. I discovered a number of emails that should not have been in it. Although I will reply to them, they add to the number that I have outstanding.

A real tear jerker

It was a little earlier than this last night that I learned about the passing of Ian Turnbull. I didn't put anything on the website until this afternoon when I saw that another site had commented upon the loss. I've got a lot more to say about Ian, and I hope that a few people will share their memories of him on the forum. But while I have just been hunting for more pictures of him I found this one, that set me off.

I appear to be inches away from finishing my first ever Parish Walk in 1976, and a few of you know that special feeling, and I am being watched by (among others) Kevin Madigan (orange top), Ian (red stripe) and Dennis Lace (cap). Sadly all three have now departed. On the right is the winner, John Cannell, who notched up the first of his record breaking six finishes a little earlier that morning.

No time to blog

I've been doing quite a few things on the website this week and planning a few more. And with other family matters it has given me little time to actually explain what I have been doing.

But I have been chilling out for the last half hour, crikey I've just noticed the time, and watched one of my own videos. I think that the film of the 2008 End to End Mountain Bike race, which has had just under 10,000 views, is a lot better than the one from the previous year with more than twice as many. Its the first time I have watched it for about a year.

Here it is:

Marathon report on isleofman.com

Have just found this report of the marathon through a Google report:

http://www.isleofman.com/News/article.aspx?article=28239&area=

Good things to say about Manx Marathon

I seem to run the Manx Marathon every other year. Today was my fourth but it compares with 11 in London. I used to be worried about running in the summer and, before I started running in the early morning, I found it harder to fit the training in during the summer because of my weekend job looking after our holiday cottage.

Its brilliantly organised from the personal responses you receive from Christine Bathgate, the number of marshals en route and Jane Kennaugh's expansive buffet. Its also a real race - the small field means you identify the runners around you there are not just thousands and thousands. The course is neither easy not over the top and there is a great atmosphere at the finish.

I can still understand the reasons why some athletes prefer the big city races for the scale and the sights but its a lot easier here for the locals to drive to the start on the day of the race and have the rest of the weekend as normal, unlike the 2 to 3 days required to run a city centre marathon.

Perhaps a start line would improve the image or maybe the atmosphere is partly driven by the laid back nature of such things.

The number of awards as a ratio to those taking part must be higher than in any other event.

How not to run a marathon

Steve Cain caught me on film between 21 and 22 miles just before I was caught in the lead of the Salclear Isle of Man Marathon.

My plan for the marathon had always been to run a decent time but in as controlled way as possible so that my recovery was quick and I could move onto my more serious marathon of the year in the autumn. I had run it in this way in 2006 and 2008. I failed in a big way this year and got everything wrong.

I took the early lead but, given the variety of gradients I didn't think I had gone too fast. After about three miles Graham Hedger started to ease ahead and I ran with clubmate Nigel Armstrong with Ian Mcilwee tucked in behind us. So far so good. At five miles I was about 50 seconds down on where I had been 2 years ago. But Nigel started to up the pace and he dragged me with him a bit even though I let him go at about 7 miles. I lost about 10 seconds at the 10 mile drink station when I couldn't find my drink and that let Ian steal a few yards on me. I worked hard into Ramsey to try and reduce the gap but they were really putting the hammer down.

I went through half way in 1.23.00 which was too quick. But I went through half way in London in 1.23.16 so if I just steadied myself I should have been still on course for a sub 2.50 time. Instead, because I realised that I was pulling Nigel and Ian back a bit, I put the boot in and flew past recording my fastest mile of the race in mile 16 - a slightly uphill section into a slight headwind. I was rapidly catching Graham up the hill into Bride, closed him down in the descent and decided to push on.

By now I on was on sub 2.45 pace. I had definitely not eased down enough to achieve that even I am capable of it at all. But I continued using too much energy reaching 20 miles in 2.05.50. Rather than listening to my body I was still going for glory and things finally caught up with me by 24 miles. You can see from the split times below that I was reduced to a crawl and I took a few steps of walking here and there. Thanks to some of the half marathon athletes though, Mo Cox in particular, who shouted out me to keep going when I was tempted to take the easy option.

Yes, I am pleased that I kept going and yes I am pleased to win the Manx title for the third time in five years. Clearly I wouldn't have beaten Ian (I only got ahead because of my rash pace) but I should have run under 2.50.

Marathon running is all about consistent use of energy. Today I consistently made mistakes - I knew I should not have been so confident.

Worried about not being worried

You know what athletes are like - they are not happy unless they are having a good moan!

Well, since about Tuesday I have been feeling quite good and its been worrying me! I should be going into a race telling everybody about all the things that are wrong with me. I feel better this morning because my left hamstring feels a bit tight so I have my excuse.

I've said all along that I was not easing down for the Manx Marathon - the Amsterdam in October is my aim. But as you get closer you start to think "suppose this is the last one I ever do" and I have had a quieter week than planned. I did start with a hard 22 miler 7 days ago - in fact it seems strange not to be running at this time of the day on a Sunday.

Good luck to everyone taking part today. The weather looks great.