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Heavyweight
1450 Posts |
 Posted - 14 Oct 2008 : 10:56:33 AM
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Eindhoven Half Marathon
We were flying out Saturday morning and staying at a Stansted hotel the evening before, so we had a quick gym/swim/sauna before getting off for an early night. In the morning it was just a 2 minute stroll to the terminal for a hassle free getaway, this really beats the hassle of driving up on the day & all the kerfuffle of long-stay car-parks and not expensive as 4 days parking was included with the hotel.
Lots of evidence in Eindhoven that there was a marathon this weekend, and shortly after we arrived we went to the marathon expo. Which was bigger & more centrally located than last year. I still needed to register and slightly oddly you could still register for the full marathon, which some people were doing, I wonder how that works – you wake up one morning and think hmmm “I’ll run a marathon tomorrow” . We wandered round for a bit collecting free stuff and looking at kit (lots of orange stuff) but only bought a few socks. The rest of the day was taken up by shopping, eating, more shopping and then off to stay with OHs sister for the night.
We were back in Eindhoven Sunday morning just after the full marathon had started and we wandered out to the PSV stadium (14km) to wait for the leaders to come by which they did in around 40 minutes looking scarily fast and almost completely effortless. A large contingent of Kenyans were running who were to fill the top ten places.
We ambled back to the start & then on to the station to meet J’s club-mate who J was going to pace round (her first half marathon). Then back to the expo to collect their numbers (people were still registering) and on to the start. The changing point and baggage storage was an underground car-park, which worked very well & must be brilliant if the weather is bad. J & her friend had found a whole load of club-mates so I wandered off to the start by myself.
The start was in 3 waves, starting 5 minutes apart. I think it was Championship, companies (relay runners), then recreational runners (such a better word than ‘fun’ runners). I was in the 3rd wave & tried to position myself appropriately - but it’s quite hard to guesstimate where to stand within a group of around 6,000 runners, maybe I started a little too far back as I certainly passed loads of people in the early stages.
Waiting in the pens was probably the least favourite part of the day & is the downside of larger events – the time on your feet you have to spend before the race starts. I was there 40 minutes beforehand & the pen was already too crowded to sit down and inevitably the sun now came out and the temperature went up to the low 20s.
There is a saying that only a fool keeps on doing the same thing and expects a different outcome. So I foolishly (although I prefer optimistically) set out at around 5 minute/km pace with the aim of finishing around 1:45 and it all felt comfortable at the beginning. I missed the first km marker - but the splits to 7km were quite even – and the first 1/3 of the run left me feeling comfortable.
9:29, 4:57 4:58 4:54 5:06 4:56
The sun was out & beating down, but a lot of the streets were tree-lined so it was possible to find some shade and the water stations were very frequent (about every 3km). Along the route there were plenty of spectators & some bands playing or sound systems playing music – which really added to the atmosphere. Occasionally there were also commentators who were geeing up the crowd & runners , I even got a shout - ‘for the Brit runner’ as I was wearing a union flag shirt, although oddly I also got shouts for ‘come on america’
The middle third was still relatively ok - but by the end I knew 1:45 was gone as I was slipping to over 5min k's – but was still happy that I would PB (less than 1:49)
7km to 14km 4:55 5:02 5:08 5:06 5:16 5:09 5:16
After 14, & passing the PSV stadium where we had been earlier, it really became hard work and I probably lost a little concentration. The route here was a little dull, although there were still a good number of spectators & I was just looking forward to the finish & trying to calculate what pace I had to go to get a small PB. The KM markers just seemed to get further apart tho & when I got to 19 I realised I had just 11 minutes to do the last 2.1km – which probably wasn’t going to happen. But the last 2km is really the best part of the race, it goes right through the main shopping streets of the city and the crowds were great, the course gets narrower and it feels very intimate running through the cheering crowds which gives you such a boost. I went past the sign for the last 500m (2:20 to get a PB) and I tried to get things going for the final straight, did my best but crossed the line in 1:49:04, 2 seconds outside a PB.
14 – 21km 5:18 5:28 5:34 5:39 5:40 4:56 6:12 (1.1km)
Collected my stuff & camera & went back to wait for J & her friend, I spotted her friend finishing in 2:15 but no J - so assumed she had gone on ahead. When I found them both later it turned out J had had a lot of trouble with her achilles and had been forced to walk for periods – finishing in 2:20, but her friend was very grateful for her support up to 14km where they parted. Celebrated finishing with some warm stroop-waffles (yum yum) and a couple of beers (even yummier) and then as we were strolling/limping back to the car heard an enormous cheer from the crowds. A phalanx of cyclists were following the last runners of the half marathon – was great to see every runner getting support.
My finishing details & videos of me around the course – an on-line version of “where’s wally”
http://evenementen.uitslagen.nl/2008/marathoneindhoven/ number 8842
And the same for J.
http://evenementen.uitslagen.nl/2008/marathoneindhoven/ number F6198
Also a few pictures of Eindhoven on the day
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v670/gooch333/eindhoven%202008/?action=view¤t=252fb306.pbr
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StephenPrice
2113 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2008 : 11:11:26 AM
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Brilliant report Dave and hard luck on the PB. At least you know you can have a decent crack at it in another event
I take it this is a flat course - is it a race you'd recommend? (it sounds like it) |
Edited by - StephenPrice on 14 Oct 2008 11:12:05 AM |
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MarkWillcocks
1275 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2008 : 11:38:26 AM
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well done David....great report.....
He who dares Rodney, he who dares. |
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Twinkle Toes
184 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2008 : 11:52:40 AM
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Great report!
And a great time in what sounded like VERY warm conditions.......!!!
Give Jeannie a hug and hope the achilles is feeling better!!!! |
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fishyweb
2310 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2008 : 12:42:53 PM
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Excellent run and report David, and well done to J as well! I'm sure you'll shave those 2 seconds, and more, off with ease very soon, after seeing your storming run at RNR!
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Steve |
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Heavyweight
1450 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2008 : 5:34:53 PM
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Thanks all. Super flat course - the only hills are two bridges & some speed bumps.
I would recommend this course & event, but having done the full marathon last year, the crowds only really come out for the half later on in the day. Was very well organised but not sure how it is for the super fast people at the front. Unfortunately I think this will always clash with GER.
J seemed to make a remarkable recovery from her achilles trouble as she managed a full day of shopping on the Monday!! |
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happytheman
154 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2008 : 8:36:14 PM
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Excellent report Dave, well done to you both.
Andy
Constructing my own reality. |
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Eindhoven Half
