Brighton Marathon - 10th April 2011

I DID IT!!!!!

I planned to complete in 4:20 and actually completed in 4:21.
Thank you to everyone who supported me with donations to the charity, sent e-mails, texts, phone calls etc. I am so privileged to have such support.
It was a very hot day with temperatures reaching 23 degrees celsius. 15,000 registered & 8,000 actually ran as many had given up due to injuries & hot weather on the day. I finished 3,339 th. Not bad for a first marathon. Many ran the first half fast and paid for it. I would have run past almost a thousand runners on the 2nd half.
You can see from my times that I ran pretty much the same pace all the way finishing with the fastest mile time on the last mile.

The route

At mile 13 waving at Chitrani & co.

My support group consisting of Chitrani, Aaron, Jerushan & Rathini & Mohan who came all the way from London to spend the day with us.

L ro R: Jerushan, Chitrani, me, Aaron & Rathini

Mohan - who did a great job with the camera.

A special mention to my wife, Chitrani, who did so much for me since I started training in September 2010. I could not have done it without you & our father in heaven.

A final bit of video taken by my son Aaron...

That's it... all done.

Day before Marathon... Pasta party @ Kym's place..

Back row L to R: Mohan, Dave, Jamie, Bob, Erik & Nigel
Front Row L to R: Sarah, Kym, Sarah & Debbie

Everyone who were at the pasta party. 9th April 2011

Week 29. Runs = 2. Total = 11.36 Miles

11.36 miles! Pah! Penultimate week!

So far I have run almost 500 miles over 85 hours as part of my of training!!!

I asked a guy who had run 40 marathons (yes 40!) for some advice. He said..
1. Enjoy your run!
2. Don't run fast at the start.
He said that a lot of people will overtake me at the start but I will overtake 100's at the final stages...
Well I am aiming for 4 hours & 20 minutes. So I plan to run 10 minute miles all the way.

Cake for Ambassadors

Couple of runs & a swim. Ran some intervals @ hove park on Wednesday. 2 minutes fast & 1 minute rest. I was surprised how many people were running! Got together with some friends I run with and did a lovely run in Shoreham - 6 miles. It felt as though it finished before it started!!

Oh today (Sunday) is mother's day. I got my wife, Chitrani some presents & cooked lunch. I put too much pepper.... Ouch!

Chitrani, Moi, Jerushan & Aaron enjoying my "mother's" day lunch!

Week 28. Runs = 2. Total = 17 Miles

Got my number! Yeah!

Just a 10 miler this week & some interval work again. Everything feels right. Thank God.


Went to see the Marathon group before their training run. Here are some pictures...

The nice thing about the Marathon training is that you get to meet lots of nice people. Some of them are special.... like Sarah who has been so encouraging & supportive right the way through. Every encounter with her has been so positive. She is so gracious too & makes you feel so important. She is part of the team that organises the Marathon & they are BUSY!

Then you get someone like Steve..... totally dedicated to help people train & always has time for you. Steve joined the training runs in spite of an ankle injury!! I have learnt so much from these two. Oh BTW they are great runners too.

Sarah & Steve

These are the rest of the ambassadors. They devote so much of their time helping organise the training runs & running with us.

The Ambassadors

Also, me with Dave & Jonathan.... Great guys.

So.... two weeks to go!

Week 27. Runs = 3. Total = 30.5 Miles

So its "ramping down" period. Having run my longest last week it was a "mere" 15 miles this week!! However I ran it at a faster pace than I normally do. 9:18 miles per minute. I was fine with this pace.

My interval training sessions have helped.  I do 4,  one mile intervals with a half mile rest in-between. I have been running these 1 miles at 7:40 pace. The intention is to do all 4 intervals at the same speed and I have been able to achieve it. So thats good.

Have been using the "foam roller". It was recommended to me by the gym instructor & a physiotherapist. Apparently this really massages the muscles & makes the muscles supple. Here are some pictures of the various exercises.

Week 26. Runs = 4. Total = 41 Miles

I always wanted to  do a 22 mile run & did it today in 3:45. The furthest I have ever run! I could not have left it any later as there are only 27 days left before the marathon! So now I have the stamina (i've done a 19 mile & a 20 mile in addition to this) so need to concentrate on being able to run 10 minutes miles to reach my target of 4:30. Time will tell.

I ran the Brighton Marathon training group's route a day earlier as it was a very interesting one.  I was surprised to see Sarah (Brighton Marathon organisation) & Steve (Marathon trainer) checking out the route in the bicycles! Here is the route I ran.

I promised to write a bit about Carbo loading. Well running anaerobically using glycogen is the most efficient way of using energy. So before a run & after a run its important to carboload. Select food that have a high Glycogen index to benefit more.

I also bought a pair of "Skins" they are supposed to help reduce the build up of lactic acid in your body by reducing the vibration on the muscles. I felt great running in them although they cost the earth to buy!!

Week 25. Runs = 1. Total = 20.06 Miles.

I ran another "my longest run ever" today. 20 miles! Thats 3:38 minutes of non stop running!

Since my Flu I have been going to the gym to do some interval training. So no road running before my long run.

Today's 20 mile route

Some TLC after the run ;)

I have been looking at how the body uses energy to fuel my body. I have learnt why its better for the body to use Glycogen reserves as opposed to fat. I have learnt how to run the long practice runs and why people hit the wall. More next week.....

Week 24. Runs = 0. BANG! FLU!!!!

Man flu. Have been in bed most of this week. Temperature, sore throat, chest infection, difficulty breathing... you name it I had it. So once again no training this week. It is frustrating - frustrating that every time I get myself back something happens.

BUT BUT BUT....

Its OK! There are people with more serious issues... like Chitrani's classmate. She was diagnosed with a form of cancer that causes huge tumours to grow all over her body. They have removed one of her eyes and the other eye is now closed due to another one on her face. They cannot operate.. So she is blind. She said that she is just living for her 3 children... so that they can console themselves that they have a mother. She is mostly in bed. She said she spends her time crying most days.
When Chitrani told her about my BIG PROBLEM i.e My chest infection.. she gave Chitrani a home remedy recipe and asked her to cut the call short and go make my remedy!!!

So who am I to complain eh? I thought I's better SHUT UP and get back to running when my body allows me to do so...

So friends I am thankful that I can still run the marathon.

Week 23. Runs = 2. Total = 27.56 Miles.

Moi, Jerushan, Birthday Girl & Aaron

As Chitrani's birthday was on Sunday (20th Feb) I decided to do my long run on the Saturday. So Jamie, Sarah & I set out at 7am. It was raining, cold & windy. Ran all the way to Worthing along the seafront. Man it was horrible. Even with ear protectors I felt very cold. It took me about a couple of minutes just to put my gloves back on. Sarah decided it was enough for her somewhere between 10 & 11 miles and Jamie & I did a longer run. By the time we finished it was 19.3 miles in total. It took me 3.18 hrs!!. The only other run for the week was an 8 miler with hills.

Interesting comparing pace over two long runs

Week 22. Runs = 1. Total = 18.31 Miles.

My longest run ever...
Due to my injury I was not able to do any running this week. Went straight into the big Brighton Marathon training Sunday run. It was 18.3 miles. I really started to feel it at the 14 mile mark. Not only did the 10 minute mile pack catch me up but easily passed me and at the end I could not even see them in the distance!! THIS IS NOT THE WAY TO DO IT MOHAN!

Interesting to see the miles per minute times my Garmin recorded for me.

Week 21. Runs = 4. Total = 17.75 Miles. Ouch again!

Ran to work & back on two days but on the Friday run back home I extended the run to just under 9 miles. I was running with a heavy backpack. Half way through the run I started getting a pain in the achilles area. So unfortunately I had to miss the long Sunday practice run. Gutted!

Source: www.achillestendon.com

Causes of Achilles Tendon Injury Achilles tendon injuries can be caused by: overuse, misalignment, improper footwear, medication side effects, and/or accidents. Multiple causes often contribute to the same Achilles tendon injury. For example: a sudden increase in hill climbing, worn out shoes, and weak or tight calf muscles could all contribute to Achilles tendinosis and Achilles tendonitis.

Week 20. Runs = 8. Total = 47.17 Miles

The longest combined distance in a week. The largest number of runs in a week.

Running to and back from work helped the number of run totals ;).

Today's Marathon training run was a long one too... 16 miles. It was a beautiful morning and we ran along the river.

So all in all a "Marathon week" of running. My ankle was fine and I am so happy about this.

Sarah & me after the run

I feel absolutely tired. Just spoke with Sarah who did her longest run today. She said that she has to descend sideways down the steps!! Sarah's knee was fine too.

Weekly stats from my Garmin!

Ran the last half with a young girl called Cathy. She overtook us earlier but was suffering a bit towards the end. So when I caught up with her we ran together doing 10 minute miles. She was very pleased to have finished the run.

I made an energy drink... Recipe on an earlier blog

Week 19. Runs = 2. Total = 9 Miles

First two runs after a 3 week rest due to injury. I didn't push it or for that matter run for too long. My foot felt fine so need to slowly get back into running again.

Sarah @ the Brighton Marathon group needs a special mention as she has been so encouraging and kept in touch regularly via e-mail. Thank you Sarah. You are a true ambassador for the Brighton Marathon.

So two runs, a three mile & a six mile.

Just about to run to work... my first run after injury

Week 18. Rest week 2

My ankle is much better but I realise I have to rest. I have been swimming 3 times a week so this hopefully will do me some good. I have already missed 2 sunday marathon training runs. But this injury has made me think.... think about getting this marathon training into context...

So I will resume and do my best but this will not be the most important thing I will be doing. Things like time with the family, having time for others are much greater... much much greater...

Thats it!

Week 17. Ouch.

After 16 long weeks of training I got injured on the very first Sunday of 2011. I sensed a small niggle whilst I was running but did not think much of it. After the run on my way to the car I felt the pain. In fact when I took my first step I almost fell over! I could not even press the clutch to engage gear whilst driving home.

Chitrani took me to A&E and they confirmed - after an X-ray - that no bones were broken. Relief!
The purple arrow indicates injury point.

Some tender loving care in the kitchen...

So its many many "ouches" this week.... :(

Week 16. Runs = 3. Total = 33.83 (Miles)

Ran a Half Marathon last Monday followed by a 8 mile run on Saturday & a 12 mile today. Bad news is that I have hurt my left foot badly and can hardly walk on it. Quite upset by it.

Received my first 2 lots of donations today. From Phil Nolan & Mahesh Bhat - both former colleagues of mine.

Got a Garmin 310XT for Christmas!! This will replace my old Garmin 301.

Today's route was hilly & got my heart rate going...