
Marathon consistency. Ed Gumbley has been reflecting on missing his best time by just two seconds in Rotterdam where he ran 2:35:16. His last six off Island marathons have averaged 2:36:28
Ed’s target in Rotterdam was to run under 2 hours 30 minutes, which meant averaging 5:43 per
mile. He admits it was quite ambitious, but he felt in really good shape and thought it was possible if the conditions were good and the race went to plan.
Unfortunately it didn’t. "I was held up at the start by slower runners who were in the
wrong starting pen," he explained this week. "This meant the first couple of miles were very slow and I
wasted energy trying to pass people and was unable to choose the shortest
route. By about 5K I was able to get into my running, but spent much of
the first half of the race running by myself into a headwind, which took its
toll, until I was caught by a group of about eight runners, including one of
the elite women and her two pace-makers. I tagged onto the back of them
and this really helped and I started to feel better."
He felt that some of the damage had already been done and wondered whether perhaps he hadn’t taken in enough fluid as he started to
cramp up in the last few miles and the pace began to slip. "The last
couple of miles were very painful" he said. "But I pushed as hard as I could to the line".
Unfortunately he missed out on a personal best by just 2 seconds, running 2:35:16! After
finishing the race, both his calves cramped up and he was unable to walk, so he was
wheeled into the medical tent for a massage and told to drink plenty of sports
drink.
He was a bit frustrated to get so close to a PB, but it was
still a good time, He doesn’t think he could have done any more and considered that, on a different day
and perhaps a different course, was in shape to run faster.
For those looking to follow in his footsteps he feels that the key to this year has been consistency. "I have had a good winter and cross-country
season and put in some good mileage. I had an injury problem in March,
but had maintained my fitness through cross-training.", However, he dropped
out of the 20-mile race and felt he lacked marathon-paced long runs and tempo
training, which is something he intends to work on in future.
28-Sep-08 |
Berlin Marathon |
02:36:53
|
25-Apr-10 |
Virgin London Marathon |
02:35:14
|
25-Sep-11 |
Berlin Marathon |
02:35:38
|
20-May-12 |
Nykredit Copenhagen Marathon |
02:38:05
|
22-Jul-12 |
Microgaming Isle of Man Marathon |
02:45:08
|
21-Apr-13 |
Virgin London Marathon |
02:37:44
|
11-Aug-13 |
Microgaming Isle of Man Marathon |
02:41:46
|
13-Apr-14 |
Rotterdam Marathon |
02:35:16
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He enjoyed a well-earned holiday after the marathon, travelling around Belgium, sampling plenty of Belgian beer, chocolate, waffles
and fries! "I don’t intend to take my running too
seriously for the next month or so and just enjoy my running. My targets
for the rest of season are Race the Sun on 17th May, where I’ll be
running two legs, either the Microgaming Isle of Man marathon or half marathon in August and
perhaps the Lake Vyrnwy Half Marathon in September to hopefully run an Island
Games qualifying time."
He may also run a few 5K races and compete in the
Northern League. "I think my best chance of running a fast marathon will
be in London next year. It may not be the fastest course, but I know it
well, there’s always a great atmosphere and, since I have a championship entry,
I do not need to worry about being boxed in by slower runners."

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