SUB-4 MATERIAL ???

Week 10 : 2/2/10 - 7/2/10

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Am I a sub-4 hour marathon runner?

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Since my first Ironman in Feb 2004, I have always wondered if I am a sub-4 material. I have ran 4 marathons but all were parts of the marathon legs of an Ironman. Best time was circa 5 hours 30 minutes.

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This week, I was to run my first ever (plain vanila) marathon. The timing of the race at Putrajaya Nite Marathon on 6/2/10 was simply perfect. I have built up to 35km on my run and was meant to run a 42km at least once before race day at Langkawi.

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Rested my running legs for most part of the week & focused on swimming.

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Sat, 6/2/10 : (p.m.) PutraJ Nite Marathon

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Race started at 8.00 p.m. Target was to go slightly under 4 hours. Was familiar with the race course, which was my usual cycling playground on weekends. Thot a nite race would be cooling but the humidity made the run tougher than the usual morning races/ runs.

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Race support was excellent with water stations every 2km. The cool sponges were particulary helpful with the humidity - I could literaly hear the hissing sound of heat evaporating as I squeezed the cold water over my head.

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Started the run EZ and found a comfortable pace shortly into a couple of kilometers. The km markers seemed to come & go very quickly. At half way mark, I thot I was flying. Maintained a good pace that felt effortless. Was actually holding back, knowing the common complaint amongst marathon runners of breaking down after 30km into the run.

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At km23, I tripped & fell. I landed hard on my left hip. Felt disorientated momentarily. Was a little confused and couldn't really figure out why I was lying on the tarmac. Immediately, the fellow runners beside me came over to see if I was alright. I extended my hands to one of them, who took them immediately to pull me up.

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One of my Felt Belt bottle fell off and was lying on the tarmac. I couldn't bend over to pick it up and the guy who gave me a pull, helped me. I thanked him, turned around and continued with my run.

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I was in trouble. The fall hurt my hip quite badly and I continued with a limp. To make things worse, my calves started to pull at about 35km. It felt like forever to finish the last 5km. Many passed me and I ended my 1st ever marathon in 4:29:something.

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Doubt I could dip under 4 hours without the fall. So, a long stinding question has been answered that night.

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Paid a visit to the first aid tent and went home in bandages.

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