The Tony Mackness Web Pages - 2009 Race Reports

The Tony Mackness Running Pages

Sunday March 9th 2009
Milton Keynes Half Marathon
Running Number 1566

Not my favourite race. The ups and downs of the subways and the sharp turns mean that you do lose valuable seconds.

A calf tear has meant that I have decided to pull out of the race. Two weeks ago during a lunchtime 5 I felt my left calf tighten up. Thankfully I was only a short distance from the end. It slowed me down, and I knew it was not just a "niggle". A visit to the physio confirmed the damage, and a week to ten day layoff. For a young twenty year old that may be the case, but a similar injury (albeit more severe) last year kept me out for four / five weeks. Only two days before I had completed my first 20 of the campaign. That has had a positive effect on me. Had I not had done that I would have been worried, and may have pushed it to make a comeback before I was ready.

With only seven weeks to go before Boston the most important thing is to focus on the marathon, and put the disappointment of missing MK and probably Ashby behind me.

Sunday March 23rd 2009
Ashby 20

WITHDRAWN

Still recovering from injury so it was the sensible option.... disapointing but Boston is the target.

*
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Monday 20th April 2009
The Boston Marthon
Running Number 7846

Due to the injury sustained on the 16th Feb, my marathon training has been less than perfect. Forced to pull out of two races and a five week lay off meaning any hopes of a competitive race have been well and truly fu**ed....
As I sit here typing this I am very disappointed that my participation in the most prestigious marathon in the world will be limited to a "get you round". I am finding it difficult to get my head into race mode as I just don't know what is going to happen on the day.
Despite getting up to a 20 mile run back in Feb, the last three weeks have been spent starting with 15 minute runs, progressing up to 10.5 miles on Friday 3rd April, where I took it nice and steady, using the strategy of time on feet is more beneficial to me at this stage than how fast I am !!

Because of a lack of long runs I do not see any need to enter into a two week taper, so am aiming to get a final "long" run in next week of about 13 miles. One thing that I am sure of, and that is my inability to run for the complete marathon, and therefore will probably have to use the Walk / Jog method assuming I can get up to 18 / 20 on the day without any calf problem.

If it is a problem after say, 10 miles, then I would have to realistically drop out.

I just hope that I can tough it out and complete in under 4 hours.

THE BOSTON MARATHON
HOPKINTON > ASHLAND > NATICK > WELLESLEY > NEWTON > BROOKLINE > BOSTON

Boston is one of the World Marathon Majors, along with London, New York, Berlin and Chicago. It is also the oldest with this years event being the 113th, and certainly regarded as the toughest.

Race day was an early start of 5am as we had to be on the bus by 6.45am for the journey to the race start at Hopkinton. Boarding the Yellow School Bus reminded me of "South Park" ! The forecast for the day was good, originally rain was predicted but by race day the rain was due to come in late afternoon, and I was certainly hoping to have finished by then.
Once I got to the staging area I sat down and prepared myself physically and mentally for the task ahead.

After a walk of half a mile I arrived at the starting corrals, and with 30 seconds to go I found myself still in the queue for the loo... which was impossible to avoid as the police were out in numbers giving tickets to anyone found not using the portaloos. I then joined corral 7 and waited for the off. One thing I noted was the lack of any Postman Pats, Rhino's or Elvis'. There are 25,000 plus club runners who have earned the right to take part, all there on merit and eager to take on the challenge that only Boston can throw at you.

The start is downhill and after about three miles I was running at 7.20 pace, which, I knew was too fast, so I reigned it in and maintained a steady 7.30 pace.

To get round in under 4 hours I broke the race into landmarks. The first was 10 miles, as in my last "long" run that was where I started to slow down. The next came at 14, which was my longest run since February, and then 18 where I thought I may start to find the going tough. After that I would take it as is came !

At 12 miles you could hear in the distance the cheers of the girls at Wellesley college about half a mile away.
Here, hundreds of young college women line the roadside giving kisses to runners, in what is known as the "scream tunnel". I did a bit of window shopping, but refused to stop...
For those planning to take advantage in the future, run on the right hand side of the road. To make sure all persuasions were catered for there were two girls at the end of the line holding "Lesbian kisses here" signs. Some people would pay good money to see that !!

The infamous Newton Hills, start at about 17.5 miles, and continue through to 21. The last one is known as "Heartbreak Hill" as this is the point where it can all go tits up !! I tried to maintain a steady pace, and over the hills I averaged 8.20 pace, and I did take a quick look back when I got to the crest of the last one.
They were not as bad as I had thought, but coming where they do, any hills are going to test you. All the training running up local highspots such as Kinwalsey Lane and Harvest Hill had stood me in good stead and I had nothing to worry about.

From here on in it was more or less downhill except for a long climb over the interstate at about 25 miles. They say that when you get to the "Citgo" sign, you have a mile to go, only problem is that you can see the sign from two miles before you get to it ! The finish was awesome. Turning the corner onto Boylston street you can see the finish line in the distance, and the roar of the crowd is deafening.

It was with only 50 yards to go I incurred the wrath of my wife Ellen. She had staked a claim to a place about 50 yards from the finish, and had been patiently waiting there since 7.30am (Marathon started at 10am) She was expecting me to stop and go over to her. When I saw her I waved and blew a kiss and carried on. Try explaining to a non runner that gold medals can be won or lost in tenths of a second. I was a man on a mission and stopping was NOT an option, I had a sub 3:30 to beat.......

At the end I was ecstatic. Usually after a race I am very critical of my performance, thinking I could have / should have done better, but not this time. I couldn't have dreamt of a better performance. In marathons there are so many things that can go wrong on the day. Today I was fortunate, it was a day when every thing went right.

Marathon number 10 completed... next stop Berlin

Kingsbury Classic
Tuesday 12th May 2009
Distance 10K
Running Number 76

Finishing time 41.33

Position 16 / 111

An interesting run round Kingsbury Water Park near Coleshill. A multi terrain event on trails and paths, which due to the recent dry spell were very rutted. Care needed at all times, to prevent going over, and also making it difficult to race. Being by water meant that the midges were out in great numbers, and it was difficult not to swallow a few on the way round. Advertised as approximately 10k - I measured it at 6.11 miles.

Oxford Town and Gown
Sunday 17th May 2009
Distance 10K
Running number 2652

Finishing time 42.30

The man at the BBC weather centre got it spot on this time. Driving down to Oxford it was a nice sunny Sunday morning. As I got closer to my destination the skies started to get grey and I just knew I was in for a soaking !!

With two minutes before the off the heavens opened and continued to do so throughout the early stages of the race. This year the race took a different route for some reason. The start was on a road too narrow to accommodate over 3,000 runners, and we were faced with the age old

problem of runners not lining up according to their estimated finishing time. A flat course with lots of twists and turns, and the last three kilometres through the park on narrow footpaths.

Despite the rain an enjoyable run.

The Northbrook Coventry 10k
Sunday 31st May 2009 Distance 10K
Running Number 94

WITHDRAWN

For the previous 12 days I had been having problems with knee pain, and over the last couple of days before the race it had become a hamstring problem. I decided to be sensible and pull out of this one, as my long term focus must be on being fit and ready for Berlin in September.
As always seems the case for the Northbrook 10K, it was a hot day, in fact the hottest of the year so far. I helped out by taking entries on the day, before getting down to the finish line to assist there. In the end I was out in the sun for alot longer than I would have been if I had run the race !

Burnham Beeches
Half Marathon
Sunday 23rd August 2009
Distance 13.1 miles
Running Number 758

Finishing time
1.32.15

Finishing Position
105 / 953

An early start for this one as its a good 80 miles from home. Up at 6.15 and on the road by 7.15, armed with bananas, bagels and malt loaf.

Well organised, and a lovely scenic double loop through wooded area. An undulating course with one or two challenging climbs. Not alot of PB potential.
Start and Finish at Caldicote school, with excellent changing facilities, plenty of loos and showers. A nice touch was the open air swimming pool (heated of course !) that we were allowed to use after completing the run.

Having been told about the course in advance I thought a time of under 1.35 would be reasonable. It was a hot day with temperatures in the high 20's. Thankfully the trees provided plenty of shade.

After the first three miles at a steady pace, I then picked up the pace and tried maintain it. A thoroughly recommended race, and one which is marked in the calender for next year.