Abingdon technical report

Here are the splits:

Mile	Split	ave bpm
1	7:59	No HR	Not sweaty enough!
2	7:27	144
3	7:36	146
4	7:53	148	mile marker out
5	7:22	146
6	7:48	146
7	7:32	145
8	8:36	145	mile marker out
9	7:30	144
10	7:38	146
11	7:44	146
12	7:39	146
13	7:38	146
half	1:41:18
14	7:40	147
15	8:02	149
16	7:48	148
17	7:32	151
18	7:55	151
19	7:58	152
20	7:53	154
21	7:48	153
22	7:50	155
23	7:47	154
24	7:53	154
25	8:24	156	mile marker out
26	7:25	158
26.22	1:38	160	= 7:28/mile
	3:24:10	148bpm ave	7:47/mile ave

The above shows my best paced marathon ever. I sustained my highest ever heart rate, didn't slow in the last 8 miles, and the second half was only 90secs slower than the first half.

I ate gels every 4 miles - 6 in total.

I had 250ml of sport drink 10 minutes before the start. This caused a touch of stitch, but wasn't too bad. The drinks stops were every 2 or 3 miles. I managed a gulp of water at each. Gill handed me a 250ml bottle of sport drink at 6 and 18 miles, but I probably didn't need any - I still felt quite full - I just took a sip. I probably didn't need the 250ml at the start, but in hot conditions (which this wasn't) I think it is a good strategy.

I've commented that I'd lost some fitness (ie pace) in the weeks leading into the marathon, so my time wasn't quite what I'd hoped for, but I'm very pleased with how I ran the race - I don't think I could have got any more out of myself on the day.