I Am Running The Berlin Marathon

This is the first time I have sat down and really thought - I am running the Berlin Marathon. After a few weeks where I struggled a little with both running and life in general (see blog), I have been relishing recommencing marathon training so much that I have almost forgotten about the actual event at the end of it all!

The Marathon
The Berlin Marathon will be my second marathon of 2016, and my third in total. Whilst you may think that three marathons in I would have an element of self-confidence and assurance, I know however I will be incredibly nervous on race day. The Manchester Marathon earlier this year will be on my mind – a race where I hit the metaphoric wall with just two miles to go, and ended up taking an hour to complete those final two miles (you can read the full blog here if you wish to relive my pain!) I finished, but after training hard for a sub 4 hour time, it was difficult to take. I need to try and put the Manchester Marathon to the back of mind as much as possible, but I know totally forgetting it will be almost impossible. Despite this, the knowledge that this will be my third marathons does make me feel a small sense of pride. My lifetime goal was to run the London Marathon and I never really imagined anything further. Completing the London Marathon threw me fully into the marathon running world though, and since then I have been captured in its addictive quest for more.

The Trip
Running in Berlin will be the first time I have completed a race outside of the UK. In fact it will be the first time I have left the UK and been on an aeroplane for a very long time! The Berlin Marathon is also just two days before my 25th birthday, so the trip will be a memorable way to mark it. When I have said to people I will be running the Berlin Marathon as part of my birthday celebrations many have looked at me like I am insane! To be honest, it might be a little crazy. I will probably be spending my actual birthday walking more like an 85 year old than a 25 year old, and will also be on a massive post-race comedown. Likewise, if I have not ran well I may not be in the best of moods, or alternatively if I have had a good race, I could be as high as a kite! Either way, I know I will have earned some birthday cake at least!

The Goal
With my first marathon being the London Marathon, completing Berlin will be my second of the World Marathon Major series. As mentioned previously, I never really imagined doing anything more than the London Marathon, but running all the marathons in this series and achieving the ‘Six Star Finisher’ status is now something I want to achieve. This will most definitely be a lifetime goal, unless I suddenly win the lottery and/or get my legs running a lot faster to qualify for some of the races; but running the Berlin Marathon will be a step closer to this milestone. The real goal, which I have almost been avoiding acknowledging, will be to run a sub 4 hour time. Although I failed in Manchester, I have a 4:09 time from the London Marathon, so this doesn’t seem totally unrealistic. I would absolutely love to run a ‘Good For Age’ qualifying time for the London Marathon (sub 3.45), however following the Manchester Marathon I do not want to put too much pressure on me or my body. Sub 4 hrs I would be delighted with, if it was 3:59 I would even take that! Training is going well so far; I would not say I am ahead of my plan nor am I struggling with it, I just seem to be on track. My challenge now is to keep on track, right up until the moment I cross that finish line in Berlin. ​