Berlin Marathon race report plus a spur of the moment 16km race in Amsterdam- Better late than never I suppose This was my second Marathon from the Abbott Major Marathon series having run Chicago Marathon last year. The goal at Berlin was to beat my Chicago 3h16 and try my best to achieve a Boston Marathon 3h05 qualification standard. This was my goal at Chicago and all was on track until about 32kms where I then faded hectically. Following a decent Comrades I took a few weeks off running and then decided to take a chance and train towards a sub 3hr Marathon by using the Asics 16 week sub 3 plan compared to the sub 3h30 plan I used for Chicago.With the Comrades rest I did about 13 weeks of the 16 week plan. Lots of interval type of work involved and a few longer runs. All went okay and I only skipped one long run when I was in Dublin and it was raining, as it does over there. 885km in the build up. Arrived in Berlin on the Friday to meet my boet. Off to registration which was efficient and expo was much bigger than Chicago. Didn't buy anything but thought it might be best to sample the juice on offer on the route as I couldn't stomach the Gatorade at Chicago and ended up relying on water. Ultrasports beetster was on offer and seemed decent enough. I know it's really not a good idea to try new things on race day and I have never done so in the past but I thought I'd also take a small bottle of Maurten mix on the race. I also had a gel which they were handing out during the race - haven't had a gel for years. Basically I was scared of the same fade as Chicago and so was willing to give new things a bash...go for broke I suppose. The day before race day we decided to run the Hasenheide Parkrun which seemed like a British Parkrun with only a handful of locals Was a really good way to stretch the legs and ended up running with another Saffa at about 3min50/km. Was chuffed as it was my 50th Parkrun under 20min and I battled for a long time to break 20min about 15 months ago. The apfelstrudel and cream afterwards was top class. The conditions on the day were prime and everything was very relaxed at the start with no fence jumping or pushing and shoving. Starting in the first batch of the second wave was lekker as it meant a 15min gap between us and the previous wave. Race tactic was to start off at my secret goal of sub 3hr pace of about 4.14/km and just see how it went. Had a very quick nature break in the 4th km but all seemed good. Kept sipping on the Maurten drink and smashed a few bananas from early on. Unlike SA the tables do not offer plastic sachets for water but instead had a dreadful plastic cup which were a major slipping hazard being scattered all over the road. Vibe was good and legs were okay so I passed through half way in 1:29:16...all on track. From the early 30s my pace was slowing slightly and I started doubting I'd finish in sub 3hrs but forced myself to have more bananas, beetroot juice and a gel. One thing I did have from SA was a Farbar which are awesome. It was all about the mental game in the last few clicks as I began to realise that a sub 3 was still on the cards, if my maths in my fatigued state was correct. Somehow found decent speed in the last few kms with a sub 4min 42nd km. Crossed the line in 2:58:59. Very very happy with the result and so happy to run very near even splits of +27sec second half. Over 17min Marathon PB too!! Was lekker seeing a number of South Africans on the race and to see that Eliud Kipchoge smashed the world record. Amsterdam Dam tot Damloop 16km - Since we found ourselves in Amsterdam a week later we secured last minute entries to a 16km race. I think there were over 35000 participants in the 16km and over 75000 in the various distances. Weather was cold and raining and so I found myself scavenging a jersey left behind in a dustbin at the start. Again a chilled batch start, jersey off, and away we go. Thought the legs would have nothing left after Berlin so went for the "all out from start method" and chase a sub 1hr. Through 10km in about 37min20 but then legs lost their way a bit so crossed the line in 1:01:23. Again very happy all things considered. Now to line up another event so training doesn't fade into nothing
