Hit the halfway mark right on schedule. Then started to feel an increasing strain in the lower abs - right where they attach to the pubic bone. Steadily got worse and I had to walk the last 4 aid stations just to give it a rest and was reduced to a shuffle when running over the last 10kms. Very disappointed as this problem hadn't shown up in any training. Slowed by 20 minutes over the 2nd half of the marathon!

Also, I was only 9 weeks into an 18 week programme so had significantly less miles in the legs than normal for a marathon. I certainly felt stronger on the F.I.R.S.T. (Furman Institute of Running and Scientific Training) programme than I have previously - just not so much endurance. The programme does have enough long runs over the entire schedule - I just didn't get to that part!

[Note that the FIRST programme is just 3 days a week - ideal for my recovery from a niggly AT injury - worth trialling for anyone else out there wanting to do maximise fitness from fewer miles].

Pleasingly though, the L) hamstring which had cramped late in the last three marathons was absent.
.

Not much - completing the full 18 weeks of the programme would have made a big difference but that was never going to happen given when I started it late due to injury in March & April. Happy that I did what I could with the amount of training done.

This was always a 'B' race. The 'A' race for the year is the Auckland Marathon in early November.

Beer, walk back to apartment.


Lower ab strain!


Great race, superbly organised.