Hey! Keep in mind me?
I do know, I haven’t blogged since my 48th marathon, the Dingle Ireland marathon on September 6th. I don’t know why I fell off of running a blog; I’m nonetheless very energetic on Instagram and Strava although, so please observe me there so we are able to keep linked!
Six weeks after the Dingle marathon, I accomplished my 49th full marathon, the Amsterdam marathon! That is my recap of that marathon.
Should you’ve been studying this weblog for awhile, you might keep in mind that I used to be coaching for the Amsterdam marathon when we first moved to London in 2022, however two days earlier than the race, I tested positive for Covid. Dustin nonetheless ran (he had had Covid beforehand and was wholesome on the time; he ended up having an awesome race too!) and I stayed behind in London. This yr was my “redemption” Amsterdam marathon!
Close to coaching between the 2 marathons so shut collectively, right here’s what I did: the week after Dingle, I took issues simple with about 27 miles complete with a 9 mile future. Then I ramped again as much as 54 miles and a 16 mile future. The next week was decrease once more, with 35 miles and no longe run as I used to be in Munich, Germany for Oktoberfest (what a blast that was!)
Then I had one final massive week of coaching with 63 miles and a 20 mile future. I adopted that with a two week taper (with a ten mile future in the course of the taper.)
Journey to Amsterdam from London:
I arrived in Amsterdam Thursday night on the Eurostar (I really like practice travel- really easy!) Dustin was already within the metropolis for a piece convention. We had tickets to a ‘gig’ a the Paradiso in Amsterdam (a singer we like named Gregory Alan Isakov.) I carbo-loaded earlier than the gig with “stamppot”, a Dutch meal of mashed potatoes and (vegetarian) sausages and beers!
The subsequent morning, Dustin and I ran about 5 miles by Vondel park:
Then he labored from the lodge, and I went to the expo solo.
The transportation in Amsterdam was very easy to navigate with the assistance of the CityMapper app, although I did find yourself strolling residence after the expo, simply to see extra of Amsterdam. Its so attractive there within the autumn. I beloved it.
That night, we had a (vegetarian) tasting menu at Choux for our (17-year) marriage ceremony anniversary. It was scrumptious, however once more, extra wine/beer and plenty of meals! I used to be slightly apprehensive about how a richer meal would have an effect on my marathon…however that I reminded myself that this only a interest, not a profession. And life is brief! I run a whole lot of marathons and don’t prefer to overthink it an excessive amount of.
The subsequent morning., we slept in a bit earlier than one other quick shake-out run adopted by the MOCO museum, Anne Frank’s home/museum, and a bit extra exploring of this pretty metropolis.
That night, I had a margarita pizza at Pizza Project . Then it was off to mattress early earlier than race day!
Race morning:
Pre-Race Gas: I ate a bagel with peanut butter and drank a cup of espresso and quite a bit ofwater. My marathon wave began at 9:15 am; it was a few 20 min stroll from our lodge to the beginning line- the trams weren’t working on marathon day, so strolling was the best choice to get there. It was a deal with to have Dustin tag alongside to the beginning – and much more of a deal with when he popped as much as cheer for me at 4 totally different locations alongside the course! Liked it.
Race package: I wore a Bandit stamina bra prime with pockets throughout (one sufficiently big for my telephone underneath my armpit, and I by no means observed my telephone the entire race) and the Bandit Stamina shorts. I wore the Brooks Hyperion Elite 5- I wore these for Dingle as properly they usually labored properly there.
(Pockets are filled with gas!)
Race begin: I acquired in line for the loos instantly initially line and the traces had been INSANE. There have been nowhere close to sufficient bathrooms…
My buddies really referred to as me from a distinct queue to come back to them. (Tina, Kate, Viola, and Kelly, the group that I practice with, had been all working Amsterdam as properly! And so they all had BIG PB’s, fyi!!) I went to the place they had been, however their line was transferring too slowly as properly, so finally I really gave up and went to the beginning with out; that wasn’t my finest plan…in fact I needed to cease mid-race and misplaced about 2 minutes of non-running time (I can see on my Garmin elapsed time vs. transferring time.) Oh properly…I’m unsure if I’d have been higher off beginning in a later corral although, given how crowded it was in my corral. I’ve to think about I’d have needed to weave round extra folks if I used to be within the 4:15+ corral…My fault, I ought to have arrived initially earlier!
Race Gas: Close to gas through the marathon, I made a decision to only absorb as a lot as I may! This plan labored very well for me in Dingle. I form of really feel just like the extra energy the higher. I had so many gels in all my pockets- all totally different manufacturers, from GU gels to GU liquid gels to Maurtens (they usually gave out Maurtens on the course), salt chews, Honey Stingers chews, and extra. I simply stored fueling each time I considered it and each time there was an assist station. The help stations had been fairly crowded; as a lot as I loved this marathon route – Amsterdam is gorgoues within the autumn- it positively nonetheless acquired very crowded. There have been a whole lot of visitors jams alongside the best way. WIth 30,000 runners on slender roads, its to be anticipated I assume.
Race plan and efficiency:
Just like Dingle, my race plan was to run on really feel and never have a look at my watch very a lot.
Spoiler alert, this plan labored very well! I ran almost a 6 minute unfavorable break up! I don’t suppose I’ve ever run a unfavorable break up like that before- it felt so unbelievable to have a lot left within the tank- miles 24 and 25 had been my quickest, and if it wasn’t for the crowds, I believe I may have gone sooner!
My coach Donal and Dustin as properly suppose I ran too conservatively, which can be barely true, however I additionally actually relished the sensation of feeling extremely sturdy within the last 10k. I’ve run sufficient marathons the place that last 10k actually sucks, so it was an actual deal with to really feel unbelievable and like I used to be contemporary as daisy. Might I’ve gone sooner earlier within the race? Perhaps, nevertheless it felt darn good to complete sturdy.
Listed below are my splits:
Mile 1: 9:09
Mile 2: 9:11
Mile 3: 9:07
Mile 4: 8:52
Mile 5: 8:40
Mile 6: 8:50
Mile 7: 9:01
Mile 8: 8:55
Mile 9: 8:53
Mile 10: 8:53
Mile 11: 8:42
Mile 12: 8:50
Mile 13: 8:53
Mile 14: 8:36
Mile 15: 8:47
Mile 16: 8:35
Mile 17: 9:50 – Lastly needed to cease for the bathroom, there’s the place I misplaced the 2 minutes.
Mile 18: 8:22
Mile 19: 8:22
Mile 20: 8:28
Mile 21: 8:28
Mile 22: 8:34
Mile 23: 8:36
Mile 24: 8:18
Mile 25: 8:03
Mile 26: 8:14
Closing 0.2: 7:50
Official time: 3:51:56
This was my quickest marathon of 2025!
I ran Paris after an harm in 4:30:08, one among my slowest in fairly a while (aside from the wine marathon, Marathon du Medoc). Since then, I’ve been working with a private coach twice per week (heavy lifting), nonetheless doing reformer Pilates twice per week, and being much more considerate about weight-reduction plan (although not that strict both.) And naturally, the longer I work with Donal my coach, the higher he is aware of me and tips on how to push me in coaching.
5 months after Paris, I ran the Dingle marathon in 3:55 (within the pouring rain and robust winds!), and 6 weeks after the Dingle marathon, I ran a 3:51 at Amsterdam. I’m actually pleased to finish this marathon yr with this expertise. Based mostly on how I felt at Amsterdam, I’m optimistic that I would be capable to nearer to my lifetime PB of three:35 sooner or later sooner or later, or no less than get a “Good-for-Age” time as a UK resident to run London once more (sure, there are different methods to get into London. however I wish to do it with a GFA as a UK resident.)
Later that night, my coaching buddies all met up for a celebratory drink. As I discussed, all of them had PBs (or near); says quite a bit in regards to the excellent climate and course! And I’m grateful to have met a bunch of working buddies in London.
We took the Eurostar again to London the subsequent day (Monday), had one night time in our personal mattress earlier than leaving for Mexico Metropolis the subsequent morning for our pal’s (unbelievable) marriage ceremony there; it’s been a whirlwhird few weeks however I’m again in London for the vacations and looking out ahead to choosing up running a blog once more extra repeatedly!
My subsequent marathon with my my fiftieth one! I can’t consider I’ve continued to do that factor…however I nonetheless like it and cherish each marathon expertise.
Dustin and I are nonetheless finalizing some journey plans for subsequent yr however we hope to remain harm free to have the ability to full our fiftieth on the similar race- TBD!
I’m linking up with Running on the Fly and Confessions of a Mother Runner; try their blogs to attach with different health bloggers for exercise concepts and inspiration.
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