Bungay Black Dog Marathon
When I got up last Friday I realised that not only was I not going to be flying to Boston that day but it was unlikely that I’d get there at all. I made the decision that even if I was going to loose out financially I could still put my 4 months of training to some use so the bags stayed packed and I headed off to Suffolk for the weekend to run the Bungay Black Dog Marathon.
Although I’d trained well and was fairly confident of running a good time in Boston, when I arrived in Bungay on a very warm day facing a tough course I should of amended my target finish time and race pace accordingly, however this was going to prove difficult when my Garmin packed in just before the start.
I set off at a pace which felt about right, before reaching the 2 mile point you start to climb the first of a 4 ½ mile stretch of hills, being a 2 lap course I knew these would be much tougher the second time round in the midday sun. By mile 8 I was starting to think I may be going a little too fast so asked the chap who’d been on my shoulder most of the way what pace we were running, hoping he’d say about 7.40 - his reply was “well under 7.30” I knew I’d pay later.
Starting the second lap I was already having to work hard to maintain the pace but decided to go with it for as long as I could, at mile 18 and after completing the hills for the second time my companion of the last 2 hours started to pull away as I slowed dramatically, I went through 20 miles in under 2hrs 30 which would acquaint to a finish of around 3.18 but I knew this was not on the cards, each of the last 6 miles included some walking and I struggled over the line in 3.34.55 (53rd of 210 finishers).
Although I’d had a bad race I’ve no regrets, it was a very good well organised event which I’d recommend to anyone wishing to get away from the crowds of the big city marathons. I will put this one down to experience, I think you need to have the odd bad race to appreciate the good ones, roll On Berlin!! Jon Leigh.