ROCKIES MARATHON 03/06/23

I am a sucker for punishment. Ten weeks later I am back at a start line. This is the Rockies Marathon in the mountains above Denver and I'm at the highest altitude I've ever run at. As it's June it is already getting light at 5am. I've learnt to wear more layers waiting for the start and I'm not freezing cold like at the last two Revel races.

I was quite ill in the hotel early this morning. I had a very upset and overactive digestion, resulting in multiple visits to the loo before I'd even left the hotel room. and suddenly went cold and shivery. I took a couple of Ibuprofen and it slowly passed. It could have been a bit of food poisoning I suppose, although I ate very blandly the day before. I had an organic vegetarian microwave meal in my room at about 5pm. Maybe it was nerves. Anyway here I am on the start line. The altitude is really challenging, we start at 10400 feet so about 14% oxygen compared to 20.9% at sea level. We get going and I feel pretty awful but concentrate on moving forward. I maintain pace for the first five miles or so. I am back on the portaloo at mile eight but things settle down after that. I risk a Maurten energy gel but I don't dare eat any more or even drink much water. I have to be a bit conservative after that. In the circumstances I guess I manage the race quite well. I see the 4.30 pacer a little in front of me with about five miles to go and she seems to be running almost on her own, I guess her pace group have dropped off. I finish in 4.29.13. I'm a very slow runner nowadays! The course in the Rocky Mountains is absolutely beautiful. Denver has been unseasonably cool and showery for June but the rain holds off until shortly after we finish, when there is an absolute downpour. I head back to the hotel to lick my wounds.