Race report by Dave:
We had a great time in York. We arrived Friday night, so had time to enjoy the National Rail Museum, a chocolate story on Saturday before heading out to dinner in a city packed with tourists. I realised I’d booked for the Italian for the Friday by mistake so Wagamama noodles had to do.
The marathon was forecast to be a wet one like the year before, but I woke up to perfect weather. The hotel breakfast wasn’t ideal marathon fuel, but ate what I could and walked down to the start line at the University with another 10,000 runners. I positioned myself midway between 3hr and 3:30 markers ready for the start. After a brief warm up we were away. We started back up the hill and through the city centre, passing the Minster through the city walls and then the sun came out as we passed out along country roads heading out to Buttermere Wood. Support was mainly concentrated to a few spectator points where the buses dropped people off.
My plan was to start slow and gradually speed up went out the window from the start. I was averaging 4:37/km , slightly too fast but feeling ok. Just after midway we doubled back through Stamford Bridge, which was heavy with support and then made out way back to the city centre via Dunnington.
It started getting tough around mile 22 and I struggled through mile 25. Fortunately it was mostly downhill. The last mile I found another gear and finished with a PB. I stopped my watch at 1:31:23, but my chip time was 1:32:08 so don’t know what happened there. Anyway very pleased with a birthday PB.
