Sponsored Team - Yorkshire Marathon - Lee & Tracey's race reports

Lee’s race report from Yorkshire Marathon

When I sat down with Dave to discuss my year ahead he flirted the idea of entering a marathon as an experiment. We chose The Yorkshire one as I would be able to run it as a race rather than overly focusing on hr or pace with the aim of moving forward and targeting another.

One thing I’ve taken from the experience is that it hasn’t put me off doing another one!

The build up was good without doing any mammoth mileage weeks I gradually ticked off important sessions and build up races. I’d practised fuelling so felt confident going into race day that I was well prepared.

The race set up as I expected with a good group moving along at around 5.20 pace ticking off the first 7 or so miles feeling comfortable. Those who have done the race before will know there’s a bit of a climb at this point and this is where the race changed. The eventual winner made a move which I instinctively covered which on reflection was probably the wrong decision in the long term of my final finishing time. I’d made the move though and due to my effort I’d taken another runner with me and after a mile or so the leader started to come back to us which filled me with confidence that I could still win the race. We continued on at a good pace past half way and into the second half of the race. At the first turn point I began to get a bit of an ache in my arm then it began to develop into cramp in my legs. At this point the course works it way to the next turn point. The headwind on this section was really tough and the pain in my legs started to get worse so my pace began to drop and so did my chance of winning the race. At this point I thought my race was over as I couldn’t see a way of finishing with how I felt.

I can’t really think of any suitable words to describe the final 7 miles after seeing the support crew (thanks to Chris Ward for supporting with gel drops) at 19.5 miles. It was awful. I had several walks due to the cramp which was everywhere and lost around 10 minutes. I don’t really know what kept me going to be honest but I managed to finish and I feel proud that I did, but also that I gave the race a go with the aim of winning it.

I will take the positives from the experience and reflect moving onto the next one and hopefully iron out a few things and produce a time I know I’m capable of. I’m looking forward to some deserved time to rest and recover the body ready for future targets ahead.

Moving on to the oldest member of the Team, Tracey West, who you will see/communicate with on our Reception.

The marathon is my favourite race distance. I had entered the England Athletics V50 Age Group qualifying race at Milton Keynes in 2020, but like all races this was cancelled due to Covid. I hadn't thought about doing another till June of this year. Training at this point was in desperate need of a focus, and so after checking out the statistics around female 55 marathon times, I decided to take a shot at qualifying for the V55 at York. 

Training took on more structure and focus. I had 18 weeks! At this point I also added regular soft tissue therapy, which was a reward after completing the Sunday long runs and something new that I hadn't used before. Everything was going great till Covid hit for the first time, taking out 2 weeks.  With 6 weeks to go I also lost 2 weeks to a self inflicted silly niggle! So the race plan needed to be changed slightly. 

What did I need to do to qualify? Run Yorkshire marathon, be in the first 3 in the age group and within the qualifying time of 4 hours. So that was the objective. 

Originally I had hoped to run sub 3:30. But I didn't need to race, just qualify, the Race will be in Chester 2023.  So the plan was simply, keep the heart rate at the very bottom of recovery and be patient to 20 miles. It's hard keeping it easy early in a marathon, you feel so fresh! But it paid off everything was going to plan at this point. I allowed the heart rate to elevate a little more to 24 miles then just let it go and went for the finish. A controlled negative split resulting in a 3:41 finish and qualification. Objective achieved! Now I have a year to get ready for the Race!