Marathon 5 of 15: The Gloucester Marathon: The One with Mr Blue Sky

"Sun is shinin' in the sky...There ain't a cloud in sight
It's stopped rainin' everybody's in the play...And don't you know
It's a beautiful new day, hey hey

Runnin' down the avenue...See how the sun shines brightly in the city

On the streets where once was pity, Mr. Blue Sky is living here today, hey hey"

The four weeks since the Portsmouth Coastal Marathon had gone quickly, with Christmas and New Year enjoyable diversions ahead of marathon 5 of 15.

Pompey had been tough because of the mixed terrain but more importantly the donations had continued to come in, and we were well ahead of target going into Gloucester, huge thanks again to all those who’ve donated. Every £5 or £10 really makes a difference (see below), so thank you.

It had been a busy four weeks. The day after the Pompey marathon was Beth’s funeral, a reminder of the fragility of life, the need to talk about how we are doing, and above all that when someone special dies, it really sucks. 

Physically at least I recovered reasonably quickly, with a couple of short runs and lots of protein-rich Christmas turkey to help me along that first week. I kept alcohol intake to a minimum and entered the new year focused on not only on raising awareness of the agony of baby loss, but also on the benefit of weight loss! I’ve lost a stone since mid November so am halfway to my target, and beginning to feel the benefits.

I ran a couple of quick (for me) parkruns; getting back under 25 minutes has been really pleasing and after a decent 15 mile run halfway between the marathons I had renewed confidence in my ability to run a decent time at Gloucester.

I had read up on the route beforehand, with runners describing it as a road race and pancake flat and offering a good opportunity for PBs. I had long given up hope of beating the PB (4h03) I achieved in 2017, but was confident of breaking 4h30 this time and that was my goal - to beat my time at the New Forest marathon, the first of the 15. 

Having dropped the children at various friends on the Saturday Jayne and I travelled up to Gloucester to do a recce of the course and to find out where she would be able to cheer, and to join me for a few miles. Various road closures and new housing estates that weren’t on Google maps meant we spent much more time down the country lanes than planned, but it gave us a good feel for the course and it helped to visualise how the race might pan out.

Doing the recce in the beautiful fading sunlight

We stopped in a nearby Premier Inn and enjoyed a steak dinner in the pub next door. Usually I carb up with pasta the day before, but I had done so on the Thursday and Friday, and didn't want to feel too bloated so steak and a few sweet potato fries did the job for me. 

Steaking my claim on a good time

The Gloucester marathon isn't really in Gloucester but just outside in Quedgeley. It’s an odd shaped course but well thought through. Two laps from the school base, around about a mile each, and then another mile link to the main course, 4 laps of 5.5 miles then back up the link road to the school where it started.

I am possibly the coldest I’ve ever been on the start line with the temperature precisely 1 degree. However after a few minutes I soon warm up. Waved off by Jayne, I feel relaxed and run a good first few miles, going out a bit quicker than planned, but holding on to a good pace having completed the first main lap (about 8 miles).

Freezing at the starting line

During the first few miles I am overtaken by two Sands runners, one wearing full lumberjack outfit including jeans and boots (of whom more later) and a runner who, on receiving no response from me when when shouting ‘nice t shirt’ unzipped his running jacket to reveal the same Sands t shirt as me. It is great to chat for a few seconds before he headed off with the faster runners.

On lap two I pick up pace somewhat inadvertently to just less than 9 minute miles and after mile 10 when Jayne provided me with a gel and a drink I felt the strongest I had for many weeks, maybe months, and almost before I knew it had done 1.59.59 for the first half marathon (usually this milestone is reached in around 2.07-2.10). I put this down to three things: an improved diet, the presence of many half marathoners who joined the course for laps two and three, and the rhythmic beats of the Electric Light Orchestra, which seem to sync nicely with a 9m/m pace and are generally uplifting songs to push you along (though I'm not sure the guy next to me appreciates my harmonies to Mr Blue Sky). It feels that I should comfortably beat 4.30 so I keep going and the good speed continues until mile 15 when Jayne joins me for a lap. It really helps as we keep to a 9.30-9.40 pace - I don't say much (for once) but it's nice to listen and to enjoy the views together. By the time I leave her at mile 20 I'm still going strong and am pleasantly surprised by progress. Looking back, it turns out I completed each of the 20 miles under ten minutes/mile pace, which was the first time of the five marathons thus far.

Better support than Kipchoge's support team! Now where's that laser on the road ahead...

There are a couple of icy patches along the way and outside one farm in particular, but despite reckoning that it would improve as the sun rose higher, the ice was still there on each of the four laps. It just means being careful and treading slightly gingerly in places. This in turn helps the runners to admire the countryside views at least. I keep my footing although later I did hear about a couple of runners who had stumbled.

Beautiful Gloucestershire countryside

Leaving Jayne and heading off into the last 10k I still feel ok, naturally the pace has dropped a bit, but nothing like Reading, Kingston or Portsmouth. The majority of the final six miles are completed between 10-11 minutes, only one went above 11 when I really feel the pain in the quads around mile 25 (about 7 miles later than usual!). The doubts begin to creep in but it's too late in the day to throw it all away.... cue ELO: Jeff to the rescue once again: 

"You got me runnin' goin' out of my mind,

You got me thinkin' that I'm wastin' my time.
Don't bring me down, no no no no no,
I'll tell you once more before I get off the floor
Don't bring me down."

So I get up and get on, and pick up the pace in the final few hundred metres to finish strongly. I am chuffed as anything to have kept it going to the end for a time of 4h14m 39s. This represents a half hour improvement on the previous three marathons, and 15 minutes off the first one in the New Forest and I'm delighted with the progress. 

up to the finish line

There were 287 marathon runners (I finished 201st, quite possibly the lowest percentile of the five so far but I really didn’t care) so it was reasonably quiet compared to some of the bigger ones I’ve run thus far. There were more half marathoners also used the same course, they started an hour after us, so it was a busy second and third lap and a very lonely final lap! But there was great support up from the locals up to the finish line as we went through a residential area, and couldn’t really believe how quickly I’d gone. 

After the race Jayne and I bump into Mr Lumberjack and we have a chat with him about Sands. What is really meaningful was the name of so many babies on the straps of his braces, which he said were the babies of friends or families he knew who had died over the years. It really moved us, though we neglect to ask what the lumberjack reference is all about! He’s called David and he’s an absolute legend in my book.

With Lumberjack Dave

Gloucester Cathedral Medal 

The runners are given our medals (bizarrely of Gloucester Cathedral, even though we didn't go anywhere near it on the race!) and t-shirts and after a few post-race anecdotes with other runners and supporters we slowly (very slowly) walk back up to the Tesco's where the car was parked, and enjoy an all-day breakfast as reward. 

I put the quicker time down to the weight loss regime I’ve been on for two month, where I’ve had lots more protein and fewer carbs, and wearing the right shoes this time! Unlike Portsmouth it was a road run and pretty flat throughout so road shoes were the order of the day, with no need for a decision of using trail shoes or not. Jayne’s great support was phenomenal as she was flying solo for the first time. Seeing her at 1, 8 and 26 miles as well as running 15-20 and driving home was going above and beyond and I can't say enough about her incredible support. So I'll let Jeff Lynne do that: 

"You shine a little love on my life
You shine a little love on my life
You shine a little love on my life and let me see.

Remember,tonight we're gonna run till dawn
Remember,tonight we're gonna say.
We'll never stop we got a good thing goin' on.
I know you've heard it all before.
But I really need you darlin' every day I need you more."

On the way back south we reflect on the journey we've been on together, five marathons completed and ten to go, a third of the way through! It's gone really quickly so far and although the legs are seizing up in the warm car, it's worth it. Since the marathon there have a been a couple of high profile stories in the press that Sands has been involved in and highlight the work your kind donations go towards supporting. 

Firstly the awful stories of the families whose babies died in East Kent over the past few years - the need for Sands to keep lobbying for improvements in maternity care, for research to understand causes and to support bereaved families remains incredibly high. 

Secondly and on a more positive note, the government announced this week “Jack’s Law” - the introduction of the parental bereavement leave act, which obliges employers to give at least two weeks’ paid leave to staff whose child has died. This is something Sands has long lobbied for along with other bereavement charities, and will make a difference to so many. Clearly a fortnight is never enough but it’s a great start.

So continued thanks for your support along this journey! We are up and over £1,500 in total which is another milestone reached. We are also delighted that our daughter's music teacher has organised a classical concert in Southampton on 29 February, profits from which will go towards the fundraising page. We've really been bowled over by the support of everyone.  

Onwards then to Deal in Kent and number six of fifteen. A couple of friends are coming along for the day and hope to join in with a lap or two. Do let me know if you'd like to come on down to the coast. It’s the ‘marathon day marathon’ because it’s 26.2 miles on the date of 26.2. It’s another marathon of laps (5x 5.2miles), so let’s hope it’s more like Gloucester than Reading! 

But for now, fond memories of the Gloucester Marathon are still top of mind. That said, and as ELO know, all good things must come to an end:

"Mr. Blue you did it right
But soon comes Mr. Night
Creeping over
Now his hand is on your shoulder
Never mind
I'll remember you this
I'll remember you this way!"