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Leicester Marathon - 11th October

After the long drive back from Loch Ness last Sunday, Steve Edwards was feeling pretty tired all this week and come Saturday he was wondering if he'd recovered enough to run sub-3:05 let alone push for sub 3 again. But then he had text from Dennis Walmsley on Saturday evening saying one thing - '2:58!' No pressure then!

At the race start Steve thought the conditions were good, cool and overcast, he also knew it was a fast start going slightly downhill so decided to push out a couple of 6:45 miles from the off, before settling down into his normal rhythm and see what happened. The course is undulating but has no significant climbs so he kept to sub-7s, going through 5 miles in 34 minutes, 10 miles in 68 minutes and halfway in just under 1:29, perfect. Then into the second half which Steve knew was slightly tougher than the first but not feeling too bad he pressed on, maintaining the same pace and going through mile 20 in 2:16:15. So 10k to go and exactly 7 minutes a mile pace required for a sub-3 hours; surely this was a good chance?

Steve was beginning to get tired, certainly feeling the miles in his legs from the hectic schedule over the last 10 weeks and as each mile ticked by he was just about managing to keep the 7-minute pace. At mile 24, he was 2:44:15 but as he knew the last mile was all uphill, he thought he might need some leeway. If he could just find another sub-7 minute mile he might have a chance. Mile 25 came, bang on 2:51, Steve had found an extra 15 seconds, so exactly 9 minutes to do the last 1.2 miles, nearly all uphill, it was certainly going to be a tough finish, but he was determined to not let another sub-3 pass him by. At 26 miles - 2:58, so 2 minutes to do 385 yards; Steve knew he'd cracked it, then something that Norm had said to him a couple weeks ago came to mind and he was able to 'showboat' the remaining 385 yards for 2:59.37, (27th place) job done. Thanks for the advice Norm; it paid off today.

To break a barrier is very special and Steve was thrilled to complete a lifetime 25th sub-3 hour marathon. His attention then turned to Ewen Smith, who he knew was chasing a pb and hopefully a sub-3:15. He didn't have to wait long, as a jubilant Ewen crossed the line arms aloft in 3:14.53 (99th place), breaking his previous pb by 10 minutes and also breaking the 3:15 barrier in the process. This was another good day, two barriers broken, and two very happy Bourton runners.

 

 

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Report Highlights

Steve Edwards completes Leicester Marathon in 2:59:37 - his 25th sub-3 hour finish.

Ewen Smith smashes his previous Marathon PB by 10 minutes, in 3:14:53, also at Leicester.

Leicester Marathon - Steve & Ewen

Steve Edwards & Ewen Smith at Leicester Marathon.

 

 

Other reports may be found on our recent race reports page.