London 2022
Running the London Marathon was a project four years in the making. I got the nod from the charity Livability in October 2018. After injuries and the pandemic halted me in 2019, 2020 and 2021, I was finally able to participate in London on Oct. 2, 2022. Joined by wife and our older daughter, I would experience an amazing day basking in the London sun, with hundreds of thousand of spectators cheering on the runners.
Training and race prep
Working with Coach Ben, I put together a very solid 20-week cycle, starting in late May. I really enjoyed the process, the consistency, the variety of workouts. There was a plan. With a hot summer across Germany, I typically ran early mornings, often into the sunrise. I was cruising. But things unfortunately took a turn for the worse in mid-August when I suffered a leg injury - this time on my right leg. It was an inflammation of the tendon insertion. After an MRI, the approach was clear: no more training till London. Rest. Undergo intensive PT. Try to maintain the shape I was in and get me to the start line. Somehow. Even if the personal record I had worked hard for (and most likely would have achieved) was now out the question - I was excited to finally head to London. Apart from the marathon, London is a world-class city to sightsee and spend time in.
The course
The London marathon starts outside of the city, in Greenwich and Blackheath, and the field departs from three starting areas (Blue, Red and Yellow). These three "fields" eventually converge, early on on the course. The London marathon course hits many high-octane spots such as Cutty Sark, of course Tower Bridge (shortly before the half mark), Embankment. My personal highlight was Rotherhithe, between Miles 10 and 11. Amazing, infectious atmosphere there. But almost everywhere along the course, the atmosphere and crowd support are on the level of New York and Chicago. The London course holds no real difficulties in store for runners. I recall 2-3 smaller ascents, and in a few cases, narrow roads caused tiny congestions, forcing runners to slow down a bit. The ultimate grand finale is running past Buckingham Palace and down The Mall for a Grand finish.
My race
Given my injury and all other circumstances, Coach Ben and I laid out a very conservative pacing strategy. Things went pretty smoothly for me until about 25k, but then I started feeling that these six weeks of training that were missing. I was slowing down, I faced aches in different parts of my body, especially the legs. By the way, that weather conditions were the polar opposite of what the weather forecast had predicted didn't help (any of the runners). I was tearing through energy gels and salt chews. In the end, it was the usual M.O. - entering into negotiations with your mind. Just trying to make it to the finish. Somehow.
I caught a second win on the last mile. Running past Buckingham Palace and down the Mall is a special feeling. I was very happy to finally have checked off London. It felt like a monkey off my shoulder. But it was a great experience nonetheless.
Race rating: 5 out of 6 Majors stars