I started off pretty good. my first mile was in 10:26 waaay within myself. I quickly managed to team up with an experienced runner who was shooting for 4:10. Great I thought. Everything was going well. By the halway point 4:08 was a reasonable time. All the way through to mile 14 I was knocking off miles in the 9 - 9:30 range very comfortably. I was taking gu's on cue and hydrating at every water stop and using my own water supply inbetween Then all of a sudden I lost focus. I don't know how else to put it. I wasn't in pain, I wasn't tired. I just had to stop and walk. Once I walked that was it. I stiffened up. From then on in I was in pain. I ran as much as I could until mile 20 when I was damned that I was going walk any of that last 10K. It was tough, very tough. But I did it. That last .2 mile to the finish line with people cheering you on is the best feeling a person can get in the world

I don't know. Concentrate harder?

I was in so much pain stretching was impossible. Though after ashower I gave my legs a work over with "the stick", that seemed to work well


I haven't worked that out yet.


This has to be the most beautiful small marathon in the country. With the fall colours at peak, its like running through the pages of a calendar. Organisation is excellent The race is started simultaneously with a half marathon, a 10K and a 5K. People turn out in the middle of nowhere to cheer you on. Small crowds mean that your supporters can stop to cheer you on, and spot you easily, many times throughout the race. My wife appeared at mile 14, 17 18 and the finish. This race is still short of maxing out for entrants. So if you want a first time marathon this is the one.