Under Pressure

It was lovely in Florence & certainly no Ice Ice baby, but I certainly felt the pressure in the final 5km in the beautiful Italian City.

The race starts in the Piazza Michelangelo overlooking a wonderful city scape, The start was delayed to allow for TV coverage but whilst in my pen I found a Brit & an Austrian to chat to & at 9.20 we were off.

It was a little congested in the first KM which is flat (before a nice downhill stretch from there until around 4km's)& after 1km I was already 45 seconds off the pace I wanted, knowing I needed to run 4.28 for each Km to achieve the goal of a sub 3.10 marathon.

In the early stages i ran into (well not literally - I wouldn't have been popular !!)a guy called Ron from Bristol & we discussed the Comrades marathon & our Mutual friend Trin :)

Over the next 13 miles I gradually chipped away a few seconds each KM & was aided by the company & challenge of keeping up with a lad from Watford I had bumped into at 5km - not sure how he knew I was British (maybe it was the Union Jack shorts & Buff or the very British (non) tan ?!!).By half way I had caught up with a chap from Aberdeen & there was some real competition in the fashion stakes - My Union Jack shorts v his Tartan shorts !!) my halfway split was 1.34.55 (5 seconds inside target !) We were both going for the same time & really helped push each other along but with 5km to go i really had to push it as i knew it was slipping away & had to run 4.20 min km's to get to my goal.I was feeling the pressure but just dug deep & with 50 yards to go I knew I was just going to make it & even had just enough time for the most picturesque of airplane finishes in front on the church in the plazza St Croce & finally touched down in 3 hours 9 mins & 27 seconds. whilst for much of the race I was behind schedule I just wouldn't let it go & my tenacity was rewarded.

yards after the finish I bumped into Ron again & chatted somemore - I met & ran with some wonderfully supportive people which makes a big difference.

If you want a destinbation marathon that combines it all this is THE ONE,a great city, scenic flat race & i bet it was warmer there than it's been here ?!!!

FORZA ITALIA !!

Ciao Bella :)

Foxy !