Completing the Lucerne Marathon (4:25:45)

My first marathon - a diary 

• 6:40 leave home
• 7:50 arrive Lucerne car-park
• 8:00 get boat to Verkehrshaus (the national transport museum) and the start/finish area
• 8:20 pick up start number with timing chip and pace band (km/0:06:22)
• 8:30 quick change, leave bag in changing area, toilet
• 8:45 10-15 min warm up (gentle jog) 
• 9.00 start of the men's marathon (but only the very fast runners - not me)
• 9.10 toilet again ;)
• 9:15 start of all runners aiming for a time greater than 4hrs. Conditions are perfect. Sun is shinning. There was no countdown and the firing pistol took us all by surprise but when we heard it there was no doubt what we had to do. We were off!
• 5km – I have been carried along by the speed of those around me (mostly half-marathon runners - recognisable by their orange bibs - ours were blue) and I'm aware that my pace is too high. Debating in my mind to drop off speed but the road is still too densely populated and I don't want to cause an obstruction
• 10km – still feeling great - enjoying the view and wondering if I have underestimated my ability (I'm fast but my pulse is still within my interval training range)
• 15km – entering the new train tunnel (tracks not laid yet) with Swiss alpine horn players at the entrance. Great atmosphere at the start but tunnel quite dusty in the final stages. Novel idea but not so nice (it also messed up the pace timings).
• 18km – back into Lucerne and the first sight of my family again near the bridge. They had signs saying "Go daddy" (which Claudia previously prepared in secret). I was so happy to see them!
• 21km – at the turning point I started the second lap as most of the runners continued the 500 metres to complete the half marathon. Knowing that the rules allow you to change your mind and to finish at half way, I have no regrets that I chose the full marathon. I look at my watch and see 2hrs (15 mins faster than I had planned) and 10 minutes faster than my PB for a competitive half marathon last year.
• 23km – I see the family again on the way back. They positioned themselves at a great spot at the end of a straight (in front of the train station) so I could see them from a good bit back and already wave. I'm overjoyed to see them again. I know I can't keep the pace up but I know there's a real possibility that I could be quicker than the 4hrs 30mins I was aiming for. I shout to Claudia as I pass "I'm really fast, I could be 30 mins earlier - make sure you are at the finish on time! It's going well!"
• 25-30km – Without warning, over 1-2 km my body starts sending out signals of fatigue. Stiffness sets in to the back of the legs, a check of my pulse reassures me that my heart is OK and that I could push harder but my legs are telling me to walk. As I run along the coast to the most southerly part of the course, the sun is beating into my face, I close my eyes briefly and find some relief for those few seconds. The crowd would read the name on my bib and call out "Hopp Gary Hopp" (the Swiss version of GO-Gary-GO) I motioned to a few that I was getting a bit scared by pretending to bite my nails but they just laughed and cheered me on all the more.
• 31-35km – don't remember much other than that it seemed to go very slowly. In the tunnel it was very quiet this time with only 4 other runners in view. Out of the tunnel and getting used to the drop in temperature, I am calling at every drinking station to take on fluids - sometimes stopping for 10 secs to knock them back (afraid of gulping it down the wrong way and having to be sick).
• 36-40km – back into the outskirts of Lucerne - the realisation sets in that very soon I will see my family and the finish line. Crowds begin again to line the route. In the distance I can hear the 15 alpine horn players that were positioned near the train station. They were playing "amazing grace" and I prayed "Thank you Lord -  I know that tune is for me" It finished just as I passed them and then came the man who shouted the words in English on his sign "You can do it - yes you can!" By this stage I knew that I couldn't afford to walk if I wanted to get a time of under 4hrs 30mins. The roads were wide and each runner was on his own. The crowds still lined the barriers calling out my name and shouting "bravo Gary", "you've almost done it", "come Gary keep going". 
• 41km – I took a last cup of water and drew in a deep breath. At that moment I knew I had almost done it and I could have burst into tears there and then. Instead I bottled in up, gritted my teeth and started running again, even trying to up the pace.
• 42km – as I entered the finish area (the transport museum) the noise was deafening as the spectators cheered and banged the advertising boards. I sighted my family and the boys came running towards me (as previously arranged) and we ran to the finish together with one on either hand. That moment I emotionally let go. My eyes welled up so much I couldn't even find the finish line. I just kept going on the red carpet until an official held out his hand to congratulate me.


• After the finish line – I kept walking. A cup of water was handed to me. Someone placed a medal over my head. Someone else handed me a bottle filled with energy drink. I looked for a place to sit down, dropped my head, elbows on knees and wept uncontrollably at the realisation that I had just completed a marathon (42km / 26 miles) in 4hrs 25mins. The training of the past 6 months with 40-60km a week had been worth it.
• It was extra special to have my family present for this very proud moment (Claudia, Joel and David, mum and dad and my aunt). We took time to take lots of photographs. Then a text came through to dad's phone with my official time.
• Then I made my way over to the tent to pick up my finisher gift. Each person completing the marathon received a long sleeve running shirt from Asics with the words "Lucerne Marathon Finisher 2011" printed in large letters down the back
• A 10 minute walk (or limp) to the changing area. On the way I joined the queue for a leg massage. The 15 minute rubdown was much appreciated and will hopefully reduce the recovery time.
• The showers for the men were a large marque with 40 shower heads fixed to scaffolding rails on the ceiling. The water temperature was perfect and very refreshing.
• Phoned the family to arrange a meeting point. Had a sandwich and finished the bottle of energy drink. Then walked 10 mins to get the boat and commence the journey home.
• At home I went unto the website. Checked my time and compared it with others in my catagory. Printed out my certificate. Tweeted my result.
• 18:30 – had tea
• 20:00 – went to bed and slept for 11 hours :) - woke up very stiff - tbc.