Anthony
27th Tiberias Marathon Thursday 8 January, 2004
Timeline:
Wednesday 7 January 12:30p.m. - as we leave Jerusalem by bus with our running club, the heavens
open. Nevertheless, spirits are high. There are 35 of us - 15 marathoners and 20 running the
accompanying 12K race. My wife and 2 sons are running the 12K. Lots of joking around, and some race
predictions and tactics...
1:30 As we reach the Jordan valley and head North, the skies clear and we're greeted by a
magnificent rainbow
2:00 Tiberias - forecast is mixed for tomorrow - heavy rain predicted. Temperature should be cool,
wind is an unknown. For the moment it is cool and clear with a light wind.
3:30 Pasta party. A few speeches. Good luck to the 2 Israeli Olympic hopefuls (2 others have
already qualified). Plenty of pasta.
4:30 An early night. Feeling relaxed and confident.
Thursday 8 January 1:40 am Wake up. Race starts at 9:00, but no more sleep this night. Drinking
sports drink and water every 1/2 hour.
5:00 Torrential rain
6:00 Light breakfast - rolls and jam. Stop drinking 2 hours berfore race start. Place my 13 bottles
of Isostar (sports drink) for disribution at the drink stops.
7:00 Head out for a very light warmup with my wife and older son. It's raining heavily so my son
heads back. We are wearing all our rain gear and our spare running shoes. The streets are awash
and our socks get wet in a few seconds.
8:20 Back in the hotel - light stretches and change into race gear. Singlet and shorts, hat and
sunglasses (?). 2 emergency double strength Isostar in very small (55ml) bottles in shorts
pockets along with a couple of pain tablets. Lots of vaseline. Voltaren gel on right hamstring
and hip which have been causing slight problems recently.
9:50 Drink 250 mls of Isostar. Find position on start line directly behind the hand-cycle riders
who will start a minute before us. I'm on the front row! Altogether there are close to 500
starters. Two other runners want to run with me. Elhanan from our club who finished just behind
me in the recent 1/2 marathon, and Michael - the owner of a health-club who has done all his
training on a treadmill. The rain has cleared, little or no wind. Overcast skies. Temp at the
start 10C (50F) - maximum predicted 14C (57F).
10:07 The gun is fired. We're off! Finally after a year of consistent and hard training - we are
running the race that matters. Sub-3 is the aim, but given the perfect weather, I am shooting for
sub 2:55. The plan is to start at 4:15/k pace (6:50/mile) for the 1st 3km. Increase to 4:10
(10:1) until 14km. Then increase to 4:05 (6:34) to bring us to the 1/2 way mark in 1:27:35. From
there hopefully hold the pace and even increase for the final few kms.
From the gun I hold back, as the bolters pass us and we maintain an "easy pace". We reach the 1st
km point in 4:12 and the 2nd in 4:16. Perfect start. But where is the 3k mark?. What? 4:54 - surely
a mistake. Michael has a GPS and reckons we are at 3.3k. The 4k mark appears at 3:31, so together
that makes 8:25 and on pace. 5k after 4:10 amd 21:03 - on the mark. We are reeling in the
"bolters". 5k is the 1st of the drink stops, and my bottles are covered in pink contact paper which
makes them easily recognisable.
6k in 4:14, but where is 7K? We never saw it, and almost missed 8k because the drink station was
parked right on the marker, but 7:58 for 2k was a bit fast. The course is mostly flat. A slight
uphill km in
11:16 followed by a downhill in 3:44. 8:00 for 2 and still a bit quick.
12:12 for that 5k and 41:15 for 10k. We are ahead of schedule, and passing some good runners.
We have been running south along the Sea of Galillee and now we turn east - a light drizzle feels
great. The next 5k in
13:11, 4:09, 4:06, 4:20 and 3:48 - not sure about the 3:48, maybe balanced a slightly long 4:20.
(20:34 for the last 5k) We have now turned north and are running up the East bank of the lake
towards the turn around point at Ein Gev.
Our group of 3 has been joined by a tall Danish visitor. We cover the next 5k in 4:11, 4:12, another
miss-measured pair of 3:09 and 4:49
(14:58 for 2), and 4:03. 20:24 for 5k and 40:58 for the 10K split. At some point after 18k we see
the leaders coming the other way. The 2 Ethiopian runners and the 3 local Israeli Ethiopians are
running in a tight bunch. They look great and we shout out encouragement to Zvedia Wodeg who is
trying to run sub 2:15 to qualify for Athens. Later on Nilli Avramski, the leading woman crosses
us. She is shooting for sub 2:37 for her Olympic place.
The turn around is at about 20.5k and we pass the next km in 3:58, and reach the 1/2 way mark in
1:26:33. That's about a minute ahead and the next km passes in 3:47. As we see all the runners
behind us coming back towards us we look for our clubmates and shout out more encouragement. At this
stage everyone looks great. But Michael has dropped behind a bit and reached the 1/2 way mark in
about 1:27. Our tall Danish friend has also slipped behind. Elhanan and I are left together. 8:32
for the next 2k (we missed the 23k marker), and 4:06. 20:23 for the last 5k.
We now notice a slight cross or headwind, and we try sharing a bit of drafting. It gets harder.
4:29, 4:26, 4:32, and another problematic marker,
15:42 and 4:25. 21:33 for 5k and 41:56 for the 10k split. I try to push the pace a bit to regain our
tempo. I pull ahead of Elhanan and our Danish visitor who had caught up with us again.
Elhanan joins me again, but at 32k he has some muscle cramps, and I am on my own. 4:22, 4:08, 4:21,
4:18 and 4:14. 21:25 for 5k. It is hard going. I have some pain in my right hamstring, but nothing
that will stop me. My calf muscles are also reminding me that they are not happy.
At around 36k I pass a clubmate, Udi, who has a foot problem. I tell him to fight on and try for sub-
3. He had been training for sub 2-50. I am calculating at each km mark how much I need to run to
achieve the sub-3. I am still confident.
16:24, 4:08, 4:25, 4:22 and 4:34. 21:52 for 5k and 43:47 for 10k. My last km was the slowest for the
day - down to 7:20 mile pace. At about 37 km I got passed for the first time. From there until 40
k another 3 or 4 runners passed me including the 3rd place woman. 40k in 2:47:26. Barring
disaster sub-3 is there for the taking...
41k in 4:28 and I see my older son waiting on the side. He joins me and I feel a great uplifiting of
spirit. He's urging me on, telling me how far I am of the person behind, and can I give it more to
catch the person head. Two years ago when I ran 3:14, I was running about 4:00/k at this point, but
I didn't have anything left today. I was hanging on - no 42k mark, but ran the last 1.2 in 5:16
(4:20 pace). I approach the line and see the clock tick over to 2:57. I feel a swell of emotion -
more so than after my first marathon 3 years ago. I've done it!
My watch time was 2:57:09 Official time of 2:57:22.
25th of 410 finishers and 4th age-group of 49 (40-44). Udi's time was 2:59:48, our Danish friend
3:00:47, Elhanan 3:08, and Michael 3:26.
The winner was the Ethiopian, Habatmu Bekele in 2:15:39. Wodeg missed out on qualifying - 2:16:04,
as did Avramski in 2:38:42.
Anthony. Jerusalem, Israel.
Timeline:
Wednesday 7 January 12:30p.m. - as we leave Jerusalem by bus with our running club, the heavens
open. Nevertheless, spirits are high. There are 35 of us - 15 marathoners and 20 running the
accompanying 12K race. My wife and 2 sons are running the 12K. Lots of joking around, and some race
predictions and tactics...
1:30 As we reach the Jordan valley and head North, the skies clear and we're greeted by a
magnificent rainbow
2:00 Tiberias - forecast is mixed for tomorrow - heavy rain predicted. Temperature should be cool,
wind is an unknown. For the moment it is cool and clear with a light wind.
3:30 Pasta party. A few speeches. Good luck to the 2 Israeli Olympic hopefuls (2 others have
already qualified). Plenty of pasta.
4:30 An early night. Feeling relaxed and confident.
Thursday 8 January 1:40 am Wake up. Race starts at 9:00, but no more sleep this night. Drinking
sports drink and water every 1/2 hour.
5:00 Torrential rain
6:00 Light breakfast - rolls and jam. Stop drinking 2 hours berfore race start. Place my 13 bottles
of Isostar (sports drink) for disribution at the drink stops.
7:00 Head out for a very light warmup with my wife and older son. It's raining heavily so my son
heads back. We are wearing all our rain gear and our spare running shoes. The streets are awash
and our socks get wet in a few seconds.
8:20 Back in the hotel - light stretches and change into race gear. Singlet and shorts, hat and
sunglasses (?). 2 emergency double strength Isostar in very small (55ml) bottles in shorts
pockets along with a couple of pain tablets. Lots of vaseline. Voltaren gel on right hamstring
and hip which have been causing slight problems recently.
9:50 Drink 250 mls of Isostar. Find position on start line directly behind the hand-cycle riders
who will start a minute before us. I'm on the front row! Altogether there are close to 500
starters. Two other runners want to run with me. Elhanan from our club who finished just behind
me in the recent 1/2 marathon, and Michael - the owner of a health-club who has done all his
training on a treadmill. The rain has cleared, little or no wind. Overcast skies. Temp at the
start 10C (50F) - maximum predicted 14C (57F).
10:07 The gun is fired. We're off! Finally after a year of consistent and hard training - we are
running the race that matters. Sub-3 is the aim, but given the perfect weather, I am shooting for
sub 2:55. The plan is to start at 4:15/k pace (6:50/mile) for the 1st 3km. Increase to 4:10
(10:1) until 14km. Then increase to 4:05 (6:34) to bring us to the 1/2 way mark in 1:27:35. From
there hopefully hold the pace and even increase for the final few kms.
From the gun I hold back, as the bolters pass us and we maintain an "easy pace". We reach the 1st
km point in 4:12 and the 2nd in 4:16. Perfect start. But where is the 3k mark?. What? 4:54 - surely
a mistake. Michael has a GPS and reckons we are at 3.3k. The 4k mark appears at 3:31, so together
that makes 8:25 and on pace. 5k after 4:10 amd 21:03 - on the mark. We are reeling in the
"bolters". 5k is the 1st of the drink stops, and my bottles are covered in pink contact paper which
makes them easily recognisable.
6k in 4:14, but where is 7K? We never saw it, and almost missed 8k because the drink station was
parked right on the marker, but 7:58 for 2k was a bit fast. The course is mostly flat. A slight
uphill km in
11:16 followed by a downhill in 3:44. 8:00 for 2 and still a bit quick.
12:12 for that 5k and 41:15 for 10k. We are ahead of schedule, and passing some good runners.
We have been running south along the Sea of Galillee and now we turn east - a light drizzle feels
great. The next 5k in
13:11, 4:09, 4:06, 4:20 and 3:48 - not sure about the 3:48, maybe balanced a slightly long 4:20.
(20:34 for the last 5k) We have now turned north and are running up the East bank of the lake
towards the turn around point at Ein Gev.
Our group of 3 has been joined by a tall Danish visitor. We cover the next 5k in 4:11, 4:12, another
miss-measured pair of 3:09 and 4:49
(14:58 for 2), and 4:03. 20:24 for 5k and 40:58 for the 10K split. At some point after 18k we see
the leaders coming the other way. The 2 Ethiopian runners and the 3 local Israeli Ethiopians are
running in a tight bunch. They look great and we shout out encouragement to Zvedia Wodeg who is
trying to run sub 2:15 to qualify for Athens. Later on Nilli Avramski, the leading woman crosses
us. She is shooting for sub 2:37 for her Olympic place.
The turn around is at about 20.5k and we pass the next km in 3:58, and reach the 1/2 way mark in
1:26:33. That's about a minute ahead and the next km passes in 3:47. As we see all the runners
behind us coming back towards us we look for our clubmates and shout out more encouragement. At this
stage everyone looks great. But Michael has dropped behind a bit and reached the 1/2 way mark in
about 1:27. Our tall Danish friend has also slipped behind. Elhanan and I are left together. 8:32
for the next 2k (we missed the 23k marker), and 4:06. 20:23 for the last 5k.
We now notice a slight cross or headwind, and we try sharing a bit of drafting. It gets harder.
4:29, 4:26, 4:32, and another problematic marker,
15:42 and 4:25. 21:33 for 5k and 41:56 for the 10k split. I try to push the pace a bit to regain our
tempo. I pull ahead of Elhanan and our Danish visitor who had caught up with us again.
Elhanan joins me again, but at 32k he has some muscle cramps, and I am on my own. 4:22, 4:08, 4:21,
4:18 and 4:14. 21:25 for 5k. It is hard going. I have some pain in my right hamstring, but nothing
that will stop me. My calf muscles are also reminding me that they are not happy.
At around 36k I pass a clubmate, Udi, who has a foot problem. I tell him to fight on and try for sub-
3. He had been training for sub 2-50. I am calculating at each km mark how much I need to run to
achieve the sub-3. I am still confident.
16:24, 4:08, 4:25, 4:22 and 4:34. 21:52 for 5k and 43:47 for 10k. My last km was the slowest for the
day - down to 7:20 mile pace. At about 37 km I got passed for the first time. From there until 40
k another 3 or 4 runners passed me including the 3rd place woman. 40k in 2:47:26. Barring
disaster sub-3 is there for the taking...
41k in 4:28 and I see my older son waiting on the side. He joins me and I feel a great uplifiting of
spirit. He's urging me on, telling me how far I am of the person behind, and can I give it more to
catch the person head. Two years ago when I ran 3:14, I was running about 4:00/k at this point, but
I didn't have anything left today. I was hanging on - no 42k mark, but ran the last 1.2 in 5:16
(4:20 pace). I approach the line and see the clock tick over to 2:57. I feel a swell of emotion -
more so than after my first marathon 3 years ago. I've done it!
My watch time was 2:57:09 Official time of 2:57:22.
25th of 410 finishers and 4th age-group of 49 (40-44). Udi's time was 2:59:48, our Danish friend
3:00:47, Elhanan 3:08, and Michael 3:26.
The winner was the Ethiopian, Habatmu Bekele in 2:15:39. Wodeg missed out on qualifying - 2:16:04,
as did Avramski in 2:38:42.
Anthony. Jerusalem, Israel.
