Fukuoka Marathon - Gunbatte!

Gunbatte! A Japanese word, which literally translates to "do your best". Despite never having heard the word prior to the Fukuoka Marathon, it is probably the most appropriate word to best describe my experience. The streets of Fukuoka were crowded from start to finish and the support was amazing. The Japanese people constantly chanted "Gunbatte". Having never heard the word before the race, I wasn't quite sure what they were saying. They were smiling and clapping so I was quietly confident that they weren't swearing at me & I figured that was a good thing. It certainly spurred me anyway!

As I lined up on the starting line, I knew that I'd prepared and trained well and importantly that I was in peak shape. The only thing that I was worried about was the unseasonably warm weather and getting the pace judgement right. The temperature was 16 degrees at the start and there was no cloud cover, which wasn't ideal. On the positive side wind & humidity wasn't a factor. Despite feeling a little nervous, I decided to stick to my original game plan and hold even splits of 3:44 per km (2:38 marathon). In the end this was the wrong strategy, especially as the temperature reached near 20 degrees later in the race.

I managed to hold the pace for 32 km's but struggled over the remaining 10 km's. My finishing time was 2:44:32, which is over 3 minutes slower than my previous marathon & a long way off the sub 2:40 that I was aiming for.

I really got the pace judgement wrong for the conditions. In hindsight, I should have went out easier than 78:54 for the first half. 80 minutes would have been good, but I was feeling good and too psyched about running 2:38. I was on pace until 32 km's and fell away badly after that. The last 4 km's were absolute hell. But the whole way I gave my best (Gunbatte).

I collapsed after the race with severe cramps in my legs and left shoulder and was assisted to the medical tent until I recovered an hour or so later.

The experience was memorable all the same. The course was lined the whole way and the support was unbelievable. "Gunbatte" I heard and "Gunbatte" I gave.

5 Splits were as follows:

18:41 / 18:39 / 18:40 / 18:45 / 18:43 / 19:08 / 19:40 / 21:36 / 10:40

Yes, pretty disatrous from 35 km's on, but I was giving everything I had and can hold me head up high and say that despite getting the pacing wrong, I didn't quit at any stage.

Next challenge is to run an Autumn marathon and run a qualifying time so I can come back next year.