Milton Keynes Marathon: The Final 6 Miles

When I decided that I was going to write four blog posts about the route of the Milton Keynes Marathon I knew that this one would be the hardest.  After following the route for 20 miles and reminiscing about my time growing up in MK, the marathon's last 6 miles goes down paths that I just don't know.  What I hadn't anticipated was that having writers' block for this section of the race would also bring back memories of my last (and only) marathon.

In 2015 I ran the Yorkshire Marathon and everything was going to plan until I hit the 20 mile marker.  It was there that I had to stop and use a handy Portaloo, costing me 4 minutes*.  I managed to get going again but I had lost momentum.  By the time mile 23 came into view I had lost my head and my legs started to give up too.  I had never ran further than 20 miles before and the prospect of adding a parkrun to my already weary body filled me with dread.

I've told myself for months now that knowing the MK Marathon route is going to help me cover the distance but the fact that my blind spot for the race is exactly at the moment when I know I'll need the most clarity, has started to get the maranoia going.  For me there will be no more friendly landmarks to tick off, no more memories of a carefree childhood to mull over whilst pounding the redways with my weary feet, from mile 20 onwards I will be running into the unknown.

I've done this before, I can do it again!

But, all hope is not lost for me.  This time round I will know that I have covered the distance at least once.  Not in training (I finished my final long training run this morning and cut it short at 17 miles due to the heat), but in York 18 months ago.  I know that apart from today my training runs have been good, and I know that the same training plan has worked previously, so all I have to do is remember to tell myself that I can do it on the 1st of May.

For the record the MK Marathon website describes the last 6 miles thus:

The route follows the brook further south, through the fertile Loughton Valley Park, passing Lodge Lake and then Teardrop Lakes before heading back for a victory lap of the stadiumMK football pitch and that magical stadium finish!

I'm really looking forward to finishing in the stadium, in fact I'm really looking forward to the whole event.  I've decided not to enter the rocket 5k on Sunday, but places are still available.  For me the MK Marathon is now in the lap of the gods, I'm going to ease off running for a couple of weeks tapering and trying not to succumb to the dreaded maranoia!

I am training for the Milton Keynes Marathon on the 1st May and have been selected to be one of their ambassadors.  I am also raising money for Bliss, the premature baby charity.  You can find my Just Giving page here.

*yes I timed it!