DNF
DNF
Alex Vero Paris Marathon Predictions
Mark Dodd - 2:37:14
hmmmmmm - 2:50
DNF - DNF
BUILD UP TO PARIS MARATHON
With less then one week to go till the Paris Marathon I feel better then ever and am raring to go. The last 4 weeks have been the hardest of the project having suffered from fatigue and a flu bug that seemed to last forever. I have now set a tough but very attainable goal of 2:36 (1:19-1:17 splits - 3:42 per km) after consulting with both of my coaches who advised me to get a good marathon under my belt, have a break and then to really work on my speed over the summer.
What does this mean for the future of project and my own goals?
First lets see what happens in Paris, it will be a good indication as to how I can progress in the future. I have written an exciting pitch for the marathon running documentary which I will not go into detail at this stage but after Paris and talks with various groups I will certainly let you all know more.
As far as my goal as a runner I will certainly be carrying on and after a few weeks of much needed rest I will be concentrating on my speed over the summer with a 10km target in October. After that I will be training for London but will also be introducing some cross-country into the programme over the early stages.
For the time being I am getting very focused for Paris. I ran in the Asthma 10km on Saturday with my GPS watch set to 3:38 per km, I ran 36:18 and felt amazing, it was the first run that I have ever done when I wanted the finish line to be another 10km further on because I felt so good and relaxed. I will certainly be using my GPS watch to pace me for the first half of the marathon.
Finally best of luck to everyone else who is running in marathons over the next few weeks.
Alex Vero Paris Marathon Predictions
Mark Dodd - 2:37:14
hmmmmmm - 2:50
DNF - DNF[/quote]
Kayanoreeves - 2:38:30
On Sunday in Paris the next test - I say 2:46.15
N° 1420 Alexandre VERO Cat. SH
kilometre Temps de passage Position
km 10 09h 23' 59" 463th
km 21 10h 07' 14" 385th
km 30 10h 43' 39" 372th
How did Vero get on?
It looks like he was on for around 2.50 or just under if he finished. It'd be a good PR and it looks hot.
So... anyone know how he did?
VERO Alexandre 03h 10m 34s
is 3 hour 10 even good for age?
I did 3hrs 9m and I have a full time job, 2 kids under 2 years old and do between 30 and 40 miles a week.
Any news?
I heard that he was just looking to beat Mark Steinle's Singapore time. Seeing that he did by 6 minutes, I figure that makes his 3:10 as good as 2:03.
Theres an idea, Vero v Steinle in a head to head.......
From Alex Vero's Website:
PARIS MARATHON :- 3 hours 11 minutes
Having dedicated the last 14 months of my life towards this project the result in Paris was heart wrenching. I was in the shape of my life, felt full of energy if not a little nervous before the start, but was safe in the knowledge that I had done everything asked of my to achieve my revised target time of 2 hours 36 minutes.
It was a hot day in Paris, but I had prepared for this after succumbing to the heat in Palma in October and had learnt my lessons of the importance of hydration the hard way. I had gone to such lengths that I had a soaked cap waiting a few km past the half way mark to deal with the sun. I met up with my friend Hugh from the Serpentine Running Club and ran the first 10km eight seconds under my target and felt great heading up to the park. At 12 km I felt a slight twinge at the top of my left leg in the ITB/Hip rejoin but thought that I would be able to run it out. At 17km it was still there, if not a little worse and I stopped to stretch and have a pee.
After a minute of stretching I got right back into it, thinking that I would be able to make up the time in the last 12km but to stick to the pace that I had been going at. 3km latter I had to stretch again which by this stage was becoming indicative of a small tear becoming exacerbated by continuing. Still I though I would just grim and bear it as I was feeling very fresh still and felt I might be able to get around in 2 hours 45 minutes.
At 22km I was reduced to walking and had to get on the ground to stretch it out and should have thrown in the towel but for some reason I did not. I thought of the members of my family who have given so much support to me from the start and thinking of them stationed along the next 10km waiting and willing me on, I felt a sense of pride that no matter what happened in the next 20km I would finish this race and that at least in their eyes I could hold my head up high.
The next 20km was the most painful and helpless experience of my life with a combination of; walking, jogging and stretching I finally made it to the finish line. I felt unbelievably frustrated. I had in the past thought of every scenario that would have prevented me from reaching this time but injury never past my mind. I might have had a few niggles over the last 14 months but nothing at all in the last 6 weeks and never a problem with the ITB/Hip area. To say the least I am absolutely gutted!
Sitting here writing this after returning home on the EuroStar from Paris I not only am in a lot of pain in the ITB/Hip area but I have a splitting pain down my right shin caused by the compensation of shifting my weight while running on my right leg to take some of the pressure off the left leg.
At this time after this setback at the moment to tell you the truth I don't know what I am going to do. It was a failure but an inconclusive failure. I am going to the physio tomorrow and will have a better understanding of how it is and whether I will be able to run in the near future. To give up after all the dedication and hard work in training though after the nature of the failure would be foolish but when an if I can run again is undecided.
Although very frustrating I am very aware that it really is not the end of the world. To put this into perspective I have a friend who has been very unwell, I thought of him out on the course today while I was limping along through the last few km. He is the bravest man I know, he has been through hell, his battle is for survival mine is to run a fast marathon!
Thank you very much to all those that have supported me throughout and good luck to those running running in London next week. May I wish you far better luck then me.
Send to friend
Bump!
VERO FOR PRIME MINISTER
Strange how quiet it's gone on here? lol
Pug
His website looks pretty quiet as well. Has he given up? I hope not. His updates page has been completely taken away and he's not updated his training page since well before Paris.