Edinburgh Marathon Race Report by Profeet Staff Members Anna, Rosie and Emma

My body felt pretty good (even my niggling left foot/Achilles) but I was a little anxious having not run particularly much or far in the past 5 weeks.
Rosie

I was excited, nervous and I didn’t know what to expect. I was a bit worried about the weather conditions for the race. I hadn’t trained in warm conditions; it was humid and 20C which was warm for Scotland and hadn’t expected!
Anna

I was nervous. I hate running in hot/humid conditions and had done Brighton a few weeks prior which was on the hottest day of the year. So yes the prospect of 20C wasn’t filling me with joy!
Emma

Having run the London Marathon 5 weeks before the key thing for me to do leading up to Edinburgh was recover. I did a few runs but no more than 13miles, I had completed all my long runs in March so it was all about ticking over and staying injury free.
Rosie

I was on a 17-week intermediate marathon training program. I adjusted the programme based on experience from Emma and Rosie. I did 3 runs a week plus HIIT classes and some strength training. This seemed to work well for me around work.
Anna

As I mentioned I’d run Brighton marathon 7 weeks prior. Due to suffering mild heat stroke and excessive quad pain post-race I’d had 3 weeks off running. Then I only managed one long run of 10 miles in the final 4 weeks. So, my preparations could have been worse, but I had a few doubts that I couldn’t finish Edinburgh’s 26.2 miles.
Emma

It was a very pretty route, in the sunshine the beaches and coast line looked lovely. For Scotland the course was relatively flat (except the first 10k downhill out of the city centre) but considering all my training had been done in London it didn’t feel particularly flat. The small ups and downs all added up. The mix of residential areas and countryside gave it some variety.
Rosie

I hit mile 13 in 2:14 which I was super happy with considering my plan for the race was to attempt close to 4:30. After 13 miles the sun came out an I was getting warmer and warmer. The out and back sections were harder mentally seeing people coming back from where I hadn’t reached which was tough.
Anna

It was beautiful, as Rosie mentioned I loved the first 10km as it was downhill. After that the roads were winding and undulating which hit the quads a little. Even at mile 19 we were on a gravel/off-road area which was a surprise especially trying to run it downhill! Overall very enjoyable.
Emma

Best moment – Seeing and running the last 3 miles with Emma, with out her I would have struggled in the heat and humidity.
Worst moment – Hitting about mile 15 and having to stop and walk, this was new to me as I’d managed to run straight through on all my long runs and the London Marathon, psychologically this was hard.
Rosie

Best moment – My last 2 miles were the best knowing I was near the finish line, knowing I could do it. I could complete this marathon.
Worst moment – At 20 miles I had to walk and did multiple times. I saw people around me walking and it influenced my decision to slow down.

Anna

Best moment – Running with Rosie in the final 3 miles and making a strategy with her to get to the end of the race. Plus of course crossing the finish line!
Worst moment – I have two. One was twisting my ankle at 19/20 miles as I came from the stone & gravel onto the tarmac road. Not ideal for the end of the race! The second was the heat as the blazing sun came out at 17/18 miles in- felt it beating down on me and felt like it totally sapped my energy.

Emma

Pace myself, I went off far too fast in the first 10k and paid the price!
Rosie

I can do anything. I also learnt I need to strengthen my hips. I’m hypermobile so I suffer badly when I get fatigued.

Anna

That I can still enjoy a race no matter how badly it’s gone from a time perspective. Time isn’t everything.

Emma