Marathon Schedule
On Saturday, August 14th I’ll run the Helsinki City Marathon 2010. I’d like to encourage any readers who happen to be in Helsinki then to come and cheer me up! See the map of the route. I was originally planning to aim for 3:15h (4:37min/km), but my training in July was rubbish due to constant travelling and slight illness, so I’m not exactly bursting with confidence. Hence, I’ve decided to set off at a slightly slower pace (4:44min/km), which would see me through the marathon in 3:20h. Hopefully I can keep that up.
In the meanwhile I’ve attended a short (2.53km) but hilly local race amongst friends in Helsinki, which has been increasing in popularity. It’s called Tour de Ulvilantie and as the name suggests it takes place in Munkkivuori, going around the road called Ulvilantie. I used to live around there as a kid. It’s tough to race over such a short distance from marathon training, but I did ok, finishing 3/15 in 9:14. The record stands at 8:49 at the moment. I think I should be able to break 9min in ideal conditions, and hope to have a go at it before I leave Finland. We’ll see!
Newcastle Parkrun, 4.7.2010. Photo by my sister.
The route description below shows my estimated times at key points during the marathon. This is assuming that I manage to set off exactly when the gun goes off and keep a steady pace. Anyway, I should be within five minutes of this schedule — early if I’m doing well, late if I’m not doing so well, provided that I don’t encounter any serious problems. So, the start is at 3pm near the Olympic Stadium and the finish is at the same place, presumably around 6:20pm.
I’ll be wearing a sleeveless neon yellow hi-viz Team Ronhill top and tight black Ronhill lycra shorts (not the same gear as in the photo, but similar colours).
Cheering would be especially welcome after the 30km point, in Lauttasaari, and also in Munkkiniemi and Pikku Huopalahti. Another good spot might be the half marathon point in Hietalahti, I’m confident that I can reach that point well within the schedule. If you are planning to come and watch, feel free to let me know where you will be so that I know to be on the lookout. Wish me luck, and hope to see some of you along the way!
- Start, Mäntymäentie, Paavo Nurmen patsas
- Nordenskiöldinkatu / Vauhtitien risteys, Eläintarhan urheilukenttä
- Vauhtitie / Helsinginkatu risteys
- Helsinginkatu / Mannerheimintien risteys, Ooppera HCM huoltopiste *1*
- Mannerheimintie / Pohjoinen Rautatienkatu risteys, Eduskuntatalo
- Arkadiankatu / Väinämöisenkatu risteys, Etu-Töölö
- Merikannontie / Rajasaarentie, Rajasaari HCM huoltopiste *2*
- Merikannontie / Paciuksenkadun risteys; Meilahti
- Paciuksenkatu / Ramsaynranta risteys, bussin ajotie
- Pikkuniementie / Kuusisaarensalmen silta, Munkkiniemi HCM huoltopiste *3*
- Lehtisaarentie / Lehtisaarensalmen silta, puistikko HCM huuhteluasema
- Karhusaarentie / Keilalahdentien risteys, Keilaniemi
- Keilalahdentie / Keilaterassi, Nokian toimitalo, Keilalahti HCM huoltopiste *4*
- Länsiväylän kev.liik.väylä / Vaskilahdensalmi, Koivusaari
- Koivusaarentie / Telkkäkuja risteys, Länsiväylän alikulkutunneli
- Vaskiniementie / Isokaari risteys, Lauttasaari
- Isokaari / Särkiniementien kev. liikenteen ylikulkusilta, Lauttasaari
- Tallbergin puistotie / Haahkakuja, Lauttasaari HCM huoltopiste *5*
- Tallbergin puistotie / Meripuistotie, liikenneympyrä, Lauttasaari
- Meripuistotie / Pajalahden venesatama, Lauttasaari HCM huuhteluasema
- Meripuistotie / Lauttasaarentien risteys, Lauttasaari
- Porkkalankatu / Itämerenkatu risteys, Ruoholahti
- Porkkalankatu / Länsiväylän risteys, Ruoholahti
- Porkkalankatu / Hietalahdenkatu risteys
- Hietalahdenkatu / Bulevardin risteys, Hietalahti 1/2 marathon kohta
- Hietalahdenranta / Neste huoltamo, Punavuori HCM huoltopiste *6*
- Telakkakatu / Hernesaarenkatu risteys, Munkkisaari HCM huuhteluasema
- Merisatamanranta / Ehrenströmintie, Kaivopuisto HCM huoltopiste *7*
- Ehrenströmintie / Laivasillankatu, Olympialaituri, Kaivopuisto
- Laivasillankatu/Berhardinkadun risteys HCM huoltopiste *8*
- Eteläranta / Pohjoisesplanadi risteys, Kauppatori
- Mikonkatu / Eteläesplanadi risteys, Esplanadi
- Eteläesplanadi / Unioninkatu risteys
- Etelä Makasiinikatu / Laivasillankatu risteys, Makasiinilaituri
- Merikatu / Neitsytpolku risteys, Kaivopuisto HCM huoltopiste *9*
- Telakkakatu / Hietalahdenranta, Neste huoltamo, Punavuori HCM huoltopiste *10* (*6*)
- Hietalandenkatu / Porkkalankatu risteys
- Porkkalankatu / Länsiväylän risteys, Ruoholahti
- Porkkalankatu / Lauttasaarentie risteys, Ruoholahti
- Lauttasaarentie / Meripuistotie risteys, Lauttasaari
- Tallbergin puistotie / Haahkakuja, Lauttasaari HCM huoltopiste *11* (*5*)
- Myllykalliontie kev.liik.väylä (koulun pihalta) Lauttasaarentielle
- Lauttasaarentie / Lahnalahdentie risteys, Lauttasaari
- Lahnalahdentie / Lauttasaaren urheilukenttä, Lauttasaari HCM huoltopiste *12*
- Kaskisaarentie / Kaskisaarensalmen silta, Kaskisaari
- Lehtisaarentie / Kalkkipaadentien risteys, Lehtisaari HCM huoltopiste *13*
- Lehtisaarentie / Lehtisaarensalmen silta, puistikko, Lehtisaari HCM huuhteluasema
- Pikkuniementie / Kuusisaarensalmen silta, Munkkiniemi HCM huoltopiste *14* (*3*)
- Ramsaynranta / Paciuksenkatu risteys, bussin ajotie
- Paciuksenkatu / Paciuksenkaari, tien ylitys 2 paikkaa
- Paciuksenkaari / Kallioportaankatu, Pikku Huopalahti
- Tilkanvierto / Mannerheimintien alikulkutunneli, Pikku Huopalahti HCM huoltopiste *15*
- Mannerheimintie / Lehtikuusentie risteys
- Mannerheimintie / Reijolankatu risteys
- Nordenskiöldinkatu / Pohj. Stadionintie risteys, kadun ylitys
- Hammarskjöldintie/ Olympiastadion, Marathonportti
- Finish, Mäntymäentie, Paavo Nurmen patsas HCM huoltopiste *16*
0,0km 15:00:00
1,4km 15:06:38
2,4km 15:11:22
2,9km 15:13:44
4,0km 15:18:56
5,0km 15:23:40
6,5km 15:30:46
6,9km 15:32:40
8,6km 15:40:42
10,0km 15:47:20
11,0km 15:52:04
12,3km 15:58:13
13,8km 16:05:19
15,0km 16:11:00
15,3km 16:12:25
15,9km 16:15:16
17,0km 16:20:28
17,1km 16:20:56
18,0km 16:25:12
18,5km 16:27:34
18,6km 16:28:02
19,3km 16:31:21
20,0km 16:34:40
20,6km 16:37:30
21,1km 16:39:52
21,3km 16:40:49
21,7km 16:42:43
22,7km 16:47:27
24,4km 16:55:30
24,8km 16.57:23
25,0km 16:58:20
25,5km 17:00:42
25,8km 17:02:07
26,1km 17:03:32
27,2km 17:08:45
28,8km 17:16:19
29,3km 17:18:41
30,0km 17:22:00
30,6km 17:24:50
31,4km 17:28:38
32,2km 17:32:25
32,8km 17:35:15
33,0km 17:36:12
33,2km 17:37:09
35,0km 17:45:40
35,6km 17:48:30
36,0km 17:50:24
37,2km 17:56:05
38,5km 18:02:14
38,9km 18:04:08
39,0km 18:04:36
39,4km 18:06:30
40,0km 18:09:20
40,8km 18:13:07
41,4km 18:15:58
42,0km 18:18:28
42,195km 18:20:00
Total time: 3.20.00
The Berlin Marathon has the nice feat. of posting your statistics online, so I looked the 2008 stats up as they might be helpful to plan my next marathon a bit more thoroughly.
Netto 04:22:28
Brutto 04:26:38
Zwischenzeit 5 km 00:31:51
Zwischenzeit 10 km 01:02:42
Zwischenzeit 15 km 01:32:12
Zwischenzeit 20 km 02:00:37
Zwischenzeit 21.1 km 02:06:45
Zwischenzeit 25 km 02:28:42
Zwischenzeit 30 km 02:57:16
Zwischenzeit 35 km 03:25:09
Zwischenzeit 40 km 04:04:34
it is quite interesting that I needed about 31min per 5km for the first 10k. But after that I could keep up a quite steady 28min+/5km pace till about 30km. Then my time was screwed up considerably, because I had to walk as my blood sugar was down to a level where I was close to even loose consciousness. After a few energy drinks and bananas the 29:30/5km pace is quite decent again.
I would recommend to start off with a ~10% slower pace for the first 5 to 10km, depending on how crowded the start is. I was in a too slow starter group, so that might have slowed me down a bit. After 5-10km go for your average speed and after 10-15km try to ‘beat’ that (maybe 5s/km below?). If it feels fine after 20km – keep it.
There is some risk that one may fell low in carbs or water so be aware of warning signs especially after 28km and still at 35km. If there is still enough power; final spurt! – Depending on how eager you are and how you are feeling you might want to increase your speed already at 30km, but that is a bit risky, I would say.
I will aim for the 3:20 as well (keeping the dubious 3:15 in reach). So be aware and remember that whenever you feel bored or unmotivated.
In any case; Good luck and have fun!
Thanks for the tips Ulrike. I think I will try to keep a fairly steady pace throughout the marathon, but at some point I hope to buy a minute or two for the last 5k in case it’s tough — there’s also a long hilly bit on that part.
I meant to do an easy 10k run this morning from my sister’s place, but discovered that I forgot my running shorts, they’re at my mum’s. I think I need to buy a new pair so that I can go for an easy run a couple of times before Saturday, but this is just one more thing that hasn’t quite gone according to plan in terms of the marathon preparation. Oh well, we’ll see how it goes!
Update: my race number is 2792. Looks like it will be a hot one, so even my reduced target might be rather ambitious, we shall see!