26.2 miles in a freezer

So, compared to many previous events this one started long before the start line, but possibly not long enough!

After reading numerous blogs and doing research to determine which training schedule to take up and what advice to take on board, I began pounding the pavement.

I began back in July with a ten-kilometre run back from work along the canal. Seven kilometres in, it soon became apparent I needed to spend a lot more time in my newly purchased running gear.

After my initial benchmark run, my twelve-week programme was created: Two ten-kilometre runs during the week and the dreaded long run at the weekend, building up from ten kilometres to forty kilometres in five-kilometre increments, with a two-week tapering period before the gun went off on 26 October.

So after three months of training, which certainly wasn’t enough, it was time to fly to Greenland… well, to Copenhagen to catch a connecting flight. Hands up if you knew Greenland was part of Denmark?

I arrived with 130 other crazy runners, some running the half marathon on the Saturday, others running the full 26.2 miles on the Sunday. Some had even decided to run both (the Polar Bear Challenge), a first for the event.

The race attracted runners from around the world, with 23 countries represented this year, a record for the event. Many participants had a number of exotic marathons already under their belt. These included one gentleman who was actually running his 438th and a group of ex-Royal Marines who proved to be so much fun. Everyone loves Americans for their enthusiasm; add ex-military and this is multiplied 100-fold.

Race organisers Albatros had prepared us for the worst, recommending at least four layers and suggesting (and even selling on the day) spikes that slipped under ordinary shoes.

However, with my own creative DIY skills, I decided to add ten small screws to the bottom of my recently bought trail-running trainers – some thinking I was stupid, others a genius. They worked perfectly, in case you were wondering!

Unfortunately, the weather gods were against us and, although temperatures remained at a cool -10C, the clouds had come to limit the view, but with temperatures expected to be -20C at the start of the week, this probably turned out to be a blessing.

The race itself started with a two-kilometre run up to the ice-cap before a six-kilometre circuit of knee-deep powder. Fortunately for us marathon runners, the previous day’s half marathon race had provided us with a ‘sort of’ designated footpath. My plan was to race forward to position myself ahead of the main group, providing no opportunity to really overtake or, more strategically, be overtaken on a very difficult single-file pile-up.

Coming off the ice-cap I felt great and was positioned in the top ten. I was only sad to be leaving the powdered landscape to hit the snow covered sand road. This is when the views began to change as the skies started to clear, providing sweeping views of the Russell Glacier. As the sun begun to break through, the ice crystals glistened in the low sun like millions of diamonds.

The rest of the route followed an undulating snow-covered sand track back to the race base at Kangerlussuaq, the old US Air Force base, I think the climb over the whole route was 1000m+

What I did learn like many first timers is that the 26.2 is a literally a marathon, not a sprint and I was to get this lesson about 10 miles in when a gentleman asked my how many marathons had I done, or if I was part of a running club. When I mentioned this was my first one his immediate response was, you’d better slow down, I was in 6th or 7th place at this point. He was right and after reaching the half-way point I was soon being overtaken.

I crossed the line in a respectable four hours and forty-two minutes, putting me in the top 30%, which, along with finishing in under five hours, was my main goal… well, that and, of course, finishing.

I am not going to mention how hard it was or how a little Chinese lady overtook me on the last 1000 metres, but I will say that when I got over the last hill to see the finish line, with Chariots of Fire blasting in my ears – a complete coincidence, as my suggested running playlist was on shuffle – the frown of pain that I had on my face for close to ten kilometres was quickly turned upside down, a huge smile was across my face as I crossed the line.

Thanks, Greenland – you were a wonderful place and I couldn’t think of a better place to run my first marathon! Will it be my last? I think so, but time will tell!