There were about 800 runners in the marathon (picture shows the start). It was run on a two lap course with a few undulations near the end of the lap but otherwise pretty flat. There were quite a few twists & turns, including a lot of clambering up and down kerbs, and the course followed the shores of a big lake for a few miles on a fairly rough & loose surface. It was hot! The race started at 9am; there wasn't a cloud in the sky. There was no shade on the course and the lakeside running had the added burden of a reflected sun beating down on the runners. Still, it was August, what more does one expect? To keep out of the sun before the race, I found a computer and checked out the Ashes scorecard from Headingly ... England all out 102!Once I got over my usual abdominal pains and associated stiff adductors in the first km, I soon settled into a good pace of 3.55 per km (2.45 pace). I very quickly met up with Pauline Curley, a well known current senior Irish international runner - I'd spotted her in the entry list and commented to Claudie that she may be a good marker to look out for, always difficult in a foreign race when you don't know anybody else. Pauline seemed really happy to hook up with me and she asked if it was ok for the two of us to run together for a while as she was looking for some help / reassurance as to pace. Her best is 2.39 and she was looking to run in the low 2.40's but was not sounding confident. We got into a good rhythm and chatted quite a lot; being the first woman (by a long way) whenever we encountered big crowds she got a big cheer (have you noticed also that wherever you are in the world you'll always find an Irish bar and lots of Irish people - Finland was no different, but I digress) and that delivered adrenelin resulting in a surge in her pace. I warned her to be careful and control her pace which she did. She was constantly asking if the pace was ok. My legs were feeling ok but every time my right leg hit the tarmac I felt a stab in my abdomen with the kerbs just accentuating the problem. We ran the first lap sensibly, allowing surging runners to move through but also gradually reeling in some fast starters. It was great seeing everyone in their national kit and it was fun looking at ages of runners from the numbers pinned on the back of their vests.
Pauline had a friend on a bike who appeared regularly and Tony Spedding from Bourton, out with his wife Lynn supporting Dennis Walmsley's effort, also made an effort to cycle back, give me support and log my position, which was greatly appreciated. At 16km, by which time a Venezuelan V45 had joined our small group, we caught a larger group of about a dozen runners including four V50's, three Italians and a Spaniard. A km later Tony called out that he had good news and bad news: I was now 4th but there were four other V50's on my shoulder. Strange humour these Bourton people! Halfway was spot on plan at 1.22.30 with Claudie telling me that the third placed runner was a minute ahead (she later told me the gap was much larger but she wanted to make me feel positive).
The three of us then kicked on, leaving my rivals well behind, with the 5km to 25km my fastest of the race - not the most intelligent thing to do but I'd locked into the pace with the others and it seemed the way to go. Inevitably I tired (and ached!) and I let my partners move on with some final words of encouragement to Pauline. My spirits lifted shortly after as I caught and passed the third placed runner to move into a medal position. I held this through to 35km, by which time I was still on 2.45 pace. But I knew it was all over. The last 7km was purgatory; I was reduced to a shuffle but knew I couldn't stop and walk because my abdomen would seize up and I'd have to give up. Managed to raise a decent pace for the last km but it had been so frustrating watching a United Nations of runners edge past me, including some with V50 numbers.
The V50 winner was a Belgian guy in 2.39 (his current best being 2.29), with silver running 2.46 and bronze 2.48. I ran the race with one goal in mind, a medal, and suffered accordingly at the end. I probably made a few mistakes - coaching Pauline round being one, I can't help trying to help others; she was over the moon, winning in 2.43 - but the real problems were the heat; my impaired preparation in the last few weeks because of my abdomen, and the lack of sufficient fluid out on the course. This was my only criticism of a great event. My 5km splits were: 19.12, 19.22, 19.47, 19.45, 18.59, 19.36, 20.56 to 35km. Do the maths if you want the painful truth about the last 7km! A week before the race I had serious doubts as to whether I could start so I had to be happy with the result despite the frustrations. And perhaps, just perhaps, it will inspire me to target more European & World Masters events. Or should I just listen to what's happening to me and retire gracefully, no more races ... ? This is the conundrum.
Can't finish on the race without mentioning Bourton's very own Dennis Walmsley. He ran a superb race to win the V45 age group with a 2.33 clocking. To avoid running in a vacuum he bravely went out with a pack running at 2.28 pace and was strong enough to hold on in the second half for a momentous victory. We waited around afterwards to see his medal ceremony and listen to the national anthem - stirring stuff. We also caught up with Dennis and his lovely wife Lucy a few days later in Helsinki where we celebrated his win with a fine meal.
We stayed in Heinola, another half hour north of Lahti and famous for being the home of the World Sauna Championships, which just happened to be taking place on the same day as my marathon. After the race we went back, had a few beers and a big meal and watched the semi-finals amid a great party atmosphere - Finnish heavy rock band Eternal Erection
(there’s a name, DH) provided the alternative entertainment - as barbeques, heavy drinking and raucous cheering echoed through the late evening twilight. It was quite hilarious: half a dozen fat blokes would enter what looked like a garden centre shed on the stage vacated by aforementioned rock band, then sit in the "sauna" as long as possible as the heat was cranked up. Last one left won, simple really. Perhaps this could be my new vocation – not sure whether it’s professional and there’s a ‘circuit’ - although I think I may need to bulk up marginally from looking at the competition. A report of the championships even appeared in the UK press: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6001375/Finland-takes-gold-in-World-Sauna-Championships.html
We stayed in Heinola, another half hour north of Lahti and famous for being the home of the World Sauna Championships, which just happened to be taking place on the same day as my marathon. After the race we went back, had a few beers and a big meal and watched the semi-finals amid a great party atmosphere - Finnish heavy rock band Eternal Erection
(there’s a name, DH) provided the alternative entertainment - as barbeques, heavy drinking and raucous cheering echoed through the late evening twilight. It was quite hilarious: half a dozen fat blokes would enter what looked like a garden centre shed on the stage vacated by aforementioned rock band, then sit in the "sauna" as long as possible as the heat was cranked up. Last one left won, simple really. Perhaps this could be my new vocation – not sure whether it’s professional and there’s a ‘circuit’ - although I think I may need to bulk up marginally from looking at the competition. A report of the championships even appeared in the UK press: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6001375/Finland-takes-gold-in-World-Sauna-Championships.html 
