I flew to Frankfurt for my third autumn marathon. The Frankfurt Marathon is a fast course and attracts around 18,000 runners. It is one of the European Marathon Classics where runners can claim a special medal after completing five from eight in the series (Rome, Vienna, London, Madrid, Copenhagen, Warsaw, Lisbon and Frankfurt). Frankfurt would be my fourth marathon in the series (after completing London, Copenhagen and Warsaw previously).
Pre race
I took a very early Lufthansa flight from Manchester to Frankfurt the day before the marathon, arriving at the expo just as it opened at 10am. There I collected my bib and pre-paid Hoka running shirt and picked-up a Maurten energy bar which I had forgotten to bring with me. Next I headed to my hotel near the main train station (handy for airport trains) and a 15-min walk to the start/finish area.
Hotel check-in wasn’t available until 3pm so I sat in the hotel lobby for a couple of hours where I met a cool guy, Barry (from Edinburgh), who was also staying in the hotel and running the marathon. We ended up hanging out for the rest of the weekend. We spent the rest of Saturday carb loading including a pasta dinner at a nice Italian restaurant close to the hotel.
I had one eye on the weather as the advance forecast was a lot of rain on the morning of the race with a moderate breeze. This was further reinforced when on Saturday afternoon we all received an email from the organisers advising us to prepare for wet and windy conditions before and during the early part of the race.
The forecast was spot on. We left the hotel at 08:45 and made our way to the exhibition centre to drop our bags and go through the usual pre-race formalities, indoors thankfully. It had begun to rain steadily by the time we reached the start area and became quite heavy as we waited in the start area prior to the 10:00 start.
After a good race in Poznań (3:48), I was hoping for sub-3:45 finish in Frankfurt.
The marathon
I was in the third block of the first wave of runners. It was eight minutes after the gun before our marathon got underway. Although it was raining, spirits were high and I was chatting with four young guys from Manchester who were next to me in the starting block as we edged forwards.
The rain was getting heavier and there was a lot of standing water on the roads. I tried to stay out of the puddles but in a mass of bodies it was inevitable that I would step in some so my feet were soaked within the first km. I was also feeling quite cold as we covered the early km in the city centre. It was good to see decent numbers of people braving the elements and cheering the runners in the city centre.
About 10-15 mins into the run, the heavens really opened and the rain became torrential for about 10 minutes. My shirt was stuck to my body at this point and I was thinking this was going to be a tough race. We continued weaving around the city centre, avoiding standing water on the road where possible, encountering a few pinch points that slowed us a little where the road narrowed in places.
I was still feeling quite cold as I passed 5km in 27:12 although the rain had eased a little. The next 5km continued mostly in the city centre but by the time we reached the 10km mark (54:21), we were the north of the city centre, the rain had stopped and the field had spread out creating more room. The race organisers didn’t skimp on timing mats which were placed at every km marker. We navigated the first incline of any note between 9-10km.
From 10km we headed south towards the river. I wasn’t running efficiently at this point but was holding approximately a 5:25km pace, slightly outside my target 5:20km pace. I was expecting a difficult second half of the marathon. Time would tell. I took my first SiS energy chews as we crossed the river at 13km. As we approached the water station around 15km (heading west), I went to retrieve my Saltstick caps and somehow managed to empty the contents of my pouch on the road. I wasted about a minute as I reassembled the contents of my waist pouch. I reached 15km in 1:21:34.
During the next 5km segment I wasn’t feeling any better or worse and was holding my pace. I took another SiS energy chew at 19km and made sure I took on water at each aid station. I arrived at 20km in 1:49:48. I reached halfway in 1:55:47, about 4 mins behind my 3:44 target.
At this stage of my race the sun had appeared and it was now a pleasant afternoon at around 13c. I was starting to feel quite warm and was holding my pace at around 5:30km as we crossed the river to the north side around 23km. I wasn’t fancying another SIS energy chew so at the 25km aid station I grabbed a PowerBar gel which gave me what I needed. I took my time at this station and drank two cups of water and a cup of the available Rosbacher isotonic drink (very nice and not at all sickly) as I was becoming quite thirsty. I arrived at 25km in 2:17:35.
The next 5km would define my race. I was maintaining a 5:30 pace but although I was feeling quite warm. I felt I was getting into something of a groove, but aware that race might get difficult from now on. I hit 30km in 2:45:38.
The next 5km headed back east towards the city centre. I made sure I grabbed any available PowerBar gels and isotonic drinks. I was running fairly efficiently at 5:28-5:30 pace in the 30-35km section. I arrived at 35km in 3:13:42. I calculated I was on for a 3:53/3:54 finish barring any major deterioration. I walked through the 35km aid station and took on water and isotonics, losing about 15 seconds in the process but I figured this was time well spent with the final 7km ahead of me.
At around 37km we were back in the city centre and I was still holding a 5:30km pace and at this point I realised a 3:53 finish was definitely possible. I should mention the crowd support which was very good throughout the race. I arrived at 40km 3:41:34. I made sure I took on plenty of fluids at the 40km aid station and continued towards the finish in the Exhibition Centre. As we entered the arena the my Garmin had just passed 3:53 so my estimated finish was spot on. I finished in 3:53:29, a positive split of just 1:35 which wasn’t bad considering how I was feeling in the first half of the race.
I thought I was looking at closer to 4 hours as we approached half way but I was able to maintain a fairly consistent pace in the second half so whilst I missed my target 3:44 I was only just outside a BQ for my age group (3:50). I was not unhappy with my time. I know I can run faster (3:48 in Poznań three weeks earlier) and I will have an opportunity to improve again in Shenzhen (China) on December 6th.
So, three autumn races, and all sub-4 which is a big improvement on my spring races (medal haul below) so I am fairly happy how things have worked out. I enjoyed the three autumn marathons and the hard work paid off but I’ll keep working for more improvement, starting in Shenzhen on December 6th.
Frankfurt Marathon: 3:53:29
First half: 1:55:57 | Second half: 1:57:32 (1:35 positive split)
Average 5:32km/8:54mi pace
Age group: 94/349
Congratulations to Barry (pictured below, left) who ran 3:19.
Post-race thoughts
- Race organisation – 9/10 excellent. The expo was OK. On the course there were plenty of water, isotonics and gels at the aid stations, toilets in the Messe (Exhibition Centre next to the start area) and start area, and on the course. Plenty of volunteers who had to endure heavy rain so special thanks to them.
- Course – 9/10 the route is great, flat, well laid out and just a few undulations (about 30m elevation gain in total). Timing mats every km, well done organisers.
- Frankfurt – 6/10 – be careful where you stay. I stayed near the main train station. My Mercure Hotel was fine with some good food choices nearby, but in the area around the station/hotel there were drugs being sold and many rough sleepers. I wouldn’t say I always felt safe walking around.
- Should you run Frankfurt? Yes! It is a European Marathon Classic and the course is fast and well organised.
- Race Overall 9.5/10.
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