by I’m not sure I really thought I could go under 3:20 at the Berlin Marathon, until the last few hundred meters.
While my other PBs at shorter distances suggest I should be able to, the reality was that it still seemed a little out of reach.
So I will always be grateful for my experience at Berlin 2024 – perhaps I am capable of more than I think when it comes to running.
A lack of organization caused much of the weekend with huge queues to purchase products at the expo, turning into chaos around the start line as the Runners were desperately trying to enter their corrals before the official start.
The toilet situation, and lack thereof, is well documented, but I didn’t particularly appreciate the near crush getting into my starting enclosure.
However, I managed it, with just enough time to calm down and regain a sense of composure.
I always feel very emotional at the start line of a marathon; It’s good to think about how hard you worked to get there – the tough runs you did to feel prepared, the problems you overthought, the nutritional discipline you tried to exercise.
However, I have learned not to linger there for too long: I have to conserve as much energy mentally as physically over the last few kilometers.
I’m not religious at all but I usually look up to the sky in the hope that my mother will help me in the most difficult times: “I’m going to need you today, mom.”
It’s a feeling of relief to finally get started – no more thinking too much – it’s time to take action.
I wanted to stick like glue to a mile pace of 4:40. During the first two miles I had run, feeling adapted to that pace, I turned my watch on to a different dial which It simply indicated the time and distance I was going to run.
There were a lot of people there and there were more people than last year. I had to weave in more than I wanted through those first few miles and within the first 5k I was already about 120m behind the mile markers on my watch.
However, I felt pretty good – not amazing at all – but good enough to feel in control.
I took with me a liter of carbohydrate drink in the form of a 500 ml soft flask and two 250 ml equivalents. I wasn’t going to make the same mistake I made in the Helsinki marathon five weeks before, when I got dehydrated and paid the price late.
I supplemented the Sunday marathon with gels and salt tablets when I felt the need. I wasn’t going to underfeed this one.
There’s plenty of entertainment on the Berlin course to keep your mind occupied and the support is decent without being fervent like in London or the US majors.
I allowed myself to look at my watch at the 10k and half marathon points just to check that my pace was roughly where I wanted it.
I felt my first feeling of fatigue halfway through, although the support gave me a little boost, as did seeing my wife, Alison, right after.
I turned my watch halfway and it read 1:39:33 – bang on.
The little voice in my head trying to protect me then said, “But you’re going to have to do this again to get under 3:20 – are you sure you can do that?”
I wasn’t sure, but I was going to give it a try and was happy to be able to give it a go.
I find that the period between 20 and 30km in any marathon is when I really need to focus and not let my mind wander. I focused on good fueling to try and make sure I was prepared for the last 10km to resume or maintain.
I was grabbing extra water at each of the gas stations, which felt more and more chaotic and desperate as the race progressed.
When I reached the 30K point, I took another look at my watch and saw that I had slowed down a bit. I didn’t feel it was particularly due to fatigue, so I tried to move forward and felt strong finding different runners to stick with as the miles went by.
As I entered the last 5k I still had a full 250ml soft flask and almost as quickly as I thought “I won’t need this today” I started to slow down. Suddenly the legs weren’t clicking like before. I told myself to stop sitting on my haunches too much, which I tend to do out of fatigue.
I decided to roll the dice and take a nice 250ml gulp before downing a gel. It worked so much that even though I slowed down, it never occurred to me to walk.
However, I thought that my goal of going under 3h20 had been exceeded in these last kilometers. I didn’t push myself, I really pushed my body over the last six weeks.
When I saw the Brandenburg Gate, I was ready to enjoy this glorious home stretch. However, a check of my watch showed that if I managed to move forward, I might be able to arrive in less than 3 hours 20 minutes.
I tried to pick up my pace and discovered, to my great surprise, that there was still some life left. After passing through the gates, there are still a few hundred meters to go.
While others raised their hands in the air in celebration, I strained every muscle to reach the finish line. Fortunately, a gap formed in front of me and, as I crossed the finish line and stopped, my watch showed 3:19:58.
An initial feeling of elation was replaced by fear that the matter would be rounded up. Done – but only at 3:19:59 – mission complete.
Mark Armstrong with his 2024 Berlin Marathon finisher’s medal (Image: Mark Armstrong)
As I waddled into the arrival area, I glanced at the lines for the poncho I had paid for and decided I would rather meet up with my friends quicker and grab a beer.
Everyone else in the Norfolk group, made up of fellow Wymondham members alongside the Norwich Road Runners and Norfolk Gazelles, had excellent races.
Stories were told over a few lagers and currywurst until the adrenaline finally wore off (or the alcohol kicked in) and I had to return to the hotel to lie down.
I reflected on my fastest marathon to date and the feeling that maybe I should believe in myself a little more.
What. A day.
