Where did you stay?

I had one night in St. Malo and then I stayed at a lovely seaside hotel in Courseulles-Sur-Mer the night before as this is where the race started.

How did you get to the location/race?

I got the ferry over to St Malo on Friday evening. The next day we went down to Caen for the Expo and to pick up race bit. We then drove up to Courseulles-Sur-Mere

Were you running for a cause?

Yes, since the event is known as the D-Day Landings marathon, and with it being the 80th anniversary I fund raised for Holidays For Heroes Jersey. I think the work they do is fantastic and the sheer amount they have to raise each year is tremendous.  

Why did you decide to enter this race?

I took up running 18 months ago in the lead up to my 40th. I wanted to take on some challenges before I hit the big 4-0! It started with a 12km which at the time felt like my running Everest! I then signed up to do the Jersey Hospice’s H2H half. Once I completed it, I wondered if I would be able to get through a full marathon. After speaking to fellow club members and being inspired by so many amazing achievements, earlier this year I decided to take the plunge. I started looking for a marathon that would be special and I came across this one during my research.

How was your training? Did you have a coach?

Did you have a coach? Training was tough but good at the same time. There was an intensity in the build up and I felt I was getting stronger throughout the process whilst learning all the time. The variety in the workouts was good for me and I enjoyed this approach. I was very committed and tried to be very consistent and not skip sessions. I kept to the plan for the most part but had a tough run with a few weeks to go where I struggled to finish a 2hr40min run. Rik was quick to walk me through everything and put me in a better place. I was extremely lucky to have worked with him as he did a phenomenal job in devising a training plan and consistently providing feedback and reacting to my feedback. He was a massive part of this and I definitely would not have come through as well as i did, if at all, without it. He’s definitely on top of my list for any future endeavours! 

How was the race organisation beforehand?

Organisation was easy and simple to secure a place and also to provide the necessary medical certificate. The Expo was really good and well organised. I got my bib quickly and with no issues.

Did you have a specific race strategy, and if so, did you stick to it or have to adapt during the race?

Rik was really helpful in this and walked me through it all. I took the “Your race starts at 32km” as my mantra for the race and wanted to make sure I paced myself correctly. I planned on doing 5min/5min15sec km. I had my gels and electrolyte tablets lined up. The first couple of kms were slower due to the sheer amount of people around and navigating it. I then got into my stride and into a comfortable pace. There were two climbs in the second half, but I managed to keep to my pace. I felt ok in the last 10km so managed to push a little but not too much. The last 2kms seemed to drag a bit.

Were there any unexpected challenges you faced during the race?

Thankfully not, other than dodging event motorbikes every now and then!

How did you manage to overcome those challenges?

I just tried to keep focused on my race and staying consistent

What was the best bit?

Difficult to pick one thing! I should really say the finish but we had a flyby around 10km in from 4 bombers and it made it special. I also had my wife and son meeting me at 13km which was a great boost. 

What was the worst bit?

Seeing so many people struggle, stop and give up in the last 10km was a sad sight. You want everyone to finish and do well as it’s a massive undertaking!

How were the crowds/supporters?

Absolutely phenomenal! A real family atmosphere with adults and kids everywhere. There were so many people throughout the course. There were only a couple of exceptions where the course made it difficult to have supporters out. Lots of cardboard signs offering runners high five and power ups (look up Super Mario if no familiar) as well as kids putting their hands out for high fives. There were lots of bands/musicians every few kms. The last kilometre in Caen was electric as was entering the stadium.

What would you do differently next time?

I’d like to think I won’t go over my ankle the day before during shake out run!

What advice would you give other runners doing this race?

Stay close to the start if you can and make sure you plan your breakfast. There were some bakeries open so I could get what I needed. Make sure you have a plan and study the course on Strava. Remember the two climbs in the second half.

Would you recommend this race to other runners?

Absolutely! Great scenery, fantastic atmosphere and the history behind the even make for a memorable race. Lots of support and stations every 5km were well managed.

How did you celebrate completing your race?

The organisers laid on some Normandy foods and cider. I had a small glass of cider and then met wife and son who were waiting for me and unbeknown to me a couple friends who live in France made their way there to see me at the finish! I had a short period there with them before having to get in the car and make our way back to St. Malo to catch the ferry! 

What's next?

Nothing planned right now but looking forward to just run without a goal/target for a while! 

Any final thoughts?

Keep on running and flying the RNRR flag :)