Race Date: Sunday: 10th May 2025

Over the last eight months we’ve seen Abbie Pearse racing in Chengdu (China) and then, as part of an extended tour on her Brompton bike, Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) and Vientiane (Laos). Those who have been following her adventures via Strava then saw her pop up at 8000ft in Kapsabet, Kenya. Some wag did suggest that she wouldn’t be winning many races there but what the more observant stalkers noticed was an increase in mileage together with some seriously difficult tempo sessions. Abbie explains what was going on…

Two months into our six month sabbatical (with fiance Dan) we thought that it would be rude not to use some of our time to train for a marathon despite swearing “never again” after a 2:59 in London 2021. After three months cycling around Southeast Asia and sweating through some brutal long runs we landed an incredible opportunity to live, train, and work with some of the fastest humans on Earth. My friend, former GB 800m International Becky Lynn happens to be friends with world leading Italian coach Claudio Beradelli. He owns Adidas 2running camp, home of London Marathon winner 2025 Sebastian Sawre, and asked for me to help out the physiotherapists there. (Editor: Becky started with Hallamshire Harriers and back in the day was one of the massive group of youngsters that we see at Woodbourne Road each Thursday). A few hours of physio work a day with the best in the world in exchange for food, altitude, almost unlimited time to train and in the company of champions…not a bad trade. (Adidas 2running camp have built a set of new lodges next to the pros and is now open to the public for training camps so please get in touch with me if you are interested in training there.)

We then moved to Iten, swapped the luxury digs for a gas stove and a bed, and continued in full monk mode of run, eat, sleep, repeat. We also got involved with the brilliant charity Shoe4Africa.

Some of the many learnings discovered during a six week marathon training block at altitude in Kenya:

1. Although we did notice adjustment after the first week or so you’re never going to get to sea level pace and working out marathon pace is a sort of guess.
2. No one knows the perfect time to come down from altitude.
3. No one on my Strava feed runs easy enough for their easy runs. When the Kenyans aren’t doing a session, they run at almost double their race pace.
4. Living an extremely simple life bodes well to focussed training: one pair of shoes, one type of rice, no TV. Bliss.
5. Running on feel is better than running by watch. The dirt track isn’t even 400m.
6. A six week block was always going to be a squeeze, especially after doing very little running during January/February. We then both had our fair share of stomach bugs with the result that only one of us raced well in the  end.
7. Though it’s NOT recommended, you can train eating biscuits and bananas and then race with five Maurten gels.

The decision to run the marathon last minute meant most races were sold out, including Copenhagen, but we were lucky enough to get Elite B entry. This had lots of perks including special tent, separate toilets, elite starting pen, personalised bottles and drink stations.

Sub 2.45 was the A goal which is 6.17min/mile, 3.55min/km pace.  it got tough at mile 16 as my left quad started feeling crampy and when I started to slip off the pace, at about mile 20, I just let it happen and rolled with what I could give instead of fighting it which I think really helped. I stopped looking at the watch and focused on not completely blowing up.  I was very happy with 2.46.19, 4th British woman, 23rd woman overall. (Editor: And a new club record eclipsing Sian Evan’s 2:52:08 set in 2018).