The plan was simple- break 3 hours in order to gain an automatic (V40) age group entry in the 2026 Chicago Marathon. Instead, I chose to run with one of my good mates a little quicker at 2hr40 pace, we felt good, we nailed our nutrition plans, we nailed our pacing… and we pushed on. At 22miles I was feeling full of running, so I pushed harder and managed to close with 16mins 47sec last 5k for a 2:33:17 seconds clocking for my first ever marathon!
Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/16039717312
Official result: https://ale.niftyentries.com/Results/2025-MBNA-Chester-Marathon/6645/1
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:10 The day before
01:53 The nutrition plan
02:16 The gels I’m using
03:36 Hydration plan
05:13 Day before
05:57 Garmin ‘Pace Pro’ feature
07:33 Marathon day!
08:16 Race start
08:28 4.5 miles
08:57 12 miles
09:38 Half Marathon point
10:02 16 miles
10:44 20 miles
10:55 22 miles
11:07 The finish
11:42 The next day
11:54 Why I ran faster than planned
15:40 2nd half of the race explained
17:33 That last 5k
19:03 Nutrition nailed
19:52 No marathon build up
20:14 Proper marathon training
20:52 Next race
22:19 Marathon recovery
19 Comments
Mate, thats absolutely nuts, 2:33:17 for your 1st Marathon and that last 5k split, When they say the last 10k is the hardest, Huge congrats, and that was cool to run with a m8, have you got the Marathon bug now then te he he 😋
That’s amazing Ryan 💪🏻
Amazing job! It's so great to see how obvious it is you enjoy running. Your passion comes through. So you're gonna do Chicago next year hopefully? Enjoy the recovery runs 🙂
Congratulations on the amazing time in your first marathon. You seem pretty good at this talking to camera stuff as well, enjoyable to hear you talk it through. Best of luck at Alton Towers, hope you get the win for you and your kids 🙂
Saw you come in. I was stood with 500m to go. You looked strong. How are the legs today? 😱😉
If you “planned a sub 3” why you going off at 6.03 mile pace ? 🤣 sure you hadn’t planned a 2:30?
Superb Ryan! Found your channel about a week or so ago and so glad I did! All the best for the future!
Congratulations! What an accomplishment! Certainly, all those years of running and residual fitness and speed you developed over the years paid off… it’s also great that you prioritized health and approached it conservatively 👍
Well done mate. I ran the Chester Marathon Sunday and it was my first 2:57:58 over the moon !!!! Very tough last few miles killer hill at 25 miles. Great race I’ll be back next year 💪
I was marshalling at around 13.5 miles and remember you lads coming past. You were cruising. Cracking run. As a 43 year old runner just trying to see what is possible, this will be an interesting channel to follow.
Wow Ryan that’s an incredible debut! Huge congrats 👏🏼👏🏼
I’ve been documenting my own training as well and am attempting my first sub 3 at Abingdon next Sunday… I don’t think it will be 2:33 though 😅
Massive congratulations, great to be joining your channel at these early stages! There's plenty of us late 30s & 40s guys looking for training and especially rehab stuff
I remember seeing you at Blyth Parkrun in July. You lapped me good and proper haha. Zooooomed right on past looking far fitter than me! Epic running sir
loved it, nice matey feel, love of running and a good time, super good vibes.
Candid, informative video Ryan. Great to see back racing and documenting on YT. All the best for you and your channel 👏
Come across your channel on the run up to Chester. What a superb run! Enjoying your content mate, keep it rolling!!
Unreal, found your channel a week or so before your marathon. To run a 2:33 is crazy given your goal going in and the training on the leadup. Currently on a build for Valencia and would love to run a time like that looking as controlled and relaxed as you did! The talent and milage hostory are there though. Must be an amazing feeling to be back running fast times, more to come. Congrats 👏
So damn good! I fell at 16km and grazed my shoulder and hands then blew up at 33km 😅 walk jog in for 3:11. 2:33 is mind blowing🤯 great running!
Cracking run McLeooooood!