Cologne 2026

Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat

Yeah that sounds great afterwards but not in the exact moment when you realise that despite the preparation and the hard work, your plans are scuppered.

Totally knackered.

Hang on! Let’s start at the beginning.

The Cologne marathon on Sunday the 4th of October was a full 20 years since we started out in 2006. Malcolm and I, completely unprepared and just happy to finish. To me Cologne 2026 though was a landmark. I’d also trained harder and smarter than ever before. Surely I could achieve my goal of 3:30 or thereabouts. The last 6 months had been all about it, so what was there to stop me?

Life was there, old age and injury.

The road to Sunday started Saturday, a pre-race jog with Thomas and a visit to the expo.

As always a lot of fun and the chance to buy bargain running gear like ronhill shorts.

Preparation is key in anything and our pre race meal was fantastic. Thanks to Thomas for providing a quality carb loading dinner that was absolutely delicious!

Sunday breakfast of porridge and eloctrolytes, bananas and honey. I felt great!

We made our way via the Deutsche Bahn (train) to the start on the other side of the river Rhine in Cologne-Deutz.

Why do we run?

Obviously for beans and glory!

As always the place was completely buzzing and along with the boys and girls from Dunstable I waited in the line to kick off the event. Somehow we can never escape England!

Off we went across the bridge into the city and along the banks of the river Rhine. The river has seen them all throughout the years. The Celts, the Romans, the Franks, Napoleon, the British and Americans. The wonderful river Rhine has seen all this including thousands of runners.

Why do we do this?

I'm not in it for the beans!

In any case I’m humming along.

Everyone has a plan until someone smacks you in the mouth. Thanks Mike Tyson!

I had a plan.

My plan was to cruise along at a 5:00 min/km pace, keeping my heart rate under 148bpm. 10 km came and everything looked rosy. I felt fantastic, I couldn’t believe that I was holding this pace without any stress.

I high fived all the kids cheering us on and laughed at the funny posters. I felt elated running with the - runners against fascism bloke, high fived the women with the -

run if you hate the AfD poster.

I realised how lucky I was to live in such a liberal city.

“Run like a girl because you know we are faster”

“Stop complaining- you paid for this”

Oh where else are you going to be on a glorious Sunday morning other than Cologne at 24 degrees. Yeah that was perhaps a bit too hot.

But nothing was stopping me. At 20km I was still feeling great

I’d found my rhythm, despite a tiny hiccup at a drinks station, I genuinely thought this was going to be a good finishing time.

Let’s rewind to the end of August.

I’m doing some speed work on a flat path at the side of the train lines in Satzvey, there’s lovely castle there too btw. Part of the training program requires me to do a 400m sprint, fast as you can job.

The top of my right leg is already feeling a bit sore but I want to see how fast I can run at 64.

That bit rhymes, I am in rap mode!

As close to 4:00 min/km as I can is my goal. So off I go, I kick and after a 100m or so I feel sharp pangs of pain at the top of my right leg. I finish the routine but I’m very much aware of the pain in the adductor of my right leg.

So I decided to take a week off running and do strength training instead. I’m blessed with ability to switch to boxing routines that will push the cardio without stressing the legs.

All that time in sweaty rooms slapping leather paid off!

After a week I return to running and I’m feeling good about the leg. The pain is still there but nowhere near as intense.

Fast forward to the 28km mark on Sunday the 4th, the Cologne marathon. At this point I stop because the pain in my adductor, right leg, is very strong. I try to start running again.

But it really hurts. I’m reduced to walking. I still have 14km to go!

I call Heike and tell her that I’m throwing in the towel! I won’t make it. I feel relieved somehow, at least it’s something definite. I walk to the next drinks station and ask someone what I should do. Sit down here and wait, she says but.. it might take a few hours. I do some quick calculations in my already fuzzy head and decide I’ll take my chances on the last 14km.

I walk 500m and run 500m, sometimes I try to run more but it bloody hurts!

I’m grateful for the support of the people urging me on to run but mindful that my leg is totally knackered.

In any case I get to the finish, even the wall of sound does not make me sprint. I’ve nothing to sprint on. Like a car with a flat tyre I’m reduced to hobbling.

Anyone who’s been in that scenario knows that your body is actually compensating for the injury. This comes at a price and I can feel some strange pains in my left foot.

In short it’s nowt less than a bloody nightmare.

However.

I finish and wait for Alicia who’s no training training program is pushing her through. I’ve total respect for that! Despite a migraine and her no training plan, she comes though the finish.

I’m impressed!

So now I’m reduced to training without stressing my right leg.

But actually, it’s fine!

I can pull in all of my other stuff and embrace riding my bike, hitting the bag, shadow boxing and walking.

In fact I’ve already started and looking forward to the Antony half and the Paris marathon.

Once again these events will pull us together again. Alicia, Leander, Jenny, Malcolm, Sean and anyone else who wants to join the party.

I no longer run for myself but I run for the joy of running with everyone else.

Bring it on!