Running the perfect marathon

Here is a letter from Andy who ran the Rotorua Marathon over the weekend (Reprinted with his permission):

"Hi Gary,
Thanks for your advice and help over the past 12 weeks, the guide is excellent and I constantly referred to it during my training and post marathon. I’m trying to think of suggestions but to be honest I can’t really think of anything substantial!
For the record I ran the second half slightly faster than the first and managed to make up a couple of minutes over the last 10kms.
10 km 53mins
21 km – can’t remember exactly but was over 1.45min
42km 3.29mins
Thanks
Andy"
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Gary Moller Comments:
Andy had what can be considered close to the perfect marathon, something that an estimated 90% of participants in a marathon fail to achieve on the day (For the record; out of over a dozen or so marathons, I can say only two went perfectly). So many things can go wrong during a marathon and even the slightest upset or oversight can cost much time and cause unbearable suffering. 3hrs 29min over the tough Rotorua Marathon course is a good time. While I have not yet seen the overall results, this would easily place Andy well up in the top half of the field.

The publication referred to: "Training for a Marathon" can be downloaded for free. It is best used with a broadband internet connection. Updates are guided by feedback and questions from readers. It started off as a 50 page e-book at the beginning of the year and has now blown out to about 100 pages and growing. A further update will be posted soon. If you have a product or service that you would like to advertise in the Guide, please contact me.