Finished! Credits: ESA
The run went better than expected. I thought I’d stick to a steady 7.5 mph, but when I got to 10 miles I realised that my legs were feeling OK but my shoulders were beginning to hurt, so I needed to finish the run quicker than planned and running faster doesn’t seem to hurt the shoulders any more – in fact I think the longer stride made it less painful on the shoulders.
So I went to 8 mph for 10 miles and then for the last 6.2 miles went to 8.6 mph. My legs paid the price but my shoulders were grateful. It probably looked like I was having a strong run at the end but the reality was that I couldn’t wait to get out of that harness!!
London. Credits: ESA/NASA
Watching the live marathon on the BBC the whole time was a huge encouragement – I had thought I would watch a movie (2001 A Space Odyssey was ready to go) or listen to my #Spacerocks playlist but in fact it was extremely motivating watching the live coverage of the event and hearing the stories of some of the 33000 people taking part. In addition to that I was able to compare my progress to the live event since I had the RunSocial app giving me an excellent view of streets of London as I would see them if I were running the real marathon.
Staying hydrated was no problem.
Staying hydrated was no problem – this was a big mistake I had made in 1999 when I last ran the London marathon and did not drink enough during the race… which hit me hard at 18 miles and scuppered my plans for a sub three-hour run. This time I was drinking water from the start and I had my pouches lined up on Velcro strips on the panel above my head to ensure that I drank one pouch (300ml) per hour. I also had an energy sachet at 18 miles which was a great boost for the last stage of the run.
It was an incredible experience to take part in such a prestigious event whilst orbiting the planet on the International Space Station and I’m hugely grateful to everyone at the European Space Agency and NASA who made that happen. And last but not least, I was truly proud to be part of Team Astronaut in support of The Prince’s Trust and to help raise awareness for the great work that they do.
Discussion: 48 comments
What time did you manage to do then Tim ?
He finished in three hours, 35 minutes and 21 seconds
Huge congratulations Tim. I’m a Brit keeping up to date from Belgium and I love reading what you are up to. We are all so proud of you. Best wishes!
Tim you are an amazing man. Congratulations on completing the marathon. Thoughtful,kind and gentle. With all your great work with the schools.
Good luck and stay safe
Kind Regards
Roz
Huge congratulations to you,(and your support team) very, very well done, what an achievement! thanks yet again for sharing your experience with the general public, I am loving being able to chat to my children and husband about something so inspirational, you really are providing such great knowledge and insight sharing your adventure with us all. thank you for being such an inspirational role model for us all. If you can complete a marathon in space then anything really is possible 🙂
You are such an inspiration, Tim! Congratulations for a great run. Always waving at you and the ISS when you pass over Portugal! Cheers!
You are an amazing man. You family must be extremely proud as the rest of us are in GB. It is truly remarkable to see our Earth from above. It is so beautiful and we all need to learn to take better care of her. I so look forward to your fabulous photos Tim. They add colour to my day. Safe journey and happy landings..
Well done Tim on a great marathon run and finish time, you must be super fit to clock a great finish time,did you know that you have the same finish time as Sophie rayworth the bbc news reader.
maybe when you get back to earth you should run next years virgin London marathon and compare your finish times and you would be the first person to run the marathon from ground and from space.
Again congratulations from Darren and Sally fron Tewkesbury Gloucestershire UK
Truly inspiring! Well done Tim, great run
It was a truly superb achievement, Tim, and we are all hugely proud of you. Hope you’re not too sore over the next few days. Take care and lots of love. xx
Is that about 3hrs 18min then Tim? Fantastic.
Well done Tim! Inspirational!
Strange to think while I’m typing this you’re up there in the Space Station whizzing round Earth, amaze balls
I can honestly say this will be the oddest email message I’ve ever sent!
Well done again!
Julia Steers, Blyton, Gainsborough Lincs
Fascinating to read your “London Marathon” experience – and fantastic awareness for a brilliant charity too. What’s been the effect on your muscles running in zero gravity?
Terrific effort Tim we were delighted to watch your progress down here on planet earth.
Best wishes
Lee and Bloo Anderson
Fantastic achievement, well done Time
Fantastic achievement, well done Tim (this time without mobile phone auto correct!)
what was your time Tim
Such an incredible achievement! Way to go Tim!! X
AWESOME WORK, Tim 🙂 we’re all MASSIVELY proud and pleased for you :)))
There’s a degree of feeling ‘spaced out’ running an aggressive marathon on earth. Your effort in space must have been an ‘out of world’ experience!
Well done Tim, I was wondering if your shoulders would hurt from the harness rubbing. It must have felt great to take it off and free float again! Love watching out for you at night, I always wave!!
You’re an inspiration Tim! Well done! I couldn’t have done it! I love following your posts on Facebook, instagram and Twitter. My 5 year old Oliver loves it too. Fantastic.
Well done Tim.
Does pounding on a treadmill have any impact on the craft seeing as you are banging down on it each time you take a stride?
What was your finishing time? Haven’t seen it published anywhere?
Amazing, well done Mr Peake. You are truly an inspiration.
Totally awesome. Really well done. My husband and daughter have both run it for different charities… They got such a great lift from the encouraging crowd. x
Well done Tim. Would love to know which part of the earth you were over when you started, and where you were when you finished – that’s if anyone was noting it!
Well done Tim. We are watching your experience from the UK in awe!
Well done Tim!
PS. We wave to you every time we see you over Derbyshire 🙂
Well done Tim! I wonder what actual distance you covered sincentre the ISS is orbiting at 17k mph! Since your story was publicised it seems you have truly revitalised the interest in space exploration in the UK for young children (am me). I hope you are loving it up there and wish I could see the views!
A fantastic achievement Tim and congratulations for the being the first man to run a marathon in space, travelling faster and further than your contemporaries on earth since I believe you went twice around the world in the time it took to run the marathon?
Well run Tim. I hope you are awarded your medal for your achievement when you return to Earth.
Congratulations…. Loved watching it all sitting on my sofa!!!!
No end to your talents Tim. As if running a marathon wasn’t hard enough! An unbelievable achievement, even more so under the circumstances. Well done!
Very well done, that man! A great run and a great inspiration! See there was a some loss of signal at the 30km mark when tracking you, however … you sure you didn’t take a short cut?! 😉
Well done Tim. Great achievement. Hope you can rest now.
Awesome achievement and thanks for the photo of Shotwick Solar Park
Wow what an inspiration!
You are amazing. No words x
Awesome achievement! Well done Tim! Is your medal in the post? 😉
Well done Tim
Nigel G1BXL Birmingham uk
Awesome job! I love reading your blog. If you get anymore time to answer FAQs on Facebook I’d love to know how your body was effected differently by running up there compared to down here. -breathing, muscle ache, etc. PE specialist and science enthusiast!
Congrats from Washington, DC! Great accomplishment! Keep up the inspirational work!
Awesome absolutely brilliant to think that you can run the London marathon anywhere in the world..technology…but most of all well done Tim peaks outstanding achievement…
Bravo !! Félicitations pour ce magnifique effort sportif !!
Hi Tim. Congratulations. I am old enough to have watched the entire race to space and I well remember watching astronauts and cosmonauts being assisted out of their space capsules unable to walk due to muscle wastage. I was wondering how much of a problem that is in an environment with artificial gravity and whether this level and type of exercise overcomes wastage. If so, will you be recommending that in future a space marathon is obligatory?
Congratulations on your marathon run.
love your input to all the question your asked
very informativ,
Insane, well done 🙂