From podge to marathon runner...My race report from the Flora London Marathon 26th April 2009
I have always wanted to run the London Marathon, ever since I was a little girl. I used to watch it on the TV and see all the bright colours, costumes and sea of people on the streets of London. I had always dreamed that one day I would join them and do it too.
I have never been a runner, at school I struggled with those undulating hilly and long runs that they put us through, I was never at the front. I was also never right at the back, but still I hated them with a passion! I even was sick at the end of one of them.
Once I left school, things were different, I started to go to the gym and do the odd run, I loved the treadmill back then. I also used to love going swimming and step class. Then I started to get older and let things slip a little! I didn’t exercise for a few years and piled on 4 stone in weight! I got myself a treadmill and did a few bits here and there, but unfortunately due to a car accident I had 12 years ago my shoulder started to really play up and the hospital told me that I had to stop running. I did and the weight piled on and on and I was gutted. After a year of not running I heard about Nike+, I thought that this would be a great way for me to ease back into it. I had had a small operation on my shoulder by then and I felt that it may be ok to start again. I did so and didn’t look back!
Anyway….back to my race…
I had done all of the training, I have been out all winter in snow, wind, rain and the week of the marathon had finally come! Then…two days before the race I started to get sharp pains in my right knee and a little in my left. They really hurt! I started to worry… I tried to keep off them as much as I could in the hope that they would fix themselves! On the Saturday I tried to bring my suit case downstairs and they were so painful. I got half way! I then burst out in tears to my husband saying “I have worked so hard, why now?” I thought my dream was over. If I pull out now I would let myself, my family, my friends and my charity down. All that training all the pain, determination could just go up in a cloud of smoke… I calmed down and then we set off anyway. Once I started to walk, it didn’t seem so bad.
Once in London I had to walk about 40 mins to our hotel (I decided it is easier than getting the cases onto the tube and stuff…). It was getting quite hot and it was so sunny. I really was hoping for some cloud and coolness for tomorrow’s race. I felt fine when I got to the hotel and settled in. I chilled out for the rest of the day. Got my things ready and was more positive that I would actually make that start line! I had my last pasta meal out in the evening and had to watch my hub drink a lovely cold beer…so cruel…
People say that you won’t sleep much before a marathon. I was so tired! The bed was not comfy and there were so many noises that keep waking you, but all in all I think I did get some sleep. I got up at 5am! Breakfast was at 6am, but on the way down to breakfast my right knee started to be painful again…I tried to put that out of my mind. I tried to eat, but really couldn’t. All I could manage was 1 slice of toast with peanut butter and a couple of cups of peppermint tea. I was getting worried that this wasn’t enough to fuel me for a whole 26.2 miles. The breakfast room had a strange air to it, as there were other runners of all shapes and sizes getting their fuel too. Some were hyper and some were very quiet! I took another slice of toast and peanut butter back to the room, but couldn’t face it at all. I hate nerves; they send that horrible chemical feeling through your veins. I took on water but was already well hydrated (my pee passed the colour test and was clear to light straw…).
Once back to the hotel room it was all a bit of a rush! We only had 10 mins or so and we had to get on a coach to the start! I got my stuff together and we headed down to the coach…knee niggled yet again. Go away go away go away!
On the coach now, we are heading to the start! People on the streets are running! What is that about! They must be just doing a Sunday, surely they are not running a marathon later! Other marathon runners are walking to the start or waiting at tube stations. We are now there! Hmmmm the sun is so bright and it is only 7-8am in the morning! Not a cloud in sight! This is April, in the <country-regionw:ston><placew:ston>UK we typically have rainy cloudy marathons! Not today, you would of thought it was August! That worried me, as I had tried a small 5 miler in the sun last week and that killed me! I like to run in a slight overcast or even rainy type of weather!
Right, straight to the loos before the queues start to build! Complete with a tin of Aloe Vera Vaseline! Right loo again….and again…and maybe I think again! Well just to make sure! I said goodbye to my hub as he couldn’t go in the start area. Managed to talk to a few girls who were also running there first marathon. That was nice and nerves just went.
I was in a pen that was so far away from the start line! It must have been a mile extra I think! The tension was mounting… I decided to turn on my Garmin Forerunner to ensure that the gps picked up. I did so, however for some reason the watch wouldn’t stay on! I tried and tried but it kept turning itself off! NOOOOOOOOOOOO It has never done that before! I use it to assess my pace, as I know I will go to fast at the start otherwise. I started to panic a little. The girl next to me was trying to say it is ok and that it must be happening for a reason. I decided that maybe it was and it may have been a sign to just enjoy rather than have hours of worrying why I am behind my pace. The line started to move! Here we go! Well I say go, it took 22 mins of very slow walking just to get to the start line! It seemed to go on forever! Then I could see the start…this is it…my moment (all be it a rather long one). I am off! I am running! Me! I am running the London Marathon! Something I had always wanted to do! What was I thinking? This is 26.2 miles long! It is a hot day! I had even forgotten to sunscreen my arms! Trying to work out how fast I was going was a nightmare! I had no idea! I didn’t even see what time I passed the start, so I couldn’t even work it out! I say didn’t see it, I did but really didn’t comprehend it at the time, so didn’t recall what it was. Ok, I feel good. My knee is ok. This is quite flat, that is nice. The crowds are out already! Loads of them! The atmosphere was electric! A man from the side of the road shouts “oggy oggy oggy” We all shout back “oi oi oi” this continues for the first couple of miles on and off!
The first few miles went, a nice down hill or two easy. There were also some up hills, this is meant to be a flat course! Lucky I have been training on much bigger hills! It is getting hotter and hotter! Keep on going you are doing great. I just wish I knew how fast I was going! It is one thing knowing when you train alone, but in a crowd it seems so different. Take it easy don’t push to hard now. I started off under a person dressed as a green telephone. I passed a Womble, Wonder Woman, rhinos, donkey’s and a number of Mr Men! Cutty <placew:ston>Sark…what a shame, cannot see any of it! It had a fire and they are restoring it so most of it has been removed! I had seen it before though, so not to worry! It will be back next year!
Now one highlight of my run was at about 11 or 12 miles I think. I heard the crowd go mad! I looked up and people were shouting go Peter go Katie! Peter Andre and Katie Price (Jordon) was in front! I pulled up beside them and said to Katie that she is doing well. I then decided that they were going slower, so pushed on and overtook them. They did look great in real life though. Right now 12 miles I haven’t slowed yet! Then It started to hit me a little. I slowed down a bit. Did I just here someone shout Lisa and Sparkle??? Was that the Saffers???!!!!!!!! I put my thumb up just in case it was! It was a boost. Then I saw Tower bridge! Now that was a lift! I knew that the half way point was coming! Yay! It is all counting down after that! I ran over the bridge, (Not nice that it has a slope up to it though). The crowds here were very vocal! I still had no idea what pace I was really doing at all. I started to tire…
I walked for a min (power walked). I then started to run again. However this time it was harder, why? I was fine up to the half way point! Why does it suddenly make your legs heavy? I felt fine aerobically and even my knee was good. The next few miles I had a mix of fast walking and running. I started to feel a bit sick in my stomach It was so hot, far too hot for this. I just wanted to be sitting on a lounger by a swimming pool with a cold cocktail! Why do we run again? Why am I doing this? Having said that the crowds were amazing! I kept hearing people shouting my name and every time I did I pushed on again. I tried to keep some back though; I really wanted to be able run to the end. I still had no idea what time I was at! A lady was on the ground in tears, her race had ended. People were injured all over the place. My heart dropped for them.
I had taken a carbo gel 20 mins before the start, then at 4, 8, 12 miles… I had taken a few sips of water at every mile and some Lucozade in-between. It seemed to be working well. Right now 16 miles! Yay! Only 10.2 to go! After this I only had single numbers to count down! That gave me another needed boost!
Kid’s and adults holding out there hands wanting you to touch them! I high fived about 20 in a row! Felt famous! One little boy shouted my name so high fived him too! These people are so happy! They must be getting burnt by now though! Am I? My arms feel very hot now!
OOOooo 17, 18, 19! Canary Wharf! I though it wasn’t until 20 miles, but I am here already! Running through that was amazing! People were so loud and for some reason it seemed quicker. Water stations were hit and miss though, so had to ensure I didn’t just throw them away after a sip in case the next one didn’t have any ready. Luckily I was wearing a hydration belt and the bottle fitted in there. Also I had kept back my Lucozade bottle lid from the start and it fitted the water! Hang on a second! The time board seems wrong! I could swear it has added an hour to the time in-between miles! I am not going that slow! I start to think that my target time is over. Then When I get to the next mile it is back to what I thought! They must of kept the elite time there by accident! Phew!
20 miles! Yay! Yay! Yay! Just a small 10k run to go! I was now awaiting the dreaded wall... I have only training up to this distance! I feel a great rush from making it this far! I do however feel tired, sick from gels and stuff. I do take a few sports beans though and they helped. Unknown territory now… I manage to pick my pace up a bit, still done so much power walking, but do manage to run in-between. 22 miles…. I slowed a bit, very tired now. The crowds go mad though! Then I hear my name again together with Sparkle! Saffers! Yay! I look around and see her hanging over screaming at me! I was so excited! I actually got to see her! Thank you so much for that! I waved and waved at her! Then went a little strange and thought I was an aeroplane or something! I started to run again!
Not far to go now! There were some tunnels along the way, lots of runners in a queue for the toilets! Not me! On I go! One woman is vomiting…lots! Hmmm Lucozade coloured! Two women are staring into space looking like they can’t remember there names! People getting medial attention, plasters, Vaseline, stretching. I continue on.
I expected to be feeling light-headed by now, I thought I would feel dizzy… Where is this wall? I had felt the wall on my first 14 or 15 mile training run! I know what it feels like! My legs are very tired, I am ok though. I am not and will not stop for anything! I am power-walking but proberly faster than I would be running to tell the truth my stride is longer! Working new muscles! 23 miles, 24miles…. 25!
I see the River thames. Now I have read Paula Radcliffe’s book recently where she mentions Big Ben and a red telephone box. I see big Ben, there is the telephone box! I must only have 1 mile to go! 1 mile! It will be all over in a matter of minutes! I start to run a bit faster now. Then I can’t...this is getting tough now. Run…powerwalk…run…powerwalk…Westminster, are we going the planned route? They said they may change it due to some protesters in parliament square? The protesters seemed more interested in watching us runners! Bird Cage Walk 600 meters to go…ran a bit…come on legs you can do it…no they can’t…come on! 400…200….we are turning into the Mall! The end is now in sight! I can see it! I look at the clock and it is under my max target, I still don’t know what to take off for my start time! I tear up! I am hurting, but surprisingly not as much as I thought I would. Mind over matter now. I run… no my legs won’t! My mind is there… I run again…I did it! I did it! I have passed the finish line! 26.2 miles! I put my hands in the air! Now what? I start to walk, I am afraid to stop in case muscles tighten up. I get my chip removed. Then a lady put the medal over my head and congratulated me. I tear up again.
So how long did it take? Well 5 hours 35 mins and 52 seconds. I know that is not fast for some of you, but I a) I just wanted to finish and b) my target was to be under 6 hours and c) my poxy Garmin didn’t turn on! I did have Nike+ with me, but it was telling me I had 3 miles to go when I finished! I did try and re-calibrate it before the run, but obviously I didn’t get it spot on! The first half was much quicker than the 2nd half.
After the marathon I found my hub and then walked back to the hotel…another 40 min walk! So all in all I think I must of done over 30 miles! I even did some more walking in the evening to find food…
I can still walk! I didn’t hit the wall. I got NO blisters at all! (I always get them.) My knees held up! The day after I could walk! I can walk today also! I do however have some achy limbs and back, but it just wouldn’t be right if I didn’t!
I have gone from not being able to run 100 meters this time last year to completing 26.2 miles.
Right! What is next? Well I already have a few races lined up and I am trying to enter the ballot for next year! I must be mad! Next year I will aim for the 4:30-4:59 mark….
