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| Ready to go! |
One week on and I’m pretty much recovered from the trauma of
VLM. I say trauma, it was actually fantastic, a really enjoyable experience
even though my face didn’t express this over the last few miles (see photos!!).
The whole weekend was one I can’t wait to repeat, starting with picking my
number up from a friend who so kindly went to the expo for me so I didn’t have
the stress of having to go myself. While here, having a brew after a 3-hour
drive down we got a ‘strip show’ from an unknowing neighbour, which certainly
took my mind off the following days events. Laura and Neil were horrified,
mostly as we had my in-laws in tow, but guys it was hilarious!
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| The first 'spot' @ 8.5 miles |
Next stop to the hotel to meet my parents (who were
apparently eating themselves with hunger!?) for quick bite of lunch, and
ice-cream and a casual wonder around Hyde Park. I’d booked an Italian (surprise
surprise) for my carb-loading dinner for 7pm, hoping to have eaten by 8pm….9:00
pm the food arrived, not ideal prep for a morning marathon. I certainly didn’t
have time to fit dessert in (epic fail). Oh well, I was in bed by 10:30 (early
for me!!) and up at 6am to eat my first round of porridge, followed by shower,
dressing, a few ‘toilet issues’ and a second round of porridge at 7:30. All
dressed and ready to go, shaking with nerves we got in the lift, which stopped half
way down and another runner stepped in, which immediately put me at ease.
I waved goodbye to hubby, parents and in-laws who were
digging into the hotel buffet brekkie knowing the next time I saw them would be
en-route!
The great thing about the London Marathon is the free travel
for runners on race day, just a quick flash of the number and I was through. It
took an hour for me to get to Greenwich from Hyde Park and the train got busier
and busier, bustling with runners and spectators. I felt a bit lonely actually
as I seemed to be the only one on my own L but, I knew that the
spectator plan I’d put together would make the pre-race loneliness worth it!
The green start turned out to be a 2 mile trek from the
train station-not ideal, surely I must have lost some carbs and hydration in
this time?
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| Spot the Mo-Bot... |
The loo queues were immense,
I was standing with a guy in his 60’s who informed me this was his 742nd
marathon (OMG!!!), I wanted to ask how his joints were faring but didn’t get
the chance as was pulled out of the queue by a couple of ladies who insisted
I’d be better going in the changing tent…naively I thought this meant there
were some kind of ‘secret’ loos behind the said changing tent, but NO, it was a
bunch of ladies, shorts pulled down squatting in the corner…ewwww! But when u
gotta go, you gotta go!!!
I was in starting pen 4 and before I knew it, there were 5
minutes until kick-off so I jogged over, made sure my watch was ready and after
the 30 second silence for the Boston Marathon bombings and Price Harry’s
starting speech we were off.
After 6 years of applying, the moment was at last here! I
was actually running THE LONDON MARATHON!!! I managed to get into my pace by
about 3 miles, although at 2miles I managed to turn my stupid ankle (grrr).
Consequently I was limping for a mile or so before the adrenaline kicked in and
I forgot about it until the end.
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| Still smiling at 15 miles |
So entertainment wise I saw…men in mankinis, dresses,
carrying parachutes, traffic cone suits, gorillas-the lot, oh and not to
mentions spectators (a few people deep) lining every inch of the
course-Fantastic!
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| Flagging a little, but always room for a wave and a smile! |
This race was all I could have hoped for, with the exception
of the weather, too hot and sunny for runners (sunburnt shoulders, neck and dehydraition),
but perfect for spectators. Being spotted at mile 8.5 and 11 by Matt, Meg and
Ruth (my groupies) was pretty special , pretty sure mum and dad were at the
first spot too! At 13.1 miles I was on target for a 3:12 finish which was my
coaches (and secretly my) target. I spotted some of the elites after crossing
the landmark Tower Bridge, as well as some of my other spectators (Laura and
Co.). Then at around 16-18 miles, something happened, my quads started to ache,
something I’ve never experienced before - uh oh was this the start of ‘the
wall’? I tried to take on water and gels but my stomach wasn’t up to accepting
much and my pace slowed quite significantly and I seemed to be all over the
place, this was not ideal. The pain was showing by mile 23, the grimace on my
face tells all, even Matt could tell I was in pain, I was no longer a passing
‘blur’ anymore but more of a ‘snail’!! But cheers of encouragement helped me to
hang on, it seemed as though every spectator was shouting my name, its amazing
how they seemed to be able to pick up on the struggling runners and really push
you along. I’m not sure I’d have made it without stopping otherwise, and as
much as I wanted a sprint finish, I literally had NOTHING in my tank. Any
attempt at a sprint would result in cramping up and probably collapsing, it
just wasn’t worth it!
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| Oh the pain!!! |
I finished in 3:20:12. I have never been so pleased to see Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and that 6 letter word! FINISH My coach was the only person who saw
me actually cross the line (red button, BBC!), stagger to the chip removal ramp
and receive my medal.
It was all over, such a relief, but also a little sad, all
the build up, training and hype – over in less than 4 hours. I didn’t sit down
for about 2 hours after the finish, as I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to get
back up again!
To celebrate, Prosecco, Steak and Chips – heaven!
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| My groupies :) |
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| The proud family |
Thanks so so much to my amazing spectators; Matt, Meg and Ruth
who managed to run a ‘mini marathon’ themselves by the looks of it, catching me
at 5 different spots along the way! As well as Mum, Dad, Marian, Brian, Laura
and Diane :o) All the cheering really helped me get my PB. And a surprise visit
from My god mother and brothers at the end really made my day :o)
Love you all,
Until next time…
