Marathon Number 1 of 3....LONDON 25/04/10

You might wanna get a cuppa before reading this!!!

London Marathon Number 2! Sunday 25th April 2010 – 5:50 – Run Number 42987

Well two years down the line I didn’t think the same marathon could be so different!
So with the snow over winter & then a calf tear & twisted foot my training took a massive nose dive!! Only managed to run the maximum long distance of 15 miles before the day…far from ideal!
Still, the morning was cool & overcast, good start! We decided to walk from the hotel to Charing Cross & get the train from there, so after having an argument with the hotel who was trying to charge us £15.00 for breakfast when we bought out own porridge & milk!! We headed through Green Park to find that they completely closed off the Mall & we couldn’t get through to the station!! Grrrrrr…. So back through Green Park & got the tube to London Bridge & just followed the massive stream of red bags all heading for Blackheath, we managed to get on a train fairly easily & I even got a seat! The train as usual was a buzz of nerves until at one point the train stopped & out of the mad bank next to the train came 3 fox cubs!!! Bless, the whole train dissolved into fits of “Ahhhhhhh’s” & “Oooohhhh’s” it was so funny how little fox cubs deleted the nerves of us all for just a second!!
Anyway from Blackheath we made our way over the heath to the start line, a different route to last year but we got to see the big hot air balloons! My friend Suke rang me as she was at the Green start with all the celebs & filled me in on all the goings on!
At the start enclosure we did all the usual things, queued for the loo, took in the atmosphere & all the different running shirts/costumes etc. I went over to the water stand to meet up with my running forum friends & one of them very kindly gave me some tablets as I had a stinking headache! Not the best as I was about to run 26.2 miles!! Unfortunately the heavens decided to open & we all got completely soaked!!!! Urgh!!!
We packed up our things & took our bags to the lorries & went to the start pens. As Andrew is a lot quicker than me he was in Pen 2 & I was in the back, Pen 9. I took myself off into the crowd to mentally prepare myself for the task ahead & was listening to all the excited conversations around me. At this time last year the thought of running 26.2 miles was exciting but I have to say that I wasn’t feeling the love!! I was soaked through, nervous & just didn’t know if I was going to be able to make it!
BANG! There we go! The crowd erupted but we still stood there for ages as the 30,000 runners piled through the gates! 20 minutes later I was over the start line & into mile one!!
I knew I didn’t have to go far before seeing my mum & dad at Charlton. I was ready to hand over my gels & wet jacket to them. The first few miles were solid with supporters and its always so nice to hear them shouting your name & telling you that you can do it. I got to mum & dad & handed over my stuff & said hello to my family supporters & carried on, I felt good & a lot lighter for handing over all my stuff. Off I went on my marathon journey…….
About mile 2-3 there is a pub, I remember this pub from last year, they make such an effort with everyone in fancy dress & the pub all dressed up, this year it was a pirate & sea theme and they gives you tons of shouts of support! Then a little further on you have bell ringers, it was all flooding back from the year before.
The next thing I knew I had 2 ladies pop up either side of me & say hello fellow superstar!! They were two lovely ladies running for MS as well both wearing orange tutu’s as I was!! We had a little natter & they were hoping for about 5:30! On they plodded & so did I. I then ran into Rainbowbear (Michelle) a runner from the running forum I use. She was running for Victa & was wearing a rainbow tutu & rainbow wig with flashing bunny ears!! She got loads of shouts which was excellent. We ran for a while together & I saw my family at their next cheer point approx mile 5. Its nice to have people to spot along the way as it gives you a point to get too! Me & Michelle ran together for about 5miles, I spotted my friend Ulen supporting us at Greenwich & the I looked out for my cousin at the Cutty Sark but didn’t see him! But before long we had run about 10 miles!! The first bit does seem to go fairly quickly! At this point I really needed a wee & I found the MacDonalds that I popped into last year!!! So I said my goodbyes to Michelle & she carried on. Coming out of the loo there was 3 ladies running towards me with the same idea, I was about to tell them where the loo was & I realised I recognised one of the ladies….it was Nadia swahalia (sp?) from the telly!! I got all star struck & said “oh, Hello” She smiled & laughed & said hello!
So back to the course and I stuck my head down & got myself to Tower Bridge, this was where my next lot of supporters were! For these 3 miles you run though a residential area & the crowds are there but they are not very raucous so I plugged in my Ipod & got my pace going with some familiar tunes! This worked & got me through. Tower Bridge is such a wonderful sight & its roughly half way. There is normally cheer groups for the charities on the bridge & the noise is just incredible! Its hard to even describe! I saw my friends & went over to say hello & I remember telling them that running is a really bad idea!!!
So after Tower Bridge its into canary wharf…..this part of the course goes on & on & on & on & on…ok you get the gist! As you turn right after the bridge there is the stream of runners coming the other way at approx mile 22 when you are still at mile 13…gutting…. But you soon have the London Pride bus playing banging tunes really loud, this is my favourite part of the course as I love the loud music! This year I got “Sex on fire” by the Kings of Leon & I got a shout from the DJ :o) As I plodded on in the stream of runners all going the other way I instantly spotted Andrew & he spotted me! Wow, he was doing well! 2:50 at mile 21!! We met in the middle & we had a quick well done/good luck hug & he told me he had been sick twice & was not well!! Not good!
I knew it would be a little bit further & I would see mum & dad again at approx 14-15 miles & that was my next bench mark to get to. I was starting to feel the miles & wanted to walk, the temperature was also getting warmer. This part of the course I remember people having BBQ’s & it was the same this year…when you have run 13 miles you are starving & smelling BBQ is just sheer torture!!
Exactly where they were last year Mum & dad & my Aunt & Uncle were waiting for me & I stopped for a quick natter & some refreshment in the form of chocolate raisins……Mmmmm, the best choc raisins EVER!! That gave me a little sugar boost & onwards I went to battle the rest of the canary wharf & I knew once I got to the end I was nearly there………..or so I thought!
Throughout canary wharf I was stop starting, I had over whelming urges to stop & walk so I was doing this on & off but trying to keep up the running momentum. I saw James, Vicky & Simon again a few times & stopped at one point just to have a breather & say hello. This actually helped as I felt stronger when I started running again.
Eventually I got through canary wharf & came out the other side & I remember thinking 20 miles….only 6 to go, I have run 6 miles loads of times, I can do this.
I saw my mum & dad again for the last time at about mile 22, I was on a good time & knew that I wouldn’t beat my PB but would beat my London time from last year. So I plodded on & tried to run as fast & as much as I could! The noise from this point is completely deafening. The crowd know you are feeling pain & scream at you so much & are so encouraging!! The London Pride bus was again playing a banging tune of “I wanna give you devotion” one of my fave all time tunes so that was another boost!!
I then met a lovely lady who I started chatting to & it was her first marathon. She had lost her mum a few months before and was feeling quite emotional. We ran for a few miles & spurred each other on. We were running at a comfortable pace so we said we’d keep going to the end & she had family up ahead…………..Just a few miles to go, running along the embankment the crowds are crazy. They know you are nearly at the finish line…… Mile 25…..something just happened……I drained…..it felt like my energy zapped from the top of my head to the tips of my toes & I felt awful……….AHA….this must be “The Wall”
The lady I was running with looked at me & I could tell by her face that I didn’t look good. I stepped to the side & held onto the barrier & took deep breaths…..either I was going to pass out or be sick. Anyone who knows me well will know that being sick wasn’t an option!! (sick phobia!!) Everything was completely swimmy & I remember thinking, this isn’t the wall because my legs work, yes my legs did work but I had zilch energy!! I drank some water & my friend had to carry on as she had family ahead so I just gave myself a few minutes & then started to walk. I only had a mile to go & everyone was screaming “Cmon Nessie, you can do it” its so brilliant but I just wanted all the noise & heat to go away coz quite frankly I felt like poo!!!!!
I haven’t really a clue about the last mile I just shuffled along in a weird kind of running, limping stance & just wanted to see the Mall!!!
THE BEST 200 yards of your life!! I threw may hands in the air & got to that line!!!!!!!!
The most lovely thing was, just over the finish line was the lady I had been running with. She waited for me to check I was ok, how nice was that???!!!
I stood & got my medal & I can honestly say, I bloody well deserved it! Ok so I didn’t beat my London time from last year but only 3 minutes out and I absolutely don’t care. I still managed to run my 3rd marathon & I am pretty proud of myself!!!
Bring on Edinburgh :o)