London Marathon 2012.
What an experience. Very painful but an amazing day. Set off from the hotel bright and early. Took the DLR to Greenwich and walked the rest. Met a couple of ladies on the journey who were very pleasant. One of them had 2 sons with her (to support her) who had just come back from the MDS!!! Made the marathon attempt that I was about to undertake feel very insignificant (that feeling soon faded as we joined the crowds heading to Greenwich park).
Got to the Blue start area and was chatting to some bloke who was running on his own, dumped baggage and then joined the enormous queue for the urinals.
Managed to get into my starting pen with around 15-20 mins to go. Eventually the race started (took 9 mins to cross the start line from the gun time) and there was no sign of the heavy rain that as forecast. Decided to use the toilets at the 600m mark, which turned out to be a good decision as i lasted the whole race without needing to go again, RESULT!!!
Going through the streets of Greenwich there were lots people out cheering us on and i was giving lots of high 5's to the kids, while trying to maintain a steady pace (which was probably a little too fast).
I overtook Jonathan Coleman around the 4 mile mark and said a brief "Go onJono" he said hi back but he looked completely fucked already, fair play as he runs every year for the Lily Foundation, respect.
Couldn't see Mich and the kids at the 6 mile point where they had arranged to go 1st, but this really wasn't surprising when you saw the crowds where 10 deep.
My legs were staring to feel it a little bit already, which did surprise me as I was feeling it about 6 miles earlier than in training, but didn't let it bother me.
Again failed to spot Mich and the kids at the next pre-arranged point. It was impossible to predict the support was going to be this massive and it is no wonder that they could not get to the arranged supporting points.Although perfectly understandable I did find it disappointing not to see them. Turning on to Tower Bridge was all I had heard about. the noise and crowds lining the bridge were incredible and gave me a lift despite the fact that I was really starting to feel it now (not even halfway, Ouch)! It was now a case of digging deep and ticking off the miles.
Was looking out for Jerry at the 17 mile mark but yet another disappointment when I didn't see him. Although i kept missing my own supporters i was getting plenty of support from the crowd and had people constantly calling me by name, which was certainly encouraging. this really helped me to dig deep and get through the toughest miles of my life. Going through Canary Wharf was a mixture of pain and amazement. The crowd was absolutely huge here. Hearing the steel band gave me a huge lift, but the size and noise of the crowd here will live with me forever, incredible doesn't do the support justice, WOW! After leaving the docklands and heading toward the Embankment I decided it was time to have a Lucozade gel (one of the big no no's of racing is not to try something new during a race but i felt that I really had nothing to lose, despite regular Lucozade sport drinks en route my tank was seriously depleting with around 5 miles to go). I enjoyed a brief walk while i had the gel, which was pretty tasty. I picked up the slow run again, legs ever stiffening as the end got nearer. I had one more walking break as we went under a long tunnel, no more than 1 min walk before pushing myself on. It was emerging from the next tunnel along the embankment, approx mile 24, that I heard shouts of Craig & Dad from above. i looked up to see Mich and the kids on a railing wall above the exit of the tunnel. The lift on seeing them at last was indescribable and I felt quite emotional. I gave them a big wave and blew kisses before trundling onwards.
As I got to the end of the Embankment the pain was getting worse and I realized that I probably would not be able to pick up the pace towards the end, but was well on course to finish in under 4:30 (my B Goal). Birdcage walk seemed never ending and was really a struggle, but there was no way i was stopping now. I rounded the corner, barely giving Buckingham Palace a second look (I can hardly remember any of the landmarks on the course as I was lost in my own world, trying to get to the end in one piece).
As I turned on to The Mall the finish line was in sight for the first time, despite the pain in my legs instinct took over and urged me to try and speed up towards the line, almost immediately i thought I was going to cramp up on both sides of my groin, bad idea. I instantly had to slow back down in order to avoid crossing the finishing line on my hands and knees. Gradually the finish got closer and although I had read up about making sure you looked good for the finishing line photo, I was completely oblivious to the photographers just before the line and must have looked a right state as i approached them. I even forgot to stop my watch as I crossed the line but was secure in the knowledge that I was way under 4:30, Job done!!!! Official time 4:23:08 BOOM!
Went through the finishing process of having my chip removed, getting my medal and goody bag before hobbling off to pick up my bag from the truck.
It was at this point that I was hit by a wave of emotion and the realization that I had just completed something i had been dreaming of doing since i was a kid, watching the Marathon on TV with Mum and Dad in 162a Haverstock Hill. All the weeks of hard training, it was finally over. Well Fucking Done Craig!!!
I resisted the temptation to sit down as I doubted that I would have been able to get back and hobbled towards the meeting points. Typical, W was miles down the road and it was heaving, why the fuck had I not thought to meet at C AAAAGGGHHH! After much stumbling around I eventually got there and found Mich and the kids. We attempted to head to the Charing Cross hotel and were immediately stuck in a crowd jam that did not move in any direction for about 15 mins. Once we got going we got to the Marie Curie reception and met up with Anna again. Had a couple of sandwiches and a well earned drink. After some wait I got my shower, which was in one of the private rooms in the hotel Very posh!. Again i resisted the urge to lie down in one of the beds in the room. I decided to cancel the booked massage as it was getting late and i just wanted to get back home to Dorset. What a day, what an experience. Would I like to run the London Marathon again? If I was asked that at mile 25 I would have told you where to stick your fucking ballot, but now 6 months later hell yeah bring it fucking on I've got a time to beat!
