Run > Race

VIRGIN LONDON MARATHON!!!

13/04/14 Too tired to write anything tonight but had to put this on now, just to show myself I actually did it. Yeehah!!!

Medal is on and not coming off for a while

18/04/14 Wow 5 days on and still on a high. What an amazing day, experience, achievement!!! When I got that text from Jayne middle of December congratulating me on my place I was scared stiff, what had I done? I had no idea what was to come. I can truthfully say I have enjoyed every moment of it, bar one horrid long training run, and huge credit must go to Coach HH who sat with me at the Blue Bell pub and took me under her wing, gave me advice and the encouragement and confidence to do it, for which I am eternally grateful
Race day came, so pleased I went on the bus, what a bag of nerves, felt so sick I couldn't eat. We were dropped off near the blue start and walking to the red start I decided to try and ditch the nerves and negative thoughts and get my excited head back on, I wanted to enjoy this. First loo stop ok, queues not to bad. We left Lollepop, GW, Trotters and Keaton and went in, we were on our own. We sat next to the bandstand waiting for Bill, nibbling and drinking, not realising we were on camera as Helen Skelton interviewed for the highlights programme! Next loo queue was huge and before we knew it bags were in and we were in the pen. It was amazing you could feel the excitement, being small I couldn't see a thing. We heard the start over the tanoy and then nothing. Me and Bill walked a bit stopped, walked a bit stopped, lost PS, Pudmeister and Juliette amongst the crowds and eventually 25 mins later me and Bill were off. I needed the loo again by now but saw the queues as we ran past and thought I'm not stopping for anything. The first 6 miles or so felt great, very relaxed and enjoyed the party atmosphere and overtaking a marching band, numerous daft costumes and the Jamaican bobsleigh team complete with bobsleigh! Running round the Cutty Sark was brilliant, huge grin at this part. Towards mile 7 doubt crept in, I was hot and my right sock didn't feel right and I felt a bit if I was running through treacle. Looked at my heart rate which seemed higher than normal, showed I was finding it harder, started to worry, I'm not great running in the heat. Knew my family were going to be at mile 9 so concentrated on that. When I saw my daughters banner and then them shouting and smiling it cheered me up no end. Round the corner and I could see the famous WJ vests flying on a pole in the distance, again it cheered me on and really helped. Mile 11 I was lucky to see my family again with same big grins and then on to Tower Bridge. Loved running over that, mahoosive crowds all shouting your name and a lovely breeze. The half way point and onwards past all the faster runners on their way home, surprised how tired some of them looked, quite a few walking. Into the Isle of dogs I was really looking forward to seeing all the WJ marshals and my mum, dad and brother but this was the hardest section, so many people walking, having to weave in and out, road quite narrow and so many water bottles to dodge. I felt tired but was determined not to stop. Found Pudmeister queuing for the loo and then she was off in front of us. Saw WJ at spindrift yay! And then my brother shouting like a loon at mile 17 really made me chuckle. Think then it was on to Canary Wharf, loved it through here, the crowds were amazing and the cheering bounced off the buildings, the flying WJ vests and a very enthusiastic Lollepop. I could see PS and Juliette in the distance which spurned me on. Was lovely to catch them and have a chat. Both said they were finding the heat hard. At mile 20 I think I really started to enjoy it, I knew I was going to do it and the crowds really were amazing, the buzz from it. I loved running through the lucozade tunnel. I saw my family again at 23 miles, just what I needed and then we were on to Westminster. Now the road was wider so not so much weaving just kept my stride going and my watch showed we were still consistent. The last mile was the longest mile ever, wanted it to go on forever but was hurting so wanted it to end. Seeing Big Ben then Buckingham Palace and then round the corner could see the finish line, is something I hope I will never forget. That feeling when I could see the finish, makes it hard to write, welling up again, watched it so many times on TV, never thinking I could actually do it, it looked so huge and far away so when I got there, massive massive pride! They took my chip off in a blur, gave me my medal and I promptly burst into tears, it had all paid off
I had achieved everything I wanted to:
To finish
To run all the way
To finish in under 5 hours
To enjoy it

I think I really was one of the luckiest people to be able to train all winter in fairly good weather, despite lots of wind. My family have been amazing throughout and I have nearly driven them mad with my obsession with doing this race. To have the help and support of coach HH. To have the help and support of some truly wonderful running friends who came out on those long training runs, who have been with me all the way, I owe them all a lot. Im so pleased I managed to run the whole way and share this experience with lovely Bill, the friendliest man on the planet, who I'm sure could have gone much faster on his own. I didn't get any illness or injury since I got my place, which still amazes me. It has shown me that anything is possible if you are prepared to work hard enough and can't quite believe how much determination I have. To that one person who once said I was weak, well no I'm not, I'm strong, I've just run the London Marathon

Split Summary
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1) 1m - 11:13(11:13/m) 143/153bpm 96cal
2) 1m - 10:46(10:46/m) 154/160bpm 99cal
3) 1m - 10:43(10:43/m) 154/169bpm 99cal
4) 1m - 10:31(10:31/m) 155/167bpm 98cal
5) 1m - 10:36(10:36/m) 158/166bpm 101cal
6) 1m - 10:46(10:46/m) 160/167bpm 104cal
7) 1m - 11:12(11:12/m) 160/167bpm 107cal
8) 1m - 10:45(10:45/m) 160/168bpm 100cal
9) 1m - 11:02(11:02/m) 160/172bpm 104cal
10) 1m - 11:02(11:02/m) 158/175bpm 101cal
11) 1m - 11:01(11:01/m) 158/162bpm 99cal
12) 1m - 11:06(11:06/m) 158/164bpm 101cal
13) 1m - 10:59(10:59/m) 160/167bpm 102cal
14) 1m - 11:06(11:06/m) 162/167bpm 107cal
15) 1m - 11:03(11:03/m) 160/165bpm 103cal
16) 1m - 11:15(11:15/m) 162/168bpm 107cal
17) 1m - 11:40(11:40/m) 162/172bpm 111cal
18) 1m - 11:06(11:06/m) 164/168bpm 106cal
19) 1m - 10:05(10:05/m) 167/170bpm 102cal
20) 1m - 9:36(9:36/m) 164/170bpm 93cal
21) 1m - 11:07(11:07/m) 164/170bpm 108cal
22) 1m - 11:09(11:09/m) 165/168bpm 109cal
23) 1m - 11:10(11:10/m) 164/169bpm 109cal
24) 1m - 11:06(11:06/m) 166/171bpm 111cal
25) 1m - 11:02(11:01/m) 167/174bpm 110cal
26) 1m - 11:02(11:02/m) 169/173bpm 112cal
27) 0.67m - 7:03(10:33/m) 169/173bpm 73cal

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