I remember sitting at my leaving drinks in November, deducing from the fact my cheque had been cashed that in all likelihood I had finally made the FLM ballot and thinking what a nice long time I had to train......and then BAM! Here we are, the day after!
This is going to be a ramble of facts, emotions and observations!
So, I woke up on Saturday morning (well, wake it a technical term as I didn't really sleep!) brewing a cold. The ever supportive hubby basically put it down to hypochondria.....however, I got virtually no sleep on Saturday night partly nerves, partly the inability to breath through my nose.
Sunday morning the adrenaline must have started. I didn't feel too bad for a cold and a week of poor sleep! I had been uber organised (nothing new there!) and set everything out the night before so got up, ate breakfast, drank green tea and got ready to leave with my ma. We bussed it (3 buses because I didn't want to wait around for the one that would have got us there....) to Charing Cross to catch the train to Blackheath, The station was heaving and we were lucky enough to be quite close to the platform when it was announced so got on - found a seat, which Mum gallantly let me have! The train was packed and still had to call at Waterloo East and London Bridge....top tip for anyone doing it next year, go to Charing Cross, no one got on at the other stations. Had I known it went through London Bridge I would have probably gone there as it is more convenient but so glad for once my planning skills missed that one! Spent the journey ear wigging other peoples' conversations and sipping the vile Lucozade Sport I had. I really hate the stuff but I think it did my proud!
As a result, got to Blackheath needing the loo (again....) queued in Starbucks for 40 mins....seriously, what do people do?! Having been 'blessed' with the 'Radcliffe bladder' I've learnt if you don't go quickly, you miss large chunks of the day/evening with the frequency of trips!! Wandered up the hill to the start which made it really hit home how many people were competing! By this stage I thought it wise to visit to port-a-loo, after all it must have been at least 15 minutes since my last trip....so after lubing up with the Lanacane (the stuff of gods - more on this later!) and dumping my lovely warm clothes with Mum I put on my Macmillan bin bag and went into the runners starting area.
After a loo visit it was time to wander down to the starting pens. All incredibly well organised and friendly. I penned up and waited for the start. Chatted to a lovely bloke call Reuben who was running for Parkinsons as it was his first time too. I imparted Barbara's words of wisdom to him that no matter what, he was never going to get this 'first time' feeling again. I wish you could bottle it!
10 mins after the gun went off I crossed the start line and was off. Waved at the BBC camera on my way and just though, 'whhhhhheeee, this is it'. The streets were full of supporters the entire way rounds (bar a bit going into and out of the Canary Wharf Estate - and the Blackfriars underpass which I'll come on to!) They made the atmosphere truly amazing. Full of words of encouragement and lots handing out wine gums/haribo. That is my top tip for supporters. The sugar boost is soooo welcome!
Around mile 6 in Greenwich I saw Mum and Owen for the first time. We had all been bottlenecked around the Cutty Sark and had all slowed to a walk so we had only just started to run again. I had tons of energy to wave and smile - which was the least they deserved for their tremendous supporting efforts!
Water/Lucozade Sport stations are great. You only really need a couple of sips at each. However....from the second I crossed the line I knew I would need to 'do and Auntie Paula'. Having some what less of a time goal than she did I though I would space the spectators and 1000s behind me a view of my behind so just before mile 8 I bit the bullet and queued for the loo. I was fifth in line and still spent 9 mins queuing. It's frustrating as this is reflected in my official finish time. I spent the entire queue cursing the fact I wasn't a man as they spent 30 seconds relieving themselves against a wall. To top it all it started to rain and was the most disgusting port-a-loo I have had the misfortune of using (AND I have done festivals!) the rain was really heavy but really welcome at this stage. It was quite refreshing although I then had to contend with soggy feet (and the rest of me but it's the feet I noticed most)!
Saw Owen and Mum again around Westferry with Keith and George too and then again in Canary Wharf. It was in Canary Wharf that I ended up running along with the Masai Warrior which was pretty cool! Plus, everyone cheered really loudly when they saw them, so I could pretend it was for me!
Any who....I managed to stay on course for a 4hr 30min finish time (not including the pit stop!) up until around 17/18 miles. Which makes sense as this has been the length of my long runs. After that it got hard! I wouldn't necessarily say I hit the wall as I don't know what that feels like but I had to employ a run/walk strategy. Then more rain, wind and hail came down! This was a big low as I was tired, wet and cold. Jamaica Road was a real struggle but the Masai Warriors caught up with me again so more cheering helped! Just to show how tough if is (if you hadn't already realised!!) along Cannon Street the Masai Warriors ended up stopping - I later found out it was because their leader was taken ill. If warriors crumble, think about us mortals!
After about 20 miles I changed the strategy to only running down hill!! It was when we hit the Blackfriars Underpass at about 24 miles that you realise you are not alone! There are no supporters along it and everybody seemed to take a timeout. It was a mess of Lucozade Sport cartons, hobbling people, weeing men and discarded wigs! It was watching some poor guy in front of me with massively chaffed thighs I realised how lucky I was in that nothing felt like it had rubbed or was impeding me, other than mind over matter. Still going along Embankment was tough. It is lined with people several deep who are all willing you on. However "Come on, this is the easy bit" really isn't what you want to here.......No, Mr Spectator, this really isn't the easy bit...that was 24 miles ago when we were all crossing the start line.
Still, nearly there! Saw my god mum at Birdcage Walk and my Dad and Joe with about 600m to go. Managed to miss Mum, Owen and Anna at 200m to go.
Turning the corner on to the Mall was incredible. You don't see the finish until then and it's only 100m away. It was.....well, want to have a little sob just thinking about it! Crossing the line was both euphoric and almost disappointing. Despite it all I really didn't want it to end! I did have a small cry! Got my chip cut of and given my medal. You have to walk up a small ramp for the people to cut your chip off and then down the other side to get your medal but the lovely lady handing out the medals was putting them on you when you were half way down so you really felt like you had a podium finish! I then went and got my photo taken with my medal.
Phoned the family, cried again and then headed towards Trafalgar Square. Wandered round waiting for everyone to join me which gave me time to regroup my emotions! Saw Anna first which was lovely. Bless her, even in my smelly, sweaty state she gave me a big hug - expected from hubby and family but very nice from friends! I was space-blanketed up (had had to ask one of the volunteers at the finish to find it in my finishers bag and unwrap it for me!!) but was getting quite cold, a bit convinced I may have trench foot.....
Finally met up with everyone - Owen wanted to head to the pub so I headed home with Mum, until I realised Owen had my phone and keys....so waited at my Mum's while he hot-footed it back. My lips had begun to turn blue as we were leaving so I was keen to warm up! I unveiled my feet to the heater and miraculously had no blisters! The toe that blistered in training had had a compeed on it which had done a sterling job! They were however white and shrivelled from being wet for so long. My already hobbit-esque feet had managed to achieve the impossible and look even more disgusting than normal!
A blast of the fan heater and a peppermint tea later and I was off home in slippers and a cab to what I can only described as the best shower EVER! It was only then I realised my vest had rubbed the insides of my arms slightly (and of course, now I knew it was there, it hurt! The back of my left knee had started to hurt a bit too.
The ultimate reward was had that evening....not only a glass of wine but an audience with my future husband....Mr Daniel Craig. We went to see a preview of his new movie Flashbacks of a Fool which was also premiering that night in Leicester Sq. Mr Craig, Mark Strong and Baillie Walsh had come along to introduce it. I have had my far share of disappointments meeting famous people in the flesh but mmmmmmmmmm, Daniel was as lovely as I had hoped!! Good job the marathon had taken some of my energy away. We were only a few meters from him but I managed not to pounce or yell, "Daniel, I love you" (but it was touch and go)
So on to this morning. And I feel fine....well, marathon fine. My cold has hit with vengeance. Painful chesty cough, very blocked nose and general man-flu-ness. My left knee felt no worse than yesterday. I have had a sports massage - which was wonderful!! The muscles are now even better but the cold getting worse. Now sounding like a nasal freak!
So, the bits I missed - in bullets!
* Seleb count - Saw Brian Paddick (Lib Dem mayoral candidate) and the Masai Warriors. Think I may have seen Ronan Keating but I can't be sure! Owen spotted Kate Lawyer in her undies...funny that.
* I WAS overtaken by a womble, in fact 2 but I managed to overtake them later.
* I did turn round to get a better look at the man running in a leopard print thong.
* Other costumes included: a scooby doo soldier, a storm trooper, Obi Wan Kenobi, Spiderman, Wonder girl....lots of army types running in their boots - I can't imagine the pain and full kit bags, firemen running with full oxygen gear. Mum and Owen saw a frog, cave man/woman and a toilet!
* My sympathies to anyone who ended up needing the services of the SJA. Especially the poor guy whose left knee and leg were twice the size of his right.
* Drums make me emotional.....who knew.
* Women are cruel - I nearly wet myself laughing at someone who was clearly full of energy and a guy (who I can only hope loves her very much) who was knackered. She jogged backwards in front of him and said "Oh, come on...". I think he was too tired to smack her!
* It doesn't matter who you are, everyone wants you to win.
So, I have entered the ballot for 2009. Bring it on - I cannot wait!
Tags:
Post Views: 103
