The Virgin London Marathon 2011

The Big Day

Slept OK until about 5 am then hubby started twitching as he dreamt and only dozed until 6 when the alarm went off for the first time, snoozed it and got up on the second.

Checked race day bag (ruck sack with food and liquid/energy drinks that I was running with) and warm kit bag (bag for the lorry). Took out arm warmers as prob not necessary and also drank off about 500 ml of my water to make bag a bit lighter! Had ½ my juice and one muffin, got dressed and packing other muffin into bag for later woke up hubby to rub ibuprofen on my neck and walk to station with me.

When we got to reception the lovely staff wished us luck then as if we had been given our runner breakfast bag – no? Here you go – banana, raisins, water and juice box, perfect! Quick walk to station and on early (7:10) train to Blackheath, whilst hubby headed back to the hotel for brekky. Chatted most of the way there and up to start with a guy called Jamie.

Got settled, still chatting to Jamie, on my bivvy bag (part of my pack for my long run so I’ve been carrying it on all long runs even this one for months) and ate the raisins and nana and juice. After a bit we spotted the time on the screens – 7:45! We must be mad to be here this early but better early than not at all. Chatted, watched TV, popped to loo. After an hour or so Jamie went off to find friends and I popped to get a cuppa.

Bumped into a clubmate on the way and had a chat – he’d been parachute jumping the day before, nutter!

Spotted the fetchie group on my way for tea so came and sat with them on my return. Crikey, Enthusiastic is isn’t she!!! Also remember talking to John66, Mykey, Sioux and K8, there were loads and did not get all names.

Dropped bag on lorry with my water in it ready for making up my recovery drink at the end and greeted a few lone fetchies and another clubmate on way back to throng. Time passed quite quickly, then it was one last loo visit and the long walk to the start – Pen 9!

I cried a bit on the way round the course – couldn’t believe I’d made it without injury and at points couldn’t believe I was still going without breaking something. Had started with a sore neck/shoulder, 2 sore calves and the pain at the top of my leg that I’ve had for 8 weeks! I planned to run with headphones on to take my mind off the pain and I did (not music but an audio book) but at times I could not hear anything but the crowd. London support is the best!

Saw hubby at about 8 miles – had to run back to give him a kiss of course. Did not see him again until 23 miles as we missed each other at 13 but he did see one of the tri club and cheered them there at least. First half was not bad although I did forget to sip my drink at 12 and paid for this at 14-16 when I got hungry!

Passed Fetchpoint on the way out and was very excited about going passed on the final few miles. Slowed right down and could not seem to get started again at 16 but think that was due to getting too excite to remember to fuel-up earlier on so concentrated on drinking water and energy drink from now on. I did get a little warm at times but did not overheat and when I felt that I might I just sipped from my camelback.

Passing Fetchpoint on the ‘way home’ was terrific – sooooo noisey! So fab! I ran sideways blowing kisses! I was going to make it now. However, I was not going to PB, but this was not my plan from the start really.

  

Final few miles were hard work (of course!) and garmin run/walk plan was thrown away (had been suspect since mile 16) and second strategy of run to mile marker then rest for 2 mins walk was also ditched for scouts pace (100 jog/100 walk is my favoured version).

Even at 800 to go I couldn’t keep the legs running – but at 385 it was a different story and I did pass some people in the finishing straight! Once over the line the legs rebelled but I got my bag and got my compression tights on and my recovery drink made up and drunk and another 500 ml water drunk (camelback ran out just after finish and 1.75 bottles of energy had been consumed along with 1 protein bar). Switched on phone with google maps already set up to lead me to Chandos and plodded off.

Just before I got the pub I spotted hubby sitting on a bench – could not get near door to Chandos nevermind the bar sadly so we toddled off towards the hotel stopping for cider at the Lyceum Theatre Bar and the Anchor on the way!

16th April Resting and eating

So Saturday dawned and my Dad had filled the fridge with lovely stuff for me to eat (to me that’s meat!) so after a cooked breakfast we repacked to toddle into town and our hotel in Southwark.

Dad dropped us at Sutton station we traveled to London Bridge – short walk to drop bags at Premier Inn, Southwark (great location, fab staff) then back to London Bridge to get Camelbak from On your Bike. Got excited, new camelbaks have push fitting valves making changes of pipe easy (great if you take it skiing and need an insulated pipe fitted every winter. Guy at cash desk thought I was a weird geek I’m sure!).

Pop to Covent Garden/Soho for Tapas at Pix – found this place last September and love it. Few beers later we popped to the Unthink exhibition and giggled at the art. Last stop boots for ibuprofen gel as my neck had been very sore and stiff since Thursday – not sure what I’d done. Then a wander back to the hotel. 

Had a quick check to see if breakfast service would open early for the marathon but not the case – receptionist set about ringing around to see if she could find any place open early enough for my planned escape. Just in case she didn’t I popped to the Café Nero at the Golden Hinde to get orange juice and 2 muffins.

Dinner at Wagamama (could chu-chee curry be a mistake?) even had rice which I’d normally ask them to leave out. Beer in Anchor pub under hotel and resting and packing race bag was the order of the evening. Reception catches on way in to tell us that we can transfer our breakfasts to Tower Bridge branch if we wish but I’d rather not walk there and back and then set off so I declined – but nice thought from a supposed budget hotel chain, well done.

Little bit noisy outside at times in the night but think I slept OK.

The big day follows next

15th April a day of travelling

Today was travelling day. Travel to Dads to stop over before VLM and visit expo. We planned to set off around 9 and be there at say 11:30. New car so not pushing it too hard but seeing what it can do on the motorway.

Eventually set off at 9:45 after watering the allotment, forgetting toiletries and having to go back to house to get them. Did not stop of coffee on way and got to Dad’s (Belmont, Surrey) at around 12:45. Quick ‘hello’ drop off food, check times for dinner and head to expo dropping into corner shop to get Dan a new Oyster card on the way he only remembered that he’d forgotten to pack at Reading!

Bus, train, underground, underground, DLR, feet – straight in no messing at expo by 3, no time to look around really as the casserole I planned would take few hours and I wouldn’t have too long to get it going once I got back – aarrrggg! Knew I should have done some prep the night before! Hugged number a goody bag most of the way home to Dad’s.

Did manage to speak to the lovely Dave from 2:09 (He says hi Bandit – you know who you are) before leaving via a quick sandwich grab then DLR, underground, underground, train, bus again. Casserole started late – oven a littler too hot, nearly ruined both meat and the hasselback potatoes but saved at last minute ad mostly all well except for Dad’s wife who got picky about meat being tough (well it was a little!).

Slept well enough after a few more glasses of wine than I should be hey! Episode 2 follows shortly!

Taper madness?

I'm currently tapering - that is not running as far for a while before a race/event in order to conserve energy, build energy reserves and let muscles repair and be in 'top form'.

So next Sunday I will run in the London Marathon if all goes to plan. Would like to get a better time than before but after all it is really only one step on the road to Tynemouth and as such just a training run. So finishing will do, won't it?.....

In other news (don't read this next bit if you're sensitive about bodily functions) I bought a Sheewee a little while ago, a device to allow ladies to 'go whilst standing up' and have been practicing with it in the shower as it suggests. Very useful for dirty Portaloos on races and lack of facilities on moors. It will be in my running pack for London and the 'long run'.

After London I will take some days off from long distance running and I'm also trying out a detox diet just for a few days - will blog it here and in my PT blog to watch my progress/thoughts.

A few stressful days

The last few have been so. I have been waiting for my London Marathon pack for weeks now and was getting concerned - posted on www.fetcheveryone.com to see if everyone else has had theirs and they have. Looked on VLM website and found a number to call but it was too late in the evening to call then so called on Sat am - of course they only work Mon to Fri, hence the stressful weekend!

On Monday when I called at 9:10 a slightly bored sounding but just as informative lady asked for my name and  DOB and informed me that I had not paid for the race so was not in it. Cue shocked me. I asked if there was anything I could do - git an unexpected answer and an email address to try.

Sent slightly begging email and waited, and waited, 'til just after 6pm as I was on the way out to a PT client, hubby swung into action finding a cheque book, envelope and printing the email whilst I was out so that I could put it all together and send special delivery today to reach tomorrow at latest.

I can't believe my luck - second chances for a big city race do not often occur. I suspect that they may have many deferrals as many may want to run in 2012 but I could be wrong. Currently just waiting to here that they have got the cheque and then I will really relax.

Too stressed to do one more long run - but many people are already tapering so not so far behind afterall. I have never been so ready, it would be a shame not to run this year and a massive disappointment too. Running a little with a client tonight that will help me relax I hope!

An email to my support team

Here is the text of my support team email - I'm not setting them strict plans but just giving advice for them to fit training around their busy lives;

Hi Mrs X,

Please see attached C2C website for your perusal - can you forward to Mr X  (I have few contacts saved as it seems to generate spam if I do).

http://www.c2c-guide.co.uk

Also, some notes about the trip as I currently envisage it (I've copied my coach in, in case he thinks of others!);

We WILL;

Run for around 4-6 hours per day

(Your feet will swell so get compression socks or have no toenails after day 2!)

Need to carry waterproofs, water and food for the day.

Need to carry safety gear - space blanket, whistle, map compass, bivouac bag, phone (may not always work)

Book accommodation in local B&B's ahead before leaving for the trip

Travel at run/walk most of the time at an average (on the flat) or 11:30 min/mile overall

Walk up some hills - they are serious and frequent in the first few days!

Probably have dinner in local pubs each night

Not feel like running the next day - every day until - we've done about 3-5 miles.

Have ice cream and alcohol at the end!

Run in tarmac (bike paths) and rough ground

Get wet - this is the North West and just as wet as the South West

We might;

Meet friends at a few points along the way and have dinner with them

Hate everything and everybody by day two!

Experience sudden changes in weather - the area from the lakes up to Consett is renowned for this

We WON'T

Have my hubby at our beck and call all of the time. He will transport gear then rest/be a tourist/read/surf the web

Be able to take a day off or take it slow as rooms will be booked - unless we get injured and can't continue

Be able to stop talking about it when it's done!

So this months general running plan?

Keep up the regular running, be aware that it does not have to be quick and do a couple of days back to back and a couple of days run twice a day. That's a couple per month only. In May we get really serious! Also start running with a backpack - and put the stuff you think you need into it, gradually over a few runs. Get to know how to pack it so that it does not move or rub - vaseline or body glide the areas where it does it needed or try another back pack.

Enjoy!