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
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!
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