Marathon

Sunday 10th April 2011 was the day that I completed my first marathon.

I was anxious right from the off as it was looking to be a hot day and I am not good in the heat. Matt took me to the Park and Ride for 7.15am and my nerves were made worse by the fact that I needed to go to the toilet and I’d been informed that there were terrible queues at Preston Park and the bus for the Park and Ride didn’t show up until after 8.00am. Over half the runners weren’t able to get on – I hope they made it on time.

Finally got down to the park around 8.20am, bumped into Stephen and joined the epic queue where I was joined by my friend Jimmy. Finally, we were ready to start and I was a bundle of nerves.

My original target was to do it between 4.45 and 4.50, although to finish within 5 hours I would have pleased with. I missed both targets unfortunately, getting in at 5.09, but considering that awful heat and my first attempt, I think it was pretty respectable, especially when this time last year, I couldn’t even run for a mile.

I was running with a friend and we set out at 11 minute mile pace – me keeping pace and he stuck with me. About 6 miles in, he said he felt good and could we speed up – I told him to go ahead if he wanted, but I was sticking at 11 minute miles – theory being that most of my long runs had been at about that pace and I knew I could maintain it.

The stretch out to Ovingdean went on forever and I was really pleased when we got there and saw my boyfriend and his family waiting to give me a wave – a great boost, but nearly ended in tears when a blue shirted runner cut across me out of no where – my friend yanked me out of the way of him and runners behind us just managed to get out of the way – careless blue shirted man!

About 11 miles, Jimmy started saying he wanted to slow down a tad – by this point, the heat was really draining me and I agreed, although I said I wanted to get to the halfway point first. I pulled ahead of him at 12.5 miles and he said he kept me in sight until half way then he lost me.

At the 14 mile mark, although I was enjoying it, I started to feel really awful because of the sun and I felt really dizzy. By this point, I’d realised that the target time had likely gone and decided just to try and get as close to 5 hours as I possibly could, but realised I needed to have a quick walk break to let the dizziness pass. So, I walked for a couple of minutes, poured yet more water over my head, had a couple of sweets and got talking to a lovely girl from Yorkshire, who had trained to do sub 4 hours, had a PB of 4.06, but had also been defeated by the heat. This actually made me feel a bit better as others were also struggling, so morale back, I managed to pick up my feet and did a 2 minute walk, 10 minute walk to the 18 mile mark, when I felt ok again and ran the next 2 miles to 20.

I have to say that the support along the residential area at miles 15.5ish-17 was incredible. The whole street must have been out giving support and everytime I wanted to walk, a small child would hold out their hand for a high five – you can’t walk and high five so I just had to keep running! The hose pipe was also most welcome!

The Power Station was not the most fun and I just wanted to get back to the main stretch. I walked for a couple of minutes between 20-21, then ran more or less the rest of the way to the finish. Although by this point I was running at a very slow pace, I was pleased to say that I was still running, still enjoying it and I overtook a lot of people around “the wall.” Luckily for me, I don’t actually feel like I ever hit the wall and I don’t feel I ever had a mental struggle – the only thing I struggled with was that horrible heat and feeling myself getting sunburn – but that had been a problem from the start and I just had to take it as it came. Sadly, there were a few people who’d fallen in places, some hurt, some exhausted and I saw one lady being transferred to a stretcher – I hope she was OK.

Around the 25 mile mark, I had the biggest grin on my face as I knew it would soon be over and I started planning a sprint finish. 800 yards, then as soon as the 200 metre sign flashed up, I unleashed a sprint finish and managed to get past about 30 people, even getting a mention over the tannoy! Best feeling ever. Crossed the line grinning and declaring I wanted to do it again – which prompted a look of disgust from another runner who said “you are mental.”

Considering doing Brighton again next year, but also looking at other possibilities. Next time – 4.5 hours! But if I ever have to see another jelly baby, it will be too soon! Jimmy has also been bitten by the bug, finishing in 5.53 and we have decided that we’re going to do another one and smash our times.

Big well done also to Adele who finished in a brilliant 4.50 and gave me so much support on our pre-marathon runs. And everyone – thank you so much. Cassie, Cathy, Stephen, Dee, Adele and everyone else on Twitter – the support was amazing and thank you to everyone who sponsored me. Your support made all the difference.