Post- marathon come down

Nearly 5 weeks ago I crossed the finish line in London. After huge build up, excitement, hype, atmosphere, nervous tension with a massive target......it all ends, just like that.

What now?

What previously took up soooo much of not only my time but occupied my thoughts so much is now gone. It leaves behind this huge blank space and I have desperately been trying to find something epic to fill it. I even went as far to suggest (after a couple of glasses of wine) that I enter the Island with Bear Grylls before remembering I'm not THAT hardcore (yet!).

How do you match or beat something as amazing as London Marathon?!

Whilst trying to find the answer to this, my running has taken a hit and I just haven't  been going or only doing 5ks and very begrudgingly! I hate not enjoying it as running has been great therapy for me as working full time and being a Mummy can be full on and to get some head space is great. But right now, give me slippers over trainers!

What about another marathon?
So many people said to me that when you finish a marathon you forget the pain in a couple of days and want to do another one. No, not me, thank you very much, marathons are not for me. Ask me in 10 years and I might think about it.

To refocus myself I am entering a couple of races and trying to drag myself over the wall I have hit. Time to get back to 10ks and half marathons please! Fingers crossed this will help me pick myself up.

Part 2/2 The last 26.2!

Saturday 25th April

After a teary goodbye to Isabella who went to stay at my parents, Lee and I set off for the train to London. 

After a reasonably straight forward journey we got to the expo. Wow. It was busy! After nearly 4 hours on trains, waiting in a queue was not top of our list of things we'd like to do. To then be moved to a second queue was equally as un-fun- I don't care that it isn't a word! Lee, having not been to London since attending the theatre to see Cats aged 15 was having a baptism of fire of experiencing London at the busiest time possible.

Finally escaping the expo to head to our hotel was massively stressful (don't talk to me about Oyster cards!), and google maps was incredibly unhelpful; but arriving dishevelled and ready to relax, the hotel receptionist presented us with warm cookies and we headed to the room collapsing on the bed!

After winding down, I insisted on being in bed and asleep for 9pm and thankfully I managed a good night sleep.

The next morning- 6am to be exact I got up and ready. Lee made my wallpaper paste- like porridge which I could barely stomach. My kit bag was ready and my timing chip secured on my trainer we headed to the DLR and Lee left me as I boarded heading to Blackheath for the start. A lovely couple (the lady was also in the blue start) adopted me on the journey as I had no idea where I was going!

Getting to Blackheath and a huge field full of runners it was freezing cold! I found my way to the Lucozade stand where I know Run Mummy Runners and the Shabbas would be. I stayed with the RMR group before heading off and finally finding the Shabbas! The time with them just summed up why it's great to be part of a team :-). A loooong queue for the toilet and kit bag dropped off saw the start fast approaching and we all headed over to the starter pens!

I haven't mentioned my lucky charms! I'm not a great believer in luck (make your own!) but I did carry a couple of things with me. Isabella's hair clip and the blue earrings I wore for Grandad's funeral I had worn for Stafford so I figured I should wear them for the marathon. Added to this Lee's race clips for my number and a coin from my dad with a runner on (that he found when he was thinking about me doing the marathon- spooky). All I was missing was a rabbit foot and a 4 leaf clover!

The start was busy and when we finally got going I discarded my bin bag (that had done little to keep me warm) and walked up to the start of the race. I'd started my music and felt good, I was going to do this!!

The first half marathon flew and I hit my target time, just over 2 hours. I was on track! My next target was to get to 15, then 19- my training distance. 17 miles and I crumbled, the wall came suddenly and out of nowhere and I just couldn't run any more. I started walking and made a couple of emergency calls for some support. Firstly dad- somewhat inexperienced in the 'I can't I can't' speech said 'weeell if you can't finish' to which I replied you aren't supposed to say that so he changed tactics and told me to keep going. Speaking to Lee and I received a stern talking to that I didn't have long now and to pull myself together which I needed! A mixture of running and walking got me to 22 miles. Realisation dawned and I wondered how the hell I had got this far without stopping?! It was time to get myself into gear and as the crowds were building I started running again and pushed myself to keep going right to the end. And I bloody well did with a small sprint finish. I can't even explain the relief of rounding the corner to see the finish line. 

I had done it! 4:37:04 I'd actually done a marathon! Receiving a hug from the medal lady after bursting into tears I limped my way along to get my goody bag and kit bag. The road seemed to go on forever! I must have walked about a mile after the finish.

Being 6'2 has its advantages. Especially when trying to spot said person in a huge crowd. Thanks for being tall Lee!

I'm going to round it off here- if you got this far thank you for taking the time to read- it's just a brief write up really. The journey back to the hotel was painful and slow but I can't even explain the relief of finishing.

A lot of people got me through my marathon, those with us and those that aren't- thank you so much to everyone who supported me during my training, listening to me moan and believing in me. It's certainly been....an experience!

Will I do another one? At the moment I'm happy to say I'm 22 and I've done London marathon and I'm not planning to do another one anytime soon; but who knows?!

My marathon part 1/2- The end is nigh!

So I thought it was about time I wrote my post- marathon report (as I also have a few minutes to myself!).

You will have noticed the time lapse between my last blog and this race report is rather large....the lead up to marathon, especially the month before was armed with happiness but also tinged with great sadness. (FYI this is not a pity post).

In February, Lee, Isabella and I headed to Preston en famille for a mass family get together of both my side and Lee's. After what was a great visit, it was also clear I had just said goodbye to my grandad for the last time.

The week after our visit was tense and difficult waiting for inevitable news and when setting out on what was supposed to be a half marathon training run, I rang Lee in tears telling him I couldn't do and came home. A couple of days later I couldn't physically get out of the door. I can't I can't I can't seemed to be all I was saying.

A few days later, not sure how long after but it was a Saturday and I pulled myself together and headed out managing about 10 miles. It felt good and I managed to get everything straight in my head.

It was that afternoon, sat in Morrison's cafe before we shopped that I got the call. As soon as my mum's name came up on the screen I just knew. The exchange of words was short and just a few seconds later my phone was on the table and my head was in my hands. That was a hard day.

Amongst all this I had accepted a new job and was due in just a week. I was also grounding to a halt with my studies for my Online Marketing qualification.

Lee and I had a chat and discussed me deferring my marathon place for a year. Lee was pretty convinced I should, training was not going well and time was running out. I decided I should wait until after Stafford Half Marathon to decide what to do.

Stafford arrived, 6 days after Grandad's funeral and I was feeling pretty relaxed. I decided to go in with no expectations on myself. I felt I've taken a lot of peace from the funeral and the first 2 weeks of my new job had gone well. I wasn't nervous and I wasn't expecting miracles so headed out with Lee in the 2 hour pace bracket. It was great to know he was next to me and I felt good as we set off. My pace was around the 8.30's m/m and after 8 miles or so Lee kept glancing at me expecting me to slow but I didn't! After a sprint 5k to finish I managed to get my first ever sub 2 hour and sub 1:50 half marathon! To this day I can't even tell you how I managed it...everything just seemed to go right?! It was clear I was going to do the marathon.

I'd be dreading my long run with 3 weeks to go. Having missed my 18 miler, I needed to try for 20 miles. With a hydration pack, jelly beans and some hot cross bun, I headed out on Good Friday to get the b*****d done! I'll keep this bit short- in comparison to nearly 3.5 hours of hell. It was not pretty. There were hills- too many; tears- also too many- in fact between 15-18 miles I was stifling sobs most of the way and a lot of knee and hip pain. Getting home I'd done 19 miles as I could not bear the last one. Finishing with a cold bath, the prospect of a marathon was still scary; if not scarier at this stage.

After 2 more weeks of training runs, the last one of 10 miles feeling great I couldn't wait to get the marathon done!!