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!!
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