It’s Marathon Time!........

The person who starts the race is not the same one that finishes the race

You may have read in my earlier blog that in my desperate ways to run in the marathon full of health and injury free, didn’t exactly go to plan. Two weeks prior to the marathon, I went to an evening football match straight from work. Hungry I didn’t really want a quick fry fat filled burger so decided to head to the high street restaurant know as the “golden arches” not ideal nutrition but it will suffice keeping hunger at bay for just the one evening as I tucked into one of there value meals. I did this and attended the football match but the following day…. I was having a few problems at work and by the Friday, I had to ring up sick and spent the weekend in arms reach of any toilet, thanking god that the marathon was not actually this weekend. On the Monday, I felt no better and had to book an appointment at my doctors. A few questions later, I was prescribed antibiotics for the next seven days and a week off work, diagnosed with food poisoning. Now I wouldn’t mind if I ate in some run down place with obvious poor hygiene, but in a branch of a high street restaurant? That’s taking the p

I now had my dilemma now as I had visibly lost weight and not being able to run at all!! This clearly was not my idea of tapering towards the big day, as my prescribed antibiotics were due to finish on the Tuesday before the marathon. I was not sure how this illness would affect my body and how much it had weakened it. Maybe it was the usual tricks your mind plays on you up to the build up to the race but I was determined to run and not post back my deferral letter but If I wasn’t strong enough to run…. let alone 26 miles what would be the point of running?

Of course, family and friends said I shouldn’t run but being a stubborn old goat I couldn’t bring myself to defer. I made sure I gave my body at lease a chance to recover and drank water little and often and had soups for lunch and dinner. I got daring at times by having bread with it too. Although I was feeling stronger I obviously was still concerned if I had the strength in me to go the distance, especially as I after last years run I had experience knowing how much this was going to take out of me and then I was in a fitter state, I still suffered heavily. It’s just horrible what thoughts go through your head that after a years training (A WHOLE YEAR!) the one time that you want to be fit and ready you have to pull out but don’t worry you can defer to…. “Next year” Well actually that is nowhere near the point and a very bitter pill to swallow. To the outsider to say this to you clearly they won’t understand what a painful and thoughtless comment this is to make as you don’t understand how much time and effort and sweat you’ve just put in for your one day of glory! No matter what level of fitness you run at to “Defer!” for ANOTHER year will mean you have trained for two years for this one attempt of running 26.1 miles. I know at times there is no option and w should show a certain degree of patience but seriously, now that’s taking the p. Am I able to get my point of view across why posting my entry back for injury/illness and “deferring” is something I don’t want to do now or ever and anyone that does I hope it was your final, final, final option?

The final week approached and all message boards were going mad with people looking forward to race day, the streets where I live people were putting their banners up showing support for the London marathon, engineers were also doing there part on Blackheath common preparing the start line and it’s attractions. I left thinking about collecting my number to the Saturday just in case I fought a losing battle and had to defer my race entry but still on my soup and sipping loads of water little and often I took one of my daughters up to the Excel centre early Saturday morning. So early, in fact we had to queue outside. While we waited there seemed to be a commotion up front and oblivious to what was going on… Sir Richard Branson walked past with his virgin team of runners. My daughter looked at him none the wiser while everyone else gasped as people fumbled for their camera phones! The doors opened and in we went. I queued one last time with my passport and registration form and obtained my race number…. No going back now and ventured into the exhibition. Now I turned into a big kid! I have vowed even if I am not running the London Marathon this is one event that I will attend to meet stars, company’s freebies and just to see which direction the running market is heading in and if there is anything beneficial to me.

As I entered into the Adidas section there was team virgin with Ricky Whittle standing there. Now would you believe my daughter really likes him seeing him on strictly come dancing and to be honest knows her mum fancies him for his flexing muscles would you believe. Therefore, it was an opportunity to ask him nicely if he would have a picture with my daughter. What a gent he didn’t mind one bit and even shared a joke or two with her. Beside Ricky was Michelle Heaton, all dolled up looking more like a Barbie doll rather than someone about to run 26.1 painful miles tomorrow. Along with her posing…. Over my dead body was I going to ask her for any photograph or autograph and proceeded to ignore her walking past to which I sensed she expected me to show her the same attention that I showed to Ricky, Hmmm as if!! Now compared to the next person we saw, being Sir Richard Branson I’m sorry this was a chance in a lifetime and literally dragging my daughter with me! I mean seriously dragging her I braved it and went up and I asked if he minded having his picture taken with my daughter. Phew? He agreed and started to prepare my camera. What a result when his PA stopped and asked me if I wanted to get in the picture to! Ha, what a result. Yes please! In addition, what a marvellous photo she took! I was so pleased and even more that my daughter met the sponsor of this marathon and a very rich and powerful man. She was still oblivious to his status but I was over the moon, what illness I could tackle anything right now? Still beaming proceeded to look around the exhibition picking up freebies and leaflet upon leaflet before stopping for a bagel for our lunch before heading home preparing my bag over and over making sure I hadn’t forgotten anything before making sure I headed to bed early for as many hours sleep that I possibly could get! Oh and don’t forget to charge up my Garmin!

When I woke up the next day, I actually was disappointed to see it was a dark and grey looking day. Nether the less I had a pint of water, a bagel with jam and said my goodbye’s to the family as my lift arrived driving me to the outskirts of Blackheath before I walked across the field to the red start of Greenwich Park. Last year I started from the common and being in the park, I felt most annoyed and in fact hindered, as I had seen over the years how hard it looked for runners actually getting out of such an obvious bottleneck. I found my pen and started to get into my routine making sure I stretched all important muscle groups that usually cause me grief. One energy bar later and I decided to hand in my bag to the baggage collectors… Just as I did that, the heavens opened up. Damn typical! In addition, with no jacket on I had to squeeze in with other runners somewhere under a tree. This short but heavy shower soon passed and made my last phone call arranging a finish line meet up point. Five minutes to go now so time to switch on my fully charged Garmin….. Locating Satellite….….. Locating Satellite….….. Locating Satellite…. OH come on! Don’t do this now!!. Turn it off and try again….….. Locating Satellite…. Is it the overhead clouding blocking my signal? Alternatively, several thousand people all doing the same thing slowing my connection down. Even though I cut it fine, I got my signal and I was already to run. At the last minute, I decided to race my virtual partner and race him to the line in 3hrs 20 minutes! The hooter sounded and we were off. I’m afraid to say as I headed down alongside Greenwich Park we passed the first set of traffic lights and there by the side of the road was a huge hedge. Many men were diving into it to have a P. The thing is I was in no urgency to go, but seeing so many use it I’m afraid I had to too, so now I’m ooooh a massive three minutes behind my schedule. Upon re-joining the mass and reflecting I think it actually only took me two to three minutes to get out of Greenwich park and that really wasn’t as bad as I first thought it would be.

Now my race was on! Glancing at the hordes of people lining the street cheering just about everyone on I set about my strategy. I wish I was mentally minded to run and judge my own pace without glancing down at my Garmin every now and then (Probably more than I realise) to get an idea of how I’m performing? It seems to be an obsession to check the Garmin rather than concentrating on my own running?

I have only ever experienced the “London” as a Marathon but what an atmosphere! People lining the streets cheering and shouting out names of complete strangers because they have their name on their running vest, children waving flags looking out for family friends cheering everyone on is such a morale booster. I love the fact to people also blatantly use the marathon as an EXCUSE to open all their windows and doors just to play their stereo excessively loud adding to the atmosphere without complaint from any neighbours, come to think of it I’d do exactly the same too.

Back to my running and I know a huge weakness of mine is always to go racing off, kidding myself that all is fine without taking into consideration the length of the race. I tell myself to slow down at a steady pace but whilst running I feel fine so why do I need to slow down? Maybe I have another twenty miles to run is the answer but nah! Keep going, go on. Keep up with that runner over there. S/He’s pulling away from me, so I had better speed up a little. Take a Gel a sip of fluids and keep pushing. As it happens the noise increases through Bermondsey then up and over Tower Bridge turning right it’s great to see unlike (last year) the leader and his followers  has not run past on the other side of the dual carriage way. Half way now and another look at my watch, I have noticed I have run the first half of this race a measly 3 minutes slower than my half marathon ‘personal best’. Three minutes is really nothing and now I have another 13.1 miles to go! By the time, I got to 15 miles I found myself having to work harder trying to keep up with those runners I had marked earlier. This time though I’m finding it hard to see them and now swarms of other runners appear to be passing me with ease. Time for a gel and energy bar quick. This must be a sign of hitting the wall? 18 miles and I am finding myself pulling to one side of the road to stay out of the way of fellow runners. Clearly now tearing off in the earlier miles has now returned with vengeance that my body cannot cope with. I even had time to take in and listen to the Brazilian samba theme playing their steal drums. Even this could not motivate me to increase my running stride; I physically could not do it. I was running on empty and every mile marker seemed longer than 1.61km and each one was getting slower than the last.

As the turn back up the A13 heading to the last 6 miles, reaching mile 23 I saw two friends who afterwards said I looked well, and running strongly. Pfft clearly not how my body felt inside! Getting to Mile 23 and getting to the Lucozade stand I grabbed everything I could carry. I even took a bottle from commonwealth medallist Liz Yelling who was helping on this stand. 3.1 miles to go and the crowds along the roads are gathering and the noise levels increasing but honestly when your body says It’s had enough, I’m sorry but no matter what you instruct you limbs to do mentally, physically… is another matter. You could go as far as saying your muscles down tools and go on strike. I knew my game was now up but for the last effort just keep on going. What would be the point in stopping now? I new the rest of team Brooks would be watching from Birdcage Walk and it was a huge relief and great sight to see them with just yards to go. Mentally I had given up and did not care too less how many people came roaring past me with their sprint finish. I was a sitting duck but a positive I can take form this race although it was still as hard as last years race (although I now have more experience) was that I was 32 minutes quicker. Quite a hefty chunk because at that rate in three years time, I could possibly. threaten the marathon world record, but don’t hold your breath.....


Garmin 305 Data:-
http://connect.garmin.com/player/31375036