tower bridge

London Marathon

‘If your trying to break the human spirit, you’ve picked on the wrong group of people‘

It was back in 2011, when for the first time I knew somebody who was running the London marathon. I watched the race on BBC iPlayer whilst making my juices and getting ready for the day. To watch the event unfold on my screen, runners on the start line, crossing Tower Bridge and passing the houses of parliament on a glorious, albeit hot day in April, bought goose bumps and the feeling that one day I’d like to run the Virgin London Marathon.

That year was a massive change for me in many ways, which continues to this day! Loosing 48 lbs of weight, getting fitter & joining a running club to name a few. At the time of the London Marathon in April 2011 I’d yet to enter my first competitive race in my new body.

Turn the clock forward and its now Sunday 21^st April 2013. I’m nervous, excited, missed train connection, I find myself on Blackheath common at the start of the Virgin London Marathon. I’m here! 2 years of dreaming, 2 other marathons ( New York & Edinburgh) I find myself here. I pinch myself, I’m going to run the VLM, I can do it.

Now as a newbie runner with only 2 years of serious running there’s one valuable lesson I’ve learnt – to control the mind ( well on the running track anyway). If we believe in ourselves we can do, be, have anything, the more we do something the easier it gets.

The nerves set in as they do on most races and after visiting the lovely open air urinals ( 3 times), pre marathon iPod tunes ( Rocky,Cold Play), 20 mins slow warm up and dynamic stretches it was time to take our place in Pen 4, Blue zone. Checking I have enough Gels and going over the race plan it was time to pay our respects to the victims of the Boston Marathon Bombs. A very moving experience and as one Marathon runners t-shirt said ‘ If your trying to break the human spirit, you’ve picked on the wrong group of people’.

At 10am the gun went and within 4 minutes I was over the start line, pressed start on my Garmin GPS and set the screen to virtual runner / average pace (8:40). The first 3 miles were very chaotic, runners weaving in and out, on and off pavements, tripping over traffic cones and each other, scrambling at water stations. The day appeared to be getting warmer, with the sun coming out the race organisers and fire fighters treating the runners to a well earned cold shower.

Further into the course, zones Green and Red merged and now 34,000 runners were together on the streets of London. We passed the Cutty Sark were 2 good friends were there having breakfast and supporting the runners. It was great to see them at mile 6 which propelled me forward, then to be greeted by, from what I can only describe as a wall of noise from the deeply packed crowdsthrough Greenwich. The crowds were fantastic all the way round the route, bands, cheering, music – amazing support which still gives me goose bumps now.

On the New York Marathon I went for the experience and to show to myself I could do it. I took my pocket video to record the experience, my friend who’d I’d watch run the London in 2011 said to me ‘it’s a race Ode, don’t take the bloody camera’. I ignored him! The first marathon and if the only marathon you run, go for the experience and drink it in.

This Marathon I aimed to enjoy the atmosphere and focus on a Personnel Best (PB). NYCM, I’d done 4:14. I wanted sub 4:00. My watch was set at a pace of 8:40, which in hindsight was to fast.

Running over Tower Bridge, the cheering crowds noise level amplified. This spurred us all on passing the ½ marathon mark and on towards Canary Wharf.

Mile 15/16 I felt myself going backwards and no matter what I did I couldn’t recover the time. I was loosing about 20-30 seconds a mile – had I gone off to fast?

Passing through Canary Wharf was amazing and the crowds felt like they were above you and it was time again to head back towards Tower Bridge, Embankment and the Mall. Passing mile 21 I saw Clare, Charlotte and Phoebie cheering me on, which helped as it was  starting to hurt. Taking gels to give me more energy and taking just enough water on board, we passed through the tunnel onto embankment.

I quickly looked to spot Big Ben as I’d visualized running past it, and where we’d watched the Ladies Olympic Marathon on a very wet day in August. I found it on my far left, thinking ooops there’s still a long way to go. Still, I can only take one step at a time, and with each step I get closer than I was before. So head down and focused on keeping moving forward I neared Big Ben, my goal. It felt like a lifetime until I finally turned right passing Big Ben into Parliament Square and on to Birdcage walk.

My original plan was to step it up a bit as only less than a mile to go, I couldn’t, I had nothing left in the tank, I’d spent all my energy!

Keeping focused on completing the 26.2 miles without stopping and with each step the crowds got louder, the Mall got closer, passing Buckingham Palace and turned the corner and there it was –

THE FINISH LINE – A new PB 4:02:48

I life time experience and memories to last a life time.

(next time I know what I need to do to get sub 3:50) 😉