I’ve been pretty quiet on here recently. In fact, I don't think I've even opened Tumblr for the last month! It’s been pretty hectic here, training for and finally completing the Shakespeare Marathon in Stratford-upon-Avon. So I thought I would finally write down what has been happening.
Over my training I’ve been falling in and out of love with running. I had a few weeks where I absolutely hated it. Every run felt like the hardest thing to do, I didn't want to get out there and train, and when I did, it was horrible! I did however manage to get in almost all of my long runs. Somewhere in my brain I decided that so long as I did that, everything would be ok. However, the further I ran, the more injured I started to feel. My knees weren't enjoying it at all. I reached a point where my sports therapist was taping up my knee for nearly every run I was doing just to help support it and take the load off a bit.
When I finally reached taper, I started to love running again. Taking the pressure off those long distances meant my shorter runs started to get a little faster again. And I finally realised what it is that I want to do with my running. The slow long distance runs are not for me. The fast short distances aka the 5k’s and 10k’s, that is me! Doing distance training and gradually slowing down at the same time felt horrible! I wanted to go fast! So when my pace started to creep back I was so happy. The taper also somehow made me feel like I could actually go out there and do this marathon. The emotional doubt that plays in your mind all through training is exhausting. People don't realise how much marathon training takes out of you, not just physically, but mentally aswell. Your emotions run wild, and you just feel exhausted. Any time when I wasn't working, running, eating, or sleeping, I just felt like I couldn't do anything. It was a huge effort to do anything extra. My energy also started to creep back during taper when I wasn't putting my body through quite so much stress, and that felt great, and helped me focus again on the goal.
4 days before the race, I sprained my ankle. Simple thing of putting out the furniture outside the coffee shop I work at, and a slightly uneven bit of flooring, and I went over on my ankle. The panic was insane! It hurt so much and my instant thought was ‘MARATHON!’ Thankfully the pain eased off fairly quickly, and it was mainly just uncomfortable. My sports therapist checked it out for me that day, told me it wasn't too bad, to ice it, and she put some K tape on aswell. What a muppet! At least being in taper I wasn't planning on running much, so it did have plenty of time to rest. I went out for a run 2 days later, and thankfully it was fine! What a relief!
And then race day arrived! Woke up feeling good, and ready to get going. Had my breakfast of fried leeks, 3 pieces of bacon, 4 scrambled eggs, mushrooms, peppers, tomatoes and feta. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm..... My sports therapist popped in to tape my knee up (at 6:30am! Superstar!), and then at 7am we were off. My parents drove me down to the race so they were there to support me. I got myself stretched and ready, number pinned on, and headed off to the start line. Once there, there were a lot of runners (approx 2.5k). I knew that noone else from my club was running it, so was prepared to feel a bit lonely while I waited for the race to start. But I spotted some people from the club that runs from Worcester, the city 15 minutes from home, and went over and said hi. Made the time pass a little quicker having a few people to chat too. And then we were off..... It was very busy at the start and you just kind of went with the flow of people which meant I started out a little faster than I wanted to, however I felt good. It didn't feel like I was pushing too hard. I ran past Mum and Dad about a mile in and got a high five from Mum while Dad took some photos. The course is a 2 lap marathon, and a half marathon is run at the same time. So for the first lap we were running with the people doing the half. It meant it was quite a bit busier, but that was nice. It wasn't so busy that you had to dodge around people, more that you were just in the flow. Then suddenly we reached 12 miles. The half marathoners diverted off to finish, and the rest of us carried on into our second lap. And then it got tough! I saw Mum and Dad again about half a mile later, which felt like the greatest thing ever. I was worried I was going to miss them, but then I came round a corner and there they were. I was so happy to see them! All of my photos are very smiley for that simple fact: every time Dad was taking a photo I was ecstatic just to see my parents!
It was also at this point that the weather started to get a lot hotter. It had already been quite warm, but now the heat was building. The sun was shining and I could feel myself getting a bit sunburnt. I started pouring water over my head at every drinks station, and there were a few sponge stations too that I was very thankful for. My pace started to drop off quite a lot, and by mile 18 I was starting to struggle. My parents were sending me occasional texts just to keep me going, and they were such a big help. By mile 22 I really wanted to walk, and just as I was about to, my dad sent me ‘keep going’, and that was all I needed to keep putting one foot in front the other. It was like he knew!
My next problem came about a mile later. With the heat, and the location (running alongside a lot of rape fields) my asthma started to become an issue. I started to notice my breathing wasn't right, but I was so mentally exhausted telling myself to keep going, that I couldn't concentrate on getting my breathing right too. So then I started to panic! Then I wanted to cry because I couldn't breathe. I had to force myself to take some deep breaths, and tell myself its ok. I recovered from it, but it happened a number of times over the last few miles. It’s so hard to keep everything going, to focus on keeping everything in control.
Mile 25, the last water station, and I started walking. I decided that if I was going to finish, I had to walk a bit. And it felt like heaven! I got my phone out and sent a quick text to my parents to tell them I was a mile away and walking. I knew by this point that I wouldn't get the 4:30 marathon that I wanted, so it was better to make sure I finished it than to try and push it too hard. I had a little walk, and a drink. Poured some more water on my head. Then I decided to have another little jog. And thats how the last mile went. Bit of walking, bit of jogging, all the way in to the end. With about half a mile to go, a marshal asked me if i was alright and walked alongside me for a little bit, telling me it wasn't far, pointing out the runners ahead that were coming around the last corner, telling me to take it slowly when I told him about my asthma concerns. And it was that man that got me to the end. I was so grateful for everything he said, and his words stuck with me all the way round the last few bends into the finish. I walked and jogged a bit more, and I had enough in me to run into the end! They put my medal round my neck, I saw my mum and instantly started crying walking straight into a hug from her! It was so emotional. I finished in 4 hours 35 minutes and 45 seconds. A mere 6 minutes away from my target. And if that heat hadn't hit quite so hard, I think I could have done a sub 4:30 (not that I have any inclination to try it out again to find out if I can get that time!!!)
Running a marathon was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. It was both physically and mentally challenging. Running for over 4 hours without stopping at all, not even to pee, is a massive feat. I have huge respect for anyone that takes on this distance regularly, or even more than once. I personally don't want to be doing that again anytime soon, maybe even never again! The training is long and intensive, and takes over your life. People around you don't realise how much you have to do to get to that race, and to be ready for it. A friend said to me the next day, ‘now you’ve done that, you can do anything!’ And she’s right. Once you've put yourself through something like a marathon, you are never the same person again. You have a new level of appreciation for a lot of things, something you thought was difficult a year ago now seems trivial, a new level of mental willpower, and an ability to push yourself through the toughest of situations.
But now, it is time for me to go back to what I love. Speed and strength, my hill running, and hitting some fast 5k’s and 10k’s. Hoping to hit some more PB’s in those distances this year, and I can't wait to get started!!!!
