#vlm2017

Thinking about achievements. I still haven't come to terms with the London Marathon 2017. But you know what? It was an amazing day. I started and finished the most iconic race in the world. 26.2 miles under my own steam, in face of incredible challenges, with the support of the most amazing friends. No one can ever take that away from me. I am, and forever will be, a marathoner. #runner #londonmarathon #vlm2017 #vlm

Just my work keys... Did you know I ran a marathon? 😂😂😂 #vlm2017 #londonmarathon #feetstillhurt

Lovely card from Ty Hafan

I realised as soon as I posted my entry yesterday that I'd neglected to mention my finish time, I suppose it's not that important given that achieving a certain time was never my goal when I decided to run the marathon. For the record I did finish in 6h 2m 56s. Based on my training runs, I was fairly confident that all being well I'd finish somewhere between 5 and a half and 6 hours so I'm reasonable pleased with what I managed to achieve. There is of course a small part of me that would really like to have broken 6 hours and I have dwelled on this a bit since finishing, thinking if only I'd not walked as much during the second half of the race. Easy to say now I guess! It also occurred to me this week that this journey has actually been over 2 years in the making as I was originally given a place in the 2016 race but had to defer due to injury, I've come a long way since that mad moment I entered the ballot back in May 2015. At that time I could barely run 5km non stop and I've now run a half marathon distance non stop. How amazing is that? Another lasting memory for me throughout the course was the diversity of people running in all shapes, sizes, ages, abilities... on several occasions I was overtaken by a rhino, Mr Tickle, a little miss character (can't tell you which one), you get the picture. I also passed an older gentlemen running/walking with crutches, so much respect for that. There are so many runners obviously running following some personal tragedy with pictures of loved ones adorned on their running vests, it really is quite humbling and emotional all round the course and if I allowed myself to think about it too much I think I would have spent the entire 26 miles sobbing. The day after the marathon I spent the entire day walking round London in my finishers t-shirt and my medal round my neck. I had lots of smiles from strangers and conversations with strangers asking me about it, something I think is unusual in London. My medal has also come with me everywhere I've been this week, safely tucked into bag, ready to whip out and show off to anyone who asks. I still find it a bit strange that I can now refer to myself as a marathon runner but I CAN!! A question I've been asked a lot this week is 'would you do it again?' My standard response is never say never but I suspect I might, one day.

It's taken a while to set about writing up perhaps the most important entry in my blog. There are a number of reasons for, firstly, in the few days following the marathon I was in a bit of a daze to be honest and then unfortunately developed tonsillitis which has knocked me out. Secondly, I knew it was going to be a long entry and I'd need time to do it properly. Anyway I'm starting to feel a bit better in body and mind so here goes for what could be a long post. Marathon morning I had a reasonable night sleep on Saturday evening but still woke up about 5.30 and eventually got up about 6 to start preparing. I'd bought several tubs of instant porridge with me to have in the hotel room for breakfast. I managed to eat one tub and thought I'd better try to eat a second as they're not that big. Half way through, I started to feel a bit sick so gave up. I did manage a banana and a cup of tea before I left too. I'd previously agreed with my family that I'd travel to the start line on my own as we understood that it can get really busy there so I said goodbye to them in the hotel room. It was quite emotional and I was practically in tears when I left them. As soon as I left the hotel I saw others on their way to the start, quite a strange sight early on a Sunday morning, even for London I'm sure. Heading into the underground, the number of runners everywhere seemed to multiply before my eyes. The tube was packed and we all sat there nervously for quite a few stops until the train pulled into Bank station and most of them got off, I had a moments panic, until I realised that they were obviously on the red start, not the blue like me. A handful of us were left on the train so I stuck close to another female runner so that I didn't get lost. I had a change of train at London Bridge which involved quite a walk to an overground station alongside the rather impressive Shard building. I have to say that getting to Blackheath for the start was really easy and stress free in the end. I left the hotel around 7.30 and arrived at 8.15. I was touched by the good luck messages I received on both social media and text, it was a real boost that morning. The Start A walk up the hill from Blackheath station and the start was in sight, it looked very different from how it looked yesterday! I passed through the security barriers and into start area, it was already full of runners. I duly posed for pictures from the official photographers who were pouncing on everyone as they entered. One of the lasting memories I will take away from the start area is the hysterical laughter from myself and fellow female runners when using the female urinals provided. Under no other circumstances would most of us have even contemplated using them but needs must. Words in my head when I think of them now; cardboard funnels, plastic buckets, bare bums, foofs, laughter, squatting.... Anyway I used them three times whilst at the start area. I sat on the grass and had a free cup of tea and another banana before depositing my kit bag on one of the many lorries lined up on the side. I listened to the start of the wheelchair and women's elite races on the big screen before heading off to my start pen (via the urinals again). I was in pen 9 which means I was at the back of the pack, accompanied by other slow runners and those in fancy dress but was more than happy with that. With helicopters overhead, discarded sweaters strewn everywhere and a general air of nervous anticipation we slowly edged forward. It took me 16 minutes to actually cross the official start. The Race I didn't see any Royals, I guess they'd already left by the time I went over the start. It was quite crowded to start with but not as bad as I anticipated. The nervous air was broken within the first few hundred yards when an zealous supporter shouted out 'keep going, you're nearly there', we all burst out laughing and it certainly relaxed the mood a little. The first few miles of the course are primarily through residential areas, there were masses of people cheering on from the pavement and their gardens. It became apparent to me very quickly that I should have put my name on the front of my running vest rather than the back because I didn't get many cheers at all for quite some time, lesson learned! I had to stop for a toilet break at mile 2, I think I queued for about 5 minutes so not too bad. The weather wasn't kind to me on the first half of course and by that I mean that the sun was out in full force and it felt incredibly hot, something that I'm not used to running in and made it feel very tiring. I also noticed a slightly uncomfortable feeling in my left shoe quite early on but tried to ignore this. The blue start merged with the red start runners around mile 3 on a downhill stretch, there were certainly a greater volume of numbers coming from the red area to the blue. I made a calculated decision in my head to take advantage of any downhill stretches and let the gradient do the work for me, there weren't that many though as the course is relatively flat. I couldn't wait to see my family around mile 5 and was on the look out for them from about mile 4, determined not to miss them. Thankfully I didn't and managed to spot them and got a hug too. One of the most noticeable things about the first half of the course is the amount of pubs there are. Us runners can actually smell the booze as we plod past! Another marathon moment I will take away, is the first sight I had of Cutty Sark. I always remember watching the marathon on the TV as a child and seeing the runners file past the iconic ship, so when it came into sight, my whole body when tingly and goosebumps for a few seconds. This is also the first place I encountered a blind runner running with a guide which was quite humbling. I seem to recall that Greenwich was also the first place that many of the charity supporters pitched themselves so the noise going through Greenwich village was tremendous. I gave a wave to the Hospice UK gang here. Just before the half way point, I crossed Tower Bridge, another charity cheer point and absolutely amazing in terms of noise and support. Another runner was just behind me, Morris Dancing his way across the bridge to masses of applause, I heard him before I saw him. As I came off the bridge, there were course photographers but I didn't see them until it was too late so sadly didn't catch any. I saw my family and friends just after this again which was fantastic and gave me a real buzz. I was at this point feeling quite tired, although apparently I didn't look like it in the video they took of me. I left them feeling a little down hearted as I didn't expect to see them again until mile 25 which felt a long way off. It's also this point where the course overlaps with itself and you get to see other runners who are at least 9-10 miles ahead of you on the last stretch, I can't tell you how much your mental toughness needs to come into play at this point. I saw a pace maker on the other side with a flag stating his pace was 3.30, I also noticed a red pace maker in front of me going in my direction with a time of 5.15, which for a second I thought was amazing until I did the maths and realised the pace maker must be running really slow (or as I worked out post race, didn't cross the start line until well after I did). After the half way point, something in my head decided to walk a little, apart from my toilet stop I'd run up to this point. It's like breaking the seal, once you've broken it, you have to keep going back so I spent the rest of the race run / walking which in hindsight perhaps I didn't need to do as much as I did. From mile 13 to mile 18, the course heads down to the isle of dogs and Canary Wharf area and from everything I'd heard beforehand this was a quieter area of the course in terms of spectators. I have to say though, apart from a couple of short stretches where you run through a road tunnel, I didn't notice any drop in support and in fact one of the noisiest points on the course was the stretch in front of Canary Wharf. I also got a lovely surprise in seeing my family and friends here when I wasn't expecting to, again a fabulous boost. As you'd expect, one of the noticeable things on the course is the multiplying number of runners needing first aid as the course progresses. I had to try not to think about this too much as I ran, I'm sure it could seriously damage your mental robustness if you pay to much attention to them. I do recall a particular runner in a dog costume, who I'd also seen at the start line, being given first aid, I guess the heat got to him. The admirable St Johns Ambulance workers were also throughout the course offering Vaseline to runners, fortunately I never felt the need to take this up. During the second half run/walking, I must say that at times it felt more comfortable to run than it did to walk. For some reason when I'm running I can't feel the aches and pains as much as when I'm walking and once I'd walked for a bit, it was much harder to get into a good running rhythm again. When I hit the stretch where the course overlaps itself again, I didn't see other runners heading in the other direction, I saw the road sweepers cleaning up the streets. With the exception of one lady who was running alongside the road sweepers with a medical nose tube in, absolutely in awe of that. I'm not sure how I can say this but I didn't hit the dreaded wall, in fact, once I'd got past about 18-19 miles I got much more relaxed, I guess because at that point I knew I'd finish. For the long stretch of the embankment I spent much of it feeling sick, the sort of sick when you've eaten too many sweets, the sports gels were biting back! I was expecting to see my family and friends here somewhere but sadly didn't. I did get offered a glass of Pinot Grigio by a spectator who had shouted out that we were close enough to the finish now it wouldn't matter, I declined. The Finish The noise of the crowds along the last few miles is deafening particularly as you approach parliament and Buckingham Palace, the distance seemed to disappear beneath my feet and before I knew it I was heading down Birdcage Walk and on to The Mall. It's slightly disappointing that the crowds did thin out right near the finish but I guess this was inside the security area so understandable at the moment. I'm glad to say that I ran for about the last mile and then across the finish line. My medal was given to me almost immediately, which I duly posed with for the course photographer. I also took a picture of my medal and sent it straight to my husband and my friend. It amazing to think that all those hours of training boils down to a piece of metal at the end which everyone wants more than anything else. I collected my goodie bag which was surprisingly heavy, then on to collect my kit bag and out of the finish area in less than 10 minutes. The End I had arranged to meet my family in the meet and greet area where the Hospice UK would be meeting, after a quick phone call with my husband I headed out to find them. It was at this point, I realised how much my feet and hips were aching, my legs weren't too bad. Seeing my family and friends was fantastic, I'm so thankful to have had such good support and they also bought me fizz and chocolate. One of the first things I wanted to do was remove my trainers so with the help of my daughter and friends they took my shoes and socks off. It was at this point I realised what I had noticed way back near the start; a blister the size of a large grape of the side of my foot, ouch! I sat down on the ground and devoured an apple from my goodie bag, best apple I've tasted in a long time. Post Race After being pulled up from the ground, we walked to find a pub, apparently I'd earned a drink! We managed to find somewhere not too far and I did enjoy that glass of wine, oh and a packet of slat and vinegar crisps. Whilst sat in the pub, I did notice a strange smell every now and then and thought at first it was the pub until I realised it was actually me, pretty darn gross. It was at this point, I sadly said goodbye to my friends but still overwhelmed that they came to cheer me on. My family and I headed back to the hotel where I had a much needed shower and glass of champagne. Sadly we didn't plan dinner very well and ended up with takeaway pizza in the hotel room but not before walking a few miles to an unopened Pizza Express. For Fitbit friends, I ended up doing 73000 steps that day. I had over 80 notifications on my Facebook page that evening but was so spent I couldn't read through them, it wasn't until tea time the next day whilst waiting for plane home that I finally got to read them all. Blown away by all of them, particularly by one from my husband that I'd no idea he'd written. Lastly, I'm astounded by how much I've managed to raise for Ty Hafan, I had no expectations beforehand but so far have over £1100 in donations, which is so amazing. I can't thank those people who sponsored me enough, in fact, some of them I can't thank personally so if you did donate anonymously, I really do appreciate it. Thinking of the money I'd raised was one of the many things that kept me moving around the course. I'm signing off for tonight, it's late...

With the end in sight! #vlm2017 #ukrunchat

New key ring. The new necklace is a bit heavy though. #vlm2017 #londonmarathon

It was at this point I finally knew I would finish. #londonmarathon #vlm2017 #teamnas #reasontorun