Tuesday 19th April 2011

LONDON MARATHON STORY

A Good Afternoon to you all. Well, I went, I ran and I did it!! I have to say what an amazing event - if anyone has any doubts about running this, dispel them right now. A well oiled machine, everything organised, planned and executed to precise detail. I have broken this blog down into 4 parts, covering the experience from start to finish.

Friday 15.04.11

Up at 6am and out at 7.30 for the train journey to London. As it will be my only London Marathon, we decided back in November last year that we were going to do it in style, so online tickets had been purchased for First Class seats on the 0909 Virgin London service for this date. In the photos section, I have placed a pic of Joyce and I "lapping" up their service! My son and his partner (5 months pregnant with Twins!) also accompanied us. 

2hrs later, we alighted at Euston Station, taxi to the hotel and settled into our rooms by 12noon! We had a walking tour to do at 3pm and after an adventure on the London Underground, arrived at Greenwich Park for the tour. This took in the starting areas, how it would be laid out etc and then swiftly back onto the tube services, Dockland Railway, to the Excel Centre to register and receive my Race Number, Timing tag and other goodies. By the time we arrived back at the hotel at 6pm, we all felt as if we had run a marathon!! Bite to eat and off to bed for next days activities!

Saturday 16.04.11

Another walking tour, this time for the finish area. This was to ensure we knew where to meet each other after I had finished: believe you me when I say the area looked huge but on marathon day it seemed to shrink! Needless to say, we heeded the advice of our guide and found an alternative meeting venue! After a yummy ice cream, we took our time getting back to the hotel where we spent the remainder of the afternoon with feet up and relaxing for the big day! Bonus as Chris, Graham Breeze & the lads came down to see us at the hotel, a few pints and such (for the others I might add - yer man stayed on coke then water!), then a fond farewell with good luck wishes (and a card from Jen) to set me up for next day!

Sunday 15.04.11

The day dawned for us all at precisely 5.30am. Alarms going off all over the hotel as other intrepid runners arose and prepared for our big day. Early breakfast at 05.45, then back to the room to change into my running gear. Back down to the lobby and awaiting the call to board the 2 coaches which were to take us down to the start line at Greenwich (and to the 24 mile mark for the Spectators after the race had begun). The atmosphere on board the coach we were on was quiet, many people pensive thinking of the endurance ahead! Arrival at the start at 8.10, then down to my designated start area, the Red Start and final preparations for the run. Superb areas for runners, which debarred family, etc from entering, allowing runners to set their minds to the task ahead.

At 09.10, we were called to take our places in the running pens (Number 6 for me), based on times runners had stated on their first application to run the Marathon. The higher the pen number, the faster the predicted finish time! After hearing the hooter to set off the Womens Elite and then Wheelchair entrants, it was our turn to begin to move forward. 0945 - a loud siren sounded, a great cheer went up from us all and we were off!

Miles 1 - 6

When we set off, there was a good deal of cloud cover and the forecast was for cloud and sunny mid-afternoon! Remember my earlier missives about our wonderful weather people? Yep, they got it wrong (big style!) again!! By mile 3, the cloud had burnt away and we faced a hot sun with no cover to afford any relief. My intention had been to stay with the 9 minute mile pacemakers, which would have seen a time of 3hrs 58mins for the 26.2 miles, but by mile 6, the sun was so intense that I immediately revised my plan and dropped my pace to accomodate the prevailing conditions.

Miles 7 -13

A gruelling run through Greenwich and out towards the Docklands area (O2 area and Tower Bridge). By the time I reached Tower Bridge, the sun was nearly at its highest and was getting hotter by the minute. Around me, runners were beginnging to flag and the water stations (every 2 miles) were doing a brisk trade! Crossing the Bridge, I still felt good, the reduction in pace beginning to pay dividends and ensuring I had plenty left in the tank for the 2nd half of the run.

Miles 14 -18

The crowds began to thin out around here (still people cheering us on) and heading towards Canary Wharf. At this point, 18 miles, a runner decided to barge through 3 of us, I stepped to my right and my foot went over the ridge between the road and the kerb (which had cobbles on the edge!) and a severe pain tore through my right calf muscle. I plodded on for about half a mile then moved over to examine the leg. A First Aid attendant saw me stopped and after assessing the injury advised me not to go on! Having told this chap in my unique way that this was not an option, I was advised to walk and run at intervals so as not to put to much pressure on it. It later transpired to be a muscle tear, which kept tightening up after a spell of running. I felt frustrated, angry and have to admit to being close to tears. On I went......

Miles 19 - 21

In all my years of running, I have to admit that this was the worse feeling I have ever had. Here I was fulfilling my dream and some idiot had now caused an unnecessary and stupid injury which was threatning my run. The advice given to me was heeded and for the next 3 miles joined an ever increasing crowd of runners walking  and running - the heat by this time was unmerciful and showed no sign of letting up. The combination of frustration, heat and self pity were beginning to get to me......

Miles 21 - 23 

You know what kept me going during all this? The thought of not letting anyone down and the fantastic vocal support we were all getting from the crowds. By Mile 21, the crowds were immense, the noise incredible and the buzz they were giving us all by calling out your name, individually, to let you know you weren't alone, they were with you, rooting for you and wanting you to finish. At Mile 21, I literally bumped into a fellow runner and after aplogising to each other, began to gab. Shaun was running for Cancer UK and was suffering terrible pain from blisters on his feet. Somehow we ran and walked beside each other and vowed not to finish without the other.

Miles 24 - 25

After what seemed an eternity, Shaun and I began to walk after running a mile to gather water from the next station. It says a lot for my mindset that I had nearly forgotten that my family were at this point (opposite Temple Station and the Embankment) - you have to realise that as this point, the noise was incredible. Joyce had been screaming at me and it was Shaun who pointed her out - taking a few seconds out, I wandered across and gave her a big hug (which nearly set me off!) and told her that I had suffered this injury but would be finishing! After words of encouragement from the family, off Shaun and I went (with hundreds of others) determined to finish and hold our heads high. I was later told by my son and a bloke (Mike) who we had met at our hotel (whose wife, Diana, was also running), that they had renamed mile 24 Skittle Alley, as runners had been and continued to drop like flies at this point!!

Miles 25 - 26.2

Spirits lifted after seeing my family, the determination factor increased. By now the crowds were over 8-10 deep in places, the noise level had increased, the encouragement from them gone up another 2 notches and the fact that Shaun and I were smiling, laughing with each other seemed to encourage nameless strangers to call out both our names. Have to admit by mile 26 were like 2 giddy schoolkids and were high fiving people, spraying them with water from the bottles we were carrying and they were giving us it back!! Passing Big Ben, a huge lump came into my throat and I admit that I nearly got too emotional and had to fight back tears of joy. Down Birdcage Walk, I had seen this so many times on telly and often wondered what it would feel like.......let me tell you it was an experience that I have never felt before or will ever feel again! Turning right past Bucky Palace (and a salute for Sezzy!), then right again...the famous sign came into view 285 yards to go. Shaun and I returned together from our high fives and all feelings of tiredness left us. We didnt do anything daft, never sprinted, just kept up our good pace and headed towards the finish. The promise we had made each other at Mile 21 had been fulfilled and so, raising each others arms we crossed the finish line together......

My official time has been given at 4hrs 44mins and 32 seconds - no Olympic athlete could feel the way I felt at that moment and now I just wanted to get through the processing area and see the family. Timing chip removed, medal placed gently around my neck (with a kiss) and then off to collect my baggage. 10 minutes later, feeling tired, sore but so elated, I was greeted first by my lad, swiftly followed by Joyce who's hug and big smile, accompanied by the words "I am so proud of you", made the whole thing, the training, the highs & lows and the day itself all worth it.

Returning to the hotel, a nice buffet laid on by the travel company, a welcoming massage and a hot shower later revived me for a wonderful meal we had outside the hotel, in the company of our new found friends from Scotland, Mike & Diana. She had finished in 5hrs 46mins having suffered from 4 miles out with the heat and injuries to both her knees. Then to bed where I slept the sleep of the dead!!

Monday 18.04.11

After a good sleep and a hearty breakfast, it was time to leave and set off for home. Goodbyes all around to new found friends and then off via taxi for the 10.30 train home (First Class again!). Arrival at home yielded another surprise with welcome home banners from my daughter and grandchildren (and son who was in on the act but never let on!), the message clear and proclaiming "We are so proud of you".

My  Marathon Adventure was complete.

The Institute of Orthopaedics, the research and teaching unit of the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital at Oswestry, Shropshire has a national and international reputation and is very much regarded as a Centre of Excellence. The 2010 Virgin London Marathon had 37 runners supporting the Institute and funds were raised for medical research at the hospital which will be utilised to fund innovative research projects. Raising funds in the present economic climate is exceptionally difficult and all monies received will be much appreciated.

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