Laura Cuss
Laura and Clive - Berlin Marathon
Fundraising for Cancerbackup
Story
Yes - it's over!!
Thank you all so much for your support and sponsorship for the Berlin Marathon. For those of you I haven't told (and I think I have been boring a few people with it) I finished it in 3:34:48 (chip), which I was really pleased with but being honest it did hurt a little bit!
The race was really good, the weather was perfect clear sunny skies but not too warm - probably around 15 degrees. I had been worrying about running out of energy so I made sure that I drank plenty of energy drink on the way round and ate those funny lucozade sweets, but too be honest in the end it was the legs that if anything were the problem.
I met up with John Fisher and John's friend Rick at the hotel and despite thinking we'd left loads of time, by the time we found the bag drop and stopped for the toilet about 10 times we were actually cutting it fine and had to fight our way through the crowd to get to the start! It took nearly 10mins to cross the start line and the first 5km were really busy trying to get past people. Though I was glad to have chosen a 'busy' marathon for my first as the other runners and the crowd did help towards the end.
Having done a few 20 milers in my training the legs held up really well to the 21/22 mile mark, but the last four was really really painful. But it was around here that I saw my mum, Stu and Clive supporting in the crowd so that made me determine to carry on, that and the 'if I try really hard maybe I can get under 3:35'. Running under the Brandenburg Gate and realising that the finish was now in sight was the best thing ever.
The airport on Monday morning was really funny lots of people limping and shuffling along and stairs were quite a challenge for a couple of days, but almost a week on now and the legs are recovered, and I'm thinking hmm what next... glutton for punishment... yeah probably
But the fantastic thing is that I think that between mum and myself we have raised over £2000, so thanks to everyone.
Cheers
Laura