This weekend Sean and myself headed again for my third marathon and Sean's 8th attempt. We got the 6:55 train and arrived in good time. there we were heading confidently to jump onto the circle line train, to realise we were heading out of london into another district, after blaming each other we eventually got back onto another train heading to Tower Hill, to find the district line to the Expo Centre. I was already feeling tired and we had only got to the expo centre.
Every year we say to each other "we wont be too long, we'll grab our numbers then shoot off". Two hours later and a few carrier bags heavier we set off to find our hotel room.
After a comfortable night, although waking every few hours to check the watch, we were on our way to the train station, im there all quiet! In fact thats the only time i am quiet, is on the way to a race. Sean meanwhile is chatting away to a runner from Birminghan and telling him how to run his marathon and offering him advice etc. We find the good for age start, but im freezing as the temperature drops and you would think after all the years running i'd remember to bring more kit. kindly a runner from Altrincham offers me his hand towel and I wrap this modestly around my legs, dont worry he had layers on too..Im not that selfish.
It rains, i'm cold and the teeth are chattering away, but i'm keeping positive, a patient of mine from middleton came over to ask me what to do with his tight calf well i didnt bring my treatment couch, so i told him to just you know,.. run!! (he was fine pre-race nerves).
The time flew, the rain stopped and the race began, the middleton group shouted "maria run with us were doing 7 min miles" so i did but the pace was picking up to 6;30, and for me marathon pacing is the key and i didnt want to be struggling too soon. So i calmy let them go, along with the fly and the carrot and the buzzlight year guy..
Miles later im running still to the pace i wanted, passing quite a few people who look as though there running a 10k, by mile 19 who do i see, but a Middleton runner so i sneek past, to cheer him on. then another middleton runner, im thinking im so glad i didnt go with them. i passed the fly along the last few miles he looked as though hed been swatted, bless! Then the crowd were cheering for buzz lightyear, however i thought to infinity and beyond there is no way i would live it down with the kids if buzz beat me!!! Turbo legs were still charged and I battled along Bird cage Walk, can you believe I finished alongside a carrot and a leprachaun. How can i celebrate my success with them two cartoons in my finishing photo!!!!
I was really pleased with my finishing time, and wanted to go find Sean. After trying to look good, whilst having my photo taken i hobbled over to find sean under a tree looking a kind of greeny yellowish shade, feeling ill. He could'nt understand me, so i let him come round whilst chatting to an essex runner about our times. We eventually shuffled back to the hotel looking like two drunks, me swaying and making strange noises and Sean throwing up every few minutes.
After a well deserved rest we arrived back home, and the support from Astley runners, patients and family have made the event all the worthwhile, we really enjoyed the weekend and for anyone thinking of running a marathon then we would highly recommend doing London.
Well done to all those that ran the marathon along with the supporters who made the race. Cant wait for the next one.....................
Maria Lowe
No comments:
Post a Comment