Marathon day finally arrived!!! Where to begin…
We started the weekend with a trip up to Brighton on the Saturday to the exhibition and to collect our race packs. The exhibition was huge and very busy. We picked up our race numbers and timing chips – at this point realising Dad was registered as a female – and then walked around a bit. We got our injuries taped up thus leaving me looking quite mummified (the tape was awesome for the whiplash but did nothing for my knee…). It was quite exciting looking around at all the runners and I started to feel a bit excited!
Then we came home and Jas rang in the evening with some last minute important advice – very helpful! Never thought our friendship would develop to the level of discussing vaseline and armpits…) Mum bought us some amazing cakes made by Louise’s Cakes – all marathon themed and very tasty!
We ate a gloriously large bowl of spaghetti carbonara (I don’t want to look at another bowl of pasta for a while…) and watched the sport relief Davina Mccall challenge for motivation before bed! I didn’t really sleep at all.
We got up at around 4am, got dressed in our running vests, walked the dogs, forced down a bowl of porridge and left for Brighton. When we got on the train at Moulsecoomb it was filled with lots of other runners. Some of them had really low numbers of their vests so you knew they were the professionals. Sometimes you can spot a runner a mile off (LOL) because of their stance and body shape.
So we walked to the starting line at Preston Park, it was pretty cold. It looked like it might also rain. The queues for the toilets were ridiculous. But the weirdest thing was that there was an open burger van, at 8.30AM, before a marathon. WHY would you want a burger at that specific moment in time?! Sometimes I think British people are weird….
Anyway! We warmed up and decided to go into the last corral because of my injuries and Dad’s chest infection. The starting pistol went off for the elite race and we saw them sprinting past. Literally – sprinting. The speed at which they run a marathon is incomprehensible.
Then we started edging forward. I needed another wee. You drink so much fluid before the race it’s ridiculous. At this point we just wanted to get started!! Although 19,000 registered for the day, there were about 9000 on the day so it was packed. Then we were off! I ran with my Dad for the first 5 minutes or so then he sped up a little (I’m convinced it’s because he needed to pee). My knee started hurting pretty much immediately after we started so I was panicking a little. But I don’t know if it was the atmosphere or the crowds but I seemed to push through it and it was bearable.
We turned around the first corner and I came across a sea of about 50 men weeing in a long bush (including my Dad, gross). The route went around Preston Park and through to the bottom of town where my Mum and Sister were waiting at mile 3.
“Come on Arse!!!” Yep, thanks mother.
I was doing pretty well! In fact, the first 12 miles went really well, I was running at about 11 minute-miles, slightly faster than I had been during my training. I saw Becky and Tom at around mile 7. Actually I head them first, which is impressive because I had my headphones in.
“You’ll be on the other side of the road soon!!” Yeah, only after I’ve done another 6 mile Becky…
Around Ovingdean it was a bit quieter but lots of children were outside their houses giving out sweets – chocolate buttons, skittles, jelly babies – it was amazing! Dad was about 5 minutes ahead of me at this point so we crossed paths on opposite sides of the road and he gave me some sweets. Everytime I saw him during the race he looked suspiciously chipper.
I was coming back down the seafront by Brighton Marina and couldn’t hold it any longer so I stopped to pee and came across Becky and Tom. That was where the problem started – I shouldn’t have stopped. It was incredibly painful on my knee starting up again and I only got a mile down the road when I saw my Mum and had a bit of a meltdown. After taking some paracetamol and strapping on my knee support, I set off again. My knee pain didn’t seem to subside this time for about another 2 miles which I think is why I didn’t notice Saba, Alex, Laura and Tom apparently screaming at me! Then it seemed to improve a little.
The next part of the race was through Hove. It was a lot busier. There were more children with sweets. There was even a couple of old ladies sat with a picnic bench outside with strawberries and champagne watching us run past! Some men came out the pub with pints of beer for runners – not one person took up that offer!!
So I’m now at around mile 19 and I finally spot the SMC foursome – Laura, Saba, Alex and Tom! They were easier to spot this time waving their hands about and cheering very loudly!! It was at the perfect point because I was starting to struggle and my speed had dropped back down to 13 minute miles. I wanted to shout something witty but all that came out was “I’m in so much pain!!”
Then I saw my Dad again, still looking smiley – he had looked like shite the rest of the week!! Today he looked like he was out for a jolly stroll!!
I carried on towards Portslade and this is where it fell apart. My knee felt like it was on fire. I could feel the nerves in it twinging and I had to stop running. Except this time it hurt even to walk. It was agony. Everytime the knee bent as I took a step it was torture. The back of my other knee was starting to hurt, probably as it was compensating for the other one. My feet were sore. I ended up walking between miles 20 and 22, obviously slowing right down. I had a little cry and was extremely close to calling my Mum to come and walk the rest with me because I didn’t know if I would make it.
Then I was back on Hove seafront and I knew I wanted to run along this final stretch. Only four miles. Four miles seems like nothing after you have got that far, but the pier seemed like it was out of my reach. I started up running again and I can’t even explain how painful it had become. Luckily I saw a lot of people along the final stretch – Saba, Laura, Alex and Tom first, and then Jas and Lisa twice (pretty convinced they were walking along the seafront at a faster pace than me by this point…). It was an emotional last few miles. I started panicking because I thought there won’t be any medals left when I get there. If I get there.
400 metres to go. Longest 400 metres of my life. I reached the 200m mark and could see my Mum, sister, Becky and Tom cheering me on at the end. Then, as if by some miracle, I crossed the finish line. I couldn’t walk or talk. I hobbled through to get my medal (there were some left!!), my T-shirt and my goody bag (filled with a copious amount of bananas – where was the chocolate?!?!). Then I clocked the fitty with the foil wrap so I went to get that too. Trying to smile at a hot man and look attractive post-marathon – impossible.
Then I spotted my Dad! He finished in an amazing 5 hours 21 minutes!! He had “the best cup of tea ever” in his hand from St John’s ambulance. We then met up with everyone who came along and went for a drink in the pub. Hot chocolate was like a dream. There is no way I could ever have completed the marathon without everyone there on the day!! Thank you to everyone who came and who sent me supportive messages – they helped A LOT.
We fell asleep in the car on the way home. Getting out of the car was interesting, my legs were not, and are still not, working. Hot bath and straight to bed. A bed has never been so comfy as when I got into it last night. Although we are very sore and achey this morning, it was totally worth it. We have raised (and are continuing to raise) a lot of money for PLANETS charity.
Thank you so much to everyone who sponsored us – Sarah, Mum, Avril and Steve, Mike and Viv, Jean, Becky and Tom, Lyn and Mike, Rebecca, Kim, Jas, Ann and Chris, Rhi and Sam, Lesley, Natasha, Fiona, James, SMC lab including Laura, Saba, Irene, Luis, Krisztina, Jacob, Celia, Sara, Anil, Nikki and Niccolo (hope that’s everyone!), Jamie, Lizzie, Marketa and Alex – and maybe a few others in the next few days!! You have all donated to an amazing charity and without knowing this I would have struggled to even start on the day.
Today I am just resting, watching TV and taking lots of painkillers. And occasionally looking at my medal.
A few people have asked me about next year. I think if I hadn’t had so many injuries before the day, my training would have gone further and I MIGHT have reached my five hour target. I maybe would be interested in trying again, but honestly I’m just pleased that I finished yesterday and that’s all that matters. However, Saba is now very keen to run the marathon after soaking up Sunday’s atmosphere, and so I am passing on the marathon blog beacon to her!! Dad is pleased it is ticked off his bucket list and is definitely retiring!!
If you want to look at more photos from the day, please click on the link below and put in our race numbers – 6656 and 5552. These pictures will also show you the true level of experienced pain! – http://www.marathon-photos.com/scripts/home.py?template=MPX2&event=Sports/CPUK/2014/Brighton%20Marathon
I hope you have all enjoyed reading the blog and laughing along with good and bad times!!
The question is, what shall I get my Dad for Father’s Day now?!
Cool Runnings 
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