Me and Jenna were up early on the Saturday before the long drive down to London. I couldn’t sleep well so I was out walking the dog about 6am. We then dropped him off at our friends house then set off to pick Jennas parents up.
I didn’t realise how nervous I was about the race but I got so concerned I messaged Coach Tune as the pain in my upper back was unreal. Little did I know this was down to stress! After encouraging words from Dave I tried to relax as much as possible.
After picking Jenna’s parents up we had a clean drive down to Watford (where we was staying) Then after a quick check in we headed to the EXPO @ the excel arena. If I was ever to do the marathon again I think I’d book a hotel in the centre of London, even if it cost a little more. Its totally my fault as we stopped at the same hotel when we went to the Olympics. The price of the hotel was a 1/3 of the cost of central London and its not too far away…….
However when you have to sit on the overground for 40 mins, then change 3 times then around 2 hours later end up at the Excel its not the most pleasant experience!
The Excel however was something special. I was expecting Alton Towers style queues to get my number but I was straight in to get my number then after getting my chip tag we were into the EXPO!!! Not before Jenna spotted Richard Whitehead and was shouting RICHARD RICHARD!! So jenna has a lovely photo with him and in all fairness he was a lovely fella. He stood with me, Jenna and her parents and was asking me about the race and what time I was hoping to finish in, and even telling me to pee where ever as the queues to the toilets were massive!!
The EXPO is like heaven to me. Seeing the new line of summer run wear. The new garmins, new SIS energy gels. I cant afford any of it but its nice to see what is available when I get rich!!
We didn’t stop too long in the expo as we had dinner reservations at a Lebanese restaurant in Watford so we set off on our 2 hour trip back to the hotel!
Jenna accompanied me on my final training run. It was a steady 20 min jog which we did down a cycle path in Watford. Im so happy Jenna is running now. Ive mentioned it before but she has come so far. Jenna is getting up on her BIRTHDAY and SUNDAYS and wanting to go for a run. Its ace!! One thing we both realised is people in London are miserable. When we run in Doncaster the running community are very happy/polite people. You always get a hello/morning/keep it going etc. But in London you get blanked. Even if you say morning they look away or look in disgust at you! Very odd! So glad I run where I do. Most notably the man who always tells me ‘not long to go’ even though he has no idea where I’m running to!!
After the run we had a quick change and set off to the restaurant. We had a mezze style starter. 10 plates of everything from hummous, spicy potatoes, spicy sausage, lamb, chicken. It was gorgeous! We were very full at this point and just about made a dent in our mains! Lamb and Chicken with rice.
I ended up in bed about 10.30. I made sure my bag was packed with everything id need after the race and my race gear was placed out so I could slip it on first thing.
RACE DAY
I had a really good sleep but we were up about 6.15 to make sure we got to the start in time. We decided to drive to Hendon and get the tube down to Greenwich. Which was a great shout as it was 10 times faster than the route the day before! I was feeling nervous and I realised I was quiet but it was a nice feeling that the closer we got to London the more runners boarded the train! After we got to Blackheath on what has to be the most crowded train in the world I nipped to the loo in the station (not realising id be about 40 mins) but thought it must have been quicker than the toilets at the start! Then I gave everyone a hug and Jenna and her parents went to one of the 3 points we had discussed the day before.
The points were mile 6, because it was close to Greenwich station. They were originally just going to stand around canary wharf on mile 15 and 18 but as I wanted to get to the start an hour early and I wouldn’t be at mile 15 for about 2 hours they would be stood twiddling their thumbs for 3 hours! So we decided Mile 6 would be a good spot then they could travel to canary wharf and watch me around mile 15 and 18. In my head I knew where these spots were and would be trying extra hard to seek them out of the crowd for support!
I started walking up the incline towards the start. As I hit the peak of the hill two things occurred to me. Wow, this is the biggest event I’ve ever ran at and 2. Its very windy! I slowly made my way to the start and sat down about 40 foot from the entrance. After some sips of water and nibble of some Soreen I started changing into my racing gear, put my heart rate monitor on and fired my garmin up. I was ready to go!
I walked over to my pen and started doing some warm ups. I also noticed the 3.30 pacer man, two actually in the pen behind. But right at the front. As I was at the back of my pen I was only really 10 foot away so I decided I would try and follow them as my initial goal was 3.30. After my warm up and the massive cheer for Mo we started! It was a lot faster start than I expected. I expected to be stuck for about 10 mins but my stats show I was over the line after about a minute and a half. The first mile I knew things wouldn’t go exactly to plan but I had a moment when I realised. 2 years ago I wasn’t even running. I was topping 17 stone but here I was in a marathon. The London Marathon! Not many people can say they have ran a marathon, even less to say they ran the London Marathon. But here I am. Anyways we got over the line and I checked over my shoulder and slowed down initially for the pacer WHAT A MISTAKE-A to MAKE-A. The runners were brutal in the first mile. I tried to follow the pacer but so were probably 500 people and they were pulling people back to stay with him. In about 0.1 of a mile id gone from being 20 foot in front of the pacer to about 100 feet behind! The first mile came in at nearly 9 mins but I pretty much expected that. Then I have to be honest until the first meeting point at mile 6 was a blur. I pretty much spent my time dodging people, for some reason I expected the streets to be wider than what they were. They did widen eventually but there was a lot of stopping and jumping up kerbs, which I didn’t really want to do!
When I got to mile 6 I tried to keep my speed up but I was scanning the crowd left and right to see Jenna, Mark and Debbie. My heart rate shot up but I was looking from about 5.7 mile to well over 10km but couldn’t see them, I was gutted! I just hoped they’d seen me!
Again the blur followed. I just remember random things. Like an Italian runner having selfies with the crowd. Some Sheffield united fans cheering people on and I shouted ‘we’re all wendesday aren’t we’ to which I got a few boo’s! I saw a man run into a bollard and injure himself quite badly!
On the bit where runners go both ways we saw the elite runners coming up, weirdly Mo wasn’t in the leading group but when he did come past he got an enormous cheer off Runners and supporters alike! I moved over to the central barrier so I was about 2 foot away when he passed. That definitely gave me a lift!
I got to halfway in pretty good shape. If I felt any lulls I moved over to the side closest the crowd which meant people cheered you on and shouted your name. All I’ll say is if you ever to a marathon get your name printed on your shirt. Best feeling ever ! I tried as much as I could to say thankyou and give eye contact, in the latter stages I just stuck a thumb up as that’s all the extra energy I could use!
As we closed in on mile 15 and 18 I got ready to scan the crowd again to see Jenna, Mark and Debbie. By this point, especially mile 18 I really wanted to see them as a boost. I tried as hard as I could but again I couldn’t see them!
Then about mile 19 disaster struck. If anyone has read my blog they will know I’ve had knee trouble and just after mile 19 I felt a pain in my right hip. It sort of felt like I’d been laid on it funny. Then about mile 21 the pain I’ve had in my left knee hit my right knee! I tried to carry on as long as I could but my pace had slowed right down to what felt like a walk. I kept saying to myself I’ve come to run a marathon not walk it. This helped for a while but the pain was so intense I had to stop. In hindsight I should maybe have slowed right down to maybe an 11 min mile pace or something but at the time I just felt I had to stop. As soon as I did the pain hit my thighs too. From mile 23-26 I stopped numerous times. I couldn’t tell you how many as I def wasn’t thinking straight but each time I tried to calculate on my watch my finishing time. I was on target for sub 3:40 which I was happy with. Then it went to 3:45, then 3:50. I kept telling myself I will walk for another minute then start again, each time the pain was so intense and setting off running again after 23 miles was really hard. But the last mile the crowd support was awesome. I ran the last mile and was so happy to see 800m’s to go! Then 400m to go! However I was conscious that I run laps at the keepmoat on a Tuesday and 800m’s is further than you think so I tried keeping to a steady pace until the finish. In the last 50m’s I tried a sprint finish and I really want to see if this was captured on film but my knee went. My Thighs fully cramped up and I was caught over the finish line by a female paramedic. She asked loads of times If I was ok and I said yes. Trying to walk off but not being able to!
Then bang! I’ve never felt pain like it! My knee’s, legs, arms, back, head. Everything just exploded. And all I wanted to do was get my bag, ring Jenna and lay down. My bag was in the furthest lorry away which was annoying (but cant be helped!) then I eventually got through to Debbie and we tried to agree a meeting point. I got really emotional and nearly cried but held myself together.
But I’d done it! I’ve completed a marathon!! 3:51:22. Its not the time I was expecting but I FINISHED a marathon!!!
I finally met up with Jenna and her parents. I got a massive hug off Jenna which was really nice. Just what I needed! I then found out a few things. I had got quite badly sunburned, I am now sporting a lovely Vest Tan! And they saw me at all 3 points on the course!! I was hoping they saw me at least once but they saw me at all 3 points. They stood a little further down the course on the last 2 points but I’m so happy they did see me. They were shouting really loud too and looking back I think I remember someone really screaming my name (which was Jenna) but I was about 22 miles in, in excrutiating pain and just visualising the finish! I cant thank Jenna and her parents enough for coming down to support me. It means so much!
Well that’s me pretty much done now. I’ve enjoyed writing this blog but I reckon in a years’ time (fingers crossed) it will be Marathon Jenna!! Jenna and Mark are going to enter the ballot for next year’s marathon! And I can’t wait! I will be watching with pride as they run past! There’s no greater feeling than finishing a marathon!
Max