Time of day: 9am (ish)
Distance: 26.2 miles
Time: 6:07:32 (official chip time). 5:44 (by my watch)
Weather: Warm, 22 degrees
So here's the story.............................
Wouldn't it be awful if after all that training I overslept and missed the start of the marathon? Well there was no chance of that. I set 4 alarms to go off at 6.30am. As it happened James was awake at 6.15 so it was all unnecessary. Still, it's better to be safe than sorry.
I had also decided that we needed to leave at 8am to make the 10 minute journey to the start which was at 9am, because I know that whatever time we say we are going to leave it will actually be at least 10 or 15 minutes after that. Today was no different. James' last minute nosebleed sent me into a minor panic, until I reminded myself that we had allowed plenty of time for that kind of thing.
We arrived at the start at about 8.30, just in time for a trip to the lovely portaloos. Now I thought I had made a wise decision choosing a queue with mainly men in it, as I figured they are generally a bit more speedy getting in and out. Not so this lot. 10 minutes later Steve was phoning me "Sara where are you? You've got to get here the pens are closing!".
The pens are the name given to the place that you are allocated according to your expected finish time. As I was in the last pen, I wasn't too concerned, after all if they did somehow manage to lock me out I could easily just tag along at the end once they all started moving. But it's strange how panic is contagious. My superfast queue was remaining stagnant. The loudspeakers were announcing "PENS CLOSING IN 2 MINUTES!" People all around me were deserting their queues and running back to take their place. Unfortunately, none of these people were in my queue!
The phone rang again, this time an even more stressed sounding Steve! "SARA, FORGET THE TOILET, YOU'VE GOT TO GET HERE NOW!" What to do? I desperately needed the toilet, but reason had gone, I left my queue and went back to the 'pen' which was in fact a stretch of road incapable of being closed by anyone. Here James calmly informed me "They're not really closing the pens, that's just something they say to get everyone back in place". Why is it an 11 year old can be so much more rational than their parents in times of stress?
I then decided that I really couldn't start the race without visiting the toilet. I ran back and joined another queue. The place was much quieter now and I was in and out in a couple of minutes. I was soon back in the pen where I waited for another 20 minutes before we moved anywhere.
I was still a bit nervous about how my knee was going to hold out. I wasn't convinced that the problem was completely resolved. I had had a sports massage on the Thursday before the race and it was during that that I had realised how tight my quad muscles were. I really think that this was at the root of my knee problem. I am now a complete convert to the benefits of stretching, something which I have been decidedly lax with during my training. To my cost!
After a couple of miles the familiar twinge started in the outside of my knee. I could tell that my quad muscles were starting to become tense, so I made a conscious effort to try and relax them and this definitely helped, every time I felt my knee starting to hurt I would tell myself to relax.
The first 5 miles just flew by. I really couldn't believe I had run 5 miles so effortlessly. I was keeping to a very slow 12 minute mile pace, which is about a minute slower than I had planned to run, but by this time I thought it was more important to be in with a chance of finishing rather than worrying about my time.
At the first drinks station we were informed that they had run out of water! This was really worrying, I couldn't imagine what we were going to do if all the stations had run out by the time we got there. The marshalls were handing out half full water bottles that people had taken a swig from and then chucked on the floor! I decided it was better to risk drinking from someone else's bottle rather than get dehydrated. I just hope nobody had swine flu!
The next couple of drinks stations were fully stocked and I made sure I kept well hydrated. So much so that I was soon queuing at another portaloo. My watch stops when I'm stood still so that accounts for the difference in my official time and my watch time.
I passed the 5 mile marker in just over an hour by my watch so was still hoping at this point that I might finish in around 5:15.
At around 8 miles I had an unexpected surprise. Whilst running past the traffic jam into Musselburgh I heard a shout from the nearby bus. Steve and the boys were on the top deck waving and cheering madly at me! The other passengers joined in so I felt like quite a celebrity.
They passed me another couple of times before my route diverted onto the promenade path and they continued on to Seton Sands. I was wondering whether they were even going to get there before me.
They did. They arrived about 10 minutes before I did at around 13 miles. I stopped for a quick chat and another loo stop before plodding on my way. My knee at this point was still holding up but only just.
At around 15 miles my knee started to really hurt on the uphill stretches. It didn't matter if it was a really gentle incline, it just seemed to be at that angle it sent shooting pains through the outside of my knee. No amount of trying to relax my muscles was helping now. I had to walk until I reached another flat bit. I was so frustrated.
I carried on in this way, running the flat and downhill sections but walking on the uphills. I kept hoping that it would pass, but it didn't. I overheard another runner, who was also walking saying to someone, "It's so frustrating my mind wants to go but my legs just won't let me". I knew exactly how he felt.
I met up with Steve and the boys again at just over 21 miles. I was feeling a bit defeated by then. I ate half a packet of ready salted crisps and stocked up with more fluids. Matthew was keen to do the last 4+ miles with me, and I almost let him. By now I was walking more than running, so I thought he would easily keep up, but Steve said he thought he was too tired, so I carried on while they waited for the bus back to Musselburgh.
At 23 miles I gave up on trying to run, I really couldn't go more than a few metres without shooting pains in my knee. It was then that I had a kind of a revelation, rather than feel disappointed and defeated I could still strive for the best time possible even though I was walking. The ironic thing was that I had hardly any pain in my knee at all if I was walking. So I carried on purposefully, trying to keep to a 14 minute mile pace. I wished that I had done this during my walking periods earlier on, as I think this would have made quite a bit of difference to my overall time.
At 26 miles I decided I was going to run across the finish line if it killed me. And I did. It was agony but I did run the last 0.2 miles. Stamina wise I felt fine, but my knee just didn't want to do it.
So that's it. The story of my first marathon. It's been a brilliant journey, not just the 6 hours of running the marathon, but more importantly the 6 months of training for it. Will I do it again? Yes I think I will. I have applied for London next year and think I'm guaranteed a place after 5 years of not getting in. I feel like I have learnt so much training for Edinburgh and now I'm keen to put it all into practice. I've learnt that training for a marathon is about so much more than just running. It's about eating the right foods, drinking enough (water), not drinking too much (wine), getting enough sleep, getting enough support and definitely about stretching!
Finally to end this blog I just want to say a few thanks to the people who have shared this journey with me (can't you just tell I'm a frustrated writer):
Firstly, thanks to my neighbour Sandra who has always been so positive and encouraging about my running and who introduced me to Simon from Cotswold Allrunners who really kept me motivated in the early days and gave me loads of helpful advice, the most important being to remember to stretch to avoid injury! It was whilst training with Simon that I met Jo who shared so many of my early morning runs in the depths of winter. I really wouldn't have kept going without her.
I have found inspiration in the blogs of John and Broeky who also ran their first marathons at Edinburgh on Sunday. It really helped to know I wasn't the only one doing it.
My friends have also been a constant source of support, in particular Elaine, Lynne, Ken and Lorraine and Jacqui who have endured tales of my running ups and downs and sent me texts of encouragement during the race.
My colleagues Maddie, Debbie, Jeannet, Karen and Jo who have had to cover several days of running induced illness. I promise to look after myself better for the next one.
My mum who has looked after James and Matthew for me so that I could fit my runs in when Steve was working.
My lovely boys James and Matthew both of whom have accompanied me on runs on their bikes and proved to be very reliable pacers. They have also had to endure the last few days of me saying "Don't touch my legs" and "Mind my feet". Yes Matthew I do owe you quite a few games of football!
Finally and most importantly, I couldn't have done it without my wonderful husband Steve who not only has had to live with me and all my ups and downs, but has also been chief child carer and training partner. He has given up his days off to spend hours cycling with me without a word of complaint. Thanks Steve, you're the best!
Tuesday, 2 June 2009
Edinburgh...........
We flew to Edinburgh on Friday afternoon. The boys were excited about flying, especially Matthew as he hadn't flown for several years. The flight was great, quite a clear day, so we had brilliant views. We took the airport express to Edinburgh city centre, so far everything was going to plan. This was a relief as I had been more anxious about actually getting there than running in the previous few days. The Holyrood Apart-hotel was very sleek and clean, a two bedroomed serviced apartment about 10 minutes walk from the start of the race.
We wandered around Edinburgh for a few hours dealing with the normal ups and downs of having two excited boys with us. Steve chose a mexican restaurant to eat at which had been recommended by the hotel. James however, wasn't so keen. He was convinced that the staff there were going to poison us. I'm not sure where this sudden paranoia came from, but happily it proved to be completely unfounded.
The next crisis was Matthew's. Unfortunately it hadn't registered with him that when he ordered vegetable fajitas, it would include a lot of vegetables. As the sizzling platter of aubergine, mushroom, carrots, broccoli, onions and peppers arrived, Matthew departed with a cry of "I'm not eating THAT!". Horrid Henry sprung to mind. James by now was quite happy with his processed fish shape with chips and ketchup.
Saturday was spent trying to sort out suitable meeting places for the race. This proved more complicated than we had originally thought. The walk from the railway station to the mile 9 point took us a couple of hours. Admittedly, it was probably only a half an hour walk in reality but we made frequent stops to take photos and to play in the river, and there was no reason to think that it would be any different the following day. Added to that, there were less trains running on a Sunday so it meant the timing was even more important.
I was beginning to feel a bit frustrated. Everything seemed to be proving more complicated than I had thought. I had hoped that Steve would be able meet me at mile 9, mile 13, mile 21 and at the finish. It was an out and back course so mile 9 and the finish were at a place called Musselburgh, and mile 13 and 21 were at a place called Seton Sands.
It was now obvious that it wouldn't be logistically possible for them to meet me at both points. We briefly discussed that we would miss out the Seton Sands meeting point, but the thought of running the last 17 miles without seeing them seemed awful. Eventually we decided to skip the first meeting point and just see each other at Seton Sands. This way the boys could play on the beach and hopefully everyone would be happy!
Back in Edinburgh that evening, I was feeling pretty exhausted. We had walked for miles, probably not the best thing to do the day before the marathon. We had pasta for tea and then trundled back to our apartment for a DVD and an early night. The boys were absolute stars. They went to bed without any fuss even though they were sharing a room, which usually keeps them up for ages.
We wandered around Edinburgh for a few hours dealing with the normal ups and downs of having two excited boys with us. Steve chose a mexican restaurant to eat at which had been recommended by the hotel. James however, wasn't so keen. He was convinced that the staff there were going to poison us. I'm not sure where this sudden paranoia came from, but happily it proved to be completely unfounded.
The next crisis was Matthew's. Unfortunately it hadn't registered with him that when he ordered vegetable fajitas, it would include a lot of vegetables. As the sizzling platter of aubergine, mushroom, carrots, broccoli, onions and peppers arrived, Matthew departed with a cry of "I'm not eating THAT!". Horrid Henry sprung to mind. James by now was quite happy with his processed fish shape with chips and ketchup.
Saturday was spent trying to sort out suitable meeting places for the race. This proved more complicated than we had originally thought. The walk from the railway station to the mile 9 point took us a couple of hours. Admittedly, it was probably only a half an hour walk in reality but we made frequent stops to take photos and to play in the river, and there was no reason to think that it would be any different the following day. Added to that, there were less trains running on a Sunday so it meant the timing was even more important.
I was beginning to feel a bit frustrated. Everything seemed to be proving more complicated than I had thought. I had hoped that Steve would be able meet me at mile 9, mile 13, mile 21 and at the finish. It was an out and back course so mile 9 and the finish were at a place called Musselburgh, and mile 13 and 21 were at a place called Seton Sands.
It was now obvious that it wouldn't be logistically possible for them to meet me at both points. We briefly discussed that we would miss out the Seton Sands meeting point, but the thought of running the last 17 miles without seeing them seemed awful. Eventually we decided to skip the first meeting point and just see each other at Seton Sands. This way the boys could play on the beach and hopefully everyone would be happy!
Back in Edinburgh that evening, I was feeling pretty exhausted. We had walked for miles, probably not the best thing to do the day before the marathon. We had pasta for tea and then trundled back to our apartment for a DVD and an early night. The boys were absolute stars. They went to bed without any fuss even though they were sharing a room, which usually keeps them up for ages.
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
The final countdown!
So here it is my running number. Everything feels a bit surreal at the moment. I can't believe that after months of training, I'm actually going to be running a marathon in 5 days time.
It's all the more strange because I haven't run for a week now, to rest my knee. A week without running feels very odd. I'm tempted to go out and do a couple of miles, but I'm scared to do anything to jeopardise the big day! My knee feels fine but then I guess that's because I haven't been running on it. I really have no idea what it's going to be like on the day.
I've booked a massage for Thursday at a physiotherapy clinic in Cheltenham. That's my treat for making it this far. I also bought myself this new running top today. Now I know that it is breaking a fundamental rule of marathon running to wear something new on the day, but I figured I'd probably be all right with just a top. The trouble was I had been burying my head in the sand and only had a long sleeved proper running top or a short sleeved cotton t-shirt. It looks like the weather is going to be warm so I decided that I must have a short sleeved running top. I really should have bought this earlier to try it out on one of my long runs.
We are flying to Edinburgh on Friday. I have just sorted out all the details, booked the airport parking, printed off the flight details, looked up the buses from the airport in Edinburgh to the hotel. It's all becoming real! I AM GOING TO RUN A MARATHON ON SUNDAY!
I've even stopped drinking wine for the week! Now that's serious!
Wednesday, 20 May 2009
Week 19, 20/5/09 - Wednesday
Time of day: 9am (ish)
Distance: 4.9 miles (2.5 running, the rest mainly walking)
Time: 1hour 10 minutes
Weather: Sunny, pleasant
I was feeling fairly confident after my trip to the osteopath on Monday. Things certainly felt more stable. Unfortunately though my confidence was short-lived. Again at almost the identical place 2:06 miles into the run I started to get a burning pain in the outside of my knee. I kept going until about 2 1/2 miles and then decided, as it was getting worse, I would have to stop. I walked for a while and then tried running a bit more but the pain quickly returned.
OK, so what to do? 10 days until the marathon, I'm beginning to run out of options. I have rested it for 4 days and then managed a 4 mile run with some pain, I have spent (another!) £4o on seeing the osteopath. I know really that what it really needs is a good period of time to recover, but I am determined that I am going to run this marathon. So here is my plan:
Distance: 4.9 miles (2.5 running, the rest mainly walking)
Time: 1hour 10 minutes
Weather: Sunny, pleasant
I was feeling fairly confident after my trip to the osteopath on Monday. Things certainly felt more stable. Unfortunately though my confidence was short-lived. Again at almost the identical place 2:06 miles into the run I started to get a burning pain in the outside of my knee. I kept going until about 2 1/2 miles and then decided, as it was getting worse, I would have to stop. I walked for a while and then tried running a bit more but the pain quickly returned.
OK, so what to do? 10 days until the marathon, I'm beginning to run out of options. I have rested it for 4 days and then managed a 4 mile run with some pain, I have spent (another!) £4o on seeing the osteopath. I know really that what it really needs is a good period of time to recover, but I am determined that I am going to run this marathon. So here is my plan:
- I am not going to run at all between now and the marathon.
- I am going to take anti-inflammatories regularly from now until the marathon
- I am going to cancel my next osteopath appointment and have my hair cut instead (you may be wondering how this will help my knee pain - it probably won't but at least I'll look good when I hobble across the finish line!)
- I'm going to do some stretches in the hope that they will help
- I'm going to try not to spend the next 10 days drinking wine and eating chocolate because I'm feeling sorry for myself
- I AM GOING TO RUN THE EDINBURGH MARATHON ON THE 31ST MAY 2009!
Monday, 18 May 2009
Week 19, 18/5/09 - Monday
Time of day: 07:20
Distance: 4 miles
Time: 45:07
Weather: Sunny
I was quite apprehensive about how my knee was going to be on this run. Strangely, even though I have rested it for 4 days I have become hyper-aware of every little twinge.
I set off really slowly. At first I was aware that both of my knees were hurting, nothing really bad, they just felt stiff really. Then, about a mile into the run the outer aspect of my knee started to bother me. It was really hard to work out whether I was just making a big issue out of something minor or whether it really was something to worry about.
I kept running, slowing down a bit if it seemed to be painful. Then at about 2 miles it became quite a sharp pain. "Oh no!" I stopped and walked for about a minute, trying to think about what was the best course of action. I started running slowly again, planning to stop and walk as and when I needed to.
That seemed to be just enough to sort me out though, I ran the rest of the way home. It wasn't pain free, but the pain did lessen as time went on.
I decided to go and see the osteopath again, as I have had a number of niggles and twinges since doing my 20 mile run and wonder whether I've just sent myself a bit off balance. I went this afternoon and waved goodbye to another £40! Who said running was a cheap sport.
I am planning on doing a 6-7 mile run on Wednesday.
Distance: 4 miles
Time: 45:07
Weather: Sunny
I was quite apprehensive about how my knee was going to be on this run. Strangely, even though I have rested it for 4 days I have become hyper-aware of every little twinge.
I set off really slowly. At first I was aware that both of my knees were hurting, nothing really bad, they just felt stiff really. Then, about a mile into the run the outer aspect of my knee started to bother me. It was really hard to work out whether I was just making a big issue out of something minor or whether it really was something to worry about.
I kept running, slowing down a bit if it seemed to be painful. Then at about 2 miles it became quite a sharp pain. "Oh no!" I stopped and walked for about a minute, trying to think about what was the best course of action. I started running slowly again, planning to stop and walk as and when I needed to.
That seemed to be just enough to sort me out though, I ran the rest of the way home. It wasn't pain free, but the pain did lessen as time went on.
I decided to go and see the osteopath again, as I have had a number of niggles and twinges since doing my 20 mile run and wonder whether I've just sent myself a bit off balance. I went this afternoon and waved goodbye to another £40! Who said running was a cheap sport.
I am planning on doing a 6-7 mile run on Wednesday.
Dreaming about the marathon.............
I ended up having 4 days without running. I was planning to have 3 days off: Thursday, Friday and Saturday but on Sunday Steve was working and I promised to take Matthew out for the day. I got into my running kit before we went out but then looked out the window and it was absolutely tipping down with rain and I confess, I just couldn't stand the thought of going out in it. By the time we got back from our trip it was too late to run. I consoled myself with the fact that it probably wouldn't hurt to have another rest day.
Anyway, I thought I would tell you about 2 dreams I have had recently. The first one was a couple of weeks ago:
I was running the marathon and it was taking me hours and hours. At one point I stopped at a burger van and queued for ages to get a burger. Then I carried on running and it was getting dark. I was still only 7 miles into it and I was starting to feel really despondent thinking that I would never complete it. Nobody else still seemed to be running and I was all alone on this dark path with woods to one side of me.
My latest dream was a couple of nights ago:
I was staying with my friend who lives in Ireland. I was having a nice time just relaxing and in holiday mode. I was sat, eating breakfast and blogging on my laptop.
Then my friend's little girl needed the toilet and I said that I would take her. For some reason I needed to take her to a public toilet a few streets away.
Whilst I was waiting for her I suddenly realised that this was the day of the marathon and that it started at 9am. I desperately started looking round for a clock and then I found one but I couldn't quite make out the time. I stared and stared at it and eventually worked out that it was a couple of minutes to 9.
I got into a real panic and ran back to the house to get my running kit, leaving the little girl in the toilet. I got back to the house and started scrambling around trying to find my running kit. I was really furious with myself that I hadn't been more organised. I was getting everything tangled up and didn't have everything I needed. I didn't know my way to the start but I knew that I was going to have to run to get there and even then I was going to be late!
I have also had one other night when I suddenly bolted awake, in a complete stress thinking that I had forgotten a whole lot of training that I was supposed to do for the marathon. I woke up thinking "how could I have forgotten that".
Anyway, I thought I would tell you about 2 dreams I have had recently. The first one was a couple of weeks ago:
I was running the marathon and it was taking me hours and hours. At one point I stopped at a burger van and queued for ages to get a burger. Then I carried on running and it was getting dark. I was still only 7 miles into it and I was starting to feel really despondent thinking that I would never complete it. Nobody else still seemed to be running and I was all alone on this dark path with woods to one side of me.
My latest dream was a couple of nights ago:
I was staying with my friend who lives in Ireland. I was having a nice time just relaxing and in holiday mode. I was sat, eating breakfast and blogging on my laptop.
Then my friend's little girl needed the toilet and I said that I would take her. For some reason I needed to take her to a public toilet a few streets away.
Whilst I was waiting for her I suddenly realised that this was the day of the marathon and that it started at 9am. I desperately started looking round for a clock and then I found one but I couldn't quite make out the time. I stared and stared at it and eventually worked out that it was a couple of minutes to 9.
I got into a real panic and ran back to the house to get my running kit, leaving the little girl in the toilet. I got back to the house and started scrambling around trying to find my running kit. I was really furious with myself that I hadn't been more organised. I was getting everything tangled up and didn't have everything I needed. I didn't know my way to the start but I knew that I was going to have to run to get there and even then I was going to be late!
I have also had one other night when I suddenly bolted awake, in a complete stress thinking that I had forgotten a whole lot of training that I was supposed to do for the marathon. I woke up thinking "how could I have forgotten that".
Saturday, 16 May 2009
Week 18, 13/5/09 - Wednesday
Time of day: 6am (ish)
Distance: About a mile running.
This was the first time I had done a very early run for ages. I wasn't keen on getting up and doing it but I knew it was the only time I would get today. I was planning to do a 10 mile run on Thursday.
I don't know whether it was because I didn't warm up properly but about a mile into the run my right knee started to hurt. This bothered me because on the last two runs it has been fine until about 2 miles, so I think it's getting worse rather than better. Taking no chances I decided to abandon the run and walk home.
I've done a bit of an internet search and really I'm still none the wiser. It would appear it's one of two things either ITB or runner's knee (I can't remember the proper name for it). Well whatever it is I decided I would have 3 days of no running at all and then see how it is. I figure that I've trained quite well for this marathon and taking a few days off at this stage isn't going to do any harm, whereas running on a sore knee might.
Distance: About a mile running.
This was the first time I had done a very early run for ages. I wasn't keen on getting up and doing it but I knew it was the only time I would get today. I was planning to do a 10 mile run on Thursday.
I don't know whether it was because I didn't warm up properly but about a mile into the run my right knee started to hurt. This bothered me because on the last two runs it has been fine until about 2 miles, so I think it's getting worse rather than better. Taking no chances I decided to abandon the run and walk home.
I've done a bit of an internet search and really I'm still none the wiser. It would appear it's one of two things either ITB or runner's knee (I can't remember the proper name for it). Well whatever it is I decided I would have 3 days of no running at all and then see how it is. I figure that I've trained quite well for this marathon and taking a few days off at this stage isn't going to do any harm, whereas running on a sore knee might.
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