What a day I had on Sunday! It's hard to describe it all, if you've never been to London to watch the Marathon then I urge you to go! Better still, join in and raise some money for charity.
My wife, Hilary, came with me to keep me company for the weekend. We went into London on Saturday morning, checked into our hotel and then made our way over to the Excel Exhibition Centre to register for the race. The atmosphere was already running high and the good weather just enhanced the party mood.
On Saturday evening we joined the rest of the Macmillan Fund Raising Team at their pasta party. It was a great time to meet and chat with other Macmillan runners, swap notes and share our anxieties.
The London Marathon starts early on Sunday, 9:45 for the main race, this means getting up at 6:00 eating what you can for breakfast, put on your running kit and get on the Underground to get to the start. I ran from the Blue Start which was a good one mile walk from Greenwich DLR station, made for a nice relaxing warmup though.
Once at the Blue Start it was time for the last minute preparations... like queueing for 30 minutes to use the loo! It's at this point that you hand over your kit bag to get it transported by truck to the finish.
Finally it was time to start. What a huge start it is too! It took me a good 6 minutes just to get to the actual startline, it's here that the ChampionChip that you attach to your laces begins recording your actual running time.
The first mile was slow going, you're just falling over people left, right and centre, it pays to look where you're going! It's not a good place to end your marathon because you trip over a kerb trying to pass someone.
The next 12 miles (or so) went well, I knew that I was well on my way to a sub four hour finish, the running was easy, there was plenty left in the tank.
Around about this point though I began to realise that something was going a bit wrong! I began to feel quite nauseous... I ignored it for a while, it just happens sometimes when you're running... but it got worse and worse... eventually I was walking and running at intervals and feeling more and more sick... finally at 21 miles I had to stop running and just walk, I stuck with it all the way to the end and ran the last 200 metres. I didn't realise until later but I'd just covered the last 13 miles suffering from sunstroke, it was the hardest 13 miles I've ever done!!
Final time, 5.5 hours, 2 hrs for the first half and 3.5 hrs for the second. I finished though, I have my official finishers medal. I ran this one for my Dad, it was hard losing him and regardless of how hard it was to finish this marathon, it was still easier by comparison. I know he was there with me all the way, someone kept me going!
I'm going back next year to give it a good hiding :o)
See you there,
Chris.
Tuesday, 24 April 2007
Friday, 20 April 2007
Not long now....
I'm getting very excited about running on Sunday! It's going to be a great day, I feel like I'm going to have a great run.
Have you noticed that we've raised / pledged over £2000 for Macmillan Cancer Care, I'm absolutely overwhelmed by everyones generosity.
Just in case you've been wondering my run number is 16984 and I'll be wearing a bright green Macmillan running vest with CHRIS splashed over the top.... There... you'll be able to spot me on the telly now won't you... ? :o)
Have you noticed that we've raised / pledged over £2000 for Macmillan Cancer Care, I'm absolutely overwhelmed by everyones generosity.
Just in case you've been wondering my run number is 16984 and I'll be wearing a bright green Macmillan running vest with CHRIS splashed over the top.... There... you'll be able to spot me on the telly now won't you... ? :o)
Wednesday, 18 April 2007
Physio!
I've seen a great physio today, Sarah Duncton @ PhysioArt in Birmingham, well worth a visit if you're in need! You can contact Sarah thru her website www.physioart.co.uk
It seems that my ankle problem isn't an ankle problem at all.... it's all about referred pain from a trigger point in the calve muscle. Acupuncture and stretching should put it right soon.
The bad news is that the marathon is gonna hurt... (So what's new?)
The good news is that there's nothing permanent there so I can get running on Sunday without fear of any lasting damage.
It seems that my ankle problem isn't an ankle problem at all.... it's all about referred pain from a trigger point in the calve muscle. Acupuncture and stretching should put it right soon.
The bad news is that the marathon is gonna hurt... (So what's new?)
The good news is that there's nothing permanent there so I can get running on Sunday without fear of any lasting damage.
Monday, 16 April 2007
An update to 16th April
In the last few weeks in the run up to the Marathon I've been concentrating on one thing only! As I've mentioned already I suffered a very minor injury to my ankle a couple of weeks ago and I'm trying not to make it worse!!
It's at time's like these that many runners defer their place until next year. However, for one reason and another I really don't feel that I can do that. It's important to me that I continue and just make the best of my run on the day.
I've kept both circuit training and running sessions as easy as possible, and I'm resting for a whole week now before the event. A little bit of physio and sports massage before will be just the thing to put me at the best I can be on Sunday!
It's also been a learning process, I never knew just how supportive zinc oxide sticky tape could be!! This isn't a cure obviously, and isn't something any runner should entertain unless circumstance dictates some drastic action. You simply wrap the stretched muscle or ligament in such a way as too compress and support it, it's remarkably effective.
The weather was gorgeous this weekend... I'm sure you're wishing for more of the same next week... I have to tell you that I'm not!! An ideal day would be a little overcast, cool and even the odd light shower would help too...
It's at time's like these that many runners defer their place until next year. However, for one reason and another I really don't feel that I can do that. It's important to me that I continue and just make the best of my run on the day.
I've kept both circuit training and running sessions as easy as possible, and I'm resting for a whole week now before the event. A little bit of physio and sports massage before will be just the thing to put me at the best I can be on Sunday!
It's also been a learning process, I never knew just how supportive zinc oxide sticky tape could be!! This isn't a cure obviously, and isn't something any runner should entertain unless circumstance dictates some drastic action. You simply wrap the stretched muscle or ligament in such a way as too compress and support it, it's remarkably effective.
The weather was gorgeous this weekend... I'm sure you're wishing for more of the same next week... I have to tell you that I'm not!! An ideal day would be a little overcast, cool and even the odd light shower would help too...
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