A massive thank you from me this week to every generous sponsor whose input willed me on and helps the incredible charity MIND to support individuals with mental health issues, mild and major, and their families. We all need to feel good about being here on this earth, about being us and any work that enables everyone to feel like that is vital.
I cannot imagine how the 48,000 runners felt in London – all those cheering crowds, the noise, the people. I felt like I was the only one in the peace of rural Northamptonshire!
My 26.2 miles started at a time I chose when I started the London Marathon app as I left the boat (complete with a head torch because I couldn’t sleep through nerves and chose to head out early). It then consisted of 7 miles of sandpaper jogging – wet and dry, wet and dry and then the rain stopped, the sun was up and I had 19.2 miles of clear skies, almost deafening birdsong and often exclusive towpaths to get me to my marathon finish.
I couldn’t have got there without my fabulous family. The first 15 miles were jogging along happily by myself, and by the time I was joined after loo stop no. 2 and water refills, I was well ahead of my planned timings but glad to have company. Daughter Alice was a massive support in sponsorship, encouraging messages and belief in me when I had none in myself but managed to break her wrist the week before in a gym session. Given the occasional patches of slippy mud and many tree roots to be negotiated, I was relieved she couldn’t actually come and physically join me!
Daughter Freya and soon-to-be-son-in-law Jonny joined me in person after my first half marathon, bringing up front and rear, picking up the pace I set and keeping me entertained en route. Together we headed back the way I had come some hours earlier, looking out for the boat all the time as Steve had moved our home nearer once it became daylight.
At around 22 miles we met Steve, the boat, and a hugely excited 5-year-old grandson with his other Nanny, all keen to offer support. The banana I had been dreaming of was handed over. Freya and I kept going whilst the others sorted things out.
After we passed the boat, my problems started. There appeared to be a fishing match that resulted in fisherman stretched over the next 3 miles of the towpath. It was just too much – trying to pass them, to slip and slide in the mud as I had to move off the main path to get past their massive extended poles (they didn’t all retract them) and manouver round their vast quantities of kit was a stage too far for me. Walking slower by then, and feeling sore and very, very naseauous, we turned. Freya, thank heavens, was doing the calculations. According to the app, we still had another mile and a half by then, so we came back, joined Steve and turned onto a road, the first road for me of the day. It made my rigid calves hurt even more, but we kept going. At one point Freya said the tracking app told her I had finished, her sister messaged to congratulate and ask why I hadn’t called at the end, but my app told me I had to keep going…. Very, very slowly I did, round and round a pub carpark (I had planned a pub finish for obvious reasons) before finally giving up and heading onto the A5 for my finale. My knee and my dodgy hip held out all the way.
With app in hand I crept to the finish and when it exploded with glee to tell me I had achieved 26.2miles in under 8 hours. Sore, slow and getting slower but done. If I can do it, anyone can. Every finisher is a hero and an achiever, whatever their pace, they slogged round 26.2 miles. A mile is a mile at any pace. Pain is more intense if it goes on for longer. It all takes effort, commitment and sheer dogged determination.
Thank you to everyone because when we seek to achieve we need support, people who back us, who believe in us. With that we can all achieve incredible things. I celebrated for the rest of Sunday, and now, well, now we’re enjoying the glory of where we are lucky enough to be living and moving on to what comes next.
As a heads up – we have a new crewmate coming aboard for a trial next week, a change of job and a new business launch to plan – no time to rest – on laurels or anything to be honest!
Pickingupducks 