In for a penny ........................ by Ally_R

Well I found my place in the right section, very close to the 9minute mile pacer as was everyone else and I was stood next to 3 people from Spain, who loved my outfit and guessed that I came from Scotland - good guess and I hadn't even opened my gob at this stage, the clue was in my outfit. I forgot to mention the women's urinals and the P-mates - I've never seen anything like it and there was no way I was using that facility - did any of you women use them - give me good old fashioned toilets - everytime!

Well the crowd started to move ever so slowley forward until we went into a kinda walk/jog, hey this is really happening, I'm about to run the London Marathon, I ran across the pink mats and set the 405. Feeling great, strong and fit, I can do this - noticed about half a mile along that the 405 wasn't clocking the miles, bugger, but I wasn't phased by this as I was feeling strangely strong, which is not usual for me at this stage, it usually takes about 3 miles to get into my stride so I chose to capitalise on how I was feeling, fiddled about as I ran with the 405 and it took forever to pick up a signal - it worked just before the 3mile mark. I was lovin' my music, enjoying the sunshine, lovin the banter and I began to notice that people were already beginning to walk - what the hell are they playin at and they didn't move out of the way either. Anyway soon ater the 5k mark my feet started to burn up, I felt like I was running on hot coals, very strange, but it was too busy to stop, I thought that I was developing blisters on the ball of my foot so I tried to run a wee bit differently to take the pressure off and I ran like this for another 9ish miles - when I saw an opportunity to sit down and check the situation out. The minute I loosened off my laces I felt instant relief and ran the next 2+ miles really well. At mile 16ish my calves started to tighten up so again found a gap and jumped onto the kerb and started to do some calf stretches, when I noticed a young woman sitting beside me with her head between her knees, I went over to check she was okay, she grabbed my wrist and keeled over - christ had I just killed her, no she'd fainted - I didn't think I was that pongy, but there you go. Saw a couple of marshalls and indicated to them that I needed some help and then I scarpered - I had done my bit and a medic I am not. about mile 18 I was beginning to feel a bit funny, light headed and legs a bit heavy, what was happening to me today, I deceided to walk for a bit to compose myself. The crowd was fantastic, giving out sweeties and oranges which I took and very much appreciated - the oranges were soooooo juicy. As I was wearing a kilt the crowd gave me loads of support which was amazing and kids were doing the high 5 bit, loved it all. Started to perk up and ran on again to be hit by another problem, this time the inside of the right knee, it felt like it was tightening up to the point that I couldn't straighten it, so I did a funny walk (not funny ha ha, well it might've been to the crowd)! until I came across some first aiders who iced the area and as if by magic I felt great again and off I ran for a bit when my hams decided to cramp, by now I had a big black cloud above my head, I was doomed not to complete this soddin race, but I'm made of stronger stuff and would not lie down. The cramp passed and on I went a bit of walking jogging as this was the only way for me now and I had about 10k to go, hell it was a beautiful day for a long walk and the company was most pleasant. So on I walk/jogged until I was hit by a dreadful tightness on the inside of bothe my knees, now this was too much to bear, so I pulled over - unfortunately this was outside a pub. An more senior member of the community who had had a few too many decided to impart some wisdom to me, 'you've not far to go now, come on you can do it', I smiled at him and nodded while I kind of jiggled my legs about, he put his hand in his pocket and stuck a couple of wine gums under my nose and insisted I'd feel better if I took them, what the hell I thought, it won't kill me and he's trying to be kind to me, so I took them, he was then joined by another older person - I needed to check if this was a pub or an old folks home, no definately a pub, she was carrying a glass of wine and he had a can of beer in his hand, she very sweetly told me I had a very short distance to run, by now I was gritting my teeth as no matter the distance it was going to be bloody painful. I thanked them for their help and hobbled on, the tightness was by now easing off and not a drop of alcohol passed my lips - maybe those wine gums were magic gums!! I walked and jogged and saw another first aid camp and as there was still a niggle in my knees I pulled over and was given a good rub down. By now I'm texting the world to talk of my predicament and got lots of nice messages back, but they were all too kind, I wanted to be told 'get a grip and stop yer wingin' that always works for me, instead I felt more sorry for myself so I had to do the tough love bit to myself. I finally got to the line in 4:48mins. I was pleased to have finished, but sorely disappointed with my time - I was gutted. What the hell went wrong? My mantra being 'NEVER AGAIN'.

I went off to find the support crew and find somewhere quiet to lick my wounds and sulk!! There was no hiding, people were everywhere, oddly enough the problems with my legs had now all gone away, I just felt weak and sickly, I needed to sit down, but knew I shouldn't as I'd never get up. A couple of guys made me laugh as they tried to change their clothes without sitting down as they feared the same as me - their bottoms hadn't seen the sunshine for some time - very white!!!

The phone network was busy and OH and child had not appeared at agreed meeting place and I couldn't get close to the tree to lean on while I waited and the thought of eating anything from the goody bag turned my stomach even more - everyone seemed really happy, but I was feeling low and then I spotted my son who gave me a big hug and then complained that I smelt, but he was proud of me, I could've wept, what a lovely thing to say. We went on our way back to the train and I was surprisingly mobile - weird. Got back to the flat to assess the damage to the feet - not a blister, not a bruise, not a black toe nail, no chaffing, nothing - amazing!

I continued with my mantra - NEVER AGAIN to anyone that would listen who would laugh back and say Al, you say this everytime you finish a marathon, yes was my reply, but I really mean it this time - yes they say, you always say that as well!!

Anyway after much sulking and some comforting words from fellow runners I have moved on and I reckon that I know why I had so many problems and I'm absolutely raging with my own stupidity - remember the pink laces that I told you about in the previous blog - the ones I bought at the Expo, the ones that don't need tying ever, the ones that I was so taken with and laced them into my running shoes to run the marathon - well I'm sure that it was because of them, my feet burned up (they were too tight), I must've ran about 14miles before I loosened them off and had been running in a way to take the pressure off where it hurt and as a consequence caused all sorts of problems to my poor legs. The good thing was the bursitis in my foot did not flare up and my ITB problem just wasn't there!!! So my friends prior to a race DO NOT CHANGE A SINGLE THING / ROUTINE / NOTHING. If it aint broke, don't fix it!

A very hard lesson for me and advice that I give out all the time to new runners, why oh why was I so stupid? I won't make that mistake again.

Great race to run, the crowds are great and the organisation is spot on as well and if anyone is reading this who hasn't run a marathon and wants to, this is one to do, but listen, I've done my bit, it's someone elses turn and good luck to them - NEVER AGAIN!