Flora London Marathon 2009 by Blueski35

• Race day

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  Apr2820092:23 p.m.

  "A gentle walk to the start is a good warm up for a marathon" someone once told me. Lewisham DLR station to Greenwich park is all uphill. A steep hill. We got quite a sweat on walking to the start. Too much energy used and it was getting warm. Too warm.

  I was with Jon, a London veteran. "Get in a toilet queue" was the first advice. We stood for a couple of minutes then realised we were with the general public, not runners. So, into the main arena and join the queues there. Queues? Everything was a queue. We queued, used the facilities, changed, dumped our bags then joined another queue. 9:15am and I'm ready to go, but we're in a pee queue that had to be 500+ people long!

  Tannoy announced 25 mins to go, 15 mins to go, 10 mins to go. Then everyone chose to “go” where they stood, and rushed to the start (although the first few yards were a paddle, ugh). We walked into pen 5 with the 8:30min milers, nobody checked us. All that worrying about the pace in pen 8 and would I be able to go fast enough was unnecessary. I’m very chilled, no nerves or tension at all.

  Then, the start, we're off! We're jogging over the line, I have my iPod set to 4 hours and Garmin set to 26.2. 500m in we're walking again. It's crowded. really crowded. We took 6 mins to cross the start and we're still walking.

  I don't really remember much about the first half of the race. I high fived a lot of kids, I overtook a lot of people (why were these slow runners already in front of me?) and had to concentrate a lot to avoid stumbling into people. I realised early on that I was not hydrated enough so took some water at each station. Energy gel strategy was one every 4 miles. No problem.

  Landmarks? None to speak of I suppose. Looking back we could have been running in any town in the UK. Imagine running up and down Spring Road for 2 hours. Most of the interest was the costumes some people wore. We chatted to a couple of Army Benevolent fund runners (clearly been injured on duty), followed Lara Croft J, an old guy running his 70th marathon, Superman etc. Bands in South London were great, the Japanese drummers made a superb noise. Cutty Sark was, well, a shed. Nearly missed it!

  We hit Tower Bridge, not as noisy as I expected, tried to get in front of the BBC tv camera but they didn't want to interview us. Feeling pretty good, race going well. Saw the wife at mile 13 ish, quick wave and a smile. No time to pose for a picture I'm looking to break 4 hours. Halfway in 2hrs and 2mins. Not bad, I don't feel I've gone too fast. Only worry was the amount of dodging and weaving involved. I know this is bad for later.

  Docklands. One word to describe docklands is claustrophobic. Lots of twists and turns, the roads narrow and there's even less space. I kept up my gel strategy at 16 miles but also took a couple of Panadol. I felt quite tense and felt some sharp pains in my back. More water, leave the Lucozade Sport alone! Still going OK. Met the RunnersWorld gang at Mudchute and grabbed some jelly babies. Mile 17 and still OK.

  Now the memory goes a little hazy. I have this feeling of being really angry around docklands and also a little panicky. Feeling sick, massive crowds with no gaps. Really boxed in. I guess this is the wall. Miles 18 & 19 passed. I remember the 30K marker and Jon says "20 miles gone". Where's the 20 mile marker? I can’t see it. It’s got to be here. I'm really angry now. I want out. I really wanted to chuck it in at the stage coz I felt someone was cheating me. Totally irrational! I must have passed 20 miles so should have taken a gel, but felt so bad I didn't. Mistake?

  21 miles and my left hamstring cramps. Jeeeeeeez. Struggle on, no, got to stop and stretch, grab some water. A little girl gave me an orange segment, best thing I tasted all day. "Only 4 miles to go" she said, "Easy for you to say" I said and smiled. I hope she realised is was a smile. I got going again and the cramp passed. I can remember running by TTS so looked left to catch Tower Bridge again. Couldn’t see it for runners and the crowd. THE CROWD. They must have been 10 deep at the side of the road. If I’ve passed Tower Bridge I'm on the final stretch. Lower Thames St, that downhill slope was heaven, passed the Monument. I'm on a walk/run strategy now. 200 paces running then 100 walking. I needed some structure to keep going. I'd really got nothing left at this stage but was not going to stop.

  Head up and strong. Ran into an underpass and the shade was a welcome relief. I guess that's when I twigged how hot it was on the road. I hadn’t been out of the sun for hours. I walked through the underpass just to stay in the shade longer. Jon caught me up (how did he get behind me?) and we set off together again. A German tried to rally the troops but got some replies in English he probably didn't understand (sounded a lot like Duck Cough I think).

  I remember seeing Big Ben, and a group of Indian dancers (made me think of curry). Lot's of encouragement from people shouting my name. Turned right at Parliament, passed the Tamil protesters (why do I remember these?) and onto what must be the longest few yards in London! I saw the "600m to go" sign and thought "I'm there, I've got to run the last little bit", gritted my teeth and ran as hard as I could.

  All the way through training I'd imagined turning the corner at Buck House, a little wave to Her Maj (coz she'd be watching) and strong run to the finish with a tear in my eye. In reality I turned the corner, saw the race clock on 4:25 and my only thought was "I've beaten 4:30"

  Over the line, into the queue to get the timing chip removed from my shoe. That's when it started going wrong. I felt faint, had to hold onto a rail. Couldn't relax. Chip off, and I'm with St John's. I'm pale. I threw up twice but my guts had nothing to give. Into the St Johns tent for a check. Pulse rate at 60 bpm. I'm OK but there are some seriously ill people in there. I just need a drink. Apparently I phoned my Mum to tell her I’m OK. I don’t remember making the call.

  I didn't realise at the time but I missed my chance for the Finisher’s photo.

  Crowds, more crowds, goody bag, crowds, baggage truck, crowds, long walk to meet the wife. Crowds. She’s waiting under the letter Q in the meet & greet area as we arranged. I can’t find her. I’m confused. Where is she? After a while I realise I’m looking her under P. Tw*t! I go to Q, she’s there. Relief, no emotion. Some people are in floods of tears. The sheer emotion of being involved in an event this size? An achievement this big? I don’t understand, or care. I just want a beer!

  How to get back to the hotel? Tube? No, I'll puke. Taxi? No, I'll puke. Rickshaw? Maybe, but too bloody expensive. Only 2 miles, let's walk back down the embankment. Best decision of the day. Loosened the muscles, cleared the lactic acid and other rubbish from my legs. Also got lots of congratulations from strangers. Found a Sainsbury’s local with a beer chiller. LAGER! Result. OK, it was Carling but even that tasted good.

  I’ve always felt I was pretty strong and healthy. Feeling so bad at the finish scared me a little. I told the missus never to let me do this again.

  Checked the results the next day. Chip time 4:20:09. Under the circumstances I’m very happy but I know can beat 4 hours.

  I’m in the ballot for next year.

   

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  Comments (1)

  • Johnf 'Neil well run, and great account of your day, sounds like the heat got to you a bit, but you'll be better prepared for next year!! ' added 28th Apr 2009

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