Linden's Training Diary 2007 by Chect

• The End

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  Apr25200710:52 a.m.

  After many many weeks of training the end was finally in sight.  

  Along with thousands of other runners I completed the FLM 2007 on what felt like the hottest day of the year but what a day it was.  Remarkable for so many reasons; from the amazing crowd support, the fantastic organisation (although there has been a lot of criticism on that front I personally couldnt fault this from my experience), the completely crazy costumes to the sizzling heat on the 22nd April.  It all made for a totally unique but exhausting day.

  Getting up at 5.45am does not sit well with me but I had to have my porridge so I dragged myself out of bed and ate as much as I could face.  Having still 4 hours to go it was quite safe to assume it would all be well and truly digested by the start. 

  So off we went by bus to Blackheath (two other CHECT runners were able to join me and calm my nerves although it should have been the other way round! - thanks guys) .  We arrived in time to check out the red and blue zones and then we went our separate ways as the ballot runners and golden bond starts were different.  From that point we were on our own. 

  Its a funny thing the beginning, a mixture of nerves and excitement, knowing the training has been done but you're still not sure of what lies ahead.  I was more than a bit concerned about the heat that day but tried to put it to the back of my mind.  So before I knew it we were off...

  Without listing all the miles and the sharing the highs and the lows it's fair to say it was a rollercoaster journey for me.  Training had gone well and the miles were ticking by nicely at the pace I was used to but it still I didnt feel comfortable.  I was able to look out for friends and colleagues en route which kept me going.  It's a fantastic feeling knowing that people are willing you on wishing you all the best.  That really helped. 

  I started to feel the effects at mile 16.  I guess that was at the point where i was thinking oh my goodness I've still got a heck of a way to go and my legs are starting to hurt!  Those thoughts stayed with me the rest of the way but I struggled on and managed to push in other thoughts; of why I was doing this, of the other CHECT runners suffering as much as me, and remembering the families I was running for. 

  There came the point were as long as I was running and drinking I knew I would be ok.  Costumes passed in a blur, batman, the pieman and the jailbirds were particularly memorable.  As was the chap who ran in a thong!! (it really does take all sorts!).  Just as I thought I was going to fade I heard screams for GORDON and a phew expletives!  I looked round and there was Gordon Ramsay in the flesh not looking too happy!  That made me feel a lot better and I found the rest of the run past relatively quickly.  I marched home with a smile on my face.  Mum spotted me on the telly so it was worth the pain!

  So that's it - run over.  Medal and Tshirt in the bag.  Did I enjoy it?  Mmm difficult to say really cos the heat made it very hard going.  I struggled to get the right balance of drinking enough and not drinking too much.  I still dont think I got it right but at least I finished.  Yes I enjoyed it, with retrospect I enjoyed it more than I thought i did.  The build up and even the training were ace but then I am a runner and love running.  I have more admiration for the beginners and the marathon first timers and the charity fun runners.  So well done you guys you kept me going and made it enjoyable for us all. 

  Roll on next year!

   

   

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