What started as a Dare......... by dizzie1981

Wow what a great day today has been! I have to say, it's a totally different experience starting at the front and I feel very lucky to have been given the opportunity.

George, Jane and I got to use the queue-free celebrity toilets (which smell of perfume instead of urine) just past the start line.George had a natter with Nell Mcandrew and Sophie Rayworth whilst I stared at half the cast of eastenders,holby city and Joe Mceldry  - pinching myself. We then line up 3 rows behind the start line! When the gun goes off we literally go right over the mat in seconds. We all shoot off at a silly pace without the usual sea of runners to weave through. Jane starts to overtake George and I early on, however we're both still surprised to reach the 1st mile marker in 7mins 55secs. By the 2nd mile marker, and the beginning of the first incline, George has backed off the pace and I find myself running solo. I'm aware im running faster than I should be, but I figure I'm going to walk at some point on the John Reid road so I may as well make the most of it while I can. Before I know it I'm passing the 10k marker in 50 minutes (which would be a PB but apparently I can't claim that?!). It's then that I notice the 1hr 45 pacer guy running alongside me and I decide to hang on to him as much as I can.

At 7 miles I've caught up with Jane and Im worried as I never catch up with Jane! Turns out she's ok and its just me thats running faster than 'normal'.She tells me to press on and I have to say, Im feeling great.

At 8 miles something starts to go wrong, i remember doing a little sprint through the crowd to get to the guy with the water hose as I'm feeling hot. It's then that I feel a sharp stab of a stitch in my right hand side so I slow the pace down a little. The pain is coming and going but I'm managing to keep running up until I start to feel really hot. The sun is now baking the side of my face and my skin is all goosebumps and I'm feeling pretty ropey. My garmin has given up - it's now displaying a compass instead of any useful information! I'm taking walking breaks now but I'm determined not to throw away all the hard work done over the last 9 miles. A nice lady offers me some jelly babies on the John Reid road and after a few minutes I'm starting to feel a bit better.The rain is a god-send and I'm able to pick up my pace a bit.

I reach the short sharp downhill section before the home straight somewhat surprised as I havn't noticed all the climbing this year as I've been distracted by the stitch. I'm clueless as to what pace im doing but Im all ready to sprint when disaster strikes. Little niggly stitch is now full on 'I need you to stop' side stitch and Im really hacked off! At the 800meters to go point I have to stop to walk. Im embarrassed and im disappointed as Im so close to the finish and I cant run just that little distance! Im doubled over trying to run as a right angle and people are screaming at me to keep going. Complete strangers are dragging me along telling me not to give in and im in agony! I finally managed to straighten myself up to go through the finish line when I notice the clock says 1hr 53mins 37secs

My goal was to do the GNR in under 2hrs so I'm delighted with the result, but I cant help thinking what would have been if I didn't get that stitch?! I didn't feel tired or sore at any point but I was completely crippled in the last 800 meters by a stitch. I'm now left wondering if I can do a sub 1hr 50 half which prior to today would have been considered impossible to me.

I had a great day and I think its really helped restore whatever competitive streak I once had  . I have to also point out what a great job those marshals did. Speaking from experience, the rain is great for running but its pretty miserable for those guys standing about for hours in it. xx