London 2011 here I come - hopefully! by karobinson

I had the most amazing experience running the London marathon; it was such a thrill to be a part of it all.  The day started very early, I hardly slept & I was up at 4.30 am making sure my kit bag had everything I thought I might need for the day, it was still dark.  I had a breakfast of porridge & a slice of toast & made sure I had food in my pack to eat before the start.  Managed to persuade Clint to take me to the Hart Leisure Centre for 6am to get the club coach up to London, there was no way I would be able to drive home at the end.  We arrived at the leisure centre in plenty of time, but no coach, had I missed a message saying to meet somewhere else?  But then I saw the other runners standing around waiting & joined them, even Alan was there although he wasn’t coming up with us.  The coach finally arrived just in time.  The driver had broken down on the way & had to switch coaches, so we ended up having one without a toilet & made a loo stop at a service station on the M25.  I sat with Anita & we were both getting in a bit of a panic about the weather, the sun was a big red ball & it looked like it was going to be a hot day – not good news.   We made good time & arrived all too soon.  As we turned into Shooters Hill Road & I saw the hot air balloons at the start, panic set in, I thought ‘Oh s**t, I’m really going to do this!’  Once off the coach we had a group photo taken & wished each other luck as we set off to our various start areas.

A fellow Hart Road Runner, Jerry, was also running for the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice so we set off together for the Greenwich Observatory the other side of the red start to meet up with Ruth, the fundraiser & other Hospice runners for another photo call.  I was very glad I was with Jerry; I don’t think I would have found it on my own.  23 of us were running for the Hospice & 9 of us eventually made it to Greenwich. 

After a quick chat & more good luck wishes, I set off for the blue start with a few of the others eating a banana on the way.  Nerves were beginning to set in & we all split up for various loo queues.   I ate my last snack, a hot cross bun, while I was waiting & got chatting to Sandy, a lady from New Zealand.  She told me she had run the Paris marathon the week before.  It was surprising how quickly the time went & before we knew it the tannoy announcements were telling us to drop our bags off.  Got separated from Sandy at this point so made my way to pen 9, Sandy was also in pen 9 so I hoped to meet up again. 

As we were waiting for the start someone started humming the marathon theme tune which made us laugh & relieved the tension a bit.   Decided to wear the sun visor I had bought at the Expo even though I had not trained in it, it turned out to be a wise decision.  At the sound of the start, a cheer went up & we started to move forward very slowly.  It was a bit stop/start, but eventually we were well on our way walking towards the start with the tannoy announcing various runners’ names & the charities they were running for,  almost everyone I saw was wearing a charity vest.  It took about 15 min to get to the start & I waited until I was actually crossing the mats before starting to run unlike some of the others.  Promised I would call my husband once I had crossed the start & managed to get through on the 2^nd call.  He was still on the train with our daughter, but at least he now had an idea when & where I would be.  Shortly after the start I met up with Sandy again & we were to stay together for the duration of the race.   After a couple of miles, Steve who was running for the Hospice came past & I saw him again where the red & blue courses merged, he was waiting for his friend Mick, also running for the Hospice who started in the red start, so they could run together.   After another few miles I felt a tap on my shoulder & there were Steve, Mick & another Hospice runner.  

These first miles all passed in a bit of a blur with good support from the crowd & I was feeling strong although it was getting very hot, I was very glad I was wearing the sun visor.  I was beginning to wonder when I would see my husband & daughter; I was expecting to see them around the half way point & hoped they might be on Tower Bridge.  Reaching Tower Bridge was such a thrill, the support from the crowd was fantastic & deafening, I have never heard so many people calling my name & I must have had a big grin on my face all the way across.  I was scanning right & left hoping for a glimpse of my family, but with no luck.  Coming off Tower Bridge we were able to see the faster runners coming the other way & wondered whether there would still be anybody on our side when we finally reached that point.  At about mile 14, I stopped to walk so I could phone my husband to find out where they were & whether I had missed them.  They were at mile 12 & had missed me, Clint was a bit worried that I was struggling with the heat, so he was quite relieved, but they had seen me at mile 9.  My daughter later told me that they had called my name; I turned & waved, looked straight at my daughter & failed to see her!  I just did not register that they were there. 

Afterwards they used some of the costumes as landmarks, especially the tall nurse, who came past me quite early on.  If they had spotted him/her, I was not that far behind.  By about mile 17 I was beginning to find it a struggle so Sandy & I decided to walk through the water stations which helped.  We found we were passing & re-passing the same people as they were struggling with the heat too.  I was also finding my shoes were a bit tight especially the right one so stopped to loosen the laces a bit, but the right one was still not comfortable.  I had probably adjusted the laces when I attached the timing chip, but the damage had already been done & the top of my right foot is still sore 2 days later.

I pointed out the various landmarks to Sandy & when we saw the HSBC building knew we were not far from Canary Wharf.  I finally saw my family at mile 19, I was so pleased, & it gave me such a boost just when I needed it. 

I was about to run past them again at mile 22 when Sandy spotted them, so I quickly turned back for another hug.  I asked Clint how I looked & the chap next to him said I looked great for 22 miles!  Then it was onwards through the tunnel at mile 24 which we walked through, it was quite eerie & there was not much talking going on.  We ran along the Embankment & again the support from the crowds was deafening & so uplifting.  The people were so generous giving out sweets, biscuits & even chips with tomato sauce!  We kept passing & re-passing a soldier in desert fatigues who had a lovely bum, I never saw his face but I did enjoy watching his bum!  I was finding this bit tough going but carried on running & was relieved to see Big Ben & the Houses of Parliament knowing we were nearly at the finish.  I think this is where the battery on my Garmin failed.  At the turn into Birdcage Walk we stopped to walk again & agreed to start running as we passed the 600m to go marker.  Then it was around the roundabout in front of Buckingham Palace & I could finally see the finish line, it brought the biggest lump to my throat, I thought I would cry as I finished.  It looked so different viewed from this side, the last 2 years I have volunteered at the finish so have seen it from another perspective.  I looked out for Ruth from the Hospice in the stands & waved when I spotted her, then I ran across the line thrilled to be finally finished, I had done it!

Once across the finish line I looked out for other Hart Road Runners who had volunteered & almost immediately spotted Phil, then saw Howard & Bob & had hugs from all 3, & then I said my goodbyes to Sandy as she went off to meet her husband.  I don’t think I would have coped with those last miles without her support, she was quite happy to walk when I wanted & she was very happy with her time.  As I approached the ramps to have my chip removed I looked out for Amanda so she could give me my medal & she took a photo.   Sadly I was unable to spot anyone else I knew, so carried on towards the back of the finish area to have the official photo taken & collect my goodie bag & kit bag from the baggage trucks & made my way to the meet & greet area to find Clint & Natalie.  Had to phone them though to find they were having a drink in Covent Garden!  Clint thought it would take me a bit longer to get to the meeting area.  Couldn’t wait to change my shoes & surprisingly came off unscathed apart from the sore point on the top of my foot & a sore little toe, no blisters, chaffing, or blackened toe nails.

Finally met up with Clint & Natalie & heard all about their day traipsing around after me before heading towards Albert Embankment to pick up the club coach home, while they headed towards Waterloo Station.

The organisation of this race is superb, shame this year’s T-shirt is more than a bit naff though, I liked the one they gave out last year.  Would I do it again?  Not sure at the moment although I did have the most amazing, fantastic time.  The support from the crowds is second to none & I would recommend this race to anyone.  Thanks to everyone for their support, advice, hugs, you name it, I got it.