Running the 2010 London Marathon - am I mad?? by nikkimosdell

• LonDONE!!

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  May0620101:21 p.m.

  Well it's all over! I'm slightly disappointed with my time of 6 hours and 17 seconds but it couldn't be helped as I picked up an injury at mile 18, which meant I had to stop to see the Physio 4 times followed by lots of stretching every so often.

  I got to the start line and was only marginally nervous by the time we started. I got a bit tearful as we started to move forwards and cross the start line. I was more cold than anything and had spent around 30 minutes huddled under my poncho keeping dry. Off I went and all was going well. I even encountered an old work colleague in the first mile. I have no idea how he recognised me but we had a little chat before he ran off.

  I then realised I needed to make a toilet stop. Best to do it in the first mile or two whilst the queues were relatively small. Luckily it only added a minute onto my time and it was necessary. I'd had too much water beforehand.

  I got into my stride and realised I was running at the right pace. All happy so far. We then joined up with all the other runners and I heard shouts of 'Go on Richard' behind me. I kept thinking this Richard was popular until I realised it was Richard Branson and various other celebrities surrounding him. I had told everyone I was going to run with Ricky Whittle and lucky for me there he was too! I kept up with them for around 5 miles and every so often got hit on the head by Richard Branson's butterfly wings when he bent over. I ended up covered in glitter! I saw the caterpillar with Princess Beatrice, Natalie Imbruglia and Michelle Heaton. Are all celebrities really that small in real life??

  As I got to mile 9 I was feeling a bit tired. The lucozade for some reason was not going down well at all and made my mouth taste horrible and sweet. I tried not to drink too much. I felt myself slowing down a bit at this stage especially as I was getting really warm. I was determined not to start walking so kept pushing myself. I then reached London Bridge where the first of my supporters was waiting, my boyfriend. I kept running and didn't see him where I though he would be. I was getting really disappointed until I saw him just as I was about to leave the bridge. I was so excited it made me run a bit faster to show that I was actually still running.

  I got past half way and was expecting to see my second lot of supports, my mum and sister. As I was slower than I had expected the time I had given them to be in certain areas was completely wrong so I was convinced I wouldn't see them until I finished. I got disappointed at that stage. Especially when I ran past the point they should have been but weren't. It was a bit lonely from mile 14 onwards and the smells from people cooking barbeques was making me feel really sick. I had to keep covering my nose every time I ran past food. The sickness lasted until mile 18 and I just kept getting slower.

  This was coupled with the fact that my hip and my knee were really starting to give me problems. The pain was stopping me running as fast as I could and I had to walk for around a minute every mile to help it. By mile 18 I had had enough and had obviously hit the wall. I was in pain, I still had 8 miles to go and I just didn't think I could do anymore. I went to the St John's Ambulance and they directed me to the physio. What luck! I had no idea they had physios on the course! I got a massage and was told to stop at the physios every so often to get more massages on my hip. I was also given a couple of exercises to do so I could finish the course.

  It didn't help completely and I still walked every so often but least I knew I could carry on. I got to around mile 20 and saw Dick from Dick and Dom. He looked awful too so least I wasn't alone. I kept running thinking there was no way my mum and sister would be at the 21 mile mark as I was really behind time now. But lo and behold! They were there and my boyfriend was too!! I was so happy to see them. It really gave me the extra push to keep going. I later found out that they had gone to the wrong area and had been waiting at the 21 mile mark for around 3 hours!

  The last few miles the crowd were really encouraging and kept shouting my name. It was so nice to hear but wasn't quite as good as my family being there. They didn't seem to give me that push to keep going. I reached a sign telling me I only had 3 miles to go and I knew I was near the end. I saw there was no way I'd finish in 5 hours so decided to aim for 6 hours instead. I had to keep running but had no motivation at all so I decided to listen to my Ipod. Just what I needed. Some motivation. I jogged along to the music in one ear and the people cheering in the other.

  I kept going and didn't walk. I couldn't I was so close to finishing it was unbelieveable! I kept wondering how far I would have to keep running for. Surely I near the end. I'd reached Big Ben and could just see Buckingham Palace in the distance. Then I saw the signs had changed from miles to metres! Metres!! That was all I had left. 800m, 600m, 400m. How far were these distances? Where was the end?? Then I saw a real motivator - 385 yards left!! Thank god! I was reaching the end. And there was no way I was going to let that rhino beat me! Off I went getting faster as I went. And then the best thing ever I saw the finish line. I quickly put on Take That's Greatest Day and sprinted to the finish line - ahead of the rhino!!

  I cried with joy as I crossed the line and was quite tearful as I had my chip taken off. Then I saw my boyfriend on the other side of the fence too. I quickly stopped crying when I realised I would have to have my photo taken. I know I looked awful but still gave it my biggest smile ever.

  The walk to meet my boyfriend, mum and sister was long! I just wanted to get there and sit down but it seemed to go on forever. I finally got to them and the hugs before sitting down with my charity to munch on everything sweet. Apparently I looked rather white but I felt ok. I still had to wrap myself in the foil blanket, it's one of those things you have to do after the race. Lol.

  After the race I remember telling everyone there was no way I would ever do that again. I remembered every bit of pain and never wanted to run that far again. I wasn't cut out for that sort of distance. However, the next day, despite being really tired and very achy to the point of not being able to walk, I wanted to do it again! Was I mad?? Could I not feel the pain or remember it took me 6 hours to do?? Obviously not. I had a time to beat and was desperate to do it again. Come 4 May I got my ballot in. I have my fingers crossed that I get in again. Failing which, I'll be doing Brighton instead. I've also persuaded some friends to do it too and my sister wanted to do it after watching me. It seems my enthusiasm for running has rubbed off on a lot of people. Bring it next year!!!!!

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  • zuzihutt 'I have some pictures of Richard Branson and also the Caterpillar. What is your running number? I will look if you are there, and send them over to you. Zuzi' added 6th May 2010

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