London Marathon 2010 Here I Come! by rachel6

• WOW!!!!!

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  Apr26201011 p.m.

  Well what an amazing weekend. Think this will be a long one so hope your sitting comfortably!!!

  Got home from work on Friday at 4.30pm and frantically packed, re packed, checked, checked and triple checked! I was really obsessed about forgetting something. All I've been dreaming about in the last few weeks is forgetting something and having to run back to the hotel on marathon day!!!

  After what seemed hours (2 to be precise) my friend picked me up and we were on our way to London. Stopped for some grub at Peterborough services must say I had a nice lasagne and salad! Then we set off again. Seemed to take forever. Finally parked up in Epping and caught the tube into central London. Finally got to Victoria Station at about 10.40.

  Took us ages to find the hotel. My directions were obviously not that good!!!!!! We stayed at the Georgian House Hotel but it was an apartment a few streets back from it. All I can say is that it was ace! Had everything in it that you could imagine! So at 11.05 we were chilling out! Well nearly we popped out for some supplies! Back to getting to the apartment- we went down the street heading towards the apartment and all I can say is that our faces must have been a picture. The flats in front of us looked like the ones off Only Fools and Horses!!!!! Thankfully it weren't them we were staying in!!!

  Finally got to bed at about 1.30! A bit later than I wanted but us girls were having a good natter and it took my mind off what I was doing on Sunday!

  Saturday I woke up about 8.30 and thought I was late for the start of the Marathon. Thank god I wasn't! Went down for breakfast and headed over to the expo. One of my friends weren't feeling well so she stayed behind while me and Jo went off! I'm sure she stayed to do some work as she bought her laptop with her.

  Queues were huge at Victoria station for tickets and I was getting a bit worried that we were going to be queued up at the expo for ages. The DLR was fab- full of other people off to register and a real buzz about it! Finally got to the expo at around 11.10.

  The organisation was brilliant! I found where I needed to register, no hanging about and within 5 mins I had my number and my chip and ready to go. However I wanted to have a quick look round. Ended up spending lots of cash but am quite pleased with all 3 of my hoodies and my bear and my new cap and running vest!!!

  Had lunch sat outside the expo. Was such lovely weather it would've been rude not too! Vicky rang us and had made a miraculous recovery when she heard we were off to Canary Wharf to do a spot of shopping! Took her about another hour to get to us as she had to change lots on the tube due to closures. Fancy having closures on marathon weekend!!!!!!!

  Had a look round the shops and I was getting a bit tired and stressed as I knew I had spent more time on my feet than I had wanted too and was getting tired. Also all I wanted was a pair of Birkenstocks for after the marathon for comfort- ended up buying 2 pairs!!!!!!! Oooopppssss! They are lovely though and I thought I deserved a little treat!

  Went for a drink in one of the bars in Canary Wharf. Was nice to sit down for a while and in glorious sunshine too! Ended up getting a little bit sunburnt on my shoulders and hoped it wouldnt be an issue on Sunday!

  Got back to the apartment at 6.30 and watched a bit of TV. In the end we ordered dominos pizza on the computer in the apartment! Was with us within 30 mins! So had that whilst watching BGT. Then for a DVD- anything to keep my mind off the 26.2 miles. Watched the Russell Brand DVD that I packed- got it for my birthday but hadn't got round to watching it was the same show me and Jo went to see at the O2. Didn't enjoy it that much watching it on Saturday night but that was due to having other things on my mind.

  Went to bed with severe butterflies at 10.30. Was not a good nights sleep. Woke up about every hour. In the end I managed to get a few decent hours!

  6.00am alarm bells were ringing. Not just the ones on my fone!!! Had I don enough training? I had only started running a year ago properly and not til the end of January for the marathon. I had only clocked up 300 miles in training and the longest run was 18 miles. Could I really do it? When will that wall hit me? Bugger I had better get up!!!!!!!!!!!!

  Got myself ready in record time. Managed half a bowl of porridge and half a cup of tea weren't really enough I know but I felt really sick. 6.50 I was heading out the door to get the tube from Victoria to Charing Cross. Hardly saw anyone on the first leg of the journey but when I got to Charing Cross I was relieved to see other runners with big red bags! As I was there 20 mins early for the train to Maze Hill I managed to get a seat. So glad I did as it was rammed full within about another 20 mins. Got talking to a nice lady on the train and it helped to calm my nerves.

  The walk from the train weren't too bad and all of a sudden I was at the start. Got myself sorted-suntan lotion on, gels in, belt on, Garmin on etc and went to find the baggage lorries. Was looking like a lovely morning until I had got out of the loo for the first time there! Then the rain came and my bin bag to keep me dry was in the lorry! Rubbish. I tried to get some shelter from the trees. Got loads of texts from friends wishing me luck which was fab! Gave me a little bit of a boost. Went off to the loo for the third time and found the pen I needed as it was getting on for 9.30. Where had the time gone?????

  9.45 and we were off! Well 10.06 was when I got over the start line but it didnt matter. I was in the party pen!!!! First mile went really well- lots of people going to the loo behind bushes and not a lot of people out supporting. I hoped it would get better than this.

  Mile 2 and I decided to stop for another wee! Never needed one before on training runs but I was desperate. Must have queued for 10 mins and as I was hoping for 5.30 my dreams of doing it were slipping away already! But as I had told myself anything under 6 and I would be chuffed.

  Miles 3-5 and I was going too quick. I was trying to make up a bit of time. Crowd support was getting better. Gave loads of children high fives. Was amazing to hear my name being shouted out already. So glad I had my name on my top as it really helped especially towards the end. Had my first bottle of lucozade too.

  Cutty Sark- Couldn't believe I had got there already. Only about 3 mins off my target. The miles seemed to be flying by. It was quiet around that area and gave me chance to focus a little bit.

  Miles 7-11 after having some lucozade and a gel I felt rearing to go. Still aware of having time to make up though but it didn't really matter too much. I was just lapping up the crowd support. The bands, the cheers everything. Couldn't believe I was enjoying it so much!

  Tower Bridge- WOW, WOW, WOW. The crowd was amazing here. As soon as I got on to Tower Bridge I could feel myself welling up. Trying to hold back the tears I looked up and saw the beauty of the bridge. It was such an amazing feeling to go over that. All the training was worth it just for that feeling and I weren't even half way.

  Miles 13-14- The highway seemed to go on forever. Saw lots and lots of runners running the other way. I ended up cheering to them myself- encouraging them on! They were on the home stretch and I was no where near. More lucozade and jelly babies gave me a bit of a boost and I was soon entering the Docklands area. Must say the Gel stations were really slippery and sticky to run through. Not good. Showers were around here too so ran through that and it was lovely to feel cool even if it was just for a few mins. Remember seeing a lady here that was laying on the road wrapped in the tin foil blanket. Felt ever so sorry for her. Just thought bout how gutted I'd be if that was me. I hope she is ok!

  Miles 15-17- These were a bit of a blur. I was feeling a bit tired. Ended up chatting to a few runners at this point to take my mind off things. One lady said she was going to have to walk the rest of the way! Met one guy who hadn't done any training and said his knees had given way at mile 13- didn't like to feel sorry for him but did try and encourage him on a bit! I was with him at around mile 17 as I remember saying to him that we were in single figures now so not that far to go!

  Mile 18-19- Still feeling good. Took on more fuel. Think the tunnel was around here somewhere. The miles seem to have rolled into one now. Not much of a crowd and none in the tunnel! Was a strange feeling just hearing the sound of feet pounding the road and my own thoughts trying to spur myself on! Put my I pod on for a little bit but soon took it off as my pace was all over the place with it on!

  Mile 19- 23- This is the point where I was finding it a bit tough. All my thoughts of time had gone out the window and I just hoped I would finish at this point. I didn't ache too much, weren't out of breath was just getting tired. Was also the furthest I had ever ran! Kept talking to myself and out loud too must have looked mad but I didn't care. Crowds were still cheering my name and every cheer helped me along at this point so thanks to all of you. Did my run walk to get me through too at this point. Walked 2 lampposts run 2. Really helps me get back into a rhythm when Im finding things tough!

  Mile 24-25- Nearly there! Coming out of the underpass with the crowds sheering really perked me up! Had a quick look at my Garmin and weren't going to be far off 5.30 but those last few miles had put me back around 7 mins so all the catching up from early I had done was a waste of time as I was about 10 mins off my target time.

  Miles 25-26- The embankment was just brilliant. As the crowd cheered my name I shouted back to them COME ON! Maybe to make them shout my name more or maybe to myself at this point. Honestly cant say what was going through my mind apart from where is the blooming finish as my Garmin had already past 26 miles!!!! I was running near a Rhino at this point and my goal now was to beat him. I weren't having my finishing photo near a damn Rhino!!!

  800 yards to go- seeing those signs was fab. I was jut focusing on the next board. Sprinted to it and waled a little bit then sprinted to the next one. I was way past the Rhino now!!!!!!

  200 yards to go- all the emotions were starting to come out. Turning the corner to see the finishing line was an amazing feeling. But hang on a minute I feel really sick. Stopped and shouted COME ON and I was off again! Over the line- hand in the air- tears starting to run down my face!!!!

  All the training, hard work, stress of sponsorship, stress of forgetting something, worry of not doing enough training was all washed away in that split second and for about another 5 days!!!!!!!!!! Its such a fantastic feeling. I felt elated, so proud of myself for completing and only 10 mins off target time. Words really cant describe how I felt but I really did feel fanbloodytastic!!!!

  With my medal around my neck I went to get my photo done- trying to hold back the tears still so Im sure the photo will be awful!!! No doubt Il stil buy it though!

  Organisation was brilliant at the end, only felt like 5 mins and I was out trying to find my friends who would be about another hour as they didn't think Id do it that quick!!! Cheek! Didn't mind-gave me time to send loads of txts, update my facebook and munch on my mars out of my goody bag.

  After about 10 mins of the hour long wait for my supportive friends I stood (only as I didn't want to sit down and not be able to get up again) and reflected on what's one of the best days of my life. I still feel like that now as I write this even with my stiff swollen knee. I would do it again in a shot but maybe let my knee go down first! If it was on again this weekend though I would be there. It was just truly fantastic and realy didn't want it to to be over. The memories of the day will stay with me forever!!!!

  39296 LonDone 5 hours 40 mins

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