So I've been a bit rubbish at blogging - it's nearly a year since I last updated and I've got all of my Nepal entries to write (wrote them down to type up when I got home!), but I've reviewed lots of races in this blog and London Marathon is a pretty special one to blog about I feel!
This is the 4th full marathon that I've completed - I've run and blogged my experience of Edinburgh Marathon in 2010 which was my first full marathon and I then ran and reviewed 2 marathons in 2011 - Brathay Windermere Marathon and Eden Project Marathon.
My marathon times until yesterday read as follows:
Edinburgh - 4hrs 54 mins 32 secs
Brathay - 4 hrs 57 mins 9 secs
Eden Project - 4 hrs 47 mins 51 secs
I had been planning on running York Marathon last year in October after taking 2012 off from long distance running, but even though my training was going ok I was mugged in September and then got tonsillitis and so I had to withdraw. Fortunately around this time I found out that after my 4th attempt I'd secured a ballot place for London and was really excited to be able to train for the most prestigious marathon.
I decided that I would start my training after Christmas which was a good thing as I had to fit in a trip to Nepal and then another few bouts of illness.
I downloaded the Lucozade Sport 14 week Marathon Training plan for 4 - 4.45 hours which is the best training plan that I've tried so far. Previously I've had training plans that only have 3 runs per week and really the difference I've found shifting to 4 runs is huge. The training wasn't without challenge as I missed out 4 of my long runs (one due to holiday and one down to realising that I'd trained for 9 days in a row and needed a rest and the others were illness - cold/flu. In general I was tracking really well for a 4 hr 30 minute marathon - 20 miles I managed in 3 hours 36 minutes 2 weeks before the race.
The biggest challenge is that after being mugged I was quite scared of running outside so most of my training was on a treadmill other than a couple of Park Runs and also my final long run I forced myself outside for 17 of the 20 miles.
It was important that the charity I ran for really motivated me to overcome my fears and so I chose to run for Joseph Lillywhite an amazing cause to inspire me through my training and the race itself - my donation page is here if you want to add to my total.
This is an overview of how my preparation went!
I'm one of those people who always gets things done, but I'm not the best at planning in advance, so I actually managed to read through my marathon instructions to work out what I needed to do about a week before. The organisation of the London Marathon is great right from the minute that you find out that you have a place and the magazine that they send you with your letter notifying you of your running number has really comprehensive information for both runners and spectators.
My original plan was to drive down to my parents who live 30 minutes away from Waterloo on Friday evening, but I was exhausted when I woke up on Friday morning with only 4 hours sleep so I decided to get up early on Saturday and head down on the 4.5 hour drive (I even managed to pick up a TV for my brother that he'd bought off Ebay and meant a detour to Nottingham) I got back home around lunchtime and my brother dropped me off at Surbiton Station so I could get straight up to London to pick up my race number.
I'm not 100% sure it's necessary to travel to pick up your number for a race, but the atmosphere was good and the exhibition was interesting, but I could have benefited from it being posted to me!
As soon as I had my number I relaxed as I'd already worked out which trains I needed to get the morning of the race, although travel logistics always make me a bit nervous. I packed up my kit the night before and even wrote my medical details on my running number that evening and pinned it onto my shirt ready - very organised! I then stuck 6 medium compeed (3 on each foot arch) to my feet - sounds excessive, but I've run enough races to know what happens to my feet over distance - huge blisters!
I like to be self sufficient when I run and so have a Camel Bak that can hold 3 litres and I add some zero highs to the water to ensure I have a good balance of hydration and electrolytes. I also use energy gels and this year had some from SIS and some from High 5 - not sure which I prefer - SIS are thicker, but High 5 are more pleasant to taste (even have mojito flavour!) I got dressed after applying liberal amounts of petroleum jelly to any area of my body that I tend to get blisters/chafing.
.JPG)
I got the 7.30 am train up to London from Surbiton which was busy and then an even busier train from Waterloo East to the start at Blackheath! I arrived in good time with over an hour and a half to wander around the start area (I was blue start). It was very easy to navigate where I had to go - I just followed all the runners with their red kit bags!
Once I got into the start area it was so warm and sunny that I decided that I could get rid of my kit bag fairly quickly and not get cold! So I put my jogging bottoms and hoody in my red kit bag which also had a change of knickers, flip flops and a mars bar in. It was really well organised and I handed my bag over into the baggage truck which matched my race number.
I made my first trip to the toilet - hardly any queues with an hour still to go until the race start and then soaked up the atmosphere and watched the big screen, I also stopped off at St John Ambulance as they had sun cream on offer which I was sure I would need! I then decided to queue up again at about 9.20am for my second toilet break - spotted my friend Gemma in a parallel queue and then wandered down to starting pen number 8, which she was also in, but it filled up quickly and I couldn't see her.
10am came and went and we started to walk down towards the start line and I started to really need the toilet again! I agonised for a few minutes before deciding to sprint out of the pen and to the toilets before re-joining the queue with some of the slower runners. I was really pleased that I did otherwise this would have been a major worry throughout the whole race.
I think it was around 14 minutes past that I actually crossed the start line and switched on my Nikeplus on my work phone to track my run. Ideally I wanted to switch it on on my own phone to have the option to listen to music if I needed, but I got my headphones all tangled and so just ran on and hoped the atmosphere would mean I didn't need music.
I wasn't disappointed the first 2 miles went in a flash - the crowds at the start were great and cheering everyone on - I made sure I had my name on my vest as at any point it's an amazing feeling to hear complete strangers cheering you on by name. I also overtook a marching brass band which was pretty awesome. I went under a bridge which had a drumming band combined with a cheering crowd - the roar and the noise was just amazing.
The first 6 - 7 miles were great, I was averaging my target of 10 minute miles perfectly and felt great. The crowd and participants gave me lots to look at and I hardly noticed that I was running. I ran past the crochet lady and a guy dressed as a Rhino and then when I ran past the Cutty Sark I saw a guy carrying a fridge on his back! One of my work colleagues wanted me to take a selfie at the Cutty Sark, but I was running well - I didn't want to stop! I even caught up to the Runnersworld pacemakers for 4 hours 15!
Miles 7 - 13 were a bit of a blur - lots of amazing support and great signs like "Chuck Norris never ran a marathon", "Mo Farah never ran a marathon" and my favourite which made me choke up "I don't know you, but I'm proud of you". Running over Tower Bridge was amazing - I don't think I've even walked it before despite being born in "Greater London" and living here until I was 18! Unfortunately this is where I saw the first collapsed person on the race, although the marshalls and first aid were doing a great job of looking after her.
I hit the halfway point reasonably on track at about 2 hours 12 and was well on track for my 4 hours 30, but then felt very much like I needed the toilet. I spotted some, queued up and added about 5 minutes onto the time which was frustrating as I actually didn't need to go. At this point I switched Nikeplus onto my other phone so I could have music if I wanted, but more importantly I could broadcast it on Facebook and my friends could virtually cheer me on - it helped! I caught up with the Runnersworld 4 hours 30 pacemakers which was a bit of a boost.
The mile markers for London were great - huge, balloon arches so you can see them from a way off and have the elapsed time on the clock. You also have markers every 5KM so you always know where you are.
The water stations were really well manned, they weren't just grumpy folk handing over bottles, they were actually cheering everyone on. All the instructions stated not to pour water over your head as it's a waste so I was conscious of not being wasteful, but I did need some water to cool down my swollen hands, some for a good glug and the rest I emptied on my head - I would only have thrown a half empty rather than an empty bottle away.
Lucozade is an interesting thing for marathons as I don't normally drink any of it in training, but to stop me rooting around in the back of my Camel Bak for a gel I do take the occasional bottle although I only ever drink about a quarter of the bottle - it's so sticky to run through these sections as everyone else generally does the same I think!
At about mile 15 I needed the toilet again - or so I thought - another queue and another 5 minutes added to the time for no reason - it felt a bit like cystitis it was really odd and not very comfortable to run. This is when I started to slow down a bit and did bursts of running with some sections of power walking. The sights were interesting and we went through the Canary Wharf business district which I've never been through before and the crowds continued to be amazing. Before the race I had said to myself that this would be my last marathon and at this point I was convinced of my opinion.
At about mile 21 I think I had my final toilet stop and again it was pointless - I decided that really I needed to get on with it, I'd worked out that my 4 hr 30 goal was out of the way, but that sub 5 hours was still feasible. I did my best to keep running, but at points it was really hard so I set myself little targets like running to the next mile markers, running whilst people were cheering me on. I think that it's around mile 23 that I went through a huge long tunnel that Lucozade had put lots of balloons with inspirational messages on - like "You're awesome" and this you tube video gives you a feeling of what it is like to run and the support that you get.
I have to thank the guy though who at around 24 miles tapped me on the shoulder and said "come on it's only another couple of miles to go" and then at that point I pretty much managed to run the rest of the way. I then ran shortly past one of the London Marathon Ever Presents - (people who have run every single London Marathon since 1980) who I've now worked out was David Walker and that certainly spurred me on as well.
Seeing Big Ben and The Houses of Parliament close up was brilliant and distracted me a fair bit and then the last couple of miles were painful, but amazing, I knew I was going to finish and I spotted the 4 hours 45 pace makers (weirdly I'm sure that the 4 hours 58 pacers had overtaken them?!?!) and I knew if I kept running I would be close to my previous marathon times.
Running along the last 800m is pretty special, there are amazing crowds smiling and cheering you, and you are too embarrassed almost to stop and walk. Turning the corner and seeing the finish line was such an incredible feeling, I really wanted to sprint, but I just didn't have it left so I keep running and crossed the finish line realising that I'd managed a sub 5 hour time, but no idea as to how much!
I'd been feeling a bit emotional at quite a few points and choking up when I saw an emotional sign or thought about what I was doing and why I was doing it and then when I crossed the finish line I nearly lost it and completely broke down. All the different charities around the course was a great inspiration - so many different and worthy causes. I'm proud to be raising money for a charity that I don't think had enough resources to have a cheer point.
I walked on and had my timing tag snipped off, received my amazing medal - definitely my favourite I think and was given my goody bag. I ate the apple in the goody bag and drank some water and picked my kit bag effortlessly easy and no queuing. I'd arranged to meet my parents at the South African War Memorial and my Dad spotted me through the fence after I'd put my flip flops on and the only queue I experienced really was to get round the corner into the park.
.JPG)
.JPG)
I sat down for a rest, changed into my jogging bottoms and put my marathon t shirt on and then we wandered back through St James Park and crossed the Marathon Route through the elaborate crossing where the marshalls tape off alternative sides of the road. As we waited to cross I cheered on the runners that were heading past as I knew how much I'd appreciated it. I also walked along the road to the Tube Station to cheer them on as well.
My friends helpfully texted me my finish times and congratulated me before my phone batteries died and I found out that I had managed 4 hours 51 minutes and 12 seconds - only 3 minutes and 21 seconds slower than my PB - if only I hadn't stopped for those loo breaks!
I think with all the weaving around slower runners at the start, detours to the toilets and not following the blue marker line the whole way I managed to do an extra bit of running - here is my route according to Nike Plus and my official running time.
So all in all, an amazing experience, ridiculous support at every step from the supporters and the runners and the crowd, Thank you Virgin Giving London Marathon I have a strong suspicion that you will see me again.
This is the 4th full marathon that I've completed - I've run and blogged my experience of Edinburgh Marathon in 2010 which was my first full marathon and I then ran and reviewed 2 marathons in 2011 - Brathay Windermere Marathon and Eden Project Marathon.
My marathon times until yesterday read as follows:
Edinburgh - 4hrs 54 mins 32 secs
Brathay - 4 hrs 57 mins 9 secs
Eden Project - 4 hrs 47 mins 51 secs
I had been planning on running York Marathon last year in October after taking 2012 off from long distance running, but even though my training was going ok I was mugged in September and then got tonsillitis and so I had to withdraw. Fortunately around this time I found out that after my 4th attempt I'd secured a ballot place for London and was really excited to be able to train for the most prestigious marathon.
I decided that I would start my training after Christmas which was a good thing as I had to fit in a trip to Nepal and then another few bouts of illness.
I downloaded the Lucozade Sport 14 week Marathon Training plan for 4 - 4.45 hours which is the best training plan that I've tried so far. Previously I've had training plans that only have 3 runs per week and really the difference I've found shifting to 4 runs is huge. The training wasn't without challenge as I missed out 4 of my long runs (one due to holiday and one down to realising that I'd trained for 9 days in a row and needed a rest and the others were illness - cold/flu. In general I was tracking really well for a 4 hr 30 minute marathon - 20 miles I managed in 3 hours 36 minutes 2 weeks before the race.
The biggest challenge is that after being mugged I was quite scared of running outside so most of my training was on a treadmill other than a couple of Park Runs and also my final long run I forced myself outside for 17 of the 20 miles.
It was important that the charity I ran for really motivated me to overcome my fears and so I chose to run for Joseph Lillywhite an amazing cause to inspire me through my training and the race itself - my donation page is here if you want to add to my total.
This is an overview of how my preparation went!
I'm one of those people who always gets things done, but I'm not the best at planning in advance, so I actually managed to read through my marathon instructions to work out what I needed to do about a week before. The organisation of the London Marathon is great right from the minute that you find out that you have a place and the magazine that they send you with your letter notifying you of your running number has really comprehensive information for both runners and spectators.
I'm not 100% sure it's necessary to travel to pick up your number for a race, but the atmosphere was good and the exhibition was interesting, but I could have benefited from it being posted to me!
As soon as I had my number I relaxed as I'd already worked out which trains I needed to get the morning of the race, although travel logistics always make me a bit nervous. I packed up my kit the night before and even wrote my medical details on my running number that evening and pinned it onto my shirt ready - very organised! I then stuck 6 medium compeed (3 on each foot arch) to my feet - sounds excessive, but I've run enough races to know what happens to my feet over distance - huge blisters!
I like to be self sufficient when I run and so have a Camel Bak that can hold 3 litres and I add some zero highs to the water to ensure I have a good balance of hydration and electrolytes. I also use energy gels and this year had some from SIS and some from High 5 - not sure which I prefer - SIS are thicker, but High 5 are more pleasant to taste (even have mojito flavour!) I got dressed after applying liberal amounts of petroleum jelly to any area of my body that I tend to get blisters/chafing.
I got the 7.30 am train up to London from Surbiton which was busy and then an even busier train from Waterloo East to the start at Blackheath! I arrived in good time with over an hour and a half to wander around the start area (I was blue start). It was very easy to navigate where I had to go - I just followed all the runners with their red kit bags!
Once I got into the start area it was so warm and sunny that I decided that I could get rid of my kit bag fairly quickly and not get cold! So I put my jogging bottoms and hoody in my red kit bag which also had a change of knickers, flip flops and a mars bar in. It was really well organised and I handed my bag over into the baggage truck which matched my race number.
I made my first trip to the toilet - hardly any queues with an hour still to go until the race start and then soaked up the atmosphere and watched the big screen, I also stopped off at St John Ambulance as they had sun cream on offer which I was sure I would need! I then decided to queue up again at about 9.20am for my second toilet break - spotted my friend Gemma in a parallel queue and then wandered down to starting pen number 8, which she was also in, but it filled up quickly and I couldn't see her.
10am came and went and we started to walk down towards the start line and I started to really need the toilet again! I agonised for a few minutes before deciding to sprint out of the pen and to the toilets before re-joining the queue with some of the slower runners. I was really pleased that I did otherwise this would have been a major worry throughout the whole race.
I think it was around 14 minutes past that I actually crossed the start line and switched on my Nikeplus on my work phone to track my run. Ideally I wanted to switch it on on my own phone to have the option to listen to music if I needed, but I got my headphones all tangled and so just ran on and hoped the atmosphere would mean I didn't need music.
I wasn't disappointed the first 2 miles went in a flash - the crowds at the start were great and cheering everyone on - I made sure I had my name on my vest as at any point it's an amazing feeling to hear complete strangers cheering you on by name. I also overtook a marching brass band which was pretty awesome. I went under a bridge which had a drumming band combined with a cheering crowd - the roar and the noise was just amazing.
The first 6 - 7 miles were great, I was averaging my target of 10 minute miles perfectly and felt great. The crowd and participants gave me lots to look at and I hardly noticed that I was running. I ran past the crochet lady and a guy dressed as a Rhino and then when I ran past the Cutty Sark I saw a guy carrying a fridge on his back! One of my work colleagues wanted me to take a selfie at the Cutty Sark, but I was running well - I didn't want to stop! I even caught up to the Runnersworld pacemakers for 4 hours 15!
Miles 7 - 13 were a bit of a blur - lots of amazing support and great signs like "Chuck Norris never ran a marathon", "Mo Farah never ran a marathon" and my favourite which made me choke up "I don't know you, but I'm proud of you". Running over Tower Bridge was amazing - I don't think I've even walked it before despite being born in "Greater London" and living here until I was 18! Unfortunately this is where I saw the first collapsed person on the race, although the marshalls and first aid were doing a great job of looking after her.
I hit the halfway point reasonably on track at about 2 hours 12 and was well on track for my 4 hours 30, but then felt very much like I needed the toilet. I spotted some, queued up and added about 5 minutes onto the time which was frustrating as I actually didn't need to go. At this point I switched Nikeplus onto my other phone so I could have music if I wanted, but more importantly I could broadcast it on Facebook and my friends could virtually cheer me on - it helped! I caught up with the Runnersworld 4 hours 30 pacemakers which was a bit of a boost.
The mile markers for London were great - huge, balloon arches so you can see them from a way off and have the elapsed time on the clock. You also have markers every 5KM so you always know where you are.
The water stations were really well manned, they weren't just grumpy folk handing over bottles, they were actually cheering everyone on. All the instructions stated not to pour water over your head as it's a waste so I was conscious of not being wasteful, but I did need some water to cool down my swollen hands, some for a good glug and the rest I emptied on my head - I would only have thrown a half empty rather than an empty bottle away.
Lucozade is an interesting thing for marathons as I don't normally drink any of it in training, but to stop me rooting around in the back of my Camel Bak for a gel I do take the occasional bottle although I only ever drink about a quarter of the bottle - it's so sticky to run through these sections as everyone else generally does the same I think!
At about mile 15 I needed the toilet again - or so I thought - another queue and another 5 minutes added to the time for no reason - it felt a bit like cystitis it was really odd and not very comfortable to run. This is when I started to slow down a bit and did bursts of running with some sections of power walking. The sights were interesting and we went through the Canary Wharf business district which I've never been through before and the crowds continued to be amazing. Before the race I had said to myself that this would be my last marathon and at this point I was convinced of my opinion.
At about mile 21 I think I had my final toilet stop and again it was pointless - I decided that really I needed to get on with it, I'd worked out that my 4 hr 30 goal was out of the way, but that sub 5 hours was still feasible. I did my best to keep running, but at points it was really hard so I set myself little targets like running to the next mile markers, running whilst people were cheering me on. I think that it's around mile 23 that I went through a huge long tunnel that Lucozade had put lots of balloons with inspirational messages on - like "You're awesome" and this you tube video gives you a feeling of what it is like to run and the support that you get.
I have to thank the guy though who at around 24 miles tapped me on the shoulder and said "come on it's only another couple of miles to go" and then at that point I pretty much managed to run the rest of the way. I then ran shortly past one of the London Marathon Ever Presents - (people who have run every single London Marathon since 1980) who I've now worked out was David Walker and that certainly spurred me on as well.
Seeing Big Ben and The Houses of Parliament close up was brilliant and distracted me a fair bit and then the last couple of miles were painful, but amazing, I knew I was going to finish and I spotted the 4 hours 45 pace makers (weirdly I'm sure that the 4 hours 58 pacers had overtaken them?!?!) and I knew if I kept running I would be close to my previous marathon times.
Running along the last 800m is pretty special, there are amazing crowds smiling and cheering you, and you are too embarrassed almost to stop and walk. Turning the corner and seeing the finish line was such an incredible feeling, I really wanted to sprint, but I just didn't have it left so I keep running and crossed the finish line realising that I'd managed a sub 5 hour time, but no idea as to how much!
I'd been feeling a bit emotional at quite a few points and choking up when I saw an emotional sign or thought about what I was doing and why I was doing it and then when I crossed the finish line I nearly lost it and completely broke down. All the different charities around the course was a great inspiration - so many different and worthy causes. I'm proud to be raising money for a charity that I don't think had enough resources to have a cheer point.
I walked on and had my timing tag snipped off, received my amazing medal - definitely my favourite I think and was given my goody bag. I ate the apple in the goody bag and drank some water and picked my kit bag effortlessly easy and no queuing. I'd arranged to meet my parents at the South African War Memorial and my Dad spotted me through the fence after I'd put my flip flops on and the only queue I experienced really was to get round the corner into the park.
I sat down for a rest, changed into my jogging bottoms and put my marathon t shirt on and then we wandered back through St James Park and crossed the Marathon Route through the elaborate crossing where the marshalls tape off alternative sides of the road. As we waited to cross I cheered on the runners that were heading past as I knew how much I'd appreciated it. I also walked along the road to the Tube Station to cheer them on as well.
My friends helpfully texted me my finish times and congratulated me before my phone batteries died and I found out that I had managed 4 hours 51 minutes and 12 seconds - only 3 minutes and 21 seconds slower than my PB - if only I hadn't stopped for those loo breaks!
I think with all the weaving around slower runners at the start, detours to the toilets and not following the blue marker line the whole way I managed to do an extra bit of running - here is my route according to Nike Plus and my official running time.
So all in all, an amazing experience, ridiculous support at every step from the supporters and the runners and the crowd, Thank you Virgin Giving London Marathon I have a strong suspicion that you will see me again.
I've just found this on YouTube - even speeded up it feels like a long way - gives a good indication of the route and how far it is! http://youtu.be/WmabgZ_0SbU
