The last few days have gone by in a blur and I’ve a lot of catching up to do. Lots to tell you all about. Please forgive me if the next few posts are a little jumbled..you’re a bright lot though and will figure it all out! (Bear with me, there’s a video at the end of this post)
Yesterday, the day after the London Marathon, I could barely walk! Today I’m feeling ever so slightly better but still have considerable difficulty negotiating the stairs!
Sunday was an amazing day. Everything you hear about the London Marathon is true: the crowds, the camaraderie, the atmosphere…it’s all just out of this world. Many of you, I know, watched it on TV, came to London in person or followed me and others via the Adidas tracker on mobile phones and Facebook.
Typically, I ran the first 10miles way too fast.. I don’t wear a watch and it was so difficult to gauge my pace. I actually thought I was running really slowly and wasn’t out of breath so carried on going. I paid for it later. Initially there were a few bottlenecks where the pace slowed dramatically and then quickly sped up. There was amiable ‘booing’ as the two start groups began to join up and we all became one happy running throng. I was amazed by the carnival type atmosphere, people coming out of their homes to cheer us on, some still in their dressing gowns with big mugs of coffee, others already setting up the BBQ and checking the cool-boxes for beer supplies! Children lined the pavements holding their hands out to ‘high five’ the runners as they went by and I was blessed twice by roadside Priests sprinkling Holy Water. London had become a very different place indeed!
The bluetooth headset (BH-214) and phone that Nokia had sent me were great. Easy to sync and both worked really well – the sound quality was so good and the noise reduction earphones so brilliant that, at times, I had to switch it off to hear the support from the crowds!! The Nokia arm band was too bulky for my little arms though, so at the last minute before the start, I switched and put the N97 in my running belt (thanks Vicky!) along with a stash of carbo gels to help sustain me along the way…all worked brilliantly!!!
I ran beside Darth Vader for a while who was running 3 marathons in 3 days to raise money in memory of his baby son, I was overtaken by Marc Jenner running late and in his PJs and I ran with Richard Branson, and his Butterfly wings, for a bit too.
By mile 17 I was aware of a blister forming on my left big toe and was beginning to think that it would be far better to be at home with a nice cup of tea! Due to injuries, I’d only ever run 2 half marathons so I was now in un-chartered territory as far as distance running was concerned. Cardio wise I was fine but my hip flexors and injured calf muscle were taking a pasting. I got to mile 24 and was exhausted…I knew I looked dreadful due to the enormous support from the crowds. All I could hear was my name being screamed at me and shouts of “You’re nearly there”, “You can do it”, “Don’t give up now”…both sides of the road were packed with complete strangers who realised I was in a spot of bother.
Then, completely by surprise, another runner, a really tall chap, grabbed my arm and shouted at me “Right, come on, we’re going to do this”. So this complete stranger, Steph, and I held hands and ran together. He told me how brilliant I was, told me to lift my head up, look at the crowds and run to the next set of balloons/charity banner/etc. and remember who I was running for. We ran like this hand in hand, with him giving a ton of encouragement and coaching tips for the last 2 miles. By the time we got to the ‘400 meters to go’ sign, Steph said “This is it Joanna, you’re about to finish your first marathon.”
My legs eased up and I was running faster than before. Just before the finish, Steph let go of my hand and told me to finish before him, “Ladies first!” he said. Mentally, I was completely shot away, I didn’t know what to do at the finish, I just kept running …until someone stopped me “Congratulations!” they said.
Without Steph’s support I don’t know what I’d have done. Steph appeared out of nowhere and disappeared just as quickly as soon as we’d hugged after the finish line – someone definitely sent him to help me when I needed it the most! You hear these tales of people helping others along the London Marathon but you don’t understand how amazing it is until you’re a recipient. The London Marathon is an example of how good and kind the human race can be (no pun intended)… everyone seemed to be running for someone…the huge numbers of runners raising money to help others…the names and photos on the backs of running shirts…the stories of loss, the huge wave of hope that others could be saved…yes, it was a very, very emotional day. I cried so much.
Once I’d stopped running, I realised I couldn’t move. My leg muscles screamed at me and every pace forward was just a painful shuffle. But I’ll tell you more about that in the next post!
I’ve never done anything like this before. I’ve never felt I’ve achieved much. Yesterday, I fought a battle and won…I hope the money I’ve raised helps others to win their battles.
Just to prove I haven’t made all this up – here’s a little video of me finishing the Virgin London Marathon 2010. Look out for the Macmillan Cancer Support green running vest and the shattered looking blonde!
(special thanks to Michael Christon for his video magic below!)
