WARNING: This is going to be a long one so you might want a cuppa before you start reading!!!
Getting to Blackheath
After a restless night's sleep plagued with cats and strange dreams I finally got up and began my preparations - everything had been laid out yesterday so really I just had to get dressed and eat. At 7am we left the house (hubby on taxi duty) and went to pick up Emma G so we could get to Birdie's house before the start. He lives conveniently close to the start which meant we could avoid portaloos - massive bonus with 40,000+ nervous people to share with! Not surprisingly on arrival Birdie was in jeans not looking nervous or like he was about to anything particularly sports related... but once donning his 'Captain Birdseye' shirt we were all ready and making our way to our start points.
The Start (9:45am)
The morning all came together nicely with not much waiting around, and getting into our pens at about 9:35am ready for the start 10 minutes later. I looked for the 9min pacer team but alas they were nowhere to be found so I had to do this myself, and this is where my impeccable pacing skills would play their part. I ran for a little while with a lady called Gwen who I saw intermittently up till about mile 5 then not again.
First Familiar Face
Just before the first mile marker I was keeping my eyes peeled for hubby and the Walpole family, I waved frantically and was spotted by Phill who then made the crowds go wild cheering! Hooray, my pacing was good, I had done a mile. the roads were packed but I was placed fairly well which meant not too much ducking and weaving to get through - which I had resolutely determined not to do (big waste of energy).
After a while I saw the tell tale pink of Laura from the club, I made my way over and said hello, she was very focussed and was soon pulling away and looking strong.
Spotting the crowd or spotting the runners?
You'd think with all the hard work it would be the job of the supporters to spot their pals running tirelessly for hours at a time but this was not the case. Luckily I knew where some people would be so I was eyes peeled and spotting like a hunter on safari. First in my sights was Birdies housemate, Jimmy, nope he didn't see me despite shouting! Next was Bandit, he did hear me did a sort of flustered panic deciding between waving shouting and getting his camera... the result was not a picture!
The next friendly voice, over the crowds and who knows how he saw me was Martin C - who was marshalling just before the turn towards the Cutty Sark. at this point loads of cameras were above the runners zooming in and out, I did my best to wave and jump to get in frame... not sure if I made it but I did try!
Extra Water
A friend from work was manning a water station at 9 miles so my eyes were peeled as this the next point for a face I knew. Sarah seemed as please to see me as I was someone I knew and tried to give me two bottles as a little mates-rates bonus but I only needed the one to wash down my gel. Funny things happen when you are running, in my case my mind drifts. I was running behind someone raising money the OCD trust - well I thought that their spilts would have to be perfect but then perhaps if not they would have to keep going back and running the mile over and over again! Yes I was going bonkers!
Petts Wood Tower Bridge
Before I knew I turned a corner and before me was Tower Bridge, not sure how that happened so quickly, I was running strong and consistently 7 mins behind the gun time which gave me confidence that if my Garmin started to misbehave I would still be bale to judge my pace fairly accurately (luckily the Garmin did its job on the day).
As I was running along the bridge I could feel myself beaming, it was pretty awesome and I felt strong, then I spotted the PWR flag and set my line straight for it. Hannah was the first to spot me than along with John, Chris, Keiron and others they lunged out screaming encouragement at me... awesome! Thanks guys!
Is anybody out there?
For the next few miles, both with runners and crowds I was frantically scanning and looking for anyone to give me the shout at that I would be needing very soon. I had hit the halfway mark on schedule and now would be the time that I would try and step up the pace a fraction if my legs were up to it. I trotted along, searching but somehow failed to see the other PWRs, my mum and my uncle. I could hear people shouting my name which was great and some cheerleaders did a Lizzy chant but I needed someone I knew at this point.
At about 18 miles I overtook Paralympian Danny Crates, yes that's right I overtook a gold medallist! Pow (admittedly his sport was not marathons!). This gave me a little boost for a while and as I ran through Docklands I was surprised to see so many supporters, someone said to me it was really quiet out there... quiet like a riot! ha. Also, note to self about watching zombie movies the day before a marathon, as I ran through a pretty scary tunnel in Docklands it struck me that this might be the tunnel in 28 days later and that as there were no crowds the runners seemed to be taking this as an opportunity to stumble groan and stagger.... I sped up, no Zombie is going to bite me this far into a marathon!
Finally a familiar face came into view, it was Brian from work, he didn't spot me at first so I hollered at him and he shouted encouragement (he later text me to say how strong I was looking - I can assure you it was not how I felt!).
Breaking down the Wall
So I as passed Brian my legs were feeling heavy, I was managing to keep the pace steady although it felt like I was slowing down (I wasn't but it was hurting). Then I gave myself a bit of a talking to along the lines of manning up and 'I do not hit the wall' that is something for the ill prepared or those that get carried away on the day. This was not me, I was prepared and there was no way some wall was going to get me so I dodged it, refocussed and kept going. In your face imaginary barrier of defeat you will not get me!
Lizzy and the Pacemaker
After around 22.5 miles I finally found the pace maker, well a pace maker, although I couldn't see his board. I demanded he showed me... it was there the magical 9 and after a quick reprimand from me about having to do it myself as I couldn't locate him and asked him if he was on schedule and he said I was doing great and would get a sub-4 comfortably. I doubted it, I would be close but I was averaging 9:09 min/miles which might scrape me in but not with time to spare. He then ashed off, probably in the realisation that he was a very poor pacemaker and anyone sticking with him might clobber him for not sticking to pace!
Next Olympian hits the dust
Next Olympian to be bested by me was Ewan Thomas, he had begun to walk. I was pretty excited as I see him on TV each year on marathon day and wanted to go over and offer encouragement and geek out a little in awe of this sporting celebrity... but at this point I was on a mission so I kept going! Shortly I heard Jenny from the club shouting me and this gave me a well needed boost to keep me going. My legs were getting heavy, I was still pacing well but I had the feeling it could easily get away from me if I didn't keep my focus.
So close now....
Running along the embankment I heard more familar voices, Rob and Sonja in their PWR hoodies, this was fantastic and so much needed at this point. I felt a pang of sadness for Rob who should have been running today but injury ruled him out. Next time Rob.
As I was almost entering the last mile I heard the voice I needed most, I don't know how as it was behind the crowds but it was my Hubby, jumping and waving. I had wanted to walk momentarily but I couldn't do that now. Instead I started to chatter away to myself, mostly in my head as I had no excess energy for chatting proper. I was trying to work out my plan to get me to the end and if sub-4 was possible. I decided to walk for a few seconds to sort out my legs, it worked after about 10 steps I could run again and my pace was good.
The thin blue line
It was with about 600m to go that I looked at my watch, I was sub-4 and it was 26.2 miles.... silly Liz if I had followed the blue line I would have come in where so many dream to finish the marathon. It was not to be, but I dig deep and kept it up. I rounded the corner to the final stretch with the finish line in sight.
Over the line and over the moon
My mum had made it to the Grandstand to watch and along with my Uncle they saw me cross the line. I could not believe it was over, I was so happy to finish and really pleased with my time. I cannot understand the disappointment of some. Yes Sub-4 would have been awesome but it was London, there are 40,000+ people running, you cannot make a break through the runners to pick up speed. I stayed on pace, I was sensible, I didn't weave in and out and I knocked 9 minutes of my previous marathon PB. I was giddy and I needed to get out and see people as I had started to chatter to exhausted strangers in my giddy state!
I'll have a 'P' please BobThe Petts Wood supporters and runners alike were all at the letter P along with a big banner. Mark was there with his ipad in hand to give me my time and I congratulated and was congratulated by the other runners, I ate and chattered and waited for my Mum to show up for a big hug. Such an achievement, I was bouncing off the walls! After our runners were in we all drifted off, some to the pub and others home but what a great day.
Oh yes, in case you were wondering I came in at 4:02:26 - pretty damn good I reckon!
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