The day before the marathon we went to the exhibition and I bought a knee support which actually corrected the pain I had been feeling in my hips throughout my training. Apparently my knee tracking is out and rotates as I run causing my Hip to correct my posture and thus causing stress on my hip as well as my knee.
We (hubby and I) also watched the elite runners do talks and give advice about running, which was really valuable advice and I took everything they said onboard. The exhibition was really interesting.
There was a really big wall which you could write a message on so I simply signed my name "Little Ems 2010" on it:
I also visited the cancer research stand and added a leaf to their tree. My Message read "running for our future generations".:
So onto the Marathon Day! As we were walking to the tube station a very kind couple pulled up in a taxi and offered us to share their cab to the trainstation... at charing cross you could already feel the atmosphere. It was completely electric. So very exciting. Everyone on the train was chattering away, complete strangers sharing their stories of marathons passed.
Once we made it to my assembly area I had to say goodbye to Lee and from there on I was on my own! Sooooooooo nervous! But not for long! As soon as I got into the assembly area I was offered lucozade, coffee, and soon got chatting to other people who were on their own. It started to piddle down with rain but I had my cancer research water proof poncho thingy so I was okay! Heres a small bunch of peeps in the assembly area:
Then came the words... will all runners start making their way to their starting positions. Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek! how scared was I? I did my warm ups and off I went. There were Rhinos, Batmans, Supermans, Human chains, Human caterpillars, Tigers, Donkeys and all sorts of wonderful fancy dress costumes. I got chatting to a girl called Lisa and we ended up starting the race and running the first 13 miles together. The first 13 miles was pretty easy going, the crowd were unbelievable and the atmosphere was sensational. Everywhere crowds of people cheering you on (by name because we had our names on our vests). Members of the public holding out sweets for quick energy bursts for the runners and little children with their hands out giving runners high fives! Very often I would well up with tears when reading the backs of peoples tshirts, especially seeing photos of babies who had been lost.
After I passed tower bridge I lost Lisa, because I was trying to sort my headphones out as I needed music by this stage as my legs and thighs had started hurting. The next 13 miles was going to be tough all on my own! By mile 15 the pain really started to kick in and by mile 20 I could barely walk, my thighs hurt but mostly my feet. I realised later that I had king sized blisters on my feet. It was from mile 20 that I had to walk for a while, but it seemed like forever before mile 21 was coming so I ran the last part of the mile, then continued like this until mile 23.At mile 23 I thought to myself "Emma, if you dont run this last three miles you are never gonna get back!". So I put my head down and went for it. As I ran past the people who were walking at this point, the crowd were cheering me on, "COME ON EMMA YOU'RE DOING GREAT"... that really kept me going. The last mile was the longest mile I have ever known in my life! ha ha! When i reached the '800 meters to go sign' I had to use every last ounce of my will power and energy to get to that finish line. And finally I got there! Oh my GOD! what a feeling, i burst into tears and thought I might actually have a panic attack! The adrenaline and emotion and pain all hit me and well, I just cant describe the feeling to be honest.
By the time I met back up with lee and had cooled down, I was struggling to walk. We got back to the hotel, got changed and went out and had a nice meal and some nice cold beers!
Despite the pain I was in, I decided then that, that marathon was My FIRST and I will be running more.
Thank you for everyone who supported me on this incredibly challenging and life changing journey.
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