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MY FIRST LONDON MARATHON --- SUNDAY 17TH APRIL 2005
I arrived at Greenwich Park along with thousands of other crazy people all with the hope of doing well in the 25th London Marathon and most importantly raising loads of money for many very worthwhile charities, mine being for Fairhavens Hospice and Little Havens children's Hospice.
The queues for the portaloos were amazing, and had to be one of the only venues where the men's queues were longer than the ladies!! Men were still queuing when we were called for the start.
After putting my bag on the appropriate lorry I made my way over to the start, and as we all slowly started to walk forward the nerves disappeared and I looked forward to 26.2 miles of ups and downs.
It was a good 30 minutes before we could run and at times to overtake people we had to run up onto the pavements. The first 10 miles was fun and I checked my watch to see that
I was keeping a good steady pace, although it was difficult weaving in and out of people.
There were bands, people shouting and cheering and music playing at pubs. Under a bridge a group of young folks played large drums with fantastic rhythm, which for me was a highlight. I made use of the very welcome run through showers, and took on plenty of water along the way as it was very warm.
Children lined the route with outstretched hands for you to touch as you ran by, and as I progressed, overtaking runners that were beginning to struggle I had my mind set on seeing Tower Bridge being roughly about half way mark. That moment was so special to me. I turned the corner to see before me the wonderful architecture of Tower Bridge!!
The crowds were fantastic calling out my name which was printed on my vest, TV were doing their interviews, and as I ran over the bridge I took time to take in the views to hold in my memory. I knew that the folks from Fairhavens and Little Havens would be somewhere just over the bridge, and just as I thought I had missed them I heard screams of
Val!! Val!! Almost ignoring it as so many people had been calling my name on route.
I ran over to say hi and Sarah gave me a mini Mars bar for energy. I proceeded on around the corner and down the Highway seeing elite runners on the other side of the road on the homeward stretch. I was approx at 13 miles they at approx 22 miles!!
The Isle of Dogs was not as bad as I expected, however I was surprised by how many up hills there were. By 16 miles my legs were beginning to hurt and at a water station decided to walk for the first time while taking a drink. It was really hard getting those legs moving again but got easier as I progressed. 17 miles to 20 miles was difficult!!!
I had started to get really bad pain at the side of my right knee and by 22 miles knew I had
have to persevere having come this far. I stopped to walk several times; unfortunately most people were doing the same which doesn't motivate you. Until someone shouts "come on Val" and with supreme effort through the pain I had set off running again to the cheers and admiration of the crowds, and felt so proud at 61 to be overtaking so many young people too!
Running along the Embankment was not the exhilarating experience I'd expected as the pain in my leg was almost unbearable and I dreaded cramp or worse setting in but when I saw Big Ben coming into view my spirits lifted, but from there to the finish seemed like ten miles not just under two !!
As I ran through the finish arms raised in jubilation, realized that apart from the pain in my leg I felt fine! After having the Championchip removed from my shoe I staggered over to the loo's and then painfully walked along to retrieve my bag from the lorry.
Ian was waiting for me under T for the initial of my surname, so to save extra walking I asked him to meet me at N !! After Ian took some photos I went and got changed.
People were so thrilled with what they'd achieved. We all had to struggle to remove and replace cloths, each of us offering to help one another up! It was very hot out there and I ended with a sun burnt nose! Then it was a very painful walk to the station, a nice man
I arrived at Greenwich Park along with thousands of other crazy people all with the hope of doing well in the 25th London Marathon and most importantly raising loads of money for many very worthwhile charities, mine being for Fairhavens Hospice and Little Havens children's Hospice.
The queues for the portaloos were amazing, and had to be one of the only venues where the men's queues were longer than the ladies!! Men were still queuing when we were called for the start.
After putting my bag on the appropriate lorry I made my way over to the start, and as we all slowly started to walk forward the nerves disappeared and I looked forward to 26.2 miles of ups and downs.
It was a good 30 minutes before we could run and at times to overtake people we had to run up onto the pavements. The first 10 miles was fun and I checked my watch to see that
I was keeping a good steady pace, although it was difficult weaving in and out of people.
There were bands, people shouting and cheering and music playing at pubs. Under a bridge a group of young folks played large drums with fantastic rhythm, which for me was a highlight. I made use of the very welcome run through showers, and took on plenty of water along the way as it was very warm.
Children lined the route with outstretched hands for you to touch as you ran by, and as I progressed, overtaking runners that were beginning to struggle I had my mind set on seeing Tower Bridge being roughly about half way mark. That moment was so special to me. I turned the corner to see before me the wonderful architecture of Tower Bridge!!
The crowds were fantastic calling out my name which was printed on my vest, TV were doing their interviews, and as I ran over the bridge I took time to take in the views to hold in my memory. I knew that the folks from Fairhavens and Little Havens would be somewhere just over the bridge, and just as I thought I had missed them I heard screams of
Val!! Val!! Almost ignoring it as so many people had been calling my name on route.
I ran over to say hi and Sarah gave me a mini Mars bar for energy. I proceeded on around the corner and down the Highway seeing elite runners on the other side of the road on the homeward stretch. I was approx at 13 miles they at approx 22 miles!!
The Isle of Dogs was not as bad as I expected, however I was surprised by how many up hills there were. By 16 miles my legs were beginning to hurt and at a water station decided to walk for the first time while taking a drink. It was really hard getting those legs moving again but got easier as I progressed. 17 miles to 20 miles was difficult!!!
I had started to get really bad pain at the side of my right knee and by 22 miles knew I had
have to persevere having come this far. I stopped to walk several times; unfortunately most people were doing the same which doesn't motivate you. Until someone shouts "come on Val" and with supreme effort through the pain I had set off running again to the cheers and admiration of the crowds, and felt so proud at 61 to be overtaking so many young people too!
Running along the Embankment was not the exhilarating experience I'd expected as the pain in my leg was almost unbearable and I dreaded cramp or worse setting in but when I saw Big Ben coming into view my spirits lifted, but from there to the finish seemed like ten miles not just under two !!
As I ran through the finish arms raised in jubilation, realized that apart from the pain in my leg I felt fine! After having the Championchip removed from my shoe I staggered over to the loo's and then painfully walked along to retrieve my bag from the lorry.
Ian was waiting for me under T for the initial of my surname, so to save extra walking I asked him to meet me at N !! After Ian took some photos I went and got changed.
People were so thrilled with what they'd achieved. We all had to struggle to remove and replace cloths, each of us offering to help one another up! It was very hot out there and I ended with a sun burnt nose! Then it was a very painful walk to the station, a nice man
