FF #3 and #13: Running a sub-4-hour spring marathon

In the last few weeks as I've worried that I haven't updated the FF blog for a while, I've consoled myself by thinking that I have been working hard towards achieveing some of the goals. Especially #3, run a spring marathon, and #13, run a sub-4-hour marathon. That last one is a biggie.

The Meadows Marathon was my fourth full (that's 26.2 miles) Marathon. It was a spring marathon as the Meadows (a big park in the south of Edinburgh) was covered in crocuses and the weather was sunny, warm, breezy, wet, freezing, cloudy, and calm.

Vital signs of spring in Edinburgh.

This is a small event, with less than 50 runner taking part in the full marathon, although many more running the half marathon and 5km fun run. It is organised annually by Edinburgh University Students to raise money for good causes, and was much more professional this year than it was in 2012 when I ran the half marathon - lots of branding, a goodie bag and even a t-shirt and medal, which I hadn't expected. As a benefit of running a smaller race and registering early, my race number was 2!

Tee hee, number 2, jobbie!

My preparation had gone really well and I knew I was fitter than I'd ever been. I'd run several 20-milers, clocking in at about 3 hours. My Yasso 800s (a training method) predicted a finishing time of 3 hours 48 minutes and even if that seemed ridiculously ambitious, it was a good sign. I thought I was mentally prepared and spent the pre-marathon week listening to Paul McKenna. This was going to be good!

my ritual of matching nail polish to running vest - even though I wore gloves!

When the race started I was just coming out of the loo, so I set out too fast, feeling a bit flustered. My coach Angie had warned me not to do this and I did my best to slow down, listening to boring podcasts to calm me, but to no avail. My first four miles were each about 15 seconds faster than I wanted and I was worried! By mile 14 I was not having fun. I was having those unwanted marathon thoughts: "oh if only I'd just signed up for the half... that would still be an accomplishment... this is a really silly ambition to have. Who actually cares about the whole 4 hour thing?" But I knew how angry I'd be if I didn't finish and try hard to beat 4 hours, and that I'd have to keep on trying till I finally ran a sub-4-hour marathon, so I hung in there.

This week I saw The Lego Movie and I kept hearing in my head Morgan Freeman's voice saying "Believe. I know it sounds like a cat poster, but it's true." It reminded me of my family, and of sitting on my arse watching a movie, and both of these spurred me on.

The course is 14 laps of the Meadows. After I'd done 8 laps, most of the half-marathoners were gone and there were just the hardy nuts running 26.2 miles left. Most of them were, shall I say, very focussed, and didn't smile encouragingly or wave when we passed each other. A few of them were nice though. There was no crowd to speak of, I think we marathoners must have bored our families with our running so much that they don't turn up to cheer us on!!

However, the lovely stewards more than made up for this. They were student volunteers, standing in the silly weather for HOURS, and every single time I passed them, I got a friendly comment and a smile. A few were really enthusiastic shouters too, which was just amazing and truly, really motivating. I got excited every time I came up to the Potterrow part of the course where I was greeted by high fives from the DJ ladies, and two lovely stewards who always squealled "COME ON NUMBER 2! YOU CAN DO IT!!"

And the scouts who ran the water station were brilliant too and deserve a mention of their own! The water was so cold that it gave me brain freeze every time, so there must be a few chapped hands today, but these chaps were cheery thoroughout.

When I passed the clock after 12 laps it said 3 hours 15 minutes. That was when I properly knew I could do it, and achieve my ambition of going sub-4 hours. I reckoned I could probably walk the last two laps in 45 minutes if I had to! But I didn't. I fuelled on cheese and almond butter (urgh, won't do the almond butter again - I love it usually but if you're a bit thirsty it's like cement in your mouth!) and dug in.

my fuel stash - looks like dog poo.

On lap 13, I ran past my lovely family at the playpark. What a sight! I was delighted to see them, husband and two gorgeous children. On lap 14 I said all my thank yous to the stewards (yes, I did tell one that she was "gorgeous" because she really was the most gorgeous woman I'd ever seen, long before I got delirious!) and waved to the family. Coach Angie had told me to enjoy the glory lap, and although 'enjoy' is too strong a word, I did perk up a bit!

Then something amazing happened. My family surprised me by running after me. I laughed for a while and tried not to speed up (they had fresh legs!), but then I realised my son, Scott, who's 10, was going to keep running with me. In his boots and Minecraft sweatshirt - and he wasn't stopping! This boy has always studiously avoided running (even though all his pals come to the running club I organise at his school!) so I was quite taken aback - I took out my ipod and encouraged him along. I introduced him to my steward pals as we ran past - "thanks for all your support - and this is my son!". There was literally no stopping him, and he ran the full final mile with me! I was stunned - and utterly over the moon! We crossed the finish line together in (fanfare please...) THREE HOURS, 51 MINUTES AND 37 SECONDS.

I'd achieved my goal, and I'd done it with Scott. I was so utterly happy. Diana Nyad's words kept going round in my head - "it might look like a solitary sport, but it's a team". It might be true for long distance open water swimming, but it's true for marathon running as well. Without the support of my family, my friends and my coach, I could never have put in the hours of training to achieve it or found the mental strength to complete it. They are my team. (sniffle)

one Mobot, one robot, after the race.

the finishers!

family Bolt!

I ran for Parkinsons UK and raised about £200 so far towards my £4K goal. Not a bad start. When I put on my Parkinsons UK running vest before the race, I stood in front of the mirror and remembered my wonderful Uncle Walter, who suffered with Parkinsons and passed away last summer. He was a great man, also a runner, who suffered so much with this horrible disease and it meant a lot to run in his honour.  (more sniffle)

When the official results were posted, it turned out that no, I had not miscounted the laps and I had indeed smashed my personal best by eight and a half minutes. I'm amazed, emotional and tearful. And very, very, very happy!

The suprise medal - and Scott got one too!