I did it!  I ran a marathon! I ran every step of the 26.2 miles, and crossed the finish line after four hours, 50 minutes and 37 seconds.  I have raised over £2,800 for Fight for Sight, thanks to everyone’s generosity.  I had some real high points during the race, and some real low points.  After crossing the finish line I vowed “never, ever again” but today I have entered the ballot for 2010 – the marathon was the biggest mental and physical challenge of my life and I would love to give it another go.

Apparently it was one of the hottest London marathons on record – I was certainly grateful for my hat, sunglasses and the showers along the route.  According to marathon veteran Gordon Ramsay (on his 1oth) it was one of the toughest races he had done, due to the heat.

I managed to get a good night’s sleep the night before, and was up at 6am for a pre-race breakfast of porridge, a banana and a sports drink.  We set off early, and we popped in to see my mum and dad on the way.  MrF dropped me at the top of Blackheath village, where I made my way to Greenwich Park.  It was very busy but strangely calm on Blackheath and in the park, where everyone was getting ready.  I was in pen 8, based upon my initial predicted finish time of around 4 hours 45 minutes (I was hoping to finish in 4.5 hours but in the end that was pretty accurate), and it took around 15 minutes to get to the start line, which was fine as the time chip doesn’t start until you cross the start line.  Was a great atmosphere, and everyone was running at a good pace as soon as we crossed the line.  I had my name on my running vest and it took a while to get used to people calling out my name, but throughout the race the crowd support was fantastic.  In particular the lady who called out my name and said “you are looking great” when I was feeling really tired at around mile 23 along the Embankment gave me a big boost.

The first few miles through the Standard and into Charlton flew by, I felt really fresh and had bags of energy like everyone else, and the crowd support was great. The main thing for me at this point was making sure I didn’t run too fast, and I was pretty much on target over the first half of the race for a 4.5 hour finish, which dropped off around mile 15.  The pubs were great to run past, some of them had really good music playing and the crowds were really loud which made for a great atmosphere.  The run into Greenwich around Cutty Sark was good, just 6 miles (10k) into the race.  That felt like a warm up by comparison!  I remember thinking as I was running into Greenwich that it was great to be part of the marathon, but the marathon experience was about the challenge of the distance and I felt it would start when I got beyond half way.  (That challenge came soon enough!)

All good through Rotherhithe, and one of my high points was as we turned onto Tower Bridge, and all the runners around me gave up a big cheer, and of course the feeling of running over Tower Bridge during the London marathon.  At this point we at around 12.5 miles.  Halfway was on the Highway, and that’s when you see all the really fast runners (probably around 3-3.5 hour finishers) going in the opposite direction at mile 22, having just 4 miles to go.  The Isle of Dogs between miles 14 and 20 is supposed to be the toughest part of the course, and I found that.  Also, as my longest run in training had been 20 miles, I set that as a marker that once I had got beyond that I would know it was just 6 miles and I would make it.  That may have been true, but it was tough!  There was no “just” about that last 6 miles.

The crowds around Canary Wharf were fantastic, but as I approached miles 19, 20, I started to find it tough mentally.  That was something I wasn’t prepared for, as I had felt fine on my longest training runs and had visualised feeling strong towards the end.  I was ok physically, but there were times when my mind was telling me to stop and walk (quite a few people were walking after mile 16), but there was no way I was giving in.  I had set out to run the London marathon, and walking wasn’t an option for me.  At one point I didn’t want to be there, didn’t want to be running the marathon, it was too far, but there was no option but to continue to run.  The only alternative to running was to give up, and obviously I wasn’t going to do that!

I spoke to another runner at around mile 20, and we were saying “just 10k to go – what’s 10k?”  During training it might have been an easy lunchtime run, or a run into work – at the end of a marathon it’s a long, long way and it’s a tough run!  When I got to mile 22, we passed other runners who were still at half way point at mile 13 and having just been through what I found to be the most difficult 9 miles of the race, I felt glad I wasn’t about to face what they had to go through. 

Mile 22 meant just 4 miles, at the pace I was now running that meant around 45 minutes of running.  I never doubted once that I would finish the marathon, but it still seemed like so far to go.  I was telling myself it was just a run around the village, and the finish line would soon be there.  Past mile 23 along the Embankment and it finally started to seem like I was nearing the end, and the crowds were great, as was the music.  Quite a few walkers at this point, but one girl went flying past me and gave me real motivation to push on and try to keep up my pace.

Then Big Ben came into view, it was around 2:30pm when I first saw it.  I knew as I came out of the Blackfriars underpass that it would just be a couple more miles.  I had done this run on my way to work once, skipped along at around 8 minute miles, there was no way that was happening during the marathon but I knew that finish line was near.  As we turned right past the Houses of Parliament it was about 1/2 a mile to go, and then into Birdcage walk, 600m. I was trying to think how far 600m was, as I tend to work in miles.  I was so tired, I even knew I could walk if I wanted to, but there was no way I was walking, I was going to keep running until I reached the end.

Past Buckingham Palace, into the Mall.  Wow, there was the finish line of the Flora London Marathon.  I had just ran nearly 26.2 miles.  I had been through some incredible high points, and some low points during the last four hours 50 minutes, and there I was, running down the Mall to the finish line.  I thought I was going to burst into tears but didn’t, but it was an amazing feeling.  The Mall didn’t seem very long, and I think I even managed a smile for the camera as I passed the finish line.  I couldn’t believe it was over, I had done it, I had ran a marathon.  And I got my medal to show I had done it.

I passed the finish line and my legs felt like jelly.  I spoke to a fellow runner and she had just completed her third marathon, and a personal best for her.  I told her I was never, ever doing it again, she gave me a knowing look.  I stopped to have my time chip taken off, which was a bit of a mistake to do so soon as I think the sudden stop made me feel really sick (either that, or the heat,  and a suspected overdose on sickly Lucozade Sport!) and I staggered over to a nice St John ambulance lady to say I felt really sick, was this normal.  She said I needed to sit on the floor for a bit with my head between my knees, and there I sat at finish line of the of the Flora London Marathon for the next five minutes, wearing my medal.  Sent a text to MrF saying “done it see you soon”, I couldn’t manage any more words. 

Picked up my goody bag, and collected my bag from the baggage lorry.  I was so exhausted I couldn’t speak, and when asked for my number I could just point to my chest.  My foil blanket blew off and I made a feeble attempt to pick it up but didn’t have the energy.  Anyway, made my way to the meet and greet area where MrF was waiting.  After my Rego recovery drink and an apple I started to slowly feel back to normal and we made the journey back to the pub where everyone was waiting.  Dad was in tears, bless.  I ended the day with a couple of well-deserved glasses of white wine in the pub and a chicken biryani from the local Indian takeaway!  I couldn’t face eating anything other than an apple until the evening, despite buring up the 3062 calories displayed on my Garmin at the end of the race.

Although I don’t think the full enormity of it has sunk in yet, even the next day, I can say that running the London Marathon has been one of the most difficult, yet one of most amazing things I have ever done. I went to a point mentally and physically I have never been before, and on the day never wanted to repeat.  But that was temporary, I soon got over it, and if I get lucky in the ballot, I will be back again in the 2010 London Marathon.  Looking for a personal best of course! 

I will never forget the day, and it’s difficult to describe it.  Looking back, I am not sure I particularly enjoyed it at the time (particularly the latter part of the race), but at the same time it was a great experience.  One of the things that made the day was also the random interactions with the other runners.  Ok the elites are impressive, but it’s the ordinary people who make the London marathon what it is.  People like me, setting out for the achievement of a lifetime.  Running for charities, for personal challenges.  I smile when I look back on the day, we were all in it together.  Like the man who ran past us on the Isle of Dogs singing along to himself on his ipod, really loud and out of tune, but it was obviously doing it for him!  The person who started singing in the underpass at Canary Wharf; the people in the costumes; the man running with an artificial limb; the nice lady who was handing out jelly babies on the Isle of Dogs (I meant to say thank you as I grabbed a load out of her hand and greedily stuffed them into my mouth!); the little girls giving out daffodils. 

Then the support from MrF, the rest of the family and friends has been fantastic, in the build up and on the day.  MrF and his spectator’s marathon trying to get around the course to see me. Mum and her home-made placards, including pictures of frogs drawn on them – one each for sisters and Aunt Linda.  I know that it has also been a big experience for those close to me.

All of it, absolutely fantastic.  Never mind that the day after I can barely walk and have a huge blister on my toe.

But who ever said running a marathon would be easy?  And I wouldn’t want it to be easy, otherwise it just wouldn’t be the same….

Went to the Expo on Thursday to pick up my running number and time chip.  Spent around 45 minutes yesterday putting my running number on my vest, taking it off, putting it on, taking it off – you wouldn’t believe how tricky it is getting that number in a position where it won’t flap around and is going to sit right while I am running. 

My kit is ready:  I’ve decided on which pair of trainers to wear (I have two pairs of Asics 2140, exactly the same, which I’ve been alternating during training so it wasn’t much of a decision although I do associate one pair with better runs); Marathon belt stocked up with energy gels, Garmin on charge, recovery drink in the fridge.  I think I’m just about ready.  I bought a naff Nike headband at the Expo which would do a good job in keeping my hair off my face, although it’s a bit 1980s tennis player.

Been “carb-loading” over the past couple of days.  The advice is to eat a ratio of carbs per kilo bodyweight.  I worked out I needed to be eating the equivalent of 10 plates of pasta, or 28 slices of toast, or 6 jacket potatoes.  That’s a lot to eat in one day by anyone’s standards, so I am not being too scientific about it, just eating mainly carbs.  I’ve been baking wholemeal bread in the bread machine, that doesn’t take a lot of tempting to eat.  Yesterday I had cereal and toast for breakfast, snacked on fresh and dried fruit, jacket potato and prawns for lunch and a paella for dinner.  Today porridge with banana for breakfast, followed by a bagel and marmite, soup and stacks of bread for lunch, and tonight’s pre-race dinner is exactly what I’ve had before every long run (they say don’t change anything!) – pasta with chicken, mushrooms and a tomato chilli sauce.  And I bought a lemon carb drink from the Expo, not tasted it yet but probably tastes like Lemsip.

Feels strange not doing much running this week, did two 2-mile runs at slow pace, and that’s been about.  Spending today relaxing getting myself ready.  Set up a mini-spa at home this morning, and this afternoon will take the dog for a stroll and read for a bit.  Feeling quite calm about it all at the moment, and really looking forward to the marathon. 

Tomorrow is going to be amazing.  I’m at the red start,and apparently it takes a while to get to the start and get running.  Have decided to enjoy every minute of it (even the busy bit at the start), go with it all and let the race come. Also not to worry about things I can’t control, such as not being able to start straight away.  Strangely, I am looking forward to the post-20 mile bit, as I’ve not done that before and that’s going to be the real test.  I already know I can run 20 miles, I did that 3 weeks ago…

It also helps the tremendous amount of support I have had from MrF and my family during training, and also the amazing amount of generosity people have shown in sponsoring me.  That has been a real motivating factor all along, and no doubt will be tomorrow.

An 8 mile run today, followed by smoked salmon and scrambled eggs (with toast, don’t forget the carbs!).  Was always my favourite breakfast after a run, but strangely I never fancied it after the long runs of recent weeks.  Instead I used to get cravings for my recovery drink (a powdery vanilla flavour sports drink, it’s not even that nice!), and I’ll be making up a bottle for after the marathon.

Well that’s it, just one week to go!  My charity vest is hanging up ready (I sent it off to get my name put on the front and back), and I am off to the Expo this week to get my marathon number and do a bit of shopping.   No running over the next week either (well not unless you count a 2 mile slow jog).

Will let you know how I get on…. am aiming for around 4.5 hours, although MrF is confident I could run a sub 4 hour marathon!  Not sure I am up for that, so somewhere in between would be good.

I entered the London half marathon (September) yesterday, it’s the one where they play the music along the route.   I haven’t listen to music while runing at all while training for the marathon, even on the long runs I prefer to just run with my own company.  But tonight for my brisk 4 miler I decided to take my ipod.  Since I haven’t taken my ipod running for months, hearing the songs I used to listen to in the early days of building up to a 10k was quite symbolic of the journey I have taken in training for the London Marathon, as it took me right back to last year.   I feel amazed how far I have come, to being marathon fit.

However the ipod running thing is not something I will do regularly, as the wires get on my nerves flapping around even if I twist them up around my arm, but there’s definately a place for music on a run.   Happy Mondays and Alison Limerick were good for the fast bits, and a cool-down pace to Kenny Rogers “The Gambler”.  I’m not usually a Country and Western fan, but I make an exception for that one, it’s a good running song!

It’s now taper time in the two-week lead up to the London marathon, and my longest run this week was just 13 miles.  Today’s run was pretty non-eventful.  A nice Spring morning, quite cool and damp which made all the plants and flowers smell lovely:  perfect.  Just one hill at around mile 6, and I completed the run with an average 10.1 minute miles. 

It does feel strange today that it’s Sunday and I don’t need to spend the afternoon lying down to recover from 17, 18, 19 mile runs.  Saying that, I already miss the training!  Those long runs could be painful at times (particularly up the hills), but overall I really enjoyed them.  It became normal to be running those distances.   I’ve had my training programme stuck on the fridge since January, and most of the days are now ticked off.  Next week ends with an 8-mile run, with a couple of 4 mile runs mid-week, including a bit of hill work.   Then for the final week, in accordance with marathon advice, I must do very little exercise (that includes not building garden sheds), and eat lots of pasta.

Ran 4 miles first thing this morning, (by which time I am just getting warmed up) which put me in a really good mood to start the Easter break.  Had my hair cut today (pre-marathon), and my hairdresser asked how the training was going.  Was 7 weeks since I last saw her, back in the days when a half-marathon was a long run.   Next time I get my hair cut I will have (hopefully) my London marathon medal, although I probably won’t wear it to the hairdressers.

This Sunday I’m running 13 miles, which means my Green & Black’s Easter egg will count as zero calories.

On Sunday 5th April I ran 19.6 miles, the last long run of my training programme.  

Now just 19 days to go!  Over the next couple of weeks I’ll be easing up on the running (just 13 miles next Sunday) and resting before marathon day.

I was thinking on the way home, during the last mile, how I got to the stage of being able to run for 18 miles.  The training has been such a gradual process over the past few months, yet at the same time it feels like one day I just got up and went running for 18 miles.

It was a good run, and I think I enjoyed the last few miles in particular because it just felt good being able to run so far.  True to recent form I got a bit lost, so at around mile 14 I was faced with the choice of either a big hill and keep more or less to planned distance, or a huge detour which would have taken me over 20 miles and wouldn’t have been sensible. 

So I chose the hill, being the comparatively more sensible option.  It’s one of those ones I would tend to avoid on a long run where possible, at just over a mile of steady incline.  At one point steep enough to bring thoughts of walking into my mind.  But I ran the whole way and thought the benefit of this is that at mile 15 of the actual marathon on a flat surface, there is no way my legs are going to feel anywhere near as tired as they did today – I don’t think it would be possible.  Good training logic, I think.

On the subject of good training logic, I read an article in the Times yesterday that advised marathon runners not to do anything energetic in the week leading up to the marathon, such as building garden sheds.  So, I will try to resist the temptation.

Well the rain wasn’t really a reason to run, but it certainly wasn’t a reason not to. 

I got off the train early and ran 7 miles into work this morning.  I ran along the river in the pouring train and was running just over a 7 minute mile pace for a good distance along the Embankment between Blackfriars and Westminster (so that was for longer than running fast to avoiding getting run over!). 

Anyway, got soaked in the early morning rain, but really enjoyed the run and looking forward to the next 17 miles this Sunday…. kind of.   The good thing is the (painful) treatment by my (fantastic) physio is working wonders at getting rid of the aches and pains of running.

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t possible to get lost on today’s run as I had no particular route planned, other than to run for 8 miles then turn around and run back home again.  While unavoidably undulating, it was a good run, although tough in places.  I really could have done without the biggest hill just after 13 miles, and dare I say, I felt a bit fed up after running up it.  However I soon picked the pace back up again and enjoyed the last few miles.  Despite the hills, my legs ached less on this week’s run than they did last week, although I went straight to bed for an hour when I got home.

Just two more long runs to do, then I start to taper down before the marathon.  Interestingly, at this stage of training, the 13 mile run in my training programme two week’s before the marathon doesn’t count as (nor particularly seems like) a long run.   Just a short 13 mile run then, relatively speaking.  What planet am I living on.

Roast beef for dinner tonight, and a glass of champagne while I am cooking it.  I think I deserve it.