Virgin London Marathon 2013 - Part Two (The Big Day)

We were up bright and early (ok, just early!!!) to get ready.  Room service arrived whilst I was in the shower, and consisted of porridge, toast, tea and orange juice for me.  I forced down most of the porridge, the orange juice, and a cup of tea but that was it.  I didn't eat the toast, nor the banana I had taken with me, so I packed a banana into my kit bag with some lucozade to have on the way.  I had a small panic when I put the whole outfit on and realised that my bum bag was not sitting very well with my number, so a bit of re-jigging was required.  Pete had to do it for me, I was flapping too much and being around safety pins was only going to end in tears!
All sorted, we made our way to the tube station.  We met a couple of other runners there, but there were no guards to let us through the barriers (runners get free tube travel by showing race number).  It turned out the gate was open so we just went through anyway.  I needn't have worried too much about how to get to the start - we could have just followed the crowds!  So many people carrying bright red kit bags and eating banana's all over the place - not to mention the waft of Deep Heat to follow!
Once at Blackheath it was a short walk up a slight hill to the entrance to the Blue Start.  I already had pains in my hip despite having taken two co-codamol tablets, but I put it down to paranoia!  I had to leave Pete at this point and just go straight in as there were no loo's outside and I was desperate, having drunk most of my lucozade and some water by this point.

Red kit bags galore!

As ready as I'll ever be

Once inside I immediately dumped my heavy kit bag and made my way to the first loo's I found, which just happened to be female urinals.  Honestly, that has to be seen to be believed - lots of ladies bottoms lined up and everyone trying to work out how to use the she-pee thingy correctly!  We were all having a bit of a laugh about it but at least there were no queues!  Hands washed and rinsed with leftover water and I mooched around a bit looking for my start pen (number 9, right at the back with the fancy dress folk) whilst eating my banana.  With banana eaten, lucozade finished and rubbish disposed of, I had nothing left to occupy my mind.  I was standing near my start section, probably staring at everyone with scared goggle-eyes.  I felt like crying and being sick all at the same time.  It didn't matter what I tried to do to calm myself down, nothing was working - I've had nerves before a race before but never like this.  And then I got a text.  It was my cousin Nic telling me she was at the blue start to see her colleague off, and wishing me luck.  Hmm, the blue start you say, I could see spectators and thought maybe I would be able to find Nic.  A few texts later, I established that she was very close to where I was, so I strolled along and there she was!  I can't tell you how much I needed that familiar face and the hugs.  We admired a few costumes (Jamaican bob-sleigh, Storm Trooper, shark and man with a surfboard all spring to mind).  The next thing I knew it was almost 10am and time to head off.  I lined up as far back as I could, and then they were off up ahead.  I'm afraid back where I was, we didn't hear the silence for Boston, but I was silent and thinking about it anyway I promise.  We seemed to be walking forwards fairly smoothly without the usual stop/start you get, and I started chatting to a couple of guys next to me.  They had the same goal as me - one foot in front of the other until you cross the finish line.  As we made our way closer to the start, we passed an announcer standing in the middle of the road with a microphone, and he did a shout-out for me!  "And here goes Katy, number 18006, running for Cancer Research".  What a buzz!  And then we started jogging, and suddenly there we were, across the start line!  All I kept thinking was, you've got to take all this in Katy, you're actually doing this now, you're actually running the London Marathon!  I felt like I needed to pinch myself or something, to make sure this wasn't part of some crazy dream, but no, I was actually doing this!

I soon settled into a comfortable rhythm, with a massive grin on my face, and the first mile was done before I'd even noticed.  I quickly realised that sticking near to the edge meant I was out of faster peoples way, but with the added bonus that lots more people shouted my name to encourage me and I was getting a lot of high-fives, so I spent the first five miles like that - sticking to the edge, grinning like a loon and giving high-fives to anyone who wanted one!  I also remember in that time a couple of things happened that I'll probably never forget - a lady standing a mile and a half in holding a sign saying 'not far to go' or words to that effect.  Yeah right love!!  And then about three miles in a little boy about 7 or 8 put his hand up for a high-five, then jokingly moved it away as I went to clap it - literally had me laughing out loud, what a character!  Then passing a church, a man rushed over to me to shake my hand, and he ran alongside me for a few paces, just thanking me.  I'm not sure if he was touched by my charity vest or what, but he nearly made me cry!

I'd had a vague plan about refuelling that I would take something on every three miles.  I had read a lot about the dangers of over-hydration and so was actually incredibly paranoid about that, so I had decided I would only take on water every six miles or so, and maybe the odd drop of lucozade as and when I fancied it.  And I had three gels and some sweets on me too.  Well at mile five I realised I had totally forgotten to take on anything at all at mile three, but I felt fine anyway, apart from my hip injury was flaring up in a big way.  It had started hurting pretty much straight away, but I think by 5 miles in the painkillers I had taken before the race had started to wear off and I was feeling thirsty as it was actually quite warm.  So I grabbed a quick swig of water on the go so as not to lose my rhythm and resolved to actually stop and take some more painkillers and a gel at mile 6.  This was the point where I had my first wobble.  I had been so caught up in the atmosphere up until then that I had managed to block out the encroaching pain, but now I had the first negative thought.  What am I doing, I'm only 5 miles in and I'm already in a lot of pain, how am I going to do another 21 miles?  Luckily I'm stubborn and I soon found myself at mile 6.  The water station was shortly after the mile marker and so I made my way to the side of the road, and took on a whole bottle of water, a gel and two co-codamol.  I then started up at a fast walk and then when I was sure everything had settled, started running again.  It was incredibly painful, and I could tell I was limping a bit, but the more I kept moving the more the pain faded into the background.  And then the road seemed to narrow a bit, and suddenly there was Cutty Sark!  What a sight, and we ran right around her, what an awesome view!  I kept my eye out for the cameras as I knew there would be some here, and waved when I saw them, and it worked like magic to take my mind off the pain for a while, long enough for the painkillers to kick in and take the edge off, and for me to get back into a nice rhythm.  The next thing I remember is going past Deptford fire station, where we had a welcome shower from the fire engines which made me laugh again - the water was so cold but it was so nice!  I knew both Nic and Pete had said that they might be around this area anywhere up to about mile 9, so I kept searching for them, but to no avail.  I do remember seeing a Cancer Research cheering point though - or should I say I heard them, as they cheered me past with such enthusiasm that it definitely gave me a lift!

The next landmark I really remember was passing Bermondsey tube, which made me think of Pete.  I remember feeling a bit sad that I hadn't managed to see him or Nic yet, but I knew then that I wasn't too far from Tower Bridge, where I knew that he was going to be.  Before I knew it, the course turned right and there it was.  Tower Bridge in all its glory!  I had picked up some water and still had the bottle, so I decided that I would walk across the bridge so that I could finish the water, and also just so that I could take it all in.  Much like when I passed Cutty Sark, it was a sight that really took my breath away and I wanted to savour it.  I was also busy scouring the crowds for a sight of Pete.  As I got to the middle of the bridge, I broke into a run again and then turned right.  I was now looking out for Fetchpoint which I knew would be on the other side of the road from me, aswell as Pete, but I saw neither.  What I did see though, was all the runners going the other way who had already clocked up 22 miles by this point.  It was the lowest point of the race so far for me, not seeing my supporters, struggling with pain and seeing all those people and knowing it would be a good couple of hours before I would be where they were!  As it happens, both Pete and my Dad saw me, and were screaming out for me, but I just didn't hear them!!  When my Dad explained that he had been near a red open-top bus close to the bridge, I even remembered seeing it, but I just didn't hear them shouting for me!  At mile 14 I stopped and took more painkillers, a gel and more water.  It was a real battle of wills to start running again, especially as I saw a friendly looking St Johns Ambulance crew, but I knew then that there was no way I was going to give this up, no way.  I couldn't picture myself explaining to all those people who had believed in me how I had pulled out, all I could picture was the finish line and the medal and finding my supporters at the end.

The next few miles are to be honest, a bit of a blur for me.  I wish I could remember more!  I was having to take occasional walk-breaks, but was still mostly running.  The one thing I do remember becoming aware of was the ever-present Rhino's.  There were several of them that would intermittently overtake me, then I would overtake them back.  I can't remember their names now (perhaps I should have written this blog sooner!) but they were ingrained on my mind at the time.  If you want the loudest and most enthusiastic cheers, wear a big costume!!  Speaking of which I do also remember seeing a huge scary looking pink nurse costume, a gingerbread man, a beer bottle and a fire extinguisher type thing.  A quick google and I can find pictures of most of them so I will add them to a separate blog post at some point so you can see my running companions!!

At mile 17, I hit the wall big-time.  I stopped, turned on my phone and sent Pete a text which said At 17 miles.  Walking more than running (which was more a statement of intent than a fact).  Pain indescribable.  Will finish but even slower xx  He replied to say he would see me at mile 20, was trying to find my Dad and that he had seen me come over Tower Bridge.  I also posted on facebook to apologise, such was my feeling of disappointment at having to walk.  It felt like giving in and I didn't want to give in, but I just had so much pain.  I actually took two more painkillers.  Those beady-eyed amongst you may notice that takes my total up to 8 co-codamol already, on very little food and a lot of exertion!  Anyway, the thought that I would see Pete in a few miles seemed to spur me on, and I ran all of the next mile.  I remember passing Surrey Quay tube and seeing a train above me (please tell me that wasn't the drugs?!) and at some point I remember taking a sharp right turn and in the bend there was an amazing steel band.  Google tells me they are called Ebony Steel Band - they were amazing and I clapped as I ran past.  Then I looked up and there was Canary Wharf, another wow from me!  

Shortly after that I stopped for a walk break, at the same time as a girl who I had been running close to for a little while.  She asked me if I was OK, and I remember saying yes just a bit of an injury slowing me down.  She said she had pain in her right leg and was getting cramp in her right foot.  We walked together for a bit chatting, and then we started up running again together.  About half a mile later she stopped to take her trainer off and stretch her foot, and told me to go on, but I replied that I could do with the company, and so maybe if she didn't mind, we could make our way along together for a bit?!  And so we did, Welli and me :-)  We would run as far as we could (which seemed to be about half a mile) and then take a walk break for a bit, where we would power walk as fast as we could.  It started to feel good again!  I only then realised that part of my battle had been that despite all of the crowd support and all the other runners, I had begun to feel a bit lonely.  I think compounded by the pain which was making my inner monologue a force to be reckoned with (not pretty at all) and not managing to see my supporters.  Run/walking with Welli was keeping me focussed and keeping my mind off things and I started to enjoy myself again.  We still had a bit of energy at this point, but we held back.  We decided that it would be really bad to not save the energy to use at the end, to make sure we ran across the line in style, and so we continued run/walking at what was mostly a 50/50 ratio for the next few miles.  

I didn't see Pete at mile 20, despite searching again.  I sent him at text at mile 21, then again at mile 22, and he replied saying We're next!  Not far now.  I had been looking forward to mile 22 for weeks!  I knew I would be meeting some of my Inspire friends for the first time, at Fetchpoint, and I also knew that a fellow Fetchie was going to be there with some coke and some sweets for me.  So that became my next focus.  I'll never forget seeing Sian and Kerry in the distance, surrounded by red and yellow fetch balloons!  I broke into a run and ran straight into a huge hug.  I introduced Welli and to be honest the rest is a blur, but I remember Mykey and his smiley eyes opening a can of G&T and passing it over to me.  What bliss!!  And I think it was Bethan, very enthusiastically offering me Jelly Babies and telling me to take more than one.  I then went to see SherryB, the faithful Fetchie who had waited all that time to hand me my coke and sweeties, and whose daughter very excitedly told me about her pet rat who was also called Katy and was her favourite rat and very lovely!  I had a few more hugs and sweets and then Welli and I set off again, significantly buoyed by our Fetchpoint experience.  I only had to go a few yards up the road before I saw two more familiar faces - my Dad and Pete!  I almost burst into tears (as my Dad's video of the moment shows) but surprisingly I managed to keep it together.  After more hugs, I handed Pete my coke can and sunglasses and Welli and I were off again.

As we were coming up to mile 23, we saw the Gherkin in the distance and our last snippet of Tower Bridge to our left.  The views from here on were classic London, with the Tower of London on our left as we began our way up the Embankment.  Around mile 23 there was a lucozade stop and we went under an underpass with all these giant lit-up balloons inside with motivational quotes on them - Pain is Temporary, Glory Awaits, Dig Deep, etc. It was called The Lucozade Tunnel of Yes.  On emerging from the tunnel, the views opened up and it was just amazing all over again.  Here we were, running along the embankment, with the London Eye to our left.  And suddenly there were two more familiar faces, my brother and Kate.  This was a huge surprise as I hadn't managed to find out where my brother would be, and so thought I had probably missed him, but there he was.  Two of my most favourite photo's from the day were taken at this point, so I've shared them below.

As you can see from the second photo, we were still running a bit at this point, which was just shy of 24 miles.  The distance was taking its toll, but we were still enjoying it and smiling in pretty much all photo's from the day!  Not far on from here we got our first view of Big Ben, which we ran up to before hanging a right and making our way down Birdcage Walk.  We decided to run to the end from here, and the crowd noise was amazing!  I remember seeing Buckingham Palace coming into view, and really struggling to keep a lid on the emotions and keep going.  I remember seeing the infamous '365 yards to go' sign and stifling the urge to stop and take a photo.  It felt a bit like being in a movie, the images are so iconic, including that sign, and therefore so familiar, but I couldn't quite believe we were there, we had made it!  We hung a right and there was the finish line, and I am yet to find a word to describe the emotion I felt.  It was almost an outer-body floating type sensation, but just know it was pure bliss, but my poor tired body was struggling to express it.  I wanted to cry so badly, but I just couldn't (probably dehydrated aswell as dog-tired!).  We ran across the line, arms aloft in triumph!  We hugged and then stumbled along to receive our medals and (heavy) goody bags and have our timing chips removed.  We collected our bags and mooched about a bit, and then we had to go our separate ways to meet our family and friends so we hugged again and exchanged details so that we could share our photo's from the day.  I stumbled my way towards the 'S' and let everyone know where I was, and as I stood there waiting I somehow managed to take my trainers off and swop them for flip flops, and then put on my jacket.  I was very emotional whilst waiting for everyone to come and find me, but when they all got there I think I was just so happy to see them all that I managed (still) not to cry.

This turned into a massive blog I'm afraid, but the more I wrote the more I remembered and wanted to share!  There is so much else too but the only way to truly experience it is to go along.  Either run it, or go along and cheer people on!  It's an experience I will never forget so long as I live!

More to come......