I did it
I ran a half marathon, and I mean I really ran it.
All my fears about my legs giving way, collapsing from exhaustion, not being able to breath were not realized. I had a race that had very few dramas in fact, must be a first.
My day didn’t start too well, I felt quite sick in fact when I got up, and when I got to Stratford station to find the Jubilee Line suspended and thousands of runners waiting for the single decker 108 to Greenwich I really considered going back home to bed. However I managed to push my way to front of the queue and I even managed to get a seat.
The race was delayed for 45 minutes whilst runners made their way to the O2, which meant I had over an hour and a half waiting around before making my way to the pens. I sat there on the floor with all the layers of clothing I had with me and wrapped in a tinfoil blanket trying to keep myself warm. I watched as the runners started to arrive, on the look out for someone of my size. There were a few larger runners, but they were more plump, or big built, top heavy or a bit stout…definately no fatties.
I finally crossed the start line at just before 11am, an hour and 15 minutes after the advertised start time. By mile one I was really doubting that I would finish, I had no pace whatsoever and my mind was all over the place. But by about mile 3 I had got into a rhythem and was taking comfort in the fact that loads of people were already walking. Not me. I was gonna run for at least the first 10k, I knew I could manage that much. At about mile 5 my boyfriend called to ask where I was, he was waiting for me just after mile 8 and expecting to see me about now…no such luck. I decided there and then I would keep going till then. I even ran up the biggest hill ever, even the real fitties were power walking up that one (there was a guy handing out pizza from his takeaway shop half way up…Bastard)
It was lovely having my baby boy waiting for me. He planted a kiss on my lips, handed me a bottle of water and told me “keep going, I’ll be waiting for you at the end”, and that was all I needed. I kept running and running, well jogging and jogging but the point was I didn’t stop and give up, when by this point there was hundreds of people walking or limping along.
As we ran through Greenwich Park there was a downhill section, and I picked up some pace and started overtaking people which gave me a real boost, but wrecked havoc on the soles of my feet which were now suffering from blisters/friction burns, on their soles…I was nearly there. But the pain was incredible.
My legs felt fine, I wasn’t out of breath…but my feet were so sore. So I did walk a bit through Greenwich, by now everyone was walking which was a bit demoralising. By mile 12 though I just knew I had to run the rest, and even though the crowds were thinning and the winds had picked up there was nothing that was going to stop me, and as I reached the big yellow sign with 500 meters to go, I gritted my teeth and picked up the pace a bit in a final attempt to finish strong. I crossed the finish line to see my boyfriends smiling face, collected my winners medal and we made our way home.
I am sitting here having had a hot bath and some dinner, watching crap Sunday night TV and I cannot believe I have run a half marathon today. My legs are aching and the balls of my feet are tender when i walk on them but other than that I feel great, and I am completely fired up again about my running.
I just think if I can run 13 miles in less than 3 hours without much training, what could I achieve if I took it a bit more serious? Maybe that Marathon in 2012 is not a complete pipedream.
Well done to everyone who ran today, and everyone who supported and encouraged me.
Fatty can most definatly run!!!
