Thank u!!!

A huge thank you to everyone who supported me throughout my London Marathon Experience.

I have enjoyed keeping this blog so much I am going to continue to keep on posting-but at a new address.

http://mylifeandtime.blogspot.com/

Stop by and say hello.
all the very best
Michelle

MY LONDON MARATHON

I woke to my alarm clock at 6.30am. Although I was very much aware of the enormity of the day I had ahead of me, I was as yet pretty calm about it all. I had a banana and hopped on the northern line towards London Bridge. When I got there I thought it might be best to avail of the toilets rather than have to face the endless queues at the starting area. A mass of people were gathering around the gates to get the train to Greenwich and I knew I was going to be waiting for some time. Thankfully Dave came along with me, and he suggested that we hop back on the tube, catch the Jubilee line and then the DLR. Good move Dave! As they were both surprisingly quite and we got to Greenwich with some ease.

I followed the Red signs (my starting area), which took me through Greenwich Park, up the hill. People were all over the park, walking, stretching, changing clothes. The sun was out it was going to be a nice day. There was a good buzz around the place.

I queued for the toilets again it was about 9.30am. There was a line of baggage lorries numbered with a range of numbers corresponding to your running number.
I finally found mine (furthest away) and then made my way to the starting zone. To be honest I really have no idea what area I started in...i know i was suppose to start in zone 9...but I know I was really close to the back...unable to find an opening onto the road I actually hopped the barrier. There were alot of well wishers either side of the road but around me the athletes were pretty quite. Were we abit more apprenshive then we thought? After all-this was it-I was about 10 minutes away from running my very first marathon. I had my phone with me, it was dual purpose-hoping to get in touch with Dave around the course and also at the end, and it was also my radio and mp3 player.

I got a text from my sis Jack back home a few minutes before i crossed the line, I quickly texted her back to say im just about to start. She later told me afterwards that she quickly taped the marathon for me and was glued to the tv for the next few hours in case she spotted me. (Unfortunately she didn’t, but it has inspired her to take up running again-she use to be a nifty little runner in her late teens early 20s).

The first few miles passed easily enough, people lined the streets cheering us on. I just kept with the flow of the runners ahead-you pretty much had to. It was hot out there. Dealing with heat is something I had not done in training. Over the past five months, I have trained in rain, hail and snow but not heat like this. My fair skin didn’t appreciate it. I took advantage of every water station, taking a few gulps and throwing the rest on the face and down my back. I passed by the Cutty Sark and headed out of Greenwich. I stopped just after a water station an a guy in his 50s asked me have i the radio on-I said 'I do' he said 'Did you hear that Paula has won' , I said 'oh wow, brilliant'. We had a good chat, he told me this was his 7th marathon, advised me to keep taking water onboard, ensure that I pour some down my back and not to worry that I will passing alot of these people out later in the race.
By the 7/8 mile the warm day was getting to me and I was getting tired.

I was wearing one of those sports bras that have dual cross over on them, but the left hand strap came undone. I saw a woman ahead of me around the 8 mile mark and i stopped and asked her if she would hook it up for me. She did no bother, we had a wee chat, wished each other well and off I went again.

Surrey Quays 9/10 miles the ligament at the back of my left knee and the ligament around my left ankle were acting up. By now I was starting to take a breather for awhile at each water station. But I knew i wasn’t far from Tower Bridge and the half way mark where I was going to meet Dave, grap a banana and stock up on some jelly babies.

Hitting Tooley Street and the crowds outside the pub on the right I knew i was just inches from crossing over Tower Bridge. That was quite an amazing experience. The cheers/roars were deafening. I passed right by Sally Gunnell as she commented on the race and I smiled and waved into the camera, hoping my mom and da or my sis back home in Galway would spot me.

Hitting the 13 mile stretch is hard as you can see runners on the other side of the road on their 21 mile. Tiredness sitting in and the pain in both spots on my left leg were increasing I was looking forward to spotting Dave. As it turns out that never happened. He was over the other side of the road and could not get across. The next few miles I was down to a walk jog, and I definitely walked at least half of every mile. I didn’t know what to do. I was hobbling. I was sore but I never thought for a second of giving up. I stopped and asked two of the St. johns Ambulance team if they could help me but they just looked at each with puzzled looks and offered me some petroleum jelly. I ploughed on for another while and spotted another two (I think first aid station). The guy there directed me to an ambulance a couple of meters up the road and said that their was physio there that should be able to help me.

To be honest I was very disappointed with the way they didn’t take care of me. There was at least 8 ambulance people but they were only treating one athlete. They were all faffing around doing nothing. I was finding myself getting abit mad with them for not attending me, I told them i wanted a blister plaster and as i set down i proceeded to tell one of them that wasn’t giving me their full attention about my ligament at back of knee and angle were very sore and could they help. She faffed about giving me the blister plaster and I had to ask her twice for it. I was increasingly aware of the fact that I was just wasting my time. She eventually said the best she can do for me is strap me up and began to lead me towards the ambulance so she could do such. She wasted what seemed like ages (but probably only a minute or two) while she entered my details in a pad she had and I decided there and then that they were more interested in getting their paper work right then treating me so i said forget it and off i went. I hope that was just a one off case and others didn’t have the same experience as i did.

Somehow that break seemed to have helped abit and my left leg pain seemed to ease up for abit but not to be outdone by my pulled stomach muscle...my walk jog technique resumed.

Thinking I needed a toilet break I stopped at one that had about 4/5 ahead of me but when i got into the cubicle i could not undo the tracksuit-it had knotted so i had to pulled them down over me to find i didn’t really need to go and try dragged them back up again...so wasted a few more minutes there.

The pubs enroute were amazing though, the day was ideal for spectators and they came out in there thousands. There were apparently over 70 pub enroute each blaring music and you were greeted with roars as you went by. It was great!

By the 16/17 mile mark I knew all changes of breaking that 5 hour mark had elapsed. Now the target was to finish. I found the next few miles rather frustrating. Like i said i stopped and walked for a few minutes in each mile but each time i made sure I pulled into the side. Unfortunately not many others did. The place was starting to resemble a scene from Shawn of the Dead and it was all to easy to walk, but each time I forced myself to start running again it was really difficult dodging between athletes that had just stopped and walked all over the road. At one stage there were 5 athletes straight across the road and I remember it almost being double layered. it was at a stage that I had a bit of energy and i didn’t feel like stopping-I remember letting out a big 'HELLO' and somehow getting through.

There were 4 shower units enroute and although I missed the first one I made sure I went through the rest I think walking through the last two...ahh they were good :-)

18-22 mile mark, I was just taking it one mile at a time, stopping and resting when I had to. There was no hitting the wall for me; I guess you had to do alot less walking to experience that :-) At the 22 mile mark I suddenly heard a 'MICHELLE' out of the crowd-spotted Dave, turned smiled, waved and continued running. Only to find 400 meters or so up the road I need a breather, so i called dave and told him i was walking catch up with me. We had a wee chat; he told me I was doing really well. Gave me a kiss and off I went again.

23/24 mile mark we went through a nice cold tunnel coming up along the Embankment by the River Thames. Huge crowds had gathered on either sides of the road. I knew I hadn’t long to go now. I remember belly dancers on the left hand side and a male athlete ahead of me joining in....made a good go of it too and made me laugh at the same time.

At the 25 mile mark i stopped and walked. Apart from all my aches and pains I was so physically drained. I decided to give my parents back home a call, in case I could not get through when I had finished. Both mom and da are no stranger to athletes 4 out of 6 kids use to do cross country and track in school and into our early 20s. My da answered the phone. He asked was I finished yet (in the days leading up to the marathon da did not think it was wise for me to run). I said almost, and told him about my leg problems. He said all the right things encouraging me before mom grabbed the phone and was like 'Good on ya Michelle, Im so proud of you, your almost there. I'm behind you every step of the way.' Its the only part in the entire marathon experience that I was almost close to tears.

I was so close; I still had not the energy to run the whole way and had to take many wee walking breaks even on the mall. Spur Road at 26 miles leading past Buckingham Palace and onto The Mall, It was just such an amazing and hard to describe feeling. The crowds were as I knew they would be - brilliant. One last attempt from me on the mall I crossed the line and looked at my stop watch 5:27:11 (London marathon time has me down as 5:27:10)

I DID IT!!!!

I was surprised there were no tears of emotions. I think honestly it may have been the fact that there was no one there that you knew allowed to get close to the finish area, to give you a hug. If there had it may have been a different story. I had many fellow athletes congratulate me though, which was really nice. I had to stop for a second, bend down and undo my shoe lace as i had attached my chip for my official running time to it. We had to go up a small ramp as they removed the chips and then my London Marathon finisher medal was placed over my head. That was a really good and proud moment. I was given a goodie bag that was like wow very heavy-didn’t really have the energy to carry it but I managed somehow and once again located my baggage lorry and picked up my kitbag.

I tried ringing Dave to no avail, but could get through to my parents and my sister gave me a call which was really cool. Text messages did come through from Dave so we did manage to meet up. I saw the ActionAid team and they brought us through to a room in the Institute of Directors. It was good to chat to organizers and fello marathon runners and share my experience. I did manage to get a massage which was fab.

The one hour journey home I was zonked. And went to bed at 6.30pm when i got in the door, not waking til 6.30 the next morning. ouch ouch i couldnt move in the bed. I managed to get myself out and shower but i was red with sunburn and felt abit light headed, so i opted to stay at home and take the day as a holiday. I spent most of the day checking out runnersworld forum, BBC news and London marathon site as I had my medal on front of me. It was hard to believe - I had run the London marathon.

Good things about my marathon experience:
- It was a fine day and it wasn’t raining
- The athletes, all in good spirit, friendly to chat to and full of support
- Supporters enroute-all the little kids with their hands out for me to tap
- Crowds that gathered at the pubs-atmosphere was amazing
- I got to see Sally Gunnell on Tower Bridge
- I got to Kiss Dave at 22 mile mark
- All those I saw in fancy dress, they brought a smile to my face, The Just married couple, the speaker phone guys, The Rhinos, the guy in the G-string (actually that was a cringe :-) ), the athlete that stopped for a smoke and so many others
- I got to talk to my parents during and after the race
- With the help of so many people raising alot of money to help fight poverty
- I took part in and completed what is to me thee Marathon-MY FIRST EVER MARATHON!
- and ive got both the medal and the tshirt to prove it :-)

Not so good things about my marathon experience:

- I was in a lot of pain between 12 and 16 miles
- It was very hot out there, with no sun block...it was draining

I walked and jogged home in

5:27:10

10km----1:06:25
20km----2:18:45
1/2-------2:26:53
30km----3:47:41
40km----5:10:27
Finish----5:27:10

Was i happy with my time? Well on the day with my laryngitis, my pulled stomach muscle and the ligament trouble i had (which took up about 10 minutes at the ambulance)-then yes I am happy-as that’s as good as i could do on the day without causing myself even further damage.
Can I do better? yes for sure. I know I am well capable of going under 5hrs.

Will I do another Marathon? Well as i crossed the line, it wasn’t relief or joy I felt...i actually was thinking people are crazy to put their bodies through this time after time. But I think just as a new mom starts to forget the pains of childbirth I to am starting to forget how hard it was out there and how much it took to focus on training all through the winter months. Part of me wants to say, no never again (ill stick to shorter distances like 10km and half marathons). But part of me knows i can do better and that in itself is drawing me back...at the moment the jury is out...

THANK YOU!!!
I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who sponsored me and help raise a huge amount for ActionAid and there bid to fight poverty. Many thanks also to everyone that wished me well and came out on the day to support me. I very much appreciate that.

This has been one hell of a journey and I could not have done it without you. THANKS!


Just after I had finished the marathon, collected my medal, goodie bag and kitbag.



Photo of me in my ActionAid vest top, the night before my first Marathon.

My kitbag all packed and ready for race day.



My running number.

My final blog post before the marathon. :-)

I DID IT!!!

Wow, Reality still has not set in, so I have to keep looking at my medal to remind myself that I Michelle Mitchell ran and finished the Flora London Marathon on its 25th Anniversary.

Miles 12-15 were a killer taking about an hour and 6 minutes. All my old injuries came back. My pulled stomach muscle was not to bad, but the pain in my left leg (ligament) and again the ligament at the back of left knee were hard to cope with.

I walked and jogged home in

5:27:10

10km----1:06:25
20km----2:18:45
1/2-------2:26:53
30km----3:47:41
40km----5:10:27
Finish----5:27:10

Today as expected I'm very sore and stiff. and also very sunburnt (does not take much for an irish lass)

A huge thank you to everyone who suported me.

I'll post more of the gooray details later :-)

So am I ready?

Well I've got my bits and bogs packed away in my kitbag. I've got my jelly babies, my lucozade orange and my music.. I'm am still undecided as to whether to wear a t-shirt inside my ActionAid top. Although the weather will be overcast, if my side starts to trouble me I may have to stop a good few times and will I get cold...decisions decisions. I'm actually thinking of not only wearing a carrier bag at the start to stay warm, but i'm actually thinking about carrying one in my pocket in case the weather takes a change for the worse. My mom actually said i should think about also bringing a shower cap...not a bad idea really but i think i will pass :-)

So how would i like to do?

A month ago I thought (much to my suprise) that I was on form to duck in under 5 hours. But having had swollen glands for the past 3 weeks (i know so not good, going to doc again on tuesday) and my pulled stomach muscle is still niggly even when resting - I am now thinking that 5 hours 30 might be more relistic...and maybe 6...but honestly I have no idea. It will all depend on what happens out there tomorrow-I will be pushing my body well beyond anywhere it has ever gone before and not feeling 100% will not help. Secretly I am still hoping for around 5 hours but relisticly and honestly I will be happy to finish and hopefully as painlessly and effortlesly as possible (if thats possible). I'm not going to be stupid about it though, if my side hurts i will stop and walk for awhile and repeat that.

As they say 'whatever will be will be'.

one last quote:

'Running is real and relatively simple...but it isnt easy.'

Fingers crossed for me tomorrow. I'm off to bed soon...have a 7ish start and running anytime from 9.45am. hard to believe this time tomorrow it will all be over.

The night before the big day...

Its saturday evening I'm sitting typing this as Dr. Who is on TV in the background. Its 7.41pm. Am I ready for my first ever Marathon tomorrow???? hmmm interesting question.

Today I had a very chilled day-the idea being not to exert to much energy. I had an acpunture session and nice massage in the morning. I took a trip down to Argos and baught a stop watch...(i know nothing like leaving it til the last minute). Its something that I probably should have baught months ago but yeh...so tomorrow be it good or bad I'll be able to track my mile times along with my overall time.

I was and i guess still am thinking about my route to the start tomorrow-i think train, bus, tube, northern line and train from London bridge to Greenwich might be the best way to go-I'm going to give myself an hour for that and over an hour before the start of the race - hopefully that will give me enough time to get through the mass tiolet queues before the start of the race.

Like I mentioned yesterday I am starting in the Red Zone-but this is also numbered from 1-9 based on your predicted finish time-when i signed up for the marathon 5 months ago I could not run for 5 minutes without stopping-so i figured a predicted finishing time of 5 hours 30 minutes was reasonable....but this has left me in zone 9...which i think is possibly right at the back...

5 months later however I somewhat wish i was starting around the 5 hour mark.....not only so there will be people behind me :-) but so that If things are going ok for me that I do not have to use up to much energy passing out all those dressed in costume...

Good Luck fellow bloggers

One of things I enjoyed about keeping this blog over the past few months, was sharing my experience good and bad with my fellow marathon bloggers. Along with that I enjoyed reading about each of their journeys.

Their wise words, praise and encouragement have meant alot to me. Although I have never bet any of these people I somehow feel that I have known them for years.

I want to say thank you very much to each of you for your support and sound advice and the very best of luck on Sunday.

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!

Red Zone-Number 33442

Yesterday I went and picked up my number...

Number 33442 in the RED zone (where most the charity runners are).

I didnt stay long at the running exhibition-although there were plenty of stalls selling trainers, running clothes...info on energy food and drinks, as well as the opportunity to sign up for the Dublin or Berlin marathon. To be honest with 2 days til the marathon I have all i need for the big day.

I was quite suprised at how quite it actually was, I found the stall where i was to collect my number empty and the process was simple and efficient. The lady that served me was very chatty and is also taking part in the marathon. We had a nice wee chat. After I got my number I had to go through and collect my chip followed by kitbag. The kitbag will be used on sunday to hold a change of clothes after the race.

I checked out the official London Marathon souvenir range-rather hard to miss it when it took up an entire wall. A few weeks ago I was thinking about buying their wind jacket (red with yellow strips on sleeve) but never got around to it. Today i humm'd and hawd-would i wouldnt i, and then I said-'sod it, why not?'. So I did...cost a few pence, but there will never again be another London 25th marathon...

After a quick look around the stalls, (and rather disappointed i didnt get any of the great freebies that my fellow blogger had told me about) I left as quickly as i had arrived quite indifferent to the hold thing really. I had a look at my fellow runners but i think i know that being this shape or that shape will not really have much of a bearing on how you are going to run on sunday e.g. a 60 year old man with a huge beer gut could beat me on sunday...and so be it...this race on sunday is about me competiting, hopefully finishing and the money that I and my supporters have raised to help AtionAid make a difference in the world.

As yet the nerves have not set in but i'm sure they are to come.

Thanks to Simon my work mate for coming along to pick up my number.

T-3 days-Got your number?

Runners world say:
'Admin

If you haven't done so already, prepare your race-day shopping list and buy everything you need, from blister patches to energy gels. Don't try anything for the first time!'

Today I'm heading down to Flora London Marathon Exhibition hall at ExCel (East London) to collect my official running no. and kitbag...its all becoming abit to real now...nerves and excitment combined...

From yesterday and up until 5pm on saturday over 30,000 people will go along register and pick up their numbers. After that-well there is time to look at the biggest athletic exhibition in Britain. It includes things like FLM addidas souvenir clothing, charity info, medical advice etc.

It might be a good chance for me to ask somone about this pulled stomach muscle of mine.

Did you know???

The story behind the 26.2 miles...

'It was 1908 and London was hosting the Olympic Games. The organisers were faced with a dilemma. The Royal Box lay just 385 yards beyond the 26 mile finish line. So, not wishing to offend members of the Royal Family, the marathon distance was extended to 26 miles 385 yards to allow the finish line to fall infront of the Royal Box!

Ever since this momentous change, the marathon has been run to precisely 26.2 miles.'

=======
The London Marathon provides:

710,000 bottles of water
950 portable toilets
500 stretchers
20,900 metres of barriers
68 ambulances

Take a look at the course

All charity runners will start in the Red zone (thats me..running for ActionAid)...you can check out the course on the bbc website.

Afraid the photos wont help the London tourist board or for that matter do anything to pick my spirits up in places where supporters are abit sparce.

Serious event or a chance to have fun??

Interesting article on bbc website ...

'Nearly 50,000 people will step across the starting line in the London Marathon this Sunday. But has it changed from a competitive event to a simple fun-run? And if so, is that such a bad thing?'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4443975.stm

I would ask what is their defination of a competitive event? ok so like i say I am no Paula Radcliffe but that does not stop me having my own goals, my own targets, I can be just as competitive as someone that runs a 2 hours something marathon> I'm sure on sunday I will feel the same if not more pain...

So are they saying if you enjoy this event you really should not be running it...???

I am sure their are some races that Paula enjoys...should she then not be competiting...??? Interesting one.

Running Sore

Over the past few days all the papers appear to be getting in on the Marathon buzzz...

Here is an article from the Guardian where Andy Darling gives us 10 reasons not to attempt this Sunday's London Marathon...

http://society.guardian.co.uk/health/story/0,7890,1457674,00.html

Sorry Andy, it aint going to work...I'm running that race.

T-4 days-Food & Drink

Runners world say:

'Plan your week's eating with a variety of high-carbohydrate meals. Don't undereat, but take care to avoid junk food.
Do everything you can to avoid catching coughs and colds this week. Pack plenty of immune-boosting vitamin-C-rich foods like oranges and broccoli into your diet. If in doubt, take a daily 1000mg vitamin C tablet, and consider a multivitamin supplement.
Avoid the practice of preceding a carbo-loading period with a few days of carbohydrate starvation.'

I like the part about avoiding catching coughs and cold. To late! :(
I'm off to get some vitamin C though.