I did it!

Here's a "before" picture. You can see that I look really clean! Nice, clean clothes, freshly washed hair etc etc. I am carefully threading my race chip through my shoelaces

And here I am at the finish.

So... the marathon was a blast. I did 4h 52m, pretty much 11 minute miles the whole way along -- aside from a blip around mile 23 when I hit "the wall!

As everyone says, it's a very friendly marathon in London and there was a wonderful crowd. Lots of people run in fancy dress: I kept pace with Wonder Woman for quite a while, and then was passed by a giant ice cream cone around mile 12. The spectators were just shouting themselves hoarse with cheering. A lot of people print their names on their running vests, and so spectators can personalise their encouragement, which is quite funny to listen to. "Come on Steve! Keep it up Mary! Come on Chicken man! YEA, COME ON CHICKEN MAAAAN!!" And of course, the constant cry, particularly from about mile 18 onwards, of, "JELLY BABIES! JELLY BAAABIEEEEES!!!" (I can't imagine any other situation in London when, without even looking, I would grab something from a jar offered by a complete stranger and stuff it in my mouth!)

Despite the crowds and total lack of mobile phone signal (an estimated million people out on the streets of London, between runners, supporters and staff), I did manage to make contact along the route with friends and family who came out to support. Or, more accurately: they managed to make contact with me, screaming at the tops of their voices when they saw me running by. Thank you Gen, Annemarie, Deborah and Kay, who waited for hours by the side of the road so that they could cheer me on. And especially to Nick, who braved the crowds while single-handedly pushing Benji in the buggy and carrying Sophie on his shoulders!

So it's done!! At last!! Done!! I can get back to my normal life again! Once I crossed the finish line, the only thought in my mind was "I'm never doing that again!" but now already I'm thinking about when I can do the next one!! It's a great buzz. The first 6 miles just went by in the flash of an eye... my feet were hardly touching the ground, I was giving everyone high fives... it was great. And I was trying hard to not go out too fast. I kept on saying to myself, go slow... now go slower!! Because you are so pumped up with carbs and the 3 week rest that you are just ready to shoot out of there. So it is quite hard to hold yourself back. But I am pleased that I was able to keep up a steady pace all the way. Up to mile 13 was no problem, and it was wonderful going over Tower Bridge -- the view from the centre of the road is quite different from when you walk over the pavement on the side. Then up to 16 I didn't see any mile markers so I was going ok but wondering where I was. Then after around mile 20 things got a bit harder... and mile 23 was HARD, but after that the end was in sight. I had been so looking forward to that last stretch, passing the Houses of Parliament, Birdcage Walk, the Mall, but I was so exhausted I just couldn't enjoy it, because quite honestly, all I could think was, "Where the hell is that finish line?!!"

And now?

I can't wait to do it all over again.

Oh, and also...

Also.... (cringe).... I hate doing this, but I have to fundraise... Please visit my justgiving page ... the link is somewhere on the right. Everything goes to Shelter. Thank you so much to those of you who have already donated (on or offline).

Week 4 - weekday runs

Not bad so far this week. I've finished my short weekday runs now, so I rest tomorrow and then do 8 miles on Saturday.

So, as per my new schedule, I have to fit in my three weekday runs from Monday-Thursday. I was planning to do the first one on Monday evening after Nick got home, but he got delayed (train station evacuated for a suspect parcel and travel chaos ensued), and I ended up missing my run.

I did that run (3 miles) the following day. Sophie was at pre-school but I had no childcare for Benji, so I ran in Dulwich Park with B in the buggy. It's quite good there, actually, because the paved walkway makes it possible to push the buggy without too much trouble, and the track loops all the way around the edge of the park in a circuit that's almost exactly a mile long. So I just had to do three laps and I was all set. The wind made it hard in some places, but overall it wasn't too bad. And B slept the whole time, which is nothing short of miraculous!

My 5-mile run on Wednesday was quite good - the hills that had seemed hard before seemed much easier this time, which I take as an encouraging sign that I am getting stronger.

The 3-miler today was ok, uneventful. Was mostly just running fast to try to get back home quickly, as I'd left poor B screaming with his babysitter. (I'd forgotten that separation anxiety starts around now!)

I am eating like a horse and looking forward to Saturday.

Week 3

Bit of a mix during Week 3. I missed a run, unfortunately (more childcare problems), but had a fantastic long run on the Saturday.

I ended up doing Wednesday and Thursday, and made a strategic decision to get my schedule back on track by missing the Friday, and doing my long run on Saturday. The programme I'm following recommends you do your long run on the weekend, and take a day off before and after. It will work best for me to do my long run on the Saturday, so in future I need to fit my weekday runs in on Monday-Thursday.

Anyway, my long run on Saturday was wonderful. It was supposed to be 7 miles, but I was feeling good and did closer to 8. I had one amazing stretch where I had just finished a hard uphill, and was now coming down a gentle but long slope on the other side. I had probably done 5 of my 7 miles by that point, and I was feeling good, so I picked up the pace and just flew down that hill. It was great! Usually I'm very conservative, and deliberately run slowly just to make sure that I can complete the target distance. So whizzing down that hill was amazing - very liberating, somehow, and good for the self-image as it made me feel a bit like a proper runner and not just a plodder.

Oh, I got my new shoes this week. After trying on four pairs, I rather reluctantly ended up with a pair of Nikes. I'm kind of anti-big-brand, but they felt the most comfortable on my over-pronating feet. (Yes, after an entire childhood spent walking around barefoot in Trinidad, I do of course over-pronate). The guy in the running shop suggested I get a size bigger than I usually wear, and it was a good idea because I'm not getting blisters anymore. One minor drawback of new shoes, of course, is that they look so very new! I did get a few glances from passers-by as I ran past them clad in black lycra and gleaming, white, glow-in-the-dark shoes. I've purposely run through some muddy puddles to try and take some of the shine off, but they still look pretty new. But I'm sure that by the end of Week 16 they will be well worn in.


Week 3
Day 1: 3 miles
Day 2: 4 miles
[Day 3: 3 miles]
Day 4: 7 miles
Total for this week: 17 miles [14 miles]

Week 2

Things didn't go quite as smoothly this week as last week. More bad weather rather scuppered my childcare plans, and I ended up having to do my four runs on four consecutive days.

It must seem absurd to Americans and Europeans that the UK should grind to a halt under a couple of inches of snow, but year after year, that is what happens. For me it meant that on Monday, the car didn't start, and what with having to get emergency breakdown guy and yadda yadda, Sophie missed her swimming lesson. Swimming lessons are Very Important to Sophie, so we had to make it up on Tuesday, which unfortunately clashed with the session I would have used to run. So much for my Tuesday run. There was more snow on Wednesday morning and my babysitter made it as far as Crystal Palace before she had to turn back because busses just weren't moving any more. So much for my Wednesday run.

On Thursday I managed to do 3 miles on the treadmill at the gym while Benji (6 months) was in the creche and Sophie (3 years) was at pre-school, but gosh, was that grim. After just 5 minutes I was thinking, "Man, how much longer?!" It's pretty boring just staring at the wall for half an hour. I hope not to have to that again, but when I'm stuck for childcare as I was this week, it might be inevitable.

I did my second run for the week on Friday night after Nick got home, and it was only 4 miles but it seemed hard going.

I debated about whether to do my 3 mile run on Saturday as it would mean running four days in a row. I went out and did it, mostly because it seems a bit feeble to miss a run already when I'm only in Week 2. But it was hard, even though the weather was mild. It left me feeling apprehensive about the prospect of my long run the following day.

But now it's Sunday and I've just come back from my 6 miler feeling great. I took a new route today, up Westwood Hill and through Dulwich Park. I think having the new scenery to concentrate on helped me take my mind off the distance I had to do, and it was a beautiful winter's day, cold, bright and crisp, so there was lots to enjoy. This route today was quite hilly as well, lots of long uphills and downhills, so it was a good workout. And despite the hills it only took me a little longer than my last 10K run (about an hour), so I was delighted with my time. So my only complaint really are some blisters on my toes - I need to get some new socks. Off to the Running Shop in Beckenham tomorrow to sort that out (as well as new shoes -- I'm still running in my crappy Decathlon shoes).


Week 2 runs:
Day 1: 3 miles
Day 2: 4 miles
Day 3: 3 miles
Day 4: 6 miles
Total for this week: 16 miles

Week 1: running in the snow

I'm following a 16-week training programme, as outlined in "The Non-Runners' Marathon Trainer", so my training officially started last week, Monday 4th January.

Basically, every week, I need to do three shortish runs (ranging from 3 to 8 miles) during the week, and one long run on the weekend. The weekend runs start at 5 miles in Week 1, and work up to 18 miles near to the end. It's still a far cry from the 26.2 miles of the marathon, but people seem to say that if you can do 18 miles in training, then you will be able to do 26.2 on the day. So here's hoping...!

We've had a few inches of snow on the ground over Christmas and the new year and I was a bit apprehensive about going out running. Not that I can't take the cold, mind you, but the last thing I want is to slip and break my ankle in my first week of training. But now I hope it snows for weeks more, because let me tell you, it was wonderful. I didn't need to worry too much about slipping: I just had to watch my step a bit, and ran on the road in a few parts. But mostly I was in the park, which was beautiful, all silent and white. And of course, running through the snow, with the odd nod of respect from passers-by, one felt rather proud that one was braving the elements!

So the miles slipped by easily, and I ended the week thinking: hah, this marathon business is going to be a piece of cake!!

Runs for Week 1:
Day 1: 3 miles
Day 2: 4 miles
Day 3: 3 miles
Day 4: 5 miles
Total this week: 15 miles

The beginning

Hurrah! I got my marathon place! Can't wait to get to the start line - only 145 days to go.

I'll be running for Shelter, a UK charity that supports the homeless. If you would like to help me reach my fundraising target, please click the "Just Giving" link on the right hand side.

I've always wanted to run a marathon. I've been wanting to do it for the last few years, but baby-wise, the timing just hasn't worked out. So 2010 is my year, people! At last, I have a clear 4-month stretch to train during which I can guarantee that (a) I'm not pregnant (b) I'm not expecting to become pregnant and (c) I haven't just had a baby.

I'll be following a 16-week training programme and running over 400 miles between January and April. I won't start the formal programme until 4th January, but until then I'll be going for short runs about 3 times a week, just to keep myself fit and to get used to running in the horrible weather. And I'll keep you updated on it all :-)