For those of you who follow me on Instagram you have probably seen the photographs and know I was running to raise funds for the Lily Foundation. I managed to raise over £1100 and given the current climate in Aberdeen with so much job losses around the oil, I am bowled over at the generosity.
I did very little training for the half marathon other than the cardio I was doing for the Brittish Finals for UKUP, and the longest distance I ran prior to the marathon was the week before.
I found the first 3 miles the hardest. It's never easy setting your pace and trying to divert your attention away from the distance you have yet to cover. I could not risk an injury so close to the finals, and chose to keep a steady slow pace with the objective of never stopping.
I really doubted myself if I could do it, and I needed the toilet not long into the race. I knew the toilets were at mile 6. I don't know what happened but after mile 3 all I remember is looking up and seeing the toilets, I can't remember the last 3 miles at all. I think I managed to get into the zone.
If I am being truthfully honest I found the rest of the marathon relatively easy and not a struggle or a chore at all. I even came in 14 minutes quicker than my target.
I had zero injuries (until the next day where the sides of my feet hurt but it disappeared 3 days later).
The only thing that got to me throughout the race was all the people I was surrounded with who were not fit, but yet were challenging themselves and attempting it (majority for loved ones who had died). I was even over taken by a blind man!
I don't think I would ever be in a hurry to run another marathon again - but never say never!
