My Marathon

Having done the London Marathon two years ago, and achieved a ‘good for age’ time, I had a guaranteed place for this year, not having to go through the ballot system to get in. My mother, on the other hand, had just found out, for the third time, that she had not been successful again. So it was in January that she found out that North Fylde RC had selected her for a club place. Great, I would be doing the marathon with my mum.

Training provided its hurdles for both of us. My Grandma was mugged in January and left with two

broken wrists, a broken shoulder and a hole in her head; my best friend smashed his ankle ice climbing in February and, four weeks before race day, my mum picked up a ligament injury. The biggest challenge of doing a marathon is getting to the start line - fit (ask Paula).

The day of the marathon arrived all too quickly. After a glorious day, the day before, we woke up on marathon day to drizzle, (just like two years previously). There are three starts to the Marathon, the green, the blue and the red. My mum was on the blue start and I was on the green. After saying goodbye to her at London Bridge Station, we set off for our separate starts. My start was a great one to be at since it was quite small and friendly with just people with a ‘good for age’ time and celebrities. The only person I recognised was Matthew Pinsent! (I now find mass starts quite frightening after being tripped a couple of years ago while doing the Great North Run).

Suddenly it was 9:45 and we were off. Right from the start, the streets are lined with spectators; there are water stations every mile and toilets every two miles. Passing the sites is wonderful, the first being Cutty Sark. I felt myself motoring for the first half of the marathon getting there in 1:43:16. It was a little strange though as this is the only point in the race when you can see runners at the 22 mile mark on the opposite side of the carriage way. Here, I saw the lead men go by 9 miles ahead of me. It was also here though that I saw my mother go past at the 13 mile mark, 9 miles later. At least I knew she was at least half way!

At the 17 mile mark, I was joined by Dale Wallis. It was great seeing a familiar face and we nattered away on how we were both hoping for a time of sub 3:30 yet we were both rapidly slowing down for the next couple of miles. At the 20 mile mark, we departed company, me needing a pit stop. After this, my legs were really starting to tire and the last 4 miles seemed never ending as my mile times got slower and slower. At last, the finish line was in site with thousands of spectators lining the mall. An amazing feeling of euphoria passed over me as I crossed the finish line; completely wiped out and freezing cold and in a time of 3:38:34.

After a quick shower and massage, (courtesy of Marie Curie Cancer Care whom we both ran for), I was back at the finish line looking out for my mum. She should have been finishing about now but there was no sign of her. Eventually, she finished – I managed to miss her moment of triumph. I caught up with her back at the Marie Curie Reception; shivering away with the staff wrapping her in towels and plying her with tea, trying to warm her up. Her injury had played up very early on and, along with being drenched, she had fought her way to the finish in a time of 6:18 - pretty impressive still for a 62 year old who only took up running three and a half years ago.

We both had a fantastic weekend in London with our own stories to tell of one of life’s great experiences.

Written by: Joanna Goorney

Submitted: 12^th May 2006-05-15

Edited By: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Website/Magazine Editor