My journey started last year... I received an email saying I had been entered for the Brighton Marathon. I had never been so confused as I certainly didn't enter myself but who would be so mean to do that to me??!!!! Obviously my brother in law, Rob had something to do with it along with his friend Andy. His reason for entering me was that I needed to know what it felt like to do a marathon especially with being an Osteopath!!
A lot of people were against me doing the marathon because of past illnesses and not knowing if my body would cope with the training. In December, it was decided that I wouldn't be running the marathon as I had been suffering with achillies tendinopathy for 6 months and it needed to heal rather than make it worse with the extra training.
The 12th of February was the day that changed my life.... I was with my sister when we received the devastating news that she was suffering with another ectopic pregnancy. I felt so hopeless, so me being me, I decided I was doing the marathon and fundraising for The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust. The panic set in though when I realised it was only 50 days to go until the marathon, uh oh!!
Although the marathon was not my main running goal for the year ( it was to get back racing on the track as I had unfinished business there!! ) my training had to change and so did my mind set and lifestyle. Long runs have always been an issue for me mentally and I had to get over that! So my long runs leading up to the marathon comprised of 1, 10 mile race (Bramley 10), Surrey 1/2 Marathon, Fleet half marathon and Brooklands half marathon and 2, 10 mile runs. I knew it wasn't enough but there was nothing I could do. To do the marathon I knew i needed to do more strength and conditioning training so I joined a gym so I could do circuit training. Jeez it hurt to begin with but that was one of the best decisions I made.
The week before the marathon, I was speaking to a friend, and he went "Abby what is the longest run you've done?" The answer was a half marathon, his reply then was "wow ok, your going to struggle!!" I did my final half marathon and I was told to enjoy it by #coachfudge and I did and smashed my half marathon PB by 6 minutes!! That was a shock and I thought I would be in trouble by my coach for running too fast the week before a marathon but thankfully I wasn't. The days leading up to the marathon dragged and I had to keep myself busy so I didn't think too much about the marathon. The realisation set in that I was doing the marathon when I went to the Brighton marathon exhibition. I went to pick up my number and I ended up with an elite number!!! I was not happy!
Sunday 6th April.... The day had finally come. Time to run 26.2 miles. Some of my amazing running friends came to Brighton to support me along with my family and they all managed to keep me sane before the start. I knew I would struggle but I just had to finish it. I wore a 4 hour pacing band just hoping to stick to the pace until half way and then see what happens...... Well that lasted for 2 miles!! It started to rain just before the start, so I said my goodbyes and headed down to the start with rob and Andy in my sexy rain Coat! We went for the back f of our pen so around 4hrs 30 mins. As we got closer to the start, I won't repeat what Rob and Andy said but the polite way of saying what they said was to go off! The first 6 miles took you through the city centre so the streets were lined with crowds supporting you. I knew I would see my family at some point but not sure when. They were around 4 or 5 miles and I was so happy to see them. I threw my gloves off at them and gave them a big wave and smile :)
From 6 miles onwards you were heading out of town on a out and back loop. It wasn't as supported as much but you can the quicker runners, running back towards half way. I was really hoping to see rob and Andy at this point of the course but I didn't. At 11 miles the crowds started to pick back up as you headed towards half way, and hearing all the support it put such a big smile on my face. You run past the finish before half way, and it did make me realise I still had a long way to go!!! I put my head down but still looking for my family as I knew they would be at the 14 mile mark. I saw them and my friends jumping and waving and encouraging me so I just carried on loving every step I was taking. 14 to 18 miles was an out and back section and I continued to run through the runners. People were starting to struggle but all you could do was give them a pat on the back and some encouragement. At the 18 mile mark I managed to see my mum once I had run past her. She was offering me more gels, they were the last thing I wanted. I had only taken on 3 gels at that point and some jelly beans and I was dreading the next one, even if it was Mojito flavour!! As I turned the corner and headed out on the stretch towards the power station, I managed to spot Duncan, James and Darren. Again they put the biggest smile on my face and just what I needed before I headed out on the toughest section of the course. 21 miles was around the power station. By my calculations if I kept going and even if I had to slow I could still run under 3.45. My hip flexors started to hurt but I kept saying to myself it's 5 miles to go you can do this, just remember why your doing this. From 22 miles I was running blind as someone had hit my garmin and stopped it.
At 23 miles, the pain in my hip flexors really started to get to me but I knew it was just a parkrun to go and I could see the pier!! That was the toughest 5km I've ever run. The crowds started to get thicker and louder, and I could hear people shouting my name so I took out my headphones so I could soak up the atmosphere. From 25 miles, all I wanted was just to see someone I knew and as I was getting closer and closer to the finish I didn't think I would. With 400 meters to go, I saw my mum in the corner of my eye jumping around like a mad woman and I burst into tears!! Running and crying is quite difficult to do. I dug in deep and sprinted for the finish line and crossed in 3hrs 46!!! That's when the pain really set in but the emotion took over and I couldn't stop crying. I had my photo taken with my medal but all I wanted was to get to my phone so I could phone my mum and meet her. As soon as she picked up the phone, I started crying again and she asked why was I crying!! I finally met up with her, there were more tears from both of us, then my dad and sister joined us and we were all crying! My friends arrived and I had silenced them because they couldn't believe what I had done and I was finally told my time 3.37.59!!!! We took a very slow stroll to the beach to wait for rob and Andy to finish. They both did it with some difficulties but a massive well done to you both.
I'm writing this as I lay by the pool in turkey, reflecting on how 26.2 miles changed my life. I proved to myself how mentally strong I am and no matter what life throws at you, good or bad, you can always make the situation better and that's what I did. I raised over £1800 for the ectopic pregnancy trust by completing something that I thought was impossible even as I walked through to the start line. It still makes me cry reflecting on that day!!
To everyone who supported me through this life changing journey, I am forever in your debt and I really can't thank you enough.
So here's to Brighton marathon 2014 and to next one in 2015!!
Lotsa love fudgeybum xx
I'm writing this as I lay by the pool in turkey, reflecting on how 26.2 miles changed my life. I proved to myself how mentally strong I am and no matter what life throws at you, good or bad, you can always make the situation better and that's what I did. I raised over £1800 for the ectopic pregnancy trust by completing something that I thought was impossible even as I walked through to the start line. It still makes me cry reflecting on that day!!
To everyone who supported me through this life changing journey, I am forever in your debt and I really can't thank you enough.
So here's to Brighton marathon 2014 and to next one in 2015!!
Lotsa love fudgeybum xx
A lovely heart warming story and well written too. We all knew you could get round, but what a bonus to get such a good time! It will be exciting to see what you could do next year with some proper training.
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