Well I did it.....just...........
Morning girls.
Well I did it, I finished the moonwalk but not without drama!!
The night was freezing cold and I had 3 layers on (I can't function when I am cold)!. Got called to the start line at 2350 hrs but due to some unexplained hold up, didn't set off until 0010 hrs which I was annoyed about because it was so cold the warm up was totally wasted!
Set off ok, some of the route was very badly lit and lots of people fell and tripped, once lady even broke 2 fingers and her nose but still made it to the finish line!!
Queues to cross over the roads were horrendous - at one by Westminster we were stood still for about 20 minutes, again not good in the cold, muscles start to tighten etc.
There definintely wasn't as many loos as last year (although the organisers assure me there were more this year but I just don't believe them!). I had to make 3 emergency loo stops (servere deli belly sorry I know too much information) in total I queued for 1 hour to use the loo!! I even took Imodium at the start of the race but still was ill!!
At the half way mark I was done, I just wanted to give in, it was here that it really hit home that my fitness levels were very much depleted compared to last year and maybe I should have listened to everyone's advice and given the moonwalk a miss this year after my glandular fever, whenever I tried to up the pace there was nothing there to give - energy stores were empty!!
I was desparately trying to replace whatever was missing with glucose tablets, high protein bars, rehydration drinks - you name it I tried it - nothing was working.
At mile 15 I was trying to over take a lady who then stepped into me and I had to do a funny wriggly movement and felt something ping in my left knee.
I could feel blisters forming on my toes even though my lovely mum had invested £10 in a pair of Twin Skin socks (complaint email has gone off to them!!).
I struggled on, sometimes limping badly sometimes being able to compose myself enough to walk normally.
There didn't seem either to be as many water stations as last year and toward the end I had run out of water and really needed a drink. By the time I got to the fruit buckets I had one of the last quarters of orange - I felt sorry for those coming through behind me, they had run out of fruit - after 18 miles its amazing how much a quarter of orange helps!!
The heavens opened for the last 3 miles, I was trying to put my weather protector on but got in a muddle and a very kind lady stopped to help me put it on!! Bless her heart!
I finally saw the finish line and decided "sod it" I was determined to powerwalk across the finish line even if it killed me, I was crying my heart out. But it was lovely that my mum and aunty were there to see me across the finish line. I did it in over 9 1/2 hours a really terrible time and I am very disappointed with myself.
Been to docs first thing Monday and have ruptured cartlidge in left knee! Elevation, rest and ibuforen gel been prescribed, if its not better by tomorrow or Thursday I have to got back, but its feeling a little easier today so thats good. But no exercise for at least a week!
I don't think the organisation was a good this year as last, but they don't want to hear that, they are a charity afterall. I don't think I'll do another nighttime marathon again, but might be persuaded to do the half marathon sun walk in Bristol next summer.
So thats my drama from Saturday night, there were some highlights from the weekend though, whilst on the tube some idiot thought he'd be clever and jump on the tube just as the doors were closing, unfortunately the door smacked him in the back of the head - I couldn't surpress my giggles I'm afraid!!!
I'll post a couple of photos once Ive downloaded them, afraid there isn't one of me crossing the finishing line, I was way too emotional and a bit of a wreck!
Oh and I lost 1lb last week!!
