VLM London Marathon at 50 years old
In April 2016 I won a ballot place for the London Marathon. I finished in a time of 4hrs 19 mins running over 28 miles (according to my Garmin!) much due to weaving through the 39,000 runner who competed.
It was a time consuming event to train for. Sometimes the runs took over my life, some training runs being up to 4hrs long.
My main concerns for race day were the huge amounts of runners packed starting pens and millions of people watching your ever move! Including toilet stops!
Refuelling consisted of jelly beans, fruit pastels and a jam sandwich which I ate at mile 16. All my refuelling was completed by mile 20 ready for me to head for home.
Mile 22 was a struggle under the tunnel. Everyone who runs the VLM knows "the tunnel" Out of the public eye most runners walk. It took all my will power NOT to walk. It was hard and those last few miles are all mental not physical struggle. Rounding the corner at BIG Ben you see this huge sign "Only 600m to go" who in their right mind thought that sign was a good idea! It was not funny and all I could think of was "god that's almost a kilometre". I dug deep. People laid on the floor to my left and right almost at the finish being attended by First Aiders. Its mental at the end. You see Buckingham Palace, you turn the corner and you see the end. Your medal around your neck and you become "A Marathoner".
I am lucky to have experience such and amazing race. I would defiantly do it again if I got the opportunity. However, sadly not this year as I have just been informed no ballot place for me in 2017 BUT I will be doing Brighton Marathon instead.