That doesn't mean it was easy - it wasn't - I had to dig deep (thanks Dolly!!) at many points during the race. Mile 9-12 especially, there were new random pains, sore feet, crowded paths but all the time I focused on the job at hand. I remembered all the things my training taught me, I had motivation from all the support I've received (real and virtual), there were people shouting my name and there were amazing crowds. And there was Keeley. At miles 1, 6 and 9 - just as we'd planned. And wow what a difference that made. As it makes every day when I see Keeley - just as we planned.
Without doubt it was an amazing life affirming experience full of new friends, old friends and great tales to tell.
But what next? I now know I can run 13.1 miles in a good time. My legs at the end told me I'm a long way off doubling that distance. The race also taught me that training is everything. I had rehearsed every inch of Royal Parks - and it paid off. Now how to take that forward to my double marathon experience next April?
The answer? Sit on the sofa for a while. It's been 25 days since my first half marathon. I've run 7 times. Once upon a time that ratio would have been pretty impressive. Now I feel fairly blurgh about the whole thing. I've rejoined weight watchers (having put on a stone in the last 7 months) and I'm doing my best to build up motivation - having rather rashly entered Ashford Half in just 3 weeks time. I'm sure all will be well. And after all I've written my double marathon training plan - I can build up slowly, there's loads of time. It'll be great. I'm Little Miss Positive aren't i?
Aren't i? Perhaps I need to remember miles 9-12 and dig deep just a little bit more once again. Sometimes for no reason at all things aren't easy. And if they were - well I guess they wouldn't be worth having (isn't that a fridge magnet somewhere?) - my other blog - Wise-Words is the serious blog but actually this is about my marathon experience and face it, it's not all going to be laughs. Running is hard. It's hard to keep motivated. It's hard to get out there day after day, especially if work is long and draining. It's hard to bounce back from disappointments, missed times, poor runs, unexplained crapness. And then it's hard to stop that creeping into your head. Bringing up all those negative thoughts you felt you had under control.
But I'm Little Miss Positive. And I've got 5 months, 5 days, 10 hours, 54 minutes and 20 seconds to find my mojo. I've got a shiny new plan. And I've got you. Yes YOU - goodness you didn't think you could just read this blog and give nothing back surely? Cause 26.2 miles x 2 in 14 days is a long way. And the journey to get there is even further - mentally and physically and I'm going to need more than just Keeley at miles 1, 6 and 9. So come on dust off those Pom-Poms real and virtual. This is where the hard work really begins!
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