CS-B

I decided to run my first Marathon for The Brain Tumour Charity, because 6 and a half years ago in October 2007 my Dad finally lost his 20 month battle with a Brain Tumour. I was given a Golden Bond place by the charity, with a promise that I would raise £2500. I set myself a target of £3000.

Training had its ups, downs and injuries galore, but it’s been an enjoyable journey and everyone has been so supportive. I finished my last training run on the Friday before the Marathon and it was hot out there, just short of 4 miles in the heat gave me an idea of what it might feel like on the big day. In the evening I passed my £3000 fundraising target while we were travelling to London and it felt great to know that the training was complete and I was on for smashing my target.

We drove down with Naomi and Paul our friends from Horsforth, to stay with Naomi’s very lovely parents - who couldn’t do enough to try and make us feel welcome and feed me up!

Saturday consisted of visiting the expo and getting registered – a very pain free experience that took about 5 minutes I was thoroughly impressed! There was only 1 person at the stand for my number, a few booths down there was a queue about 20 people deep, but overall it looked very streamlined. We got my number, tag and went in to have a look at the stands. There was more running gear and accessories than you could imagine! I managed to source a pair of short black shorts, with a key pocket, in my size, they seem to be like gold dust in running shops! We visited the Brain Tumour Charity stand to say hello and sign my photo on their board. We then headed back to central London for a short stroll along the Thames and caught the train back to base. I had a kit check while Naomi, Paul and Andy went for a walk.

Got my race number and tag at the Expo!

Dinner was a tough one, I was on my bland pre race food plan but the temptation was too great and I snuck a few strips of bacon from everyone else’s food to decorate my pasta! It was shower and bed early for me. It took me forever to get to sleep properly.

I’d set my alarm for 5am to give myself ample time to prepare. I woke up and it was still dark, but I had a sense something wasn’t going to plan, I grabbed my phone and the time was 5:50am that alarm hadn’t gone off ARGH! Panic stations! I leapt out of bed, stumbled downstairs for a fight with the microwave to make it cook my porridge. I was feeling wobbly and thought “get a grip there’s still 4 hours until the start of the race it’ll be fine!” I tucked into my porridge laced with pear jam and stroked Wendy the cat (who is a boy hehe) and calmed myself down! I got ready, went to the loo about 6 times and then realised no one else had moved. We’d planned to leave at 7.30am so at 6.40am I went around waking the rest of the house and suggesting they might want to get a wriggle on!

Lacing my trainers!

They all assembled remarkably quickly and before I knew it we were off to the station and caught our planned train into London.

I needed a wee again on the train! The change over at Waterloo East was carnage, it was so busy! Eventually we caught one and got to Greenwich station in one piece.

Andy walked me to the Red Start entry, left me there and went to join Naomi, Paul, Johanna (Naomi’s sister) and Simon (her partner) at the first Cheering point, they were also going to be on the look out for Joy, Johanna and Simon’s friend.

I got into the red area to hear that they were making the final call for baggage to be placed on the buses. I quickly sorted my kit out and went to look for the corresponding bus to my number, it was right at the other end!! Bag safely deposited, my thoughts turned to needing a wee again - desperately. The queues for the portaloos were without a doubt utterly enormous! I thought I’d chance the female urinals that I’d seen a sign for on the way in, so I made my way over to see another enormous queue. I thought to myself there’s no way I’m queuing then going to the line bursting for a wee because there’s no time left. I started casting my eyes around for a good bush – nothing! People everywhere so I though “sod it! I’ll do a Paula” (although I think she was famous for doing more than a wee!) I went over to the least crowded tree asked a random lady runner if she’d stand in front of me and curled up in a tiny ball on the floor next to the tree to do one of what I like to call my ‘stealth wees’ where no one can see anything (at least I think not)! The kind lady said I was braver she was! I then made my way to pen 6 and weaved my way to a space nearer the front of it. I met a man who’s son had just done the Marathon des sables and I though of Neal from Horsforth Harriers who’d also done it. It’s 5.5 marathons in the Sahara desert in 5 to 6 days. Suddenly my task ahead didn’t seem so bad! The sun was blazing and it was heating up! I was very glad for Friday’s purchase of new super-light sunglasses! The elite men were off and we all started to slowly advance towards the line, it took almost 10 minutes to get there. Then we were over the first timing mat and away. The 3:56 pace maker had got ahead walking to the line and flew off so I decided to stick to my wristband and Garmin to get myself round. My dreams of a sub 4 seemed to be going well, it was hot and busy but my first two miles clocked in with a few seconds to spare. I was completely oblivious to the first water station as suddenly I wondered why bottles were being hurled everywhere, not a problem as I hadn’t planned to drink until 3 miles, but a bit lethal as they’re like missiles skidding across the course. When the red and the blue starters merged it was carnage and so so so busy! I found it really hard to keep my stride while politely trying to squeeze between slower runners and not break an ankle on all the water bottles. My ITB issues in my left knee kicked in at 5 miles, but I didn’t let it get me down and I told my knee to shut up and be quiet. I saw my support crew from down the road at 5.5 miles waving their kite with “Charli refuel here” on it. I smiled for the camera, swiped some gels from Naomi’s hand as I ran past and got an incredible buzz, it was like something rushing down the blood vessels in each leg – I discussed this with one of the other Brain Tumour Charity runners at the end and she’d felt the exact same feeling and we concluded it must be a rush of pure adrenaline.

Oh my God I'm actually running a marathon! 5.5 miles.

Things were going great apart from the protest my left knee was making, I blindly ignored the fact it was getting stiffer and told it to go away. I’m glad I chose to run with my iPod because the music I’d chosen was helping me keep pace, I’m terrible at pacing myself! I don’t like headphones that block everything out so I could still hear all the roaring from the crowds and the live music.

Running over Tower Bridge was amazing, then we were half way!! and it was onto the section where the other runners are coming back in the other direction, there were just a handful running past. When ‘Narrow Street’ came up it was really tough to try and keep pace because everyone was packed together and had started to slow down. I don’t like being penned in on a race and this section was the worst for this, people had started walking in the middle of the road and I tripped over a few of them, I also got kicked a few times and had lucozade blasted up my leg when I landed on a bottle. It was so loud, the drains were honking in the heat and I had a sudden feeling of rising panic and claustrophobia, I told myself to get a grip and started looking for my support crew at our next planned cheering point, it was hard work trying to spot them! I saw Andy dangling from a lamp post with the camera, Paul had his Kite and Naomi had my Gel ready. I wove my way across to grab my fuel and felt much better for Naomi’s raucous cheer of “You’re doing really well, WAHOOOOOOO” down the road after me. They were doing an amazing job following me!!

Approx 14 and a bit miles in!

This section gave me an understanding / sympathy for anyone that suffers from agoraphobia, claustrophobia, fear of crowds etc. I was still on pace but my watch seemed to be calling out the miles before the big markers in the street so I guessed all the weaving around people was racking up my distance.

I was flying along and feeling great up until 16 miles when suddenly it felt like the power in my legs had faded, despite the fact I’d been downing energy gels! It felt like I’d just sailed off a cliff and I was wondering how I’d do the next 10 miles. I knew that the magical sub 4 was gone. I’d said I’d be happy to break myself on race day to get it, but in that heat I began to see the reality of what happens if you push to hard - seeing other runners getting wheeled away with their heads lolling to one side and eyes rolled back, or being carried off unconscious in a green hammock. I knew I wasn’t going to see my cheerleaders until 22 and a bit. I needed something to get me through, members of the public had been calling out my name after seeing it on my vest and shouting words of encouragement, but then it came!! There was a roar of “CHARLIIIIIIII!!!!!” from the crowd, I turned to see Lisa Martin who was on my course at Uni, we’ve kept in touch on Facebook, but haven’t seen each other for a few years. Lisa is also a keen runner and has done a few marathons! I shouted back “LISA!!!” That was what I needed right there in my darkest moment :) Thank you Lisa!!!!

I tried not to drop off the pace too much and enjoy what was going on around me more. I looked up at some of the enormous buildings and it made me feel tiny! More and more the crowd were calling out our names and spurring us on. I saw three people at different points with banners that said “touch here for power” I whacked those with glee! I high fived a few kids along the way too. I plucked a couple of jelly babies from a lady’s basket and wolfed those down. I passed the 20 mile mark, they say the last 6 miles are the hardest and they flipping were! I passed 22 miles and spotted the turquoise and red balloons of the Brian Tumour Charity official cheer point, my little crew were there and again they were waving gel ready for me but I’d picked up some super syrupy Lucozade gels that I was clinging onto like stress balls.

22 and a bit miles and still smiling :)

I wanted to kick for the end but the burning that had started in my calves warned me not to go to early. I felt sorry for the runners on the other side who were only just passed 14 miles and were looking pretty cooked. 23 came, 24, Brimful of Asha came on my iPod and I was grimacing but grinning from ear to ear. 25 miles and Swedish House Mafia – Don’t you worry Child came on, it was like my iPod had saved the best for last! The song is very upbeat and starts:

There was a time
I used to look into my father's eyes.
In a happy home
I was a king, I had a golden throne.
Those days are gone,
Now the memory's on the wall.
I hear the songs
From the places where I was born.
Upon a hill across a blue lake,
That's where I had my first heartbreak.
I still remember how it all changed.
My father said,
"Don't you worry, don't you worry, child.
See heaven's got a plan for you.
Don't you worry, don't you worry now."
Yeah!

So that was quite emotional, I’ve never really noticed the lyrics much before. I sped up and saw Big Ben coming, rounded the corner and was smashing along for all my legs had left in them. I saw the fountain and sprinted the last 400m for the line. The big clock ticked over to 4:20:00 as I went under it and I stopped my own watch, it said 4:10:33. My official time was 4:10:30, It wasn’t sub 4 but I was so pleased, I’d hung in there and I ran all the way without stopping once! My garmin got a little scrambled in the tunnels, but it thinks I ran 26.7 miles and I can believe that - trying to weave around everyone, it said my fastest marathon was 4:06:16. Ah well there’s always next time ;) After I crossed the line and stopped, it left like being hit with a brick in each hip! I used the hand rails like a zimmer frame while climbing the little ramp to have my tag cut off my shoe! It felt amazing when I walked down the other side and a nice lady said well done and dropped the heavy medal around my neck!! I collected my bag, had a few photos and hobbled to Horse Guard’s Parade wondering why I’d brought so much heavy stuff in my bag!! I found the Brain Tumour Charity people and congratulated the other runners who were already back and those who were arriving. I had to wait around an hour for my team to get in there and find me. I'm glad to report I had no blisters and no dodgy chaffing!

Then it was off to the Brain Tumour Charity after party at M&C Saatchi a posh design studio, I was in my element! I saw they had cameras so I said to Andy “Should I run?” he said “yeah go on!” so I found another gear and ran to the door, everyone cheered! I was given a glass of champagne, had my photo taken, and then again holding a whiteboard that you had to write what the marathon meant for you on it. I wrote “I ran all the way and I did it for my Dad xx” We found somewhere to sit, I went for a much needed wee, it was past 3pm and I hadn’t been since my little tree wee at 9.30am! Then I had a deep tissue massage, which was both soothing and excruciating at the same time! I got a plate full of food and a can of San Pellegrino Limonata yummy!!!!

After more photos and chatting to the team we walked to Charing Cross, I hobbled a bit!! And caught the train back. The announcer on the train said “Congratulations to all the marathon runners!” Getting off the train was hard and negotiating getting up and down the stairs to cross the platforms was even harder, much to the amusement of my support crew who obviously whipped out a smartphone to video me!

We got back, I had a much needed shower! We popped more champagne open in the garden, I had to try and do the Norton tradition of firing the cork into the fish pond, I only just missed it! Naomi’s Mum had been cooking up a storm in the kitchen all day in between updating the support crew on my progress. We had a delicious spaghetti bolognaise with garlic bread, I ate enough to feed an army! Then strawberries, meringue, custard and cream!! Nom nom nom!

We packed our stuff up and set off back to Horsforth, I was setting solid in the car and being forced out at every stop to stretch my legs by Andy. The signs were beginning to show that I’d run a Marathon. Perhaps the most obvious one was that I was insistant on still wearing my medal all the way home! I did sleep a fair bit in the car. When I eventually lifted my legs into bed at home I didn’t know where to put myself and had a pretty rough night’s sleep!

Monday – day off work – phew!! Andy took me out for a walk / shuffle today and it hurt! My left knee has seized up and my quads are killing. Compression socks are definitely helping my calves and I’ve manage to do some foam rolling! My fundraising has gone through the roof this weekend, less than £300 would see me get to £4000!! If anyone fancies making a last minute donation you can do so at http://www.virginmoneygiving.com/charlottesmarathon or by texting CFSB55 £5 to 70070 (you can change the amount from £1 to £10).

Thank you to all the amazing people who have sponsored and supported me along the way. I couldn’t have done it without you! Special mentions have to go to Andy Davison for supporting me, putting up with me through all the training, rubbing my legs, sponsoring me, coming to all my winter races to take photos and cheer me on and cooking me dinner so many times!! Helen Jones, Vicky Hoolohan and Zander Lee for the training company! Naomi Norton and Paul Underwood for donating tons of things for us to car boot for fundraising, sponsoring me as well and for all the support on the race weekend. Rob Furness, Imelda Balchin, Bev Elliot, Jamie Stewart and all the other Harriers for the helpful advice that has been invaluable during training, the support and the sponsorship. My Mum for telling me to forget about the time and not to try and run fast – I only wanted to do it more! Paul and Marie for such lovely messages that have brought tears to my eyes. Chris Duffy at Atherapy Physio for getting me to the start line despite all the injuries! The Brain Tumour Charity for their encouragement for all their runners, they had 90 runners and will have raised over £200,000!!! Everyone who shared my fundraising links repeatedly- you know who you are! I’m bound to forget someone important in this but there’s just been so much amazing support that it’s overwhelming!

Thank you, We did it!!! xxx

Race stats for the running geeks:
by my watch these were my miles:

1 8:55.9
2 8:58.3

3 8:54.7

4 9:00.0

5 9:08.5

6 8:57.7

7 8:57.1

8 9:00.5

9 8:57.5

10 8:58.5

11 8:51.3

12 8:59.4