Alarm sounded at 6am, to be honest I was already awake and pottering about and had been for about half hour. Suzie woke shortly after me which helped to occupy my mind slightly whilst the time on the clock ticked away.
Breakfast was porridge, to be honest I had to force it down, if you’ve ever forced your self to eat porridge when you don’t really want it you’ll understand its an effort. It was a necessity today I knew I couldn’t go out there unless I was fuelled right. This was followed by a banana about an hour after.
As I watched the light come up over Salford Queys, the nerves began to grow I really had no idea what today would throw at me all I knew was I had trained for this and no matter what I would cross that line even if I had to walk.
I started to get ready taking my laid out items one by one, checking off my check list, making sure I had everything, and before I knew it it was time to Say good bye to Stu and Suzie.
It was raining out so I’d prepared myself with an old zip up hoody to throw on whilst I walked my way over to the start. The 1.2 mile walk to the starting area really didn’t feel that long. Yes thats me in the light grey hoody on the bridge.
I followed the quays along and really need ant have been nervous about finding my way to my designated pen area there was plenty of people to follow and our pen was the first I discovered right next to the rows of loos which I spent nearly an hour debating if I wanted to go and que to then discovering if you leave it till they start the first wave off there’s no que. Turns out I didn’t actually need to use them at all but worth noting for the full.
As I stood around you could feel the nervousness of others I think it was at this point I realised I wasn’t alone and started to relax. I spoke to a couple of lovely young ladies both first time and running alone, our joking about the sweeper trucks which were lined up behind haunting us seemed to make that 45 minute wait go quiet quick. Although stood in the rain was beginning to get cold and I have to be honest I was pleased when we were ushered forward to the start line, it was at this point I decided to pop a revies strip in my mouth to get me going. This is the point where every one began to strip off their top layers throwing on a nearby platform, which is where mine went. I really hope they go to a good cause and are not just thrown away, I felt quiet guilty throwing clothing away knowing the streets were lined with people who appreciate the items to keep warm, but with no one at the start with me I had no option. I would be interested if anyone knows what happens to them all do let me know.
We had a practice wave and I think this is when excitement started in my belly and then the countdown began before I knew it pink smoke was being dispersed from the start line and off we were going!
I don’t recall when it actually stopped raining but I’m pretty sure it was early on. Also the route is a little blurred as I was so engrossed in just soaking up the atmosphere and the surroundings that I really didn’t notice where I was in relation to the route map. I had set my self a pace now I was off I wanted to run it all no matter how slow I was determined I wasn’t stopping so I tried to stay between 7 and 7.30 as a pace, a pace I had trained with on longer runs towards the end.
For the first five / ten minutes there was so many of us that you really couldn’t have raced off if you wanted to which was a good thing because it gave me time to settle into m pace no one else’s. I remember seeing the board displaying Not everyone can be like Mo, just be you quick or slow which made me smile, that’s exactly what I was going to be , myself.
The one mile marker seemed to come so quick. I remember coming back past the start point after the first loop and they were already starting to dismantle the start line (nothing like being quick).
As we started to come round the corner to just before Mile 3 marker I could see a que for the porta loos, I had many conversations in my head in the 2 ½ hours I was going round but particularly remember telling myself that was about 10 people I had just passed and remember feeling very please with myself. As I passed the 3 mile marker I remember turning to the lady at the side of me (apologies to people along route who were blessed with my random conversations) and saying single figures left now yay! Not sure she got what I meant but hey ho.
I didn’t stop at the drinks station as I didn’t need to with my water bladder on my back I was able to sip as I went along helping me to be able to keep my pace.
I remember going past the large board announcing we were in Sale, about 4 .5 miles in, and chuckling to myself it was only a couple of weeks ago I was watching someone who had filmed their half marathon and who had made a bit of a joke about not being able to stop for the sales, its amazing how little things stick in our minds.
I remember it changing from the main roads into smaller back streets at some point but not entirely sure where that point was. Although there had been supporters all the way from the start cheering us on when we entered the smaller housing estates the support took on another level. Kids high fiving and handing out jelly babies ( I only had one but I am positive this caused me slight stitch around mile 7 mark, note to ones self for future reference to trail eating on route) tables of people with cake! Yes you read right cake. I have no idea how you eat cake and run and wasn’t about to find out so did pass on that one but thank you to that person for their kind offerings.
Mile 8 to 9 seemed to be a long one, not in the sense of I was struggling in fact I felt really strong, I wasn’t out of breath my pace was serving me well, don’t get me wrong I didn’t feel full of athletic energy but I felt good, it just felt like ages before we saw the mile 10 marker.
As I passed the Mile 10 marker I remember turning to whoever was around me and randomly saying that’s it now homeward stretch. There definitely was no way I was stopping or walking now. It was about this point I popped a Dextrose tablet in and then followed that with another Revies strip. I had contemplated taking a gel from one of the stations (I’d already come pre pared with one of my own as well) but didn’t feel like I needed it.
I remember seeing Mile 13 marker ahead and immediately behind it the finish line, I could feel the emotions start to rise and remember pointing forward and telling one of the marshal’s that there was no stopping me know the end was near. I seemed to suddenly find a new burst of energy, not convinced it was the dextrose table and revie I had taken earlier, I think it was pure adrenalin. I remember passing a couple of ladies towards the end, I could see they were struggling one of them was walking and shouting at them come on you can do it you’ve come this far. Then out of no where as I passed the mile 13 marker my legs grew a mind of their own they turned into sprinters legs, m face also grew a mind of its own, I could feel a huge smile across my face forming as I sprinted in through the finish line I had done it!!! I had gone from non runner to running a half marathon in just over 7 months.
I love this one with my flying feet
I look like I am on a mission here as I sprinted to the finish line
I do recall seeing a gentleman singing think he was playing a guitar, The rock star choir, a local radio station blasting out the tunes amongst the many other supporters and marshals ringing bells, shouting out my name, yes my name! Complete strangers were routing for me! How kind is that. I recall a gent about mile 9 ish shouting “that’s a fab pace your doing Laura, keep going you’ve got this (I did wonder if he’d been listening to me and my favorite saying in group lol) I couldn’t tell you where abouts on the course these people were but my thanks goes out to each and everyone of you. The atmosphere and support really did make such a difference to me as a first timer and I know it will have been the same for the others.
I collected my medal and I think that’s when jelly legs started to make an appearance as they realised what they had achieved, these legs had done me proud and I remember slapping them at the side and saying thank you legs. I followed the man-made walkway round for what felt like quiet a while not quiet sure where I was going or where Stu would be waiting but this was a one way only system so that was the way I was going. I picked up my free beer and then further down my bottle of water as I made my way round to the village area, filled with food stalls and proud people taking pictures. It was just out side the gates where I’d found Stu and Suzie in the buggy asleep.
Time for a stroll back to the apartment for a well earned bath before having dinner out.
Before I started I had given myself an idea of time I wanted to complete it in and had said if I completed it within the three hour mark I would be really happy so to complete m first one in 2 hours 37minutes I am happy with that!!
Now to think about the next training plan for the Full Marathon in April!
