It’s here!!! 10th October 2021!
Finally the day I’ve been waiting for for so long is here. It still seems unreal.
I’ve been mooching since 4.30am and have several hours to go yet with the later starts and I would have loved to be getting going at 9am but 11.50 it is I’ll just have to deal with it.
My stomach is full of butterflies.
I’m overthinking everything, don’t want to eat to early, don’t want to eat to late, don’t want to have to rush to start line incase I can’t get across the road, don’t want to be too early stood around this will cause several port loo trips . Don’t want to miss my wave cause I’m in the porta loo
. Although I can join the last wave at least if that happens.
My legs already feel heavy, my heads saying am I really going to make it after the up and down past few weeks, damn you head!
Oh my word why do we put ourself through this stress Is this really fun?
I thought race mornings would get easier the more you do it but that doesn’t seem to be the case. It never puts me off booking my next one though. I think i’m addicted.
I really have no idea if I’ll make it or not today but if I don’t go and try I’ll never know and after all the training and waiting I didn’t come all this way not to start.
Must remember to be nice and steady, don’t go out too fast with the crowd, stick to 30/30 if I start to struggle, drop down to 30/ 45 or 30/60. Either way I’m going to give it my all.
Whilst the family snoozed I headed down to breakfast with my porridge pot and mountain fuel breakfast sachet, it appears everyone has had the same idea. The room is full of nervous and excited racers and already has an amazing atmosphere.
Once breakfast was forced down back to waste time dressing and undressing. I won’t bore you too much but I went from full leggings to Capris to shorts within a space of five minutes so pleased I did as well.
I was surprised how quick time passed and before I knew it I was saying goodbye to Suzie and Stu and off out the door.
Within two mins of following other runners I was at the starting area, what a fantastic place to stay without the stress of the metro or buses or long walks.
People were already loading the pens for the earlier waves and I could feel the excitement building up in me. My thoughts of can I do this now changed to I’m doing this!.
As time creeped up I asked if people knew what wave was being loaded, a lady behind me said her daughter had gone up and she was the same wave as me.
So I made my way over as I crossed the pen line the Marshall informed me it was Pink b they were loading, I apologised but then he said to me if you want to go in feel free.
Fantastic an earlier start meaning longer to finish meaning less pressure. So I shuffled in amongst the starters, sticking to the back area.
I always start to stress at the start lines not sure why but I always think I’ll get in people’s way when I walk after 30 seconds or people will frown at me. I’ve never had it happen and always move to the side but the thoughts are always there. Before I knew it we were filtering through and off across the start line.
I have to be honest I don’t recall the whole route I ran but I do recall snippets, so if areas are not in order etc I do apologise but most importantly I loved every minute of it. The people of Manchester did not disappoint and were just as amazingly supportive as they were when I completed my first half Marathon.
I recall setting off and not long till I was on a long stretch with runners on the opposite side running the opposite way. They cheered us we cheered them . My first thought was I wonder how far it is till we will be on that stretch. I remember the DJ under the bridge, couldn’t tell you what was booming out but their support was fantastic and we had to run past them twice. I remember seeing road signs for Altrincham and knew we were hitting the point of turning around to head back in. I don’t know why this is the only area on the map I really took note of pre run but I think it was at this point that it registered that there was only one way I was going and that was to the finish line.
I remember finding miles 18 to 20 very long, I was still feeling strong and sticking with my 30:30 ratio but these 2 miles just seemed to take forever. I remember going past a pile of portals and no idea why but thought I should make a stop, just incase. Big mistake I’m sure bending my legs into a different position for that short space of time caused me my leg cramps. The weather had been a warm one and it was only when I reflected that I realised I’d not drunk enough electrolytes which was probably the main cause of the cramps. I wasn’t alone there were a lot of people on the sides stretching and hobbling at this point. I was lucky once I got going again the cramp eased and did not hinder my progress.
I remember looking up shortly after and realising I was in single figures left to run! I love counting down rather than up.
I remember one of the Marshalls telling me only one mile to go and seeing that 25 mile marker sign, I felt like a kid at Christmas full of different emotions excited, almost teary eyes but they were happy tears.
I really didn’t need to worry about the darkness or not having enough time with the later start runners were continuing to come in hours after me and I never really noticed the darkness falling around me as I made my way through those final miles.
As I saw the finish line light up before my eyes I found a burst of energy, I have no idea where this came from. I had the urge to put the foot down and sprint over the finish line to collect my shiny medal, grinning from ear to ear. It didn’t matter that I might not be able to walk tomorrow, all that mattered was that amazing feeling of having finished.
I received my time a cracking 5 hours 46 minutes and 40 seconds! Just under an hour off my first Marathon so a PB!
Manchester was amazing and will always hold a special place in my heart. If your thinking of a first half or full marathon I really recommend considering Manchester, amazing atmosphere, fantastic support and a good first time terrain.
I woke the next day feeling not too bad, I can definitely feel a difference in recovery since Jeffing. My muscles were a little sore, to be expected but I found I could walk fairly easy with very little pain.
So the question is what’s on the agenda for 2022!! Watch this space
