Magazine for May 2011
Hello my lovely friends! Well, thank goodness my third and final London Marathon is over. Here is a little resumé of the great event!
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Following a letter to a 4 star hotel in Mayfair requesting a double room for the night before the marathon, I checked in to find that they had upgraded us at no cost to their penthouse suite on the top floor – it was amazing! They’d been touched by my reasons for doing the marathon and decided to spoil us! |
The day itself started off cloudy but I knew it wouldn’t last. After a good first 13 miles (2 hours 15 minutes) the sun really started to beat down and I admit I stripped off my cancer research vest, my pink feather bra and my bum bag – I was just too hot.
This meant a hasty re-pinning of my number onto my base tee shirt and off I ran feeling better and a bit cooler. Not for long though – round Canary Wharf there was no wind at all and runners were really starting to struggle in the heat.
My troublesome right knee started to give me some problems. I felt I would have to give in so I started to walk and jog for the next 2-3 miles (the alternative being to risk falling down on the road and being unable to finish).
| From 23 miles onwards I ran slowly and when I saw Big Ben I realised that I would be okay and make it if I just kept plodding on. Together with many other runners, I really suffered in those final few miles but rounding Buckingham Palace my heart began to lift as the end was in sight. |  |
I felt pure elation at crossing the finish line and the relief was immense. My official time was 5 hours, 25 minutes and 27 seconds.
Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers – I really felt so supported. I think God even had a hand in the records I was listening to – my Ipod was on random and the two tracks that came on during the last mile were Frank Sinatra -’ I did it my way’ and Westlife ‘You raise me up’ – I couldn’t have planned it better!!
After a day’s rest and ice packs on my knee I started to recover but if I’m honest I couldn’t walk properly till Wednesday – I was just so stiff. I haven’t given up running – but will definitely run shorter distances from now on! I may be mad enough to do another half but I shall pass on the baton to others to complete a full marathon in future!
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Thank you once again for all your support. I have raised just over £2,000 at the last count and hope to exceed my pledge of £2,500 following my annual fund raising event in June. |
With love
Jayne x x