Third Time Lucky in London

Proud as punch at the finish line!

What an amazing weekend!  Book launch, catching up with best friends, sightseeing, hinthunt, parkruns, exhibitions and marathons as well as lots of great food and drink, but best of all - spending it with fantastic company.

Trafalgar Square Piloxing!

My sis Mairi and I after our lovely meal Sat

Despite the nerves, the book launch was successful - my speech, signings, readings and fantastic Indian cuisine at the Koh-I-Noor restaurant made it a nice, informal evening.  

Signing the first copies of my book School Daze

It was all a bit surreal and was the first time I'd seen my novel in print - weird!  The best thing was just getting to catch up with some of my closest family and friends mid-week - I am hugely grateful for them attending to give me morale support and overwhelmed by their positivity and encouragement, thank you so much.  

I got the fright of my life when my best friend Catriona surprised me (in my hotel bathroom no-less!) by coming to the launch unannounced - it made my day!  I wasn't even tempted by a glass of wine at the launch as I had a small matter of a marathon to do....

After months and months of training, I finally completed the London Marathon AND in a Personal Best time of 3:43:29!  I can honestly say that I loved every minute of it and super chuffed to get a Good For Age qualifying time for next year too.  The crowds were simply amazing, 10 deep at some points, cheering and shouting, providing much needed motivation for the 26.2 mile course (although I clocked up 26.8 on my watch).  I'm not going to lie, and from the last few week's blogs, you'll have realised I was thinking about the marathon  A LOT!  

Hugs from husband at the finish :-)

I had been panicking about the weather and the forecasters got it spot on and the sun was splitting the sky on Sunday.  However, I have tried to learn from my past experiences and have listened to all the advice from the experts, family and friends - I just wanted to enjoy it, with no pressure on time.  That, I did! 

I have been haunted by my first London Marathon attempt.  There's not been a day gone by since that memorable day in April 2011 that I have not thought about it.  It scared me, it was the worst experience of my life.  I thought my 6 months of training had went well and felt fit.  But as the sun came out and temperature soared, I didn't re-adjust my race strategy.  I took on little gels or water and think I actually only had a banana for breakfast.  At the time, this was the normal for me - most of my long runs are completed without a pre-run meal.  I thought the run was going well, feeling strong and keeping a steady pace.  I remember looking at my watch at mile 22, about 3 hours 20 and thinking I was nearly there.  But my next memory was waking up in a St John's Ambulance tent on a drip, with Drs and volunteers around me where they packed ice all around me and tried to force me to drink saline solution while they took my temperature from you know where.  I had collapsed with heatstroke mid-race and was unconscious for nearly 5 minutes.  My core temperature was just over 41 degrees, dangerously high.  I couldn't speak.  I tried, but words wouldn't come out.  I couldn't move.  It felt like an intense migraine.  It took me over an hour before I could attempt to move.  A nurse had to 'teach' me how to walk again in baby steps.  I still couldn't speak despite my bumbling attempts.  Embarrassingly I took a seizure and lashed out at the helpers and hated the feeling of being out of control of my limbs, my body.  For days, I vomited vile black liquid and couldn't even hold down water.  It was simply horrible and I was absolutely devastated.  I had gained the first club place so was representing them as well as raising funds for the Help for Heroes Charity.  I felt like such a failure.  I was crushed.  But I was lucky to be alive and although at the time I didn't believe it, I would run again and I would be stronger.  Of course, I have done marathons again, even London but the ghost of this experience had never left me.

I carefully prepared my running gear the evening before

Scared/nervous selfie the night before

This time, the sun was back.  This time I adapted my race plan, I ran through every 'shower', I took on water at every second water stop after 5 miles and took on gels and lucozade.  And it felt great!  What a buzz to run in the same race as some of the best athletes in the world, celebrities and some of my best friends.  The London Marathon is special.  It's emotional, so many people running for so many different reasons, the marathon raises millions for charity every year.  Including myself (all these events in the build up to China for the Beatson Cancer Fund) and best buddy Jamie G who ran his first marathon in aid of Prostate Cancer UK, raising approximately £7,000 - wow.  The camaraderie between runners is amazing, sharing stories and smiles all the way.  I was teary before I even got to the start line!  The crowd's roar is like nothing else.  Seeing my husband, sister and friends cheering me on at the famous landmarks such as Tower Bridge was exhilarating and spurred me on to sprint down the Mall in front of Betty's wee house to get my medal with a big smile on my face.  It was one of the best feelings in the world, simply AMAZING.  The ghost of that first marathon, now dead and buried.  The celebration of all who completed the marathon about to begin!  

Johnny, me, Joc and Jamie displaying our medals and smiles

Johnny pops the question

After downing my protein recovery shake and 500ml of water I was reunited with my husband, sister and friends at Horse Guards Parade where we sat in the sunshine excitedly awaiting our other friends to cross the line.  Charlie, Jennifer, Johnny, Jocelyn and Jamie all completed the race and did us proud.  Unfortunately our CRC star athlete, 'Big Kenny', had to pull out due to a hamstring injury at mile 14 - speedy recovery big man!  The excitement didn't stop there - Johnny not only completed his first marathon but decided to get on bended knee at the finish to propose to girlfriend, Eilidh.... and she said YES, of course!  More tears but even more champagne!  The news just topped off an amazing weekend so the only thing for it was to get back to our hotel to polish off some cocktails and beers before heading out for a slap up celebratory meal at Browns Restaurant, along by the Thames walkway overlooking Tower Bridge.   

Joc and I with our well earned and dreamed about drinks

Me, my mojito and 'I' at the SkyLounge Bar

Coconut daiquiri

My food diary might have taken up too much space in this week's blog - we did nothing but eat out - indian food and 3 course meals galore (simply delicious).  Although I did avoid all fried and fatty foods I did allow myself some treats such as small slice of carrot cake, toffee ice cream and cheesecake (over 4 days - honest!)  The night before the race I opted for chicken pesto pasta at Pizza Express washed down with lots of water and beetroot juice.  Race morning I had porridge, beetroot juice, banana, toast with green tea about 3 hours before race and with 1.5 hours to go I had a coffee and slice of soreen with some sips of lucozade sport.  Afterwards, well I dined on chicken pate, roast chicken dinner with all the trimmings followed by chocolate brownie and ice cream - YUM!  It was the perfect meal that I was craving.  Of course I had to sample the pinot grigio, daiquiris and baileys too.  Ach well, I'm going to allow myself some treats and some rest days over the next week - why not?!  Back to training and good nutrition next week...

My parents had left me some chocolate and champagne in my kitchen for my return - which I will devour - thank you!!

 Anyone can run a marathon.  It takes months of dedicated training and is definitely not easy but it's worth it, you will reap the benefits and could raise lots for charity - go on, give it a go, you know you want to!

Some of the gang made us 'mini mes to support us in the crowd.  Our mini mes decided they had such a good weekend that they wanted to wait in London :-)