For 40 years, since it first began, I have seen the London Marathon on the TV and been moved by the whole thing. I have sat on the sofa crying with happiness, calling out words of motivation to the TV and truly felt the emotions of Marathon Day.
Not for one minute did I ever imagine I could run a marathon, or even walk one. I wasn't fit and I certainly didn't have the motivation or the willpower. It was not even a dream, lifetime goal or bucket list item, because it was never going to happen.
A few years back I changed my lifestyle significantly and started to focus a bit more on my health. This soon led to me taking on the London to Brighton Bike Ride challenge. After that I watched a friend in a sprint triathlon and said with determination - I am going to do that!
After that, I think my confidence grew, and when I watched the London Marathon (from the sofa again) in 2019, in a crazy moment of madness, I applied. I thought - I could do this - I could run ONE London Marathon in my life - JUST ONE - and it has to be the London Marathon after all these years of watching it on TV!
Fast forward and I got a place with Team Shelter - the Homeless Charity. I had committed to the challenge. It was in the middle of a very difficult time in my own family - but the training turned out to be some sort of therapy for me, a time for Me, a time to think, a time to just be outside with nature. Plenty of the longer training runs were taken up with tears, fighting concerns that I would not be able to make the distance. There was injury too: falling over in Spain when I just ran out of energy and another time I had a bit of runners knee. Time ticked on an I kept getting back up and putting my trainers on.
By February 2020, I was "match fit" and started to embark on some of the longest runs that I have done to date - 20 and 22 miles. It took its toll on my nearly 50 year old knees and my whole body was exhuasted. After one of the long training runs, I remember going for a roast with my Mum and Daughter and actually laying on the bench seat inside a pub, because I just couldnt sit up and I needed to elevate my legs up!!! God knows what the people in the pub thought!
I felt like I was ready. I felt like I could do this Marathon run - really do it. Then COVID Pandemic hit the world and the uncertainty begain. I kept running, but the date got pushed back - no one knew what would happen. How could 45,000 and 1000s of race officials, medics, charities and spectators safely distance themselves - it just wasn't going to be possible. But I kept training. I had friends who were on TOTAL lock down in Spain and were running 5 or 10 miles in their back garden, so I felt lucky that we were allowed our 1 hour of exercise a day. I broke that rule and got out in the country lanes and ran and ran, trying to keep myself up to 50 or 60km a week and keep motivated.
Finally in August 2020 we have been told how the Marathon is going to work. I cried when the email came - someone let down, someone relieved - just overwhelmed after training for so very very long. It is going to be a Virtual London Marathon, with an app. The 45,000 participants have been given the choice to opt out of join in, to run or walk the 26.2 miles by themselves anytime on 4 October 2020, even take breaks, as long as they log the time.
I have decided that after all this training I will be RUNNING my marathon. I intend to try and run it all the way. I know it is going to be tough.
I am not going to run a circuit, as I wouldnt be able to carry the water and fuel I need. I am going to run smaller loops in and out of Tiptree, this will give my supporters a hub to see me, a place for me to refuel and some friends might even join me for a 5km or 10km stretch. (It works out at 42km in total - so there is plenty of opportunity).
I am excited and obviously a little bit worried. Virgin Marathon have also given us the opportunity to do the London Marathon from Greenwich in 2021 2022 or 2023 - so it does look like I will end up doing more than one marathon in my life. I am thinking of having a year off of all the training and will likely go for 2022 - you'll have to come back and see if that actually happens!!
6 WEEKS TO GO!!!!!
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