Queueing for loo's with a blue slimy flush and hand spray ( one woman found poo on the flush...yuck)
Then...
In Runners Village we found shelter from the rain under the Rugby club canopy which happened to be just outside the back entrance of the mens changing tent
I milked a pretend cow and a man came up and said what a great technique I had and winked!!! See pic! It's the only one as Petes phone failed!
So I was in the 'Orange' zone ( slowest) and I finally made my way down the orange path to the start...which must have been a mile long!!! At this point I was just in my running vest and freezing, so I put my buff over my nose like a bandit!
We all slowly edged to the start ...then over the line and yes finally...I was running... Lots of cheering and a huge screen to wave at. I took it slow and just warmed up my poor body..
People and crowds everywhere shouting, cheering, banging drums, music blaring. It was too much for a panther...
First 10k was fine, saw Pete and Leon halfway and waved.
I ran with a chicken, a duck, a man with a cardboard cow over him, ladies with strap on boobs...
Best bits:
Finally finishing
People were all lovely and kind
The man that gave me one of his jelly babies ( and offerred me another...so sweet)
Finally feeling like a proper runner...
Feeling my body get into its rythm and it being 'normal to run ( if that makes sense)?
The bath when I got home.....perfect
Worst bits
The crowds ( I have a real phobia and anxiety about crowds...thankyou Facebook friends for all your wonderful advice)
The noise of the supporters...I couldn't cope
Seeing all the injured and exhausted at the first aid startions at every 1k
17k....I got so so tired and just felt I couldn't do it...
Finally a woman said only one mile....so I plodded on mentally getting there...only to find it was about 1k after that...we were all so cross. That threw me as its all about the mind knowing how far...
I walked a bit, in fact I staggerred, then just went for it and finished...
I had clothes to put on over but I got very very cold and I couldn't stop shivering till I got home...
I'm not sure huge events are suitable for panthers...going to focus on much smaller ones from now...next one is on the 16th in Falmouth!!
Time: 2 hours and 20 minutes...I am happy with that
Huge well done to everyone else today who had runs too.....
Juicy ju
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Fantastic achievement JuicyJu. I thought about you today and how brilliantly you've done. I'm with you on the crowds as I think it would be very claustrophobic.
I think it's amazing that you can run for this distance. Well done. You should be very proud.
Well done Juicy, that's amazing. You are an inspiration to us all. I will think of you tomorrow when I am out running and thinking of whimping out after about 3k! Like the new running shoes by the way. Lovely colour! X
Thankyou...and you know what I thought of you so much....I wanted to share some of my learning that may help....I hadn't anticipated the huge ammounts of walking in my training ( not sure what London is like for all that?)...I also could not get in my zone due to the crowds, noise, banging etc...worth mentally preparing for. Lastly ( and talking to a great chap at work today who trains people for marathons)..all the zigzagging of getting past slower people etc meant I was slow/ fast/ slow which meant I wasn't just moving along in my natural pace...I hope that helps?!!!
Thanks I think it probably does help. Hadn't imagined the noise and that could be its own pressure. And the zig zagging thing I had not thought about in terms of pace. So something to think about. My current worry is the half marathon treadmill in front of colleagues tomorrow - in the fear and scared zone of making a prat of myself....
I also wanted to say...the experience of doing the marathon in itself is just incredible and we will all be there with you....I so want to do it one day....
Well done our Panther. Kindly Uncle OldNed suggests you should try one in a warmer season !! But it's a great achievement and we're all very proud of you. You continue to set the bar high for us; long may it continue.
Very well done, Julia. I don't suffer with a crowd phobia, but I really dislike big crowds and would hate being in a such a big crowd, (just checked and my next HM had about 1,500 runners last year - enough for me), but you coped. How nice of the other runner to share his jelly babies.
Well done Ju. Sounds like a real challenge. I would imagine it's quite a hilly route, in Bath? Very curious about the cow. Was there a reason for it? Chocolate milk for all the runners perhaps?
Well done, thanks for sharing, sounds like a great experience. Can I ask what the advice you got on crowds was and did it help? I get like that myself and would like to know, thanks.
Well done Mrs Panther ! What an achievement ...especially in what sounds like a bit of a war zone too !
Noise,crowds, injured....... poo as well, good grief !
I think I'm with Tim and would prefer to stick to my antisocial ways and lone running ...but....a MASSIVE high five to you madam,you should be hugely proud of yourself and the amazing progress you've made in such a short time
You bloody heroine you. What a complete star you are to be sure. I hate crowds too, but you gritted your teeth and did it and for that you should get a huge slap on the back.
I'm just gonna chant for a bit. Excuse me ; "JuicyJu....JuicyJu....JuicyJu......"
(The toilets sound so repulsive. I mean.....like......SO disgusting!)
Well done, you have worked so hard and it must be a fantastic feeling to see it pay off. The time is fantastic and the inner panther saw you through your hardest times. You always have had a fantastic ability to draw from Deep down and finish as you say push that body punish that body. It works for you, feel proud and enjoy your great achievement.
Remind me never to enter for a big race, Panther Girl you are so brave, all that crowds of people and noise would have had me bolting off and a big false start to my name!!!! Well done you, it sounded terrible but you gritted your teeth and won through. Brave girl that you are with loads of courage and determination.
Ju, that's amazing. I can't imagine running that sort of distance. Congratulations! You must be well chuffed with that! Fantastic time. No doubt you're a 'proper' runner!
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!! But it's a great achievement and we're all very proud of you. You continue to set the bar high for us; long may it continue.
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