What a glorious day! The sun was shinning but with a bit of a chill in the air I would say perfect weather condition's.
I am happy i stayed at my in-laws in Eastbourne it allowed me to get ready in a stress free environment (anyone with kids will know what i mean). But I did meet up with my parents, other half and kids at the start in Preston park which was great and they put my nerves at rest. I feel sorry for the women at this point the queues for the toilets looked very long luckily for the guys we had urinals so didn't ever need to wait.
So we all lined in our starting pens which for me was the yellow one for a (4hr-4.30hr finish) and nerves started to set in, and kept telling myself start easy watch your pace and i will be ok.
So off we went and was off at a nice pace and one that i was comfortable my watch was telling me i was on target. My family where close to the start and cheering me on which was a nice. So it was a little hilly start (i would say more slopes) around Brighton with one short steep hill in the mix none of which worried me and then it was out of city center, towards the Village of Overdean, the crowds and the city where amazing cheering everyone on. But started to thin out as we got out into the country side, but again it was good to see the people of overdean cheering us on. Once at overdean we cut back on ourselves and back along the way came (alot of this in brighton)
It was once i was getting back into Brighton I started hearing people cheer on a boob! it was a man dressed a boob! It was mile 12 already and I knew from now on it was very flat. No pains or tiredness yet! and was on course for my time.
It was then on through Hove which was again very well supported with lots music, high 5's and jelly babies but this was a long straight road that seemed to go on forever. Again this was an out and back section so I knew once i got to the end I would have to come all the way back we did the switch back. On the way back my legs where starting to feel it but wasn't a great problem i could still run and kept taking my gels every 30 minutes.
It was then on to the famed power station section, and this was the worst section of all, not much supporters and getting on the race and was a mental challenge. At mile 22 i could feel my pace starting to drop and was around 23 miles I hit the wall my pace nose dived but I promised myself not to stop running. But as we headed back along the sea and back into Brighton again the crowds where getting very busy again all cheering you on and with my legs gone its exactly what i needed.
My legs where in pain i was in pain, but i was determined those last miles took for ever and i kept saying to myself just a parkrun left, just half a park run left etc It was the longest hardest parkrun i had ever done!
Then I saw my family with a mile to go what a boost! i kissed my other half, i high five the kids and off i went, it gave me a boost but not to my pace!
Then i saw the finish line what a magnificent site and as i run down towards it, i heard someone had just proposed to his GF on the finish line, so lovely.
I was so happy to cross that line pick up my medal and other bits and peaces, i just went and laid on the beach and ate everything i had.
At times during the race i got very emotional and started to cry as I could not believe that was actually doing a marathon this time two years ago I couldn't run 100 meters at the pace i did the majority of this marathon. it was an amazing feeling.
The time i wanted 4hrs 15minutes my offical chip time 4hrs 27minutes.
the good -
Very emotional experience.
The crowds where fantastic
Lots of water stops (i didnt mind the cups)
I completed it.
The bad -
I didnt have a shirt with my name.
Hitting the wall.
My legs the day after.
The speed bumps around the power station, they where like mountains! (my legs had gone at this point)
Sorry for such a long post, i hope it all makes sense.
xxx
Manchester Half Marathon Race Report
First half-marathon distance report
Another Manchester Marathon Race Report
