A bit late with the write up and unless you skip straight to the end of it you might need a cup of tea 😀.
As some of you will know I was a bit worried about the logistics I had landed myself with for this event but they all worked out perfectly - as I was assured they would. Arrived at the B&B in Riccall in plenty of time and it was lovely. The Italian restaurant booked turned out to have good food (they had only opened in new premises a few days before). The trial run to,Elvington Airfield worked,well and showed which of the two routes would be the best to take.
Sunday 14th October. Our B&B only had 3 guest rooms and York Marathoners were in all of them so our host very kindly offered to make us breakfast at 0600 instead of the usual Sunday time of 0800 - what a star! Breakfast taken back to the room to prepare my Tailwind and gather the gear. Did I mention it was cold 👍 and raining 🙁.
Into the car and onto the Park &Ride at Elvington. Our previously “recced” approach through back lanes meant we were straight there and parked with no bother or queue, unlike the approach from the opposite direction, to York, boy was that a queue. Dawn was rising so seeing the cars streaming across the airfield with their lights on was one of “those” moments - for me anyway. Out of the car, and not sure if I’ve mentioned this but it was raining quite a bit. Anyway there were loads of buses to take everyone to the start, it seemed like the checkers were making sure tickets were valid but not bothering about times as we got on the bus 20 mins before our allotted time 😀.
Got to the campus and found shelter from the rain until it was time to play the game of “queue for the loo”. To be fair there were loads of them but not all open so had a longish wait, keeping the worst of itoff with my umbrella. By then it was time to squelch for the starting pens. The warm up started and wasn’t too frantic, then not too long afterwards we were awa!
Oh my! IT WAS BRILLIANT!!!
My strategy was 8min run/30sec walk. Well that went out of the window as no way could I walk right at the beginning with all the crowds and slight downhill (I don’t think that was just in my head). Water stops were every 5k so I planned, and stuck to, couple of slurps of concentrated Tailwind, followed by a couple of slurps from the bottles provided. I picked a bottle up at 5k, slurped, and stuck it in my belt ready for 10k. That worked and didn’t feel wasteful. The pace was my happy pace which was slightly quicker than the pace I was supposed to follow but all was good so I deferred the run/walk to 10k, then 15, 21k. Still going well despite being totally drenched and the walk/run started at 30k, judging from the Garmin download.
The support along the way varied from lots to none, especially on the long out and back, to/from Stamford Bridge. This variety suited me. Support from runners on the return leg (they’d already been there, done that) was amazing.
So at 30k began my run/walk strategy as my ktime dropped slightly. 30k in 3-21-42 showed I was going to get there in good time. I was worried about missing the last P&R bus ☺️.
So still going great “wall what wall?” I had a leg niggle at 32k and shook, rubbed, ran it off. But it came back at 36k and wouldn’t go away, so I slowed down and slowed down 😀 what else are we going to do? K39 took 10.50, the next 0.66k took 12.31mins.
It was at 39.66k that I got the surprise (remember the title after all this time) ........
my leg broke.
So the reason for the report delay, and no medal picture, is that “due to unforeseen circumstances” I didn’t finish - sorry guys.
I had my leg operated on on Monday morning (airports will be fun from now on!) and came home from York last night.
So no medal but I do have a scar, and a story to bore people with. Oh, and my Surgeon has a sense of humour - he closed the wound with a running stitch!😂.
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AnnieW55
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There’s loads of humour to get out of this (it’ll become the subject to be avoided in the future when I meet folk). Another snippet is that you know how good we feel and age is just a number? Well on Sunday it cracked me up that at 63 I was on the geriatric unit. Yep geriatric medicine starts at 60. Something else the NHS has to catch up on.
😲 I find it tough enough accepting I have to run in the veteran category at my (relatively, compared to what I consider a veteran anyway) young age, but geriatric would be flipping pushing it!
It BROKE?! 😲 Oh my! That's beyond anything I expected your surprise to be! I'm glad you enjoyed it so much until that point, despite the rain, but what an end. Was it a stress related break from the running, or do you think you had an injury or weakness before the race? I hope you can at least enjoy the enforced rest! 💐 🍇 🛏
It’s gone down as a stress fracture. Beginning of Sept I had a bone scan (I work for an osteoporosis Consultant and some acute med ones). He was just interested, or working on a hunch, as I have no risk factors at all for any concerns, apart from being female and 63. The scan showed mild osteopaenia, so no calls for concern and running definitely ok. I think the crunch (😙sorry) came due to running hard, for me 😀, on tarmac as I usually run 95%ish on trails. Thank you for the flowers and grapes.
Oh no! Poor, poor you. How do you manageto write such a good story when the ending is so brutal? Will your leg fix? Will you be back for more? I'm so sorry you didn't get to finish, and after such diligent training too. Look after yourself and here's to speedy healing
Thank you. My leg will fix it will just take some time. I will run again but don’t know when or what I’ll be advised, early days so will just have to wait and see (not my best points). No slippers for me though my running shoes - dry ones 😀 - are on my feet.
Oh no Annie! I wasn't expecting that outcome! Poor you , well done for staying in good humour,that must have been a big shock. Hope you feel quickly,look after yourself xxx
That was one hell of a tragic ending. All was sounding so positive too, I def did not expect or want to hear that. Sending healing thoughts through the airwaves. I'm pleased you're able to remain positive and focusing on the funny side to life, though that def was not funny.
You should be awarded a bravery medal never mind a finishers medal.
Up until then you did us all proud, now let's see you have the speediest recovery that you truly deserve.
Thanks Sutsha. I’m trying (in all senses 😀). I’m walking with crutches now and my husband keeps following me, a bit like with a toddler, wanting me to slow down so hoping for a quick but sensible recovery.
Oh wow Annie, I was not expecting you to say that! I’m so sorry it happened and so close to the end. I suppose you have to laugh, but wow. Well done for making it to that point and laughing (mostly) through it. Hope you heal up soon and well.
OMG! Oh crikey what an awful thing to happen 😫. I’m so sorry 🤭 Ugh 😬
Physio will be on the cards I expect. You will feel more positive once you start it
I don’t know, what a finish🤨.
You know the run walk thing, I started it dead early, like from 2.5k. Walked til 3k and then set off running again. I just kept doing that til the last 6 or 7km when I felt ok to run it I know it was slower but I just wanted to finish the thing.
Thanks Sonia. You’re right I should have stuck to my plan but it felt like the stars were aligned (somebody must have nudged them near the end, clumsy so-and-so’s 😖). I was even changing my leading leg to make sure the pressure wasn’t on the same one all the time!
To be honest, if this episode was on the cards, I’m glad it played out like it did. I’m young (although the NHS has other ideas on that score 😂) and fit enough to deal with it in my stride (sorry for the pun) and I wasn’t out alone on the trail with no phone, which may well have happened at some point. If
Physio starts properly on Monday but I am doing the basic exercises given to me in hospital.
Yep, you weren’t alone thank goodness. We can’t worry about what-if’s though can we ? Well, I don’t and i’m Sure you don’t either. Who could have seen that coming 😖
I did the run walk thing as i’d Had that lousy shin splint when I thought I’d broken my leg,the pain was so horrendous, so I went for the Jeff method so I’d finish in one piece and be able to walk afterwards. Planning on Jeffing my upcoming marathon 🙂
I hope you get physio on the nhs and it starts soon. I had to wait an eternity as my dopey doctor forgot my referral 🤨 ☹️
Physio should happen, I’ve got an appointment for Monday. The District Nurse came to do a dressing change at lunchtime and confirmed physio was in my notes. Think I’ll be on the radar, with flashing lights, as GP surgery will be billed from another Trust for the work they’ve done on me. I will be very popular 😗.
Wow! I did not see that coming! I'm so sorry to hear that was how your race ended, but your positivity is so uplifting! Take care of yourself, heal well and we'll see you back to fine form in no time, I'm sure.
Thanks Sask. I’m working on getting back as I type - leg flexing, ankle circles, core tightening. I will be back but, for once I’ll be sensible (a word not usually associated with me😮).
Wow, you literally ran your legs off. What a shame so much preperation and build-up. Quite a story for the future. I hope you get plenty of rest and the bone heals nice and strong.
Oh my goodness - I was NOT expecting that! So sorry to hear of your injury. I can’t quite believe that we’ve both ended up with stress fractures in our legs instead of finishers medals! Wishing you a speedy recovery. Your positivity is inspiring and has given me a much-needed boost when I was feeling sorry for myself, so thank you xxx
Thanks Gabby. Just seen your other message. I expect we did wave to each other as early on I was like a grinning and waving all over the place at and some children got high fives that they weren’t expecting 😄.
Running is on the back burner for now but I’m sure we’ll get back into the fray eventually. Best wishes for your recovery.
You look so great in that 30k photo I'm sure you'd have aced it, no problem. You know you're fit and have trained enough when you can pull a genuine smile at 30k!
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Marathon finally complete!
Last run before marathon
Mullingar Half Marathon Official time 1:58:55
York 10K
