My Marathon week started of badly as we lost our little cat “Santa” on the Monday. I went to see my brother on Thursday and we had a lovely walk in the sunshine, he is a strong person, such an inspiration, so by Friday I was ready to pull myself together and get this done, I hadn't done six months of training to fall at the final hurdle. So I bought myself a Santa hat with my name on and decided Santa was doing the London Marathon with me.
Carb loading for two days, resting my muscles and trying to get some good sleep, which is hard when grief wakes you up at 3am and plays around in your head until 5am.
Luckily the night before I had a good nights sleep so I woke up feeling refreshed and ready. I set off early and got to Maze Hill by 9 am. My start time was 11 am. I'm never late to things, but even for me, I was extra early 😂. Around 10am the heavens opened and we all got drenched. Exactly at 11am we were running through the start gate.
I have an old phone with spoitfy that I use like an MP3 player and true to form it logged me out, so 5 min before the start I realised I had no tunes, but to be honest that might been for the best. I loved the shouts of come on Santa and Happy Christmas.
I know people talk about the once in a lifetime London Marathon but nothing can prepare you for the atmosphere of the event, there are people lining the street all along the whole 26.2 miles. I'm sure the sales of sweets in the area will come close to Halloween. There were so many water stations and two gel stations. If I could of tolerated sweeteners there were about 5 lucozade sports drink stops too.
I had my own gels and dried mango and two lemon soreen bars with butter. I had a bladder pack but really didn't need it as there was enough on the course but I have done an event where they ran out of water so I always have some with me, with only having one kidney that is the most important thing for me to avoid, dehydration. Around Canary Wharf this lovely lady in the crowd offered me a banana and I swear it is the best banana I have ever tasted.
Mile 1-21 I just ticked along and I soaked it all up, My pace was good for me and went exactly like training. I had the biggest smile on my face and the event was everything everyone had told me it was going to be.
I started to struggle at mile 22, I looked up and there was my training buddy waving. We have been speed walking together as she is doing the coast to coast next week. She perked me up and spurred me on.
At mile 25 I had a really strange sensation in my right foot. It was like pins and needles but really strong. I had just taken my final gel beforehand and it kicked in so I got a boost but the foot was very weird, it wasn't a pain just a strange numbness with little electric shocks. Later I found out when I took my socks off all the skin and possibly the toenail in my little toe had separated from my foot. ( if any one has tips for recovery with that please share)
I wanted to quit at mile 25.5 but I had worked out the walk to finish early was probably longer than actually finishing so I kept going. MrRfc and my mate were waiting for me at the end and we set off home, with a slight detour to my local. I was greeted by cheers as I walked through the door and a free drink from the landlord, so sweet and it put another smile on my face.
Today, my toe is painful and I will be keeping an eye on it. My muscles keep seizing up so I'm walking every 15-20 min to stop that happening. But all in all I'm not in too bad a shape. Basically the only thing stopping me going for a little potter is putting on shoes would hurt my little toe too much.
Would I do it again, probably not but then I have always said I wouldn't do it anyway and now I have 😂😂😂.
Wishing you health and happiness. Rfc xxx
Written by
Realfoodieclub
Marathon
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Fabulous, just fabulous! Your smile says it all...you did it, against all the cr*p life threw at you. I never doubted you, but was a bit worried when I went to see how you were doing on the app and it said you hadn't started... not sure what that was about, another friend was showing properly so it wasn't the app...half an hour later I checked again and saw you were half way, I was so very pleased for you! (Mind you, my first HM the app showed me running backwards to Peterborough, about 50 miles off my route!!
I'm impressed with how you kept to your plan, it clearly worked well for you. You've (almost) inspired me to have a go myself... just kidding!!
Enjoy your rest, I hope your foot is ok. Biggest hug xxx
Thank you, the app was dodgy, I think, Mr Rfc and my mate wanted to see me from the grandstand, but it said I was stuck at big Ben. They were getting very worried when I rang and said I was finished and had my kitbag
It is an amazing experience, I always said I wouldn't and left it to the Ballot Gods. I think training and coping on the day a HM is more in my comfort zone but I'm so glad I did it.
I'm watching your training you are doing brilliantly, I'm so pleased for you
Wow!!! Many congratulations - you DID IT 😊😀 Great report. Sorry about your toe, sounds painful 😣 Enjoy a good rest and are you still wearing the bling ?!
The bling was heavy, I've just weighed it and it comes in at 150g.
Hopefully the toe will heal without needing intervention. Just wish I felt more hungry today but to spur on my appetite MrRfc came home with a Cornish pasty and a jam doughnut, so it would be rude not to eat them 😉
Having lost toenails before (little toes), once it's started to part company with the toe it will be pretty much guaranteed to eventually fall off. Don't help it on its way, but do try to protect the loose toenail in any way you can. You'll do the least damage if it falls off naturally.
Eventually the nail will grow back, but it may initially look very weird when it does.
I took the spare skin off under the toe which was probably a blister, it was only just hanging on, yesterday but because of the swelling I can't see if the toenail is still there, I suspect it has gone though. My initial thought is to just leave it to dry out, MrRfc says maybe I should put antiseptic gel on. So far it seems to be healing on its own.
A big congratulations to you Rfc on completing the London Marathon, you should be very proud of yourself which I am sure you are, lovely photo of you and your medal, I like many others on this forum were watching the LM on TV and wishing all the runners good luck. 👍 🏃🏾 ✅
RFC, You are an inspiration! Fantastic, wonderful and just brilliant to complete the London Marathon. What a bucket list item that is! Well done for continuing to the very end and huge congratulations. 👏👏👏🤩👍
Thank you, it is so strange to of done something you have always said you would never do, I always thought it was out of my reach but one thing these forums do is teach you to do the training and the work. Rfc x
Huge congratulations RFC. It's so exciting reading this. What a week you have had. Piled on top of everything that has happened, you must feel so, so emotional. But what an achievement! Your husband and brother must be so proud of you. Your description of your brother applies equally well to you - strong and inspirational must be in your family genes 😊👏👏👏
Thank you. Without these forums and everyone on them I would never of gone for any bling. I never would of known what a bling hound I was 😂. They really are special places. ❤️. Rfc x
Oh, huge congratulations Realfoodieclub ! 👏👏🏅I thought of you yesterday when I was watching the coverage on TV!👏🏃♀️🏃🏽🏃♀️🏃🏽🏃♀️🏃🏽🙂
What a huge achievement, given all you have been through and all that life has thrown at you recently. Love that you took your memories of little Santa with you, too.🥹
I’m afraid I can’t advise on the toe/ foot issue but hope that you recover well over the next few days. You may have said you never would but you bloomin’ well did…and we are all so pleased for you!💪👏🙂
Wow congratulations what an experience ! And Santa came too. What a lovely way to work through your grief.
It's nice to read a post with practical information about how drinks etc are organised.
So pleased you enjoyed the first 21 miles and made it to the finish in (almost) one piece. You are so strong. As you heal I am sure only the good memories will stay with you -after all noone would put themselves through it more that once otherwise!!
Look after yourself, heal well and please keep posting about your recovery-just in case I ever get lucky in that ballot and am able to emulate your success. 🥇🥇🥇
Thank you. Today isn't too bad, as long as I keep moving, I get up and potter around every 15-20 min, I've been doing that through out my training. The first initial movement pulls a bit then you feel it ease up. I'm glad I learnt that through training. Fingers crossed for you if you've put in for this year. Rfc x
Recover well, and hope the toenail heals nicely - I'm extremely squeamish, almost phobic, about that sort of thing and really hope I never have to deal with it.
I was lucky to see my GP, antibiotic cream and keep it uncovered, no one is sure if the toenail is still there or not because of the swelling but basically just let it do it's thing. My GP had the same experience 2021, so he understands 😀.
Thank you. The app was so glitchy apparently. My Freind in Texas thought I hadn't even started when she looked when she woke up.
Even though I didn't work all the time it did help to motivate me on the way round, just the thought of those stats going out to everyone kept me going from mile to mile.
Fabulous report RFC, and I’m so sorry I didn’t see you yesterday. I was at Canary Wharf but I got really cold as I’d stood in the same spot for 4 hours so I headed off to find some warmth. Sounds like you had a wonderful time, it is an incredible event to be a part of with memories that will last a lifetime. Congratulations 👏 🥳 🎉 🎉
Thank you, four hours was fantastic and an achievement in those weather conditions for being in one place, I was moving for 7 hours and I was feeling so sorry for everyone who was still there, it was a cold wet morning/ afternoon. I know from the bottom of heart every hour you spent there was so much appreciated and fully understand why you need some warmth.
Thank you RFC, I really wanted to stay longer and we were really lucky as we were under the rail bridge so relatively sheltered. I would have stayed if I could have, it was so amazing! We had so many positive reactions from the runners, you could see how much it was appreciated. I remember last year how much of a boost it was.
You did so brilliantly and I can feel the happiness radiating from your post and photo, so proud of you and what you have managed to achieve. Enjoy the post London glow, it really does last and last 🤗🤗🤗
Yes, fabulous report and superb acheivement RFC. So pleased that you enjoyed the atmosphere of the day, and the most part of the run. True determination and mental strength got you to the finish line by the sound of it!
Congratulations You Did It, so proud of you, and I love that picture.
Thank you. It been such a journey but I got there in the end. As I was waiting in the pen I got a good luck message from my brother which got me going. Rfc x
Huge congratulations for staying the course literally and mentally! With all that happened mentally you've actually run an ultra! Feet up, and treasure all the precious memories of Santa and the run. 💪💖🐾🎊🎊
Thank you, yes I do feel like I've done an ultra and probably time wise I have as well 😀. I always use ultra training tips as I find them more useful for me. Rfc x
Wow! What an inspiring post. What a brilliant adventure and against such adversity. Truly full of admiration. Hope the little toe heals quickly. Have some rest now and bask in the pleasure of your achievement.
Congratulations on completing the London Marathon! That’s a great photo too. It’s a huge achievement, especially given all that life’s thrown at you since you started training for this.
Magnificent, that sounds absolutely brilliant...clearly you had some struggles but what an inspiration. Can you tell I'm impressed 🤣👏
I hope you're very proud of yourself, and that your toe is OK...that doesn't sound very pleasant 😕
I'm so sorry for the loss of your little cat, Santa...having recently lost our little beauty, Holly I can fully empathise. We were lucky to have them, and them us ❤️
Thank you. I'm sorry for your loss, they touch our hearts so deeply.
Dr had a look at my toe today and he's happy just a couple of days with antiseptic cream and not having it covered. I have raynaulds so my little toes are freezing but it's better than infection 😀 Rfc x
Wow! Congratulations RFC that’s a massive achievement. Genuinely can’t imagine what a huge mental and physical effort it must be to fit in all the marathon training and then to run for such a long way and for such a long time. You must be so very proud of yourself.
I’m so sorry for the loss of your little kitty but you certainly did Santa’s memory proud. Hats off to you , you amazing lady. 👏👏👏
Thank you, I don't think the time has actually sunk in yet. It is strange I got half way and thought I've got this to do all again and before I knew it I was at the end 😂 Rfc x
What a phenomenal achievement Rfc! And such a happy photo. 😍 I bet your grin is still as wide even now! Treasure that precious bling, you worked hard for it, and definitely deserve it. 👏👏👏
Whenever I read about people’s experiences at the LM it makes me want to run it all the more. Yours has just confirmed that again! I’m in the ballot again for 2024, so I’m keeping everything firmly crossed. 🤞🤞
Keep smiling and treasure that wonderful day you had. ❤️
Thank you. I am beginning to feel the reality of what I've done. People say it's a once in a lifetime thing and it really is, there is so much support along the way and you just have to soak it up, it's a bit additictive on the day. 🤞 for next year for you. Rfc x
You did well to find such a quiet pub! And couch to marathon is an amazing achievement. To do it at London with Santa with you makes it extra special.
I stubbed my right big toe decades ago and it never grows back properly but never causes me any pain. Wait for your blisters and swelling to go down a bit and find a chiropodist to look at your feet. I hope your toe(s) will be ok!
I live in London but away from the central bit, as we went past the pubs in Victoria and they were full to breaking point by the time I finished. The Dr said today if the nail hasn't gone it will so I guess I will always have a reminder of the day 😀. Rfc x
Apologies for the delay, l was away and missed this. Top, top, brilliant job, great show in all aspects - you have done ‘The London’, well done, be proud & stay proud! I think you’re near my gaff is sarf Landan and I’ll tell all my mates about this! Go you! 👍👍😀
Thank you. I did all the hills round here for all my training runs apart from the last two, I got the bus up the hill home. On my 18km route I think there is only 20% of roads that do not have the name hill in it 😂. Rfc x
To this day I’m surprised that the SAS aren’t using south London hills for their training. Some aren’t even hills, they are verticals. 😅 I think Tooting Bec is the only piece of flat in the entire area.
Thank you. I had a gel just before it started and it did ease things. We now know it was a blister bursting and maybe taking the time nail, still to swollen to see but Dr gave me an antibiotic cream which seems to help. Rfc x
Whoop Whoop RFC. Congratulations on a wonderful London Marathon. If you only did one marathon, that the one to do. I remember seeing TailChaser ’s medal last year and it was fantastic. Look after that foot. I wonder if wet feet contributed to that but I am no expert.
Thank you. The medal is gorgeous. I think you are right. I used the same socks and trainers up to 20mile in the wet but no issue, but maybe standing around made the difference. Rfc x
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