It is always interesting to see and feel the race through the eyes of our runners. Helen Garrett, Georgina Selway , Chris Minns, Simon Carter and Ken Baksh share their race experiences:
Helen
“An Amazing Day…
As many of you know, I always said I’d never do a marathon. All those long sunday runs, constant tiredness, high risk of injury and then it could be too hot on the day and all the training goes to pot. But with a big birthday next year it was on my bucket list of things to do and after watching with the Beckenham runners last year it inspired me to apply. Entered into the ballot not expecting to get in – and then I did! Despite missing a good few weeks of training due to my ankle I was able to make it to the start line, thanks to spending the equivalent of the cost of a designer handbag on physio. Not a designer handbag sort of girl anyway.
The few weeks leading up to the ‘Big Day’ were an alternate mix of heady excitement (think kid at Christmas) and nerves and worry that I was going to completely blow up and have to walk the last 5 miles. On Friday having been to Expo to pick up my number I spent most of the evening feeling physically sick with the worry of it. On Saturday morning gave myself a good talking to, reminded myself that it didn’t matter what I did. I’d raised a lot of money for my charity and just getting round was OK. Coach Kate came and gave me a pep talk too which helped.
So the day dawned bright and sunny. Had done my best to make sure I looked OK in all the photos having had my nails done to match my vest, and my hairdresser neighbour french plaiting my hair at 7.30 in the morning – it was just like getting married! Husband set up a ‘quick release’ system for my energy gels as he was too embaressed at the thought of me getting my nail scissors out en route to try and open them as I had done at Cranleigh ( I just can’t seem to do them with my teeth!). Bag was packed and all set.
Richard Selway kindly drove us to the start in the Beckenham party bus. Once we got to Blackheath and started walking to the start the excitement was infectious with all the crowds, helicopter hovering overhead and sight of the balloons. We all said our goodbyes and good lucks on the heath and made our way to the separate starts with me, Georgina and Ken going to the blue start. Once we got inside the atmosphere felt like a music festival. I felt like I should get a picnic out, bottle of wine and start dancing (in fact I think I did have a bit of a dance at one stage!) After a couple of trips to the loo, was time to put our bags on the lorries and go to our pens. I was dressed in some old clothes to abandon but was starting to get concerned that it was feeling warm and I hadn’t planned for this temperature.
Then it was time to go. The thirty seconds silence in memory of the Boston bombings was observed and was very moving, adding to the emotion of the day. I think I nearly shed a tear at that point. Then the hooter went and we were off. The first few miles were crowded and difficult to run, but then I was expecting that. Support and music was there right from the start. Soon got into my running but it was very easy to be carried along on the wave of excitement and probably covered the first miles too quickly. By the time the starts had all joined up by Woolwich I was still going too fast and needed to really watch my garmin and keep pace on target. By this stage had decided I needed to take water at every station to ensure I stayed hydrated and didn’t overheat. Before I knew it we were at the Cutty Sark, which was amazing with the support, felt like a different place to the familiar long sunday run route that many of have used for marathon training. Saw Paul and Ed on the Deptford Creek bridge and was feeling fine at this stage, although my breathing was more laboured than it should have been with the remnants of the previous weekend’s cold.
Turned off to Surrey Quays and then seemed to hit a bad patch round Rotherhithe. Although there were still lots of people the crowds were not as big and noisy and doubts started to creep in about how I felt, knowing there was still such a long way to go. I know what they mean when they say the mind plays such a big part in running a marathon. But by the time got to Bermondsey the bands had started playing again and the crowds bigger shouting out my name, plus knew family and Beckenham were going to be coming up soon. I felt really excited when I saw the Beckenham flag and was such a lovely feeling to see everyone supporting me. Then it was onto Tower Bridge and another emotional moment seeing such an iconic London landmark looming up in front of me. Next few miles went really quickly seeing the top male runners coming in the opposite direction along the Highway and also next lot of supporters coming up at mile 14. Found it really hard to see second Beckenham group at first but then spotted them as I went past and with Kate looking in the opposite direction couldn’t resist squirting her with water to get her attention!
The Westferry Road section seemed to go on forever and was really narrow and busy with lots of chopping of stride. Saw my next family support group at Mudchute to give me another lift and then it was the slog round Canary Wharf. By mile 20 it was really starting to hurt and pace slowing noticeably. When I came back to Beckenham supporters again at mile 21 felt like I wanted to cry so their encouragement give me a bit of a lift. Then it was back to The Highway and was surprised to so many still running in the opposite direction, was a nice thought that they still had Docklands to go round. Mind was playing games with me by now and had to work out how I was going to get through next four and a bit miles. Decided it was time to ‘do a Paula’. No, not use the gutter as a public convenience but use her counting strategy to disassociate from the pain and keep pace reasonable which by this time was over 9 minute miling. It seemed to help and got me through to final set of supporters at mile 23.5 where I took my final gel for the last stretch. I’m sure as I went along the Embankment Big Ben kept moving further and further away. By this stage my calves were cramping badly and I just wanted it to be over. The last bit seemed to go on forever and time was ticking by. Got to the final 400m, one lap of the track, and somehow pulled out one of my sprint finishes crossing the line with seconds to spare under 3.40. Forgot to raise my arms and smile for the camera so photo will be hideous but don’t really care. I’d done a marathon.
It really was an amazing experience, like one big party but with pain! Knowing I had supporters at certain parts of the course really did keep me going and helped break up the race into manageable chunks. I don’t think I could do a marathon somewhere else without that support. Thanks to everyone who cheered me on, it really made a difference.
So I guess I can call myself a ‘proper’ runner now I’ve done a marathon. So would I do it again? I always said I’d only do one but now I have a good for age time who knows…”
Georgina
“Wow! What an amazing day! It began with a shared car journey and an excited walk across the grass at Blackheath chatting to Helen Cath Helen Simon Ken and my nextdoor neighbour Claire. A gloroius day greeted us, blue sky and a lesser known object in the sky beaming down on us. Was it going to be too warm considering we had been winter training in below zero conditions? Our spirits were high and we split up at the top of the Heath. Ken, Helen and I lapped up the festival style atmosphere with music playing and a big screen showing the elite athletes starts before leaving our baggage on the trucks and making our way to our individual pens. I met some other runners there, one girl from South Africa feeling very cold and wondering what a race without coca cola on offer would be like! We held a half minute silence for the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing, for which many of us were sporting a black ribbon on our tops. So, a sombre moment was soon to be replaced with a surge forward. We were walking towards the start.
We were off! First 3 miles and I got into a rhythm with crowds lining the streets all the way. Indeed the crowds were vast throughout the route. They were fantastic, and the first half I found so uplifting and quite emotional. Music played, cheers bellowed out and I was really looking forward to the first glimpse of the BRC flag at mile 12. It did not disappoint and I felt so happy going past you. Then at mile 14 I spotted Ben which once again lifted me but then the hard slog started running into the wind I think and the Isle of Dogs goes on and on.
So once again I took heart from the prospect of seeing Beckenham support at mile 21 and it did not disappoint. Thanks very much guys. I do think that getting through the race is not only physical but such a mental exercise. I would have loved to have stopped to rest but knew I could not as I’d probably never get going again. Besides my family were at mile 23 and I had a time goal to beat! My head stayed focussed at the road ahead and I could not muster up the energy to reply to runners’ shouts of ‘Oggy Oggy Oggy’ in the tunnel. I had a job to do!
I soldiered on and the last 2 miles I picked up my slightly slowing pace, down the Embankment and finally onto Bird Cage walk. Finally I crossed the finish line and there waiting for me (!) was Sir Richard Branson who shook my hand …. and so many other finishers of course. Job done. Now where was the nearest bottle of water?
Oh I raised lots of money AND I beat my goal time by 9 seconds so all good. Only problem now is do I do it again with my automatic entry place? Only time will tell.
a mildly sunburnt Georgina”
Chris
“London Marathon 2013, blow-by-blow:
The buildup – couldn’t buy a decent race all winter – unable to break 74 for the HM, brutal jet-lagged “performance” at county XC champs. But marathon training went well. Ran the long tempos and 3x5K sessions faster and more consistently than last fall. Had some uncomfortable moments with the bad hamstring/hip/groin, but didn’t have to bail on a single workout. Got through 600km in March, not too bad!
Pre-race – got there a little earlier this year, chilled out on the grass with the Beckenham 3 and Patrick Wallis. A little chit-chat with Jason Cherriman and a few others, then time to warm up. Dynamic stretching/5 minutes easy jog/dynamic stretching/4 minutes faster running/dynamic stretching then to the start. Everyone said it would be perfect conditions, but I didn’t feel cold standing around in a singlet and the sun was beating down.
5K – 17:54. Nice relaxed start as dozens bomb past out to Woolwich and down the hill.
10K – 35:58 (18:04). Keeping the effort easy. Bad hamstring tightens up quite a bit in this section, but I concentrate on staying relaxed and running without limping, as in all those loops around Dulwich/West Wickham. Almost knock out a Birmingham guy reaching out for a high-5.
15K – 54:00 (18:02). Settled into my one-legged marathon shuffle, no more hamstring trouble the rest of the way. Running steady with a TH&H guy.
20K – 1:12:01 (18:01). More of the same, feels easy! Keep the high-fives going.
25K – 1:29:53 (17:52). We cross Tower Bridge and the race really beings. The group around starts crumbling, after the Beckenham flags at mile 14 it’s down to me an an Edinburgh runner working through those ahead. I planned pre-race to eat in the section to make sure I didn’t start going after it too hard, I did but in retrospect I would have benefited by running just a little slower here. Visions of 2:32 (or faster!) were getting in the way!
30K – 1:47:59 (18:06). Legs still working very well (pace feels easy), but a bit of wind and the “heat” is starting to tell. Thumbs up to the family support crew at mile 17, but after I catch myself making rash, unplanned decisions re: opening gels, grabbing water, etc.
35K – 2:06:45 (18:46). Brain has recovered a bit, but pace has slipped. Still relaxed, still passing people, but it takes longer now. A decent PB is still on the table, do not give up!
40K – 2:26:03 (19:18). The Embankment is tough. I get passed for the first time in ages, though I pick up a few more too.
Finish – 2:34:46. Parched, sunburnt, tired. A big part of me wishes I had taken a few more risks after 30K to see what would have happened. But what an exciting race – tons of support out there, Beckenham and otherwise, fantastic to be part of a team doing the business on home turf.
Tempting to try it again this fall in Amsterdam, though I’m not sure if that’d be the right thing to do. Onward to Boston!”
Simon
“8:15 The BRC taxi arrives to take us to Blackheath – its a bit of a party bus atmosphere
8:35 We arrive in Blackheath and make are way to to our start areas, unusually its very still and a bright blue sky – an absolutely gorgous morning.
8:50 No queues at the toilets in the GFA pen… better make the most of them!
9:30 Time to put the kit bag away and head off to the start pen
9:57 A 30 second silence in honour of the Boston victims creates an eerie silence over Blackheath
10:00 Off we go, it takes me 1 minute to get to the start line.
Mile 1 @ 6:44, spot on with the pace, running with Dave S next to me trying to avoid getting caught up with those people who want to sprint the first couple of miles!
Mile 3 – We join up with the Blue start and head down to Woolwich. The sun is shining, I’m on schedule.. happy days!
Mile 4 – I start getting cramp in my right thigh – I’m thinking “What is this all about?, I’ve never experienced this before”
Mile 8 – Time to see if I can stretch it out, I say my goodbyes to Dave and find a suitable wall
Mile 11 – I catch Dave up… “Surprise, bet you didn’t think you would see me again!”
Mile 12 – I spot the BRC flag in the distance, we move over to the left of the course to give them a smile (I’m putting on a brave face). We head over Tower bridge but have I to stop and stretch again.
Halfway – I’m still on target, but the pain isn’t going away, I keep going as I know the BRC supporters are at mile 14!
Mile 14 – “Yeah”, I get a boost as I can see the BRC Flag, and overtake a few round the outside. It soon wears off as we head down narrow street and I have to use a railing for support as I give me thighs a good stretch.
Mile 15 – The road opens out after heading through the underpass, I’m used to cycling down this road and I know where every pothole is!
Mile 16 – Support dwindles but as we head round the corner to Mudchute is starts getting busy again, I’m slowing down and considering if running through it is not a clever option – but I carry on anyway
Mile 18 – You can hear the roar within Canary Wharf as the cheering bounces around the buildings, support is amazing. It gives me a boost and I feel like I’ve picked the pace up.
Mile 20 – Another quick stretch and then back on it. There is a Dulwich runner ahead, its Steve Smythe – he doesn’t look comfortable. There is only 10K to go, I can’t give in now.
Mile 21 – Time to put on a brave face again and pick up the pace as I pass the BRC supporters. Soon after I’m holding onto a traffic light in the middle for another stretch, however unlike many I manage to set off again. The virtual wall must be nearby as there are runners dropping off the pace, walking and stretching on the railings.
Mile 23 – After the slight uphill past the Tower of London, its a welcoming downhill past the other BRC supporters, I go past shaking my head and gently fading, its now a Parkrun left – I’m imagining 2 and bit laps of Norman Park and thinking thats no so far to go.
Mile 25 – There are some supporters ahead shouting very loudly, its my uni friends egging me on. I pass Westminster and head down the Mall, I’m just level with St. James park when I hear Big Ben chiming – I was hoping to have been over the line when I heard it.
Finish – The finish line is in sight, and I gun it for home as my watch says 3:03 so I know I’m very close to my PB time – It was worth it, I took 3 seconds off!
Thanks for all your support, those extra boosts paid off with a new marathon PB.”
Ken
Preamble
No textbook would describe my preparation for my first marathon after a 30 year gap..and recovery from most injuries that only really disappeared last December. The Christmas party ,give or take a day, marked the start of a semi organised training programme, punctuated by illness, weather and two weeks away. The TW ½ and Cranleigh21 were huge confidence boosters in my journey, but still felt I had covered woefully too few miles and too little quality….To the day itself, I had a reasonable idea of pace to achieve the goal, but also realized the difficulty of keeping a consistent speed, with so many outside factors. Two other factors crossed my mind a few days before the 21st namely the chance of a muscle tear (had all those Achilles,hamstring,calf issues cleared or were they lurking just beneath the surface!) and cramp,never actually experienced before…….
The big day
The day started with ideal breakfast at the ideal time…kit layed out and prepared…and seamless, good humoured transport to within a short distance of “Blue Start”. Frequent loo visits with Helen and Georgina (well not actually with) ..and baggage control, both almost queueless,were a genuine positive surprise for such a large event…and being able to stand around in singlet and shorts under a clear blue sky, imparted almost a summer carnival atmosphere to proceedings.
First few miles involved a fair amount of ducking and weaving, inevitable with densely packed running field, some tight bends…and bollards… The very supportive crowds cheered from the outset. With hindsight i wondered if such a good idea to have my vest printed with name…My average target speed for the distance was approx 9 minute milling…or 11km/hour in new money…Realising when i passed Neil fox ,at approx 8 miles, that i was travelling at about 11.6,I tried to settle into a slower pace..in fact reducing to an average of 11.3..by the time of passing the very supportive Beckenham contingents. Over the bridge..after the second gel I caught sight of daughter and son who had made the journey up from Southampton..so good to see them..as their voices were drowned by those around. Next few miles fairly pedestrian, if that was possible. At 30km I was bang on schedule, but knew the hard part was yet to come.
At the 35 km stage my average had slipped to 10.9, and the boost received by family and Beckenham was extremely welcome. Past my usual viewing spot near Cannon Street…and then under the Blackfriars underpass….both legs started to seize up….and running ,even at considerably reduced speed, was very painful…What to do…?it was not like that dead leg feeling sometimes eased by raising the leg and pulling foot..but a growing resistance by both legs to forward motion…So near the finish at the 24/25 mile stage i was reduced to running walking, mathematics blown out of the water…The crowd urged me on…and my relative sprint to the line was probably a fast walk in reality…
Job done…a sort of dream realised…”
