Yesterday I ran the London Marathon!!!!

The atmosphere at the start was great. It was lovely to start from the
charity start because there were sooooo many charity runners and the vests
were so colourful! No queues for the loos the first three times I used them
either!  I wasn't too nervous.   As I thought might happen, I was okay once
I got there.  I'm used to standing in a dewy field on a Sunday morning
surrounded by portaloos and the smell of Ralgex!

Loved the atmosphere of the run - the boos when the routes merged, the
bands, the way every YMCA was playing - yes you've guessed it! I've nearly
got the movements sussed now! Did great for the first 16 miles, well within
my planned max 10 min milers then...

TWANG! Don't know what went but something went in my right hamstring that
caused me to come to a dead stop causing the inevitable huge pile up (sorry
peeps)! Thought I was out but I walked for a while and it eased but it
instantly replicated the pain in my calf that I'd been trying to get rid of
all week. I've been nursing a calf injury for a week and so had to start
seeing an emergency physio.  My Best Friend, Pete the Physio had given me
tubigrip to put on if I had problems so once I had space (it would happen in
the most congested part of the course!) I put it on and hobbled through the
next couple of miles.  Then I decided I was in a position to walk to the
Finish now so put a new plan into action, at every Water Station I would
walk for Point 2 of a mile and then run to the next water station.

Well this worked - slowly but it worked!

So I managed a sort of sprint down the Mall and did cross the Finish Line
with a smile on my face! Not the best time in the world but well within my
own little comfort zone of 5 hours so not bad given the problems! 4.40.53.
Age adjusted I was 728th!

A lovely touch was as I entered my Charity post race reception, all the
staff clapped! I felt really valued!

I've raised over £2700!