Intellectually, I knew that running a marathon would be hard. I pictured blisters, sore legs, maybe being sick a bit. In the end, the physical wasn’t actually the worst of it. I had trained well, had some great kit and have learned (sometimes the hard way) how to fuel myself through a run. I was gratified to find out that those things made a difference.
What was most difficult was the emotional side of marathon running. I had deeper troughs and higher peaks during those 26.2 miles than I possibly ever have had before. To describe them, the only way I can think is to take you mile-by-mile.
Plain Sailing – Miles 0 – 13
The atmosphere at the Yorkshire marathon was incredible. As the route went through residential areas, loads of people came out in their slippers and cheered from their gardens. It was wonderful. We did the first half of the marathon in 1hr 55, which is 3 minutes faster than my Half PB. What was the advice that every person ever gave for your first marathon? Don’t start out too fast? Oh… Something was going to have to give.
Brat Attack – Mile 13
Ask anyone who knew me when I was a teenager – I was ridiculously nice for a teenage girl. No attitude, no talking back, no stroppiness. Turns out, I was saving it all up for 13.1 miles through my first marathon. I had my first ever serious brat attack as we crossed the mat halfway through the marathon. Realising that I had to do a whole half marathon again, something snapped in me. “I HATE this. I HATE running. This is HORRIBLE.” – I had a full minute of pure Veruca Salt. I stopped at the side of the road and (this is embarrassing) literally stamped my foot. Mum had to be the most ‘mummish’ that she has had to be for years. She held me by the shoulders and had to talk me round “You can do this, you don’t hate this, pull yourself together.”
Going our own ways – Mile 18
We kept running, and I never actually slowed to a walk, but my pace did get slower and slower mile by mile. Mum had a lot more energy in her legs than I did, and was having to stop and wait for me every 200 metres or so, I was really holding her back. At about 18 miles, my pace had slowed so much that I knew we weren’t going to beat mum’s marathon PB if we stayed together. So, I told her to head off without me and keep going. She took some persuading, but eventually set off on her fast little legs without me. I never had any doubt that I would finish (not even a moment, strangely), but how fast I would manage was another matter. With my picture of Terry Fox clutched in my sweaty hand, and an affirmation “I can do this”, I continued on alone.
Just a Parkrun to go – Mile 23
From mile 21, I gained a new mental strength, knowing that I had just a short way to go. Once I got to 23 miles, I was positively cheery, and announced to everyone around me “Only a Parkrun to go!”. This went down better with some than others. One woman, on a different page to me, grumbled “Easier said than done, I didn’t want reminding”, while others were quite pleased with it. Over the next couple of miles, a few of us were crissing and crossing each other and egging each other on “Good parkrun, eh!”, “Nearly halfway through the Parkrun, don’t stop now!”
Sobfest – Mile 25.5
With just over half a mile to go, I was surprised to find myself wracked with sobs. I wasn’t sad, just incredibly overwhelmed. We raised over £1000 in the memory of my late uncle, and pushed ourselves to the limit for it. I saw one of our twitter friends, Gemma, at the finish line and I must have looked a state. Running, grinning, crying, just so happy to be exactly where I was.
I was incandescent afterwards. Effervescent. I was a marathon runner. I am a marathon runner. I don’t know when, or if, I’ll get over that feeling.
Aw, reading this brought back all the memories of York again! Such an awesome race, and you showed such grit and determination to finish as strongly as you did!xx
Becky was so great to have with me at about mile 20. I’m so glad we bumped into you guys before the race so I knew your faces. What a day!
Hopefully see you on Sunday. 🙂
I love that you ran with a photo of Terry Fox! Some of my first running memories are of the annual Terry Fox runs at school. Awesome motivation and no better runner to look up to!
Brilliant write up. Well done!
Thank you Adele!
What a cracking race report and very well done on your first 26.2. And on the money you raised.
So, what’s up next?!
P.S. There’s nothing I like more than a hearing about a good mid-race tantrum. A stumpy feet extravaganza is a wonderful thing to witness.
One of our twitter followers has actually come out of the woodwork and said that she actually SAW the tantrum! Ultimate cringe…
We’ve got the Abbey Dash this weekend, and I’ve pre-registered for the Yorkshire Marathon again next year, and I’m sure I’ll end up with dozens more races in the meantime. I’ve been going swimming a lot recently… triathlon?!
Have you ever been tempted by long-distance triathlons?
That’s incredible. Surely there must be video lurking around on the web. I really fancy the Yorkshire Marathon, so I’m going to pre-register too.
Don’t mention the ‘T’ word.
The main issue I have with triathlon is that I don’t like cycling and I don’t like swimming. Apart from that, I’m well up for it.
The thing is, I say all that and it’s inevitable. I will do an Ironman at some point. Bleurgh.
Hi Bibi, a great and truly honest marathon report, I hope it gets read as widely as possible.
I’m not sure there is any way to prepare mentally for marathon – you just have to put your body and mind through the distance on the day. But now, as you say – you are a marathon runner – you can rely on that mental fortitude to get you through the next ones. It certainly works for me even as my pace gets slower!!
Well done again on your first marathon though, a great achievement!!!!
Thank you Duncan. I thought I was prepared for the day, but you just can’t anticipate the feeling of that actual first one can you? How different does it feel the next time, in your experience?
Each marathon has been quite different but after doing the first I’ve found you are better prepared for whatever the next ones throw at you – whether it be hot weather or hills!
You did very well even if it was perhaps a bit different from the plan in your mind beforehand. Like all races you need a plan but I think the longer the distance gets the more you need to be able to amend it on the day; warm weather certainly changed my race strategy over drinking fluids on one occasion.
But now you’ve done one you are ‘fully’ prepared for the next one………!
I’m literally in tears! Who knew I could get emotional over running 🙂 so proud of you two! Wishing a bit to have been a fly to witness Ms.Beebs brat attack!!! Xox
Ahh you lovely girl. One of our twitter followers has said she actually DID see me having my terrible twos! How embarrassing is that?
Having run my first marathon at the weekend I can relate very well, I actually found it ok until mile 21. Then I really suffered mentally and physically. But that feeling of being a marathon runner? Amazing. I certainly didn’t tire of telling people what I’d done at the weekend 🙂
Congratulations and here’s to number 2!
You guys are both awesome! Congrats on your first marathon – I’m hoping to do one next year so this is very inspiring stuff.
I just discovered your blog and love it! My daughter and I started a vegan blog together and she started running with me a few years ago. I’m about to run my first marathon in October and ran a 20 miler in an organized run yesterday. This was so much fun to read the day after. It’s so nice to see another mom and daughter veg/running duo. 🙂