Part Three
Firstly thanks for all your kind words, after yesterdays blog. X
At the end of the 26.2 miles, I collected my medal and goody bag, hugged Mrs F, thanked my fellow runners for their support, grabbed Madam from her carers and headed over to the relics. This meant negotiating a fence, bending to go under it, was slightly tricky at this point. I knew I had to take my trainers off and was met with the sight of this, ewwww.
(I’ve made the photo as small as possible!)
Running a marathon kills all my brain functioning so was it did not occur to me to put something warm on till Mum suggested it. “Oh I will change in to dry clothes” I said. I was just going to strip off there (see what I mean about brain function). In the end I opted for the port-o-loo. How Superman did it in a phonebox I have no idea. A port- o-loo is a very cramped and dangerous option, but it felt so good to put on clean dry clothes, fortunately I had brought along flip flops to wear putting my feet in to, anything else would have been IMPOSSIBLE.
I fully expected at this point for Mum and Dad to head off to their car in one direction and Madam and I to mine in the other direction. As an independent almost 50 year old, it did not occur to me that things would happen any other way. But no, Dad took my bag, Mum my other one and we walked very slowly to my car, three relics and Madam. Mum then put some deep freeze on my back, Dad called hubby, a coat was placed in the drivers seat to help support my back. Not often I get looked after but it was lovely. At a guess they were concerned with me driving the 4 hours home! The drive however went well the M25 kind to me, the hardest part was getting out of the car at half way to have dinner, I just could not straighten my legs. The waitress must have thought Madam was having dinner with her Grandma!
Positives from the day
- I had great support on the day
- Fantastic blog support since
- Great Medal and goody bag
- Nice to be involved in the First Chelmsford Marathon
- I managed it
- The old body had recovered by Wednesday
Five marathons, one for each decade, accomplished in 10 years of running, so that seems like a great place to stop. So no more 26.2 miles for me!
Here are some pics from the day.
shazruns 
**don’t just focus on the foot
don’t just focus on the foot
mention other stuff and not just the foot
Focus on the achievements of the last ten years
…don’t just go on about the foot
ok? got it?
got it.
good.
No foot talk. Got it.**
MY GOODNESS WHAT DID YOU DO TO YOUR FOOT??!!
(larger picture next time please and a little more foot – to hep give it some scale and context – thank you)
Be careful what you wish for!
Gosh Shaz, I’m having another little cry reading your blog. Very well done and great photos. You look wonderful! And that blister???? Oh my goodness!!!!
Thanks, it was a beauty! Think t will be with me for a while!
I saw the photo and thought “oh my god, Shaz’s foot has fallen off!”. Ouch ouch ouch!! I am even more impressed that you then drove straight home – 4 hours is no mean feat anyway!
Relax and enjoy half term!
I admit, I’m a little more than jellie of your race photos–you look so happy and calm while running. (I always wear this enormous concentrating scowl). If your marathon days are over, that means you can make a trip to NYC (with Red Hen and others!) for the Manhattan Half or Brooklyn Half or NYC Half…I can go on and on, there are plenty!
Hahaha! Oh boy, wouldn’t a half in NYC be something? CONGRATS again, Shaz and yes, I second Paige’s observations:you’re race pics ROCK! Me. I look like death warmed up in any race pic. So, for my next one, I’ve planned to whip out the paper bag I’ll have stowed in my waist pack just for that purpose, slip it over my head and SMILE!
Feet up! Nope, couldn’t even look at that pic! And WELL DONE! on your achievement! You beat me by twenty five minutes you know. Yeah, sick. I’ll just have to go again!
Thanks RH, we sould so do a NYC something!
love the photos!! well done you xx
Great photos and wonderful story. It is so hard to move or even think after you have pushed yourself for so long. Great job!
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