Journey to a marathon

For years I have watched the London marathon from my couch, touched by the magnificent stories of people running in all shapes and sizes, levels of fitness and charities they are supporting. I’d desired to run the marathon but never felt that I had the discipline to accomplish the extensive training that is required nor the commitment to achieving the level of fitness needed to run such an event.

That I entered the ballot for a place in the London marathon 2016 for a third time a won one was all the motivation I needed to start planning my journey from couch to marathon, in 6 months. I felt privileged and honored that I had this opportunity to excel at running and to raise awareness for mental health.

To begin, I needed to know what the end goal was and that was to cross the finish line alive in one piece within the allocated time for the runners. I sought about reading as much literature as I could, listening to pod casts and motivational speakers, and most importantly, talking to people who had previously run this and other marathons. I gave myself a month to gather as much information as I could on nutrition, diet, lifestyle and purchased a training programme relevant for my fitness levels and desired goal to finish in under 6 hours (might I add here that I considered myself very unfit).

Whilst I had won a ballot place to run the London 2016, I chose to run for the charity MIND that provides resources and support to those affected by mental illness. My decision to run for MIND was deeply personal.

I grew up in a home with a family member who has bipolar depression. Coupled with this a multitude of other illnesses. It was my experience growing up that mental illness is to be hidden, not to be spoken about & very little support available. Thankfully these attitudes are changing in 2016, yet there is still such a stigma.
Imagine being trapped in your mind, unable to function or sleep normally and not to participate in the fullness of life as we know it? To confront darkness, fear & despair on a daily basis. It’s crippling. The closest I came to this was when I was taking chemotherapy drugs for breast cancer when I was 29. I battled courageously with thoughts that were like a never-ending rollercoaster ride. I gained a new understanding of the freedom that mental health brings & a deep love, compassion & respect for those that are truly bound to depression & despair.

My training began in earnest from January and it required me to look holistically at the journey I was going to make through increasing fitness. I had to consider my lifestyle, my attitude to getting up early to fit in morning runs, buying all weather running clothes including comfortable running shoes, gels, energy drinks and how I might use my restricted diet to give me the best boost it could. I have always loved sleep, but now I need to ensure I was getting lots of rest which I found a challenge with my active social life. I travel a lot for work so had to consider how I might accommodate runs whilst away or over any lunch breaks I afforded myself. I became incredibly effective at planning and constantly revisited my progress against my plan. Some weeks were better than others, but this too, I took in my stride.

I belonged to a closed social media group that had 300 other MIND marathon runners all sharing ideas, tips, frustrations and challenges. This was so inspirational and fed my mind spiritually.

Four months, two half-marathons, a 12 km road race and several 100’s of kilometers underfoot, marathon day came around. It was exceptional the excitement I felt up until race day. I had visualized running over Tower Bridge and through Canary Wharf and down to the Embankment and passing Big Ben into Westminster and the finish line. Every bit of my imagination was met with total joy in the moment as I experienced the crowds that carried me through their cheering. Waking up on the day with my cherished brother Gary, who I was joyously getting to share this experience with, was a highlight for me. We had stayed overnight in an East London hotel so we could journey a shorter distance on race day. The thrill of getting ready in our race gear, and journeying with other marathoners on route to Greenwich was a thrill, despite the cold and dreary weather we faced. A tube and a train ride later, we were on foot through Greenwich village to our start. All the pre-day planning helped with the logistics of where to go, what to take with you and where to leave the rest which in itself could cause you angst on the day if you hadn’t considered this beforehand. Yet the race organisers had thought of everything and the experience was magnificent.

Standing in my pen from 9am waiting for my 10am start was exhilarating whilst I drank in the experience and talked to other runs excitedly. Knowing I was being thought of across the world and that I was running with Gary and other MIND runners was tremendous. When I finally got over the start line, 15 minutes after the gun had gone, my adrenalin kicked in and off I went. A joyous 5 hr 21 minutes later I crossed over at Buckingham palace, elated and exhausted. It was superb.

I had trained, I had planned, I had learned everything I could beforehand and I was mentally strong to enjoy every moment and I did. It was perhaps my best day in life to date. Tears fell down my face, tears of joy and happiness and love for myself that I had done it. My legs had done it. My back, my arms, my feet and my knees – they had done it. The crowds, my sponsors, my friends and family – I carried them all on race day and I am so proud of my achievement.

Nihil sine labore.