07/05/2026
Race recap part 2: much later than planned 😬
So coming through the half way line and still feeling good, heading back into town and enjoying the crowds. Once through town the route wiggles a lot in Hove. Leg was playing ball - phew. I largely forgot about it for the remainder of the race.
I got to a spot where I remembered my friends .m.bailey and in a previous year jumping up and down at me and just past here I spotted my family!! It was so great to see them. It was just the boost i needed at that time.
Head down & still feeling good. Taking water at every station. A gel every 5k. It was only when I got to 36km that i started to feel a bit fatigued. Not a crash like I’ve experienced before but struggling to hang onto pace.
I didn’t mind that i was a bit slower for a few kms because i was tracking well and my one goal was to not walk. I am a big advocate of walking if you need to, my problem in recent marathons has been my body thinks I’ve reached the end & I can’t pick my legs up again.
So I started counting up to 20 and back (that’s all my brain could manage!) on repeat. Just keep plodding on. Saw the fam again cheering! One km at a time - just tick them off! Finally the 40km mark.
Tried to pick it up again (semi successfully) but knew could make it. Body in so much pain but head more determined than ever.
Saw fam with 600m to go and kids cheering me on. Where’s the finish line? Couldn’t see it. Then eventually thank god! Crossed the line. Couldn’t move but so happy!
Super proud of just under a 3 min PB aged 47. But that marathon was so much more than the finish time. It will always be one of my proudest marathons as I’ve had so much going on in my personal life - really the start line was the goal. Although the finish line felt bloody good!!
A pint 🍻 with friends after was just lovely
Last week my Osteo Sam confirmed I had a small tear in my Achilles tendon so after 12 days rest & a treatment, it’s healing nicely & just doing some light miles now but am pain free again and just enjoying no real plan atm!
📷 Photo 1:
