Firstly massive thanks as always to the support crew, here she is showing off her cute new hair! 
Anyway, for the last parkrun it was easier to run and focus on the finish. I think I did actually smile a bit more. There was a section that was really overgrown and we couldn't run it even if we wanted to. Because I walk a bit faster I got a bit ahead but I quite liked the excuse to stop and wait. I think that there was a short period O went through a bad patch, he went a bit quiet and wanted to walk when it wasn't a hill. He resolved himself quickly, if it even was that, either way he was back with me after 10mins. We were now looking to the finish and I think it is fair to say I quite enjoyed the last 5k, down the hill through the tall crops was fun (although still agony, I was ignoring it now). We could hear the finish!
Pushing on there was a cheeky hill right near the end which we walked to save us for the last bit. We were just going through a wooded section and we could really hear the cheering now, this was really motivating and we past some volunteers who were encouraging too. Then out of the woods and down to the finish we could see it. Ley said she saw me put my arms in the air. I, well O, found me running into him as I for some reason wanted to head to the right. The finish was to the left!
Ley was waiting for us! We also got a goody bag with jam in it and Ley got me a biscuit, she knows me too well. Was fed up of sweets and gels and just wanted something proper so we all had hog roast bap. Was yum!
So both of us were reasonably calm given the occasion and it was a lovely start to the event. There were a god few hundred people and some chaps that we recognised from the Larmer Tree. It was their first marathon too. White Star Racing did pull of a fantastic event, there were some great costumes and there was even a horse and a horn to start and the weather was awesome (until it got too awesome and was too bloody hot!). Anyway, cracking on 27miles to go! Said farewell to Ley and we were off.
So as per previous post we were going to walk all the hills. I was a bit worried O wouldn't stick to this, but he did and we were walking quite early on up the first hill as planned. This was good, but he does walk slower than me, I just need to worry about keeping up with him when we are running! We were talking about our next marathon and future events within 5 minutes.... It hadn't started hurting yet.
So first feed station 5k in was earlier than expected but a couple of nibbles and we were back on our way.
So a few new gadgets in tow. My new Garmin FR920XT which I haven't really taken off since the day it arrived (and I love it even if it is huge!) I will save my love for this to another post once I have tested out a few more functions. I also aquired a new Camebak the Aurora. Very pleased with this hydration pack, love how easy is to fill and drink from, also love all the extra pockets! I took 7 gels and it had a ful 2litres in. I used 6 gels and refilled it once. I needed the fluid, it was a hot day!
O had a few issues with his sloshing. I tried to help fix it but I think I made it worse as it ended up leaking and he had a wet bum and then I think I pissed him off attempting to help some more. Eventually he stopped and fixed it so it stopped leaking. We got used to the sloshing. He has now got a new Camelbak too, the marathoner I believe but I haven't seen it though it was one i shortlisted but they had sold out mind I am chuffed with the one I have.
So buy 1/4marathon I needed to sort my feet out as I could feel a blister developing so compede blister patch applied. I was anxious this was going to stop me later but it didn't. The blister patch did its job but the cause was because I wore my road trainers and because it was a trail and very uneven underfoot the front of my foot was moving around too much. I am going to look at getting some new distance trail trainers ASAP. My current Trails are good but my feet swell a bit when I am doing longer distances and so need a bit more room.
So we pushed on, we kept walking the hills and we're both feeling pretty good. We were on track for a 5-5:30 finish. When we were running we both were keeping our watches somewhere between a 6:00-6:30 km pace although this tended to creep up on the descents (and was around the 7min/km towards the latter half of the race).
We both needed a comfort break at one point and the plan was to walk until the other caught back up. I climbed a 6ft gate into a field but on my return over the gate landed badly and caught my ankle but luckily all was okay and caught back up. Never had to stop during a run before, luckily I was prepared. Boys get it so easy...
So all was going ish to plan. I was starting to hurt though. O was bouncing around still and full of it which didn't really change. I had the energy but my legs were hurting. Particularly the upper lateral part of my quads around my hips, and the outsides of my knees. My quads were what was hurting on my Monday run so wasn't completely unexpected. There was that but also my lower back around my kidney area. This was only going to get worse and it was getting hotter.
As I had expected I found 28-35k the worst. I was in so much pain, and although I didn't tell O, I had a headache and felt a bit faint and so hot I found it really hard to keep running and start back up again. There were some great people we got chatting to at times and it was lovley. O was amazing as well. I wouldn't have got through those 7km or the subsequent last 8k either tbh if he wasn't there and being a huge support (and feeling a lot better than I was). I didn't talk to him much for an hr or so I don't think, bit of a turn of the cards to it usually me doing too much of that. I just had to get my head down and push through what I was going through, if that was the wall I think I found it, still it was the pain in my back and quads that was just the worst. Energy wise I was okay, just oh my, my back was agony. Every step I landed was agony. O kept me smiling. Well it's the best I could do, I couldn't find the focus to call him a jerk or tell him where to stuff his idea to start running again.
Eventually corrected we came down the hill at quite a pace and crossed the line together and got the most awesome medals!
And home. O even got a record of me getting some kip which might explain why one minute we were in Dorset and then in what felt like 2minutes we were in Chichester.
Oh and we have new tshirts too!
I will save post marathon week report for another post. Was a tough run, so pleased to say that I am a marathon runner now though. Now just looking at next ones, we have booked the Larmer Tree 20miler for March next year!
Another great event White Star Racing (WSR)! Thanks!!
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