London Marathon - Supporters Edition
Alas, I did not run this last Virgin London Marathon. I hope I do one day, but this year was not that year. Instead I got to cheer on as a volunteer with Tenovus Cancer Care and had a great day.
It is not neccessarily the day I want to talk about but the lead up. I know other people that have done marathons and I am still as proud now for them as I was then. The main people of note doing the Londond Marathon, changing is health and lifestyle in the process - it was amazing. Other notable people taking part in the Edinburgh Marathon, even injured, but finishing. Immense pride.
This years marathon was a little different in that my friend entered the ballot without telling anyone. She was afraid that people would laugh at her, and to be fair, they probably would have. When she entered the ballot she had not even ran a mile. Although unsuccessful at the ballot, Tenovus Cancer Care had some charity places and so she did get to race.
I’ll be honest, I was a little disappointed not to be let in to the fact the she had entered the race as typically I am ‘the runner’ and it was something that is clear I will do soon. But, I made no mention… well, little mention… of that fact. This was to be her year.
She bought the kit and did the training, raised the funds all through social media which is impressive, reaching over £2,500 through Twitter and Facebook alone. She entered her first 10K and ran the entire distance. Her pace is not fast, but she does not stop. We really worked on her technique when I joined her on runs. Her strides were tiny and she was ending with aching hips and swollen knees because of the bashing she was giving them from directly above the joints. We opened her out and she ‘gazelled’ which really helped.
When she first realised she was actually going to do it we joked about what she could listen to en route and we have made soundbites and micky-take videos for friends birthdays and whatnot and we joked about a podcast.
… I made her a podcast. But not just me, just under an hour of material from people we know who wanted to leave a message or tell a story, or sing a song. I managed to get it all done in 10 days and get it on her phone. I know she could now beat mile 18. Isle of Dogs she started listening to it and bawling her eyes out, lasting up until the exact moment she got to our cheer station where I even got to walk with her on the track for a bit. She ran a complete half marathon, but had to walk shortly afterwards, but that didn’t matter, she finished. She finished with well wishes and cheers from strangers and podcast makers and I am eternally grateful to those that contributed.
The day was emotional in itself and the podcast produced tears - and happy tears are good tears.
