London Marathon 2023 done, and it did not disappoint!
by Nikki Edwards who won the CMRC club ballot place.
A totally different experience to the first time I ran it. Well, maybe not totally; it was still a very long way…
My last report stated how well training was going and that I was looking forward to my last long run with club friends at the Prague Half Marathon. We had a fabulous weekend sightseeing and laughing (although it was very cold!) and I nailed my fuelling and marathon pace during the run. However, we all arrived back home with coughs, colds, sore throats (the usual post-flight viruses) and I ended up on antibiotics with a sinus infection. As I was tapering, I didn’t worry too much about the lack of running (the miles were in the legs): I just wanted to be well enough to run it! I tried a ‘kill or cure’ run leading the Monday morning social run - not my best idea! Lesson learnt: rest really is the best thing to do when you’re feeling unwell so that’s what I did.
The weekend of the marathon finally arrived and a huge group of us travelled down together on the train trying to persuade anyone who would listen to us to enter the ballot for the London Marathon next year like many of us did on the way down. There was such a buzz of excitement from both runners and supporters. It was wonderful to all be together. The rest of the day was spent eating and chatting with the rest of the CMRC crew, who we met at ‘The Hub’ (yes, we have another ‘Hub’ where we meet in London - the Premier Inn Hub, Westminster) and we physically and mentally prepared ourselves for the next day. The weather forecast was bleak but ponchos were dished out and we were all ready to tackle whatever the elements threw at us.
I was not running for a charity this year as everyone had been so generous the last time when I needed sponsorship. Instead, I chose to run in memory of Andy Boardman, a local runner, Wyre Forest Parkrun regular and dad to one of the children I teach in my class, who had sadly and very suddenly died over the Easter break. It seemed a fitting tribute as he himself had run the London Marathon exactly 5 years ago to the day. His wife, Luci, gave me his Parkrun wristband to wear around the course. I just knew whatever happened it would get me over the finish line thinking about his brave family left behind.
The rain started to fall as we arrived at the start but we were safe and snug in our ponchos and we didn’t even need to join the never-ending toilet queue: we braved the peequals (female urinals). GAME CHANGER!
Blue Wave 10 started at 10:43 and I was off! I was overwhelmed by the number of people who had braved the weather to stand and cheer from outside their homes in those early miles. There were a record number of runners this year so weaving through the crowded roads, puddles, discarded water bottles and empty gel packets in that first part of the race was tricky but time flew and soon the famous sight of the Cutty Sark came in to view and the obligatory waving of arms at every camera started. Everything was going great - I had managed to rein in my initial excitement and keep to a fairly consistent pace for the first part of the race. I was expecting my support crew just after mile 8 but actually seeing them was still a surprise and it melted my heart. They popped up again between miles 11 and 12 looking wet but like they too were having the time of their lives. The crowds seemed larger than usual and I can only imagine the difficulty in navigating from one support location to the next. Hats off to them all! Turning a corner and seeing Tower Bridge rise above me, brought a lump to my throat and then seeing another of our support groups on the bridge was just wonderful. So, I entered Canary Wharf feeling strong, but as we all know, the GPS does crazy things down there! I supposedly even did a 5:51 minute mile at one point so will, at some point, need to delete several PRs I wrongly achieved during miles 19 and 20! The rain was still falling and the bottoms of my feet were beginning to feel sore but seeing ‘my crew’ at mile 22 was just the boost I needed. I knew I had slowed slightly but I was just happy to be there with only a few miles to go and I even completed my ambition to start the ‘Oggy, Oggy, Oggy’ in the tunnel at mile 24. Oi! Oi! Oi! Two miles out, the smile from ear to ear, but also the tears, started as the screams of encouragement deafened us - it was incredible - and I looked forward to hearing my finish line song (and to be able to stop, of course!).
I cannot imagine anything more elating for the rest of my life than crossing that finish line! The sense of achievement, pride and relief was immense and then to be met by the most amazing group of volunteers that swoop in with your medal, foil blanket and to help with anything you need. In my case, a hug every 10 metres as I kept bursting into tears - totally emotional!
I will mention here, but not dwell on, the importance of taking care of your self immediately post race as it was at this point that I began to feel quite unwell again. I knew I had fuelled and hydrated before and during the race correctly but I still felt poorly like I had in my previous marathon which I had put down then to Covid. Of course, my family and fellow CMRC friends took great care of me but I know it is not the case for all runners who may have travelled alone. At that point, I was never going to do another marathon!
On reflection, and after some serious googling, I believe my blood pressure drops as soon as I stop running and some leg elevation is all that is needed. And contrary to my belief at mile 23, the soles of my feet did not fall off when I took my trainers off but running in the rain had taken its toll on them.
So, have I entered next year’s ballot? Of course, I have!!!
Finally, thank you CMRC for this wonderful opportunity and for the fantastic time we had together. Memories have been made that will last a lifetime and have inspired the next generation of runners in my household as they loved the weekend too!
