The gauntlet is laid

Has been picked up by many.  A team to train with, it shoulda, woulda, coulda be fun.

No declaration of intent yet but to get round.  Except, I have a time to beat.

Sub 15 anyone?

The ball is rolling...

I've deliberately waited for a few days after the event to write this blog entry.  It's allowed an opportunity for reflection on the whole project and the aftermath of an increasingly more difficult challenge.  The delay in writing was to go into future challenges with a clear mind.

It's always been a policy of Alan and I to say yes first and then worry about how we're going to achieve it later.  Carpe Diem.  It's got us into all sorts of trouble over the years.  The collection of memories will be such that well into our rocking chair years we'll have enough to keep us amused.

The marathon project has been without doubt the most difficult we have had to face.  I feel a bit of a fraud when claiming how tough it was when we are blessed with a number of friends whose marathon achievements make ours seem like a day out at the spa.   The responsibility of the charity fund raising combined with the busiest time for us with both the shop and events we organise no doubt hampered our ability to train and more importantly rest properly.  It made the challenge much worse than it should have been but then maybe the satisfaction of completing it much sweeter.

When I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia three years ago, it was the start of a new chapter of my running career.  Running fast was no longer an option, running long was.  I've run thirteen marathons and completed Ironman Switzerland since then.  It's been such an important part of both our lives.

After London Alan and I swore that we would withdraw from Roth and our remaining races this year.  We'd have a break, train properly and come back stronger.  I wanted to wait a couple of weeks to see if it was just fatigue talking and if our mind would change but it kind of hasn't.  So, a very sad day today when we have to face things as adults and officially withdraw from what would have been our second ironman distance tri.  So, what next...

Well, not a full withdrawal from our race calender thank goodness.  We've re-evaluated and will rest for another couple of weeks to allow things to heal.  We have three main targets for the rest of the year.  A relay leg of the Outlaw ironman distance triathlon.  I've bagged the bike and so that will be my focus for the next ten weeks or so.  Alan has the run so will rest until his foot has fully mended.  We then have the New Forest Marathon in September and the Ballbuster Duathlon in November.  The 'A' focus will be the Ballbuster.  We're going to evaluate realistic goals and set them out here soon.  But ultimately, our real goal for the rest of this year is to fall back in love with a sport that has been loyal to us for so long.  We're feeling a bit battered.

Onwards and upwards...

We're done.  All six finished, medals in the bag, tee-shirts in the drawer.  And goodness are we relieved.

Never before have I ever wanted to stop in a marathon (we didn't).  Never before have I ever doubted I would finish (we did).  God it was tough!

The forecast hot weather never appeared.  The rain that was hinted at did in earnest.  Having gone from the Red start previously I knew there was covered seating at the far end of the park.  As soon as we got off the coach I kissed Al and then made a bee-line straight for it.  What a wise choice!  The rain was torrential, soaking runners to the skin.  Not a perfect start.  It was hard not to gloat from my uber comfy dry position. 

The rain dried up.  The start time drew closer and it was time to make my way to baggage and the start line

It took half an hour to cross the line.  There seemed to be so many people cramming their way through.   It took so long, I needed to go to the loo and so queued for another 15 minutes at the portaloos at Mile 1.  So far, a personal worst!  Then the fatal mistake of trying to catch up.  Mile 2, 10.16, Mile 3, 11.12, Mile 4, 10.51, Mile 5, 11.06, Mile 6 slower to chat to Rene, the oldest marathon runner in the race at 83.  Mile 7, 11.07, Mile 8, calf starts to cramp.  Mile 10 three stops for stretches.  Mile 13, the wheels fall off.  Mile 15 in agony, Mile 17 and the runners world supporters are amazing.  A slurp of Stella (cheers Barley) and stories af Alan looking tired but ok and push on to find that I can't run any more.  My calf hurts so much.  Stretching doesn't help.  Limping on, my hip flexor finally gives up.  Feet hurt so much.  Misery draws in.  I so want to stop.  Gutted. 

The run became a walk.  It took so long, I have a new found admiration for the ladies who do the moonwalk.  It was amazing to see so much of the route that I would normally miss through the focus of keeping going.  Happily I finally reached Tower Bridge for the second time and made my way to the last section of the course joining the Thames. 

I love this part so much!  Then an image came out of the gloom.  A vision in bright yellow.  Pauline who I'd managed to miss at Mile 11 had been waiting on the Embankment for me to pass.  It was amazing to see someone I knew and immediately it drew me out of my despondent misery.  It was so nice to talk to someone who was happy.  She accompanied me for 2 miles until we reached Hungerford Bridge.  Just up the road was Big Ben and the turn into Parliament Square and home. 

I've never been so happy to see a finish line.  Holding back the tears, I accepted my medal and goody bag and made my way to pick up my bag and meet Alan who'd managed to pick up a stress fracture in his foot at Mile 15.

The time was a terrible 6.26 but do you know what...We did what we set out to do and more importantly have managed to raise £1200 so far for the Children's Trust.  www.justgiving.com/nicky-donbavand

Right now, we're exhausted and having a well deserved break.  A huge thank you to all of you who have followed our adventures and donated money to a fabulous cause.   

It's always an amazing thing to be at an inaugral event.  The announcement of the Brighton Marathon over a year ago as a 'challenge' to London was eagerly received.  An opportunity to run it came our way after we had set out on the marathon quest.  It seemed a shame to turn it down and so we accepted and have eagerly awaited it ever since.

This one is interesting.  We were divided before the event as to whether it would be amazing or dreadful.  The route is a never ending series of out and back type loops.  Soul destroying in a marathon.  So we were keen to see how people would fare.

After nervously weather watching it turned out to be the most glorious day ever!

Deciding not to risk the Park and Ride we were very kindly offered a lift from our friend who had arranged to park his car at the David Lloyd Gym in the marina.  We were picked up about 5.50am and had a smooth journey down to Brighton.  It was surprising to see how empty the streets were as we approached the marina but driving along roads that were to become part of the course we could see preparations already happening to close the roads.

A chill out in the club room and then a bus to the railway station meant that we only had a short walk up to Preston Park.  Here most of the crowds were forming and already at 8am there were big queues for loos and baggage vans.

Pens were laid out according to number colour.  We had white numbers and weren't quite sure what that meant until we spied the VIP area fenced off from the masses.  Going over to make enquiries we were ushered through the tape barrier by security and into a marquee containing seats, tea and coffee and shaded from the already warming sun.

Oh my Goodness, such luxury.  It was amazing to be able to sit down, have a coffee and just chill while listening to the pre race warm up.  A quick peek outside revealed about 1000 people bouncing around to the music under the direction of a gym instructor screeching at them from a temporary stage.  In all my days will I never understand why people would want to do that in hot sun before running 26 miles.  I mean, really!  I had a quick chuckle and then went back inside.

The VIP lifestyle also meant NO loo queue.  It was heaven.  I went twice.  Just for the sheer hell of it.  I even had a choice of cubicle.  And moisturiser once I'd washed my hands.  Luxury I tell ya!  It was so much I almost didn't want to leave.  It got to about 8.50am and we were ushered out and to our start pen AT THE FRONT OF THE RACE.  How I laughed.  Never in all my days would I ever see the front of a marathon start line again so I just gawped and enjoyed the feeling.

Of course I couldn't stay there so eventually left and made my way to the back of the masses where I felt much more at home.  A delay of 15 minutes occured due to a thoughtless car driver who parked his car on the route but then the race started and we were off.

The start of a marathon is becoming a familiar occurance these days and so instead of joining in the excitement and nervous banter I just sat on the grass and watched until a space popped up.

We had an uneventful first few miles looping in and around the streets of Brighton until we headed East along the coast.  There were a few undulations and in fact the course was much morelumpy than I expected.  But, was much better for this.  After the pancake flat Enigma it was lovely to test the legs on the hills and respite on the downs.

A turnaround at Mile 10 saw the route come back on itself along the coast.  It was amazingly beautiul and I enjoyed this part very much.

Having already seen Alan coming past along this point earlier I started to look forward to seeing my friends who I knew were in town.  But gradually, the fatigue build up in my legs started to take its toll.  As I slowed down more and more the crowds on entering Brighton Town at the halfway point were oppressive rather than supportive and I found it really hard to concentrate.  Seeing my friends Laurie and Sarah really gave me a boost but it didn't last for long before I started to flag again. 

Laurie had downloaded a few episodes of Marathon Talk for me to listen to.  It really helped to take away some of the pain of those middle miles.  We were now entering the worst part of the course.  A very long out and back through Hove before another equally boring out and back around the power station.  By about Mile 16 I really started to get hot, bothered and interestingly very bored.  I lost the will to go on.  I needed something and not sure what it was spied an Ice Cream van just off course.  A quick diversion saw me enjoying the best Strawberry Mivvi I've ever had.

Marathon Talk and thoughts of the finish dragged me along until eventually reached the pier and the finish and another wonderful medal to add to the collection and another very slow 5.56 to add to the shameful times.

There is no doubt that I'm getting more tired the more the quest goes on.  But finally I'm on the home straight and have the last one in my sights.  It's been an amazing journey and I'm going to be really sorry when it's finished but right now, the relief of having completed the task set and raising money for a charity that does so much for the kids who need them will be immense.

Please keep your donations coming in and it you know of anyone who would be interested in donating a couple of pounds forward the link to them.  www.justgiving.com/nicky-donbavand.

Thank you!