What Jenny Did: 2016

I have had a constant headache on the left side of my head for 2 months. It is scary as it is not normal to have a headache for so long and it has been getting me down.

After 2 months of taking painkillers I have now been fast tracked for an MRI.

Eek

The experience was quite scary. First I had to get undressed and put on a gown. I then sat in the waiting area for quite a while. All I could hear was machinery behind closed doors wizzing away.

Afterwards I was called into a room where they re-checked whether I had any metal on me. Basically the MRI is a giant magnet.
I had to put some ear plugs in and lie down on a bed. They then 'secured' me and I was told not to move! I was given a hand alarm and told if I had any issues to sqeeze it. I then was slid into a machine. If youre claustrophopic you will not like this.

The machine started up and it was really loud. Loads of clicks and buzzing. I was in the machine for at least 20-25 minutes and I think I fell asleep because the next thing I knew, I was being slid back out of the machine.

Anyway, I have to wait a week for my results.

I completed my first marathon 2 years ago. After completing that, I decided never to put myself through that again. However, as time subsided and my body recovered I realised that without following a training plan per se I still managed to clock 4:04. I then began to think, 'what if I did follow a plan? Could I go sub 4'?

Fast foward 2 years and after training with a plan, which I followed religiously (even when it was cold, wet, dark and just unpleasant) I made it to the Brighton Marathon start line injury free.

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After a terrible nights sleep in the worlds softest bed, I woke up at 5:30. I did my usual pre race prep - eating my pre race meal of ginger biscuits and coffee (healthy!)

Looking out the window I could see it was going to be a sunny day. The skies were clear and the sun was shining. The temperature was predicted to reach 10 degrees. What to wear? On the one hand it's cold early in the morning and you don't want to freeze, on the other hand you know it's going to get hot when you start running. To short, or not to short, to wear a long sleeve top, to not to wear a long sleeve top, those are the questions! In the end I chose leggings and t-shirt combo.

Race number 3156. Even sewed my name on to try to get as much support as possible!

Waiting around waiting to get started. Selfie time!

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The Race

At the start it was pretty cold just standing around and I was really struggling to keep warm before we set off. I also had some sort of wee issue, meaning I just couldn't stop weeing! Luckily I managed to blag myself into some hospitality area so the queues for the loos were really good!

At 9:15 the race started. I somehow managed to get into a spot where I could watch all the sub 3:30 wave set off first. It was pretty exciting. Up next was the 3:30 - 4:00 runners (me). We were off!

It took quite a bit to warm up, probably 3 miles in and my legs just didn't feel right. They almost felt like they were doing their own thing. I didn't feel 'as one'. They felt disconnected, jelly like. However, when I looked at my Garmin, I could see I was going pretty fast - way faster than I had planned - but I felt okay. I felt good. I was flying! By the time I hit the half marathon mark, I had clocked a faster half time, than I had ever done during an actual timed half marathon! I was on fire.

Up to the half marathon mark. I should have been pacing at 9 min miles!

I reckoned, as I had banked so much time that I would slow down a bit and take it easier in the second half. In theory that seems like a good idea. However....WHAM!!!, it hit me smack in the face! Mile 18 onwards. I basically blew up, like a big bomb. I slowed drastically and as much as I willed myself to not walk, by the time I hit mile 21 I was walking. From there on in, I basically did a run, walk, run, walk. I was watching all the time I had banked slip away from me big time. I was severely dehydrated, my legs were not co-operating, I was mentally defeated.

Second half - My times increase significantly.

By the final last miles I knew my sub 4 was gone as well as any chance for a new PB. But the crowd were great and kept cheering me on. It helped a bit and when I saw the the blue blow up Finish line thingy, I tried to do a sprint finish, but I just couldn't. I was just so happy to end the torture! In the end I came in 04:06:41, two whole minutes slower than my first attempt.

So back to my original question - 'what if I did follow a plan? Could I go sub 4'? Guess not.

Official time - 4:06:41

Although, I am disappointed that I got it all wrong by going too fast and not sticking to race plan, after all the work I put in, I'm still okay with my time. Marathons are tough!