...Did it in 5 hrs and 18 minutes...

...30 minutes later than planned...but WOW!! What a feeling…I got dropped off at Waterloo station and made my way to the Red Start at Greenwich. From Greenwich station to the start it is about a 20 minute walk (!!!) up hill. It really started to dawn on me I had to run 26.2 miles. The start went very smooth though, despite me needing a toilet 1 mile in… I paced myself really well, knowing that if I would go too fast I would pay for that later. Not many others did that, and soon I was overtaken by millions of people who raced past me. At times it felt really bad and I felt no one else was running behind me anymore. So I had to look over my shoulder to still see thousands of runners behind me, which reassured me I was doing the right thing. And I was right as the pacing paid off from mile 5 where the first people started to walk around me. By mile 13 most people had adopted my pace (hehehe…) and soon after I started overtaking, which felt really good as I all I did was run in the same pace.

Me at Mile 15 - coming just through the tunnel

I was really feeling great until approx. mile 18, which is where my left knee started to protest and told me to call it a day (injury from Feb). At mile 19 my left hip started to agree with that idea and at mile 22 my right knee told me to bugger off as well. I kept running though just a bit slower than before and at times I had nearly tears in my eyes from the pain and emotions. The adrenaline of the pain, emotion and the enthusiastic crowd kept me going though. Total strangers called out my name and shouted I should hang in and keep running and that I was nearly there… whilst holding a pint in their hand.

When I finally passed the finish line I had the biggest cheesiest grin ever. Well I think I did, it did feel like a smile to me. I will know for sure once I receive the official finish photos. And despite being overtaken by a Pizza slice, several Superman's, the Incredibles, a pirate ship, and Paddington Bear I finished feeling fantastic. Even today I feel fabulous and still have a big grin on my face, except for my left knee, which is still on strike and no running for a while.

Special Thanks to my Mum, Rein, Bart, Zhen Shan, Rob, Craig, Justin, Nick & Petra for coming out and supporting me along the way, keeping me a seat in the pub and for buying me those really tasteful pint(s) afterwards! And also thanks to all the others who watched it on TV, sent me encouraging messages and thought of me along the way - It did help!

Also thanks to everyone who donated to Merlin, the charity I raised money for. And for those who still want to, it is not too late to donate a small amount – just go to www.justgiving.com/anneloes. There were small problems with their server on Friday and Saturday due to the sheer amount of people trying to access it, but all should be working now and I, and Merlin, would really appreciate any donation.

Thanks for all your good wishes,
AZ

PS: Below a video of me at Mile 19 - click link – especially the beeline I make to greet my family is funny as I, apparently, have no regard for the other runners…(watch the sound level – my family is really loud…)

Flora London Marathon 2007 - Mile 19...

.....(drum roll)....

Time left until the big day: 2 days 23 hours and 50 minutes
State of mind: Excitement outweighs nerves by far…

Picked up my running number yesterday at the Excel registration. And it is starting to dawn on me it is really going to happen. My denial seems futile…I will have to run 26.2 miles (42 kilometers)!

And I am getting nervously excited about it all. Friends have been giving me tips on what to bring, to do and most importantly what not to do…It looks like it will be a warm and sunny day too (yikes!).

For those sitting at home and following it on TV - BBC1. (from their nice comfy sofa’s) my running number is 41929 and I will be wearing a white vest with the logo of the charity I am raising money for: Merlin and my trademark fluorescent Yellow Cap.

I know some of you indicated to want to come and support me …That would be great! The more the merrier! I am chuffed that my family is coming to support me as well. Afterwards we will go to the Ship and Shovel Pub to celebrate and in my case site down! With luck and determination, I will be there by around 3pm – I aim to cross the finish line between 2.15 and 2.45…

Location:
Merlin Reception: The Ship and Shovel Pub
1-3 Craven Passage (very close by Charing Cross Station)
London, WC2N 5PH

It would be great to see you there!

Next message will be when I have pulled it off…

All the best,

AZ

I will be okay…right?

Time left until the big day: 7 days 23 hours and 4 minutes
State of mind: Extremely worried about not being worried…

I can’t believe the Marathon is next weekend. I feel I am completely in denial and the bit that worries me the most is the fact that I am not worried at all. Technically, I am a tad bit behind with my training – and that is a slight understatement – but mentally I feel well up for it.

My original training schedule is hanging, slightly feathered, up on the wall with loads of empty slots where I failed to fill out the appropriate mileage. And I know the following:

Fact: It will hurt!
Fact: I might (perhaps will is a more appropriate word) not enjoy every single mile, if any!
Fact: I will finish (don’t ask me how though) and feel fantastic afterwards, right?

My holiday to Ecuador was not greatly timed, but the 14 days at high altitude did me some good, I suspect. My first run back in the UK and I felt like I was flying across the road what with the increased ability to absorb oxygen – which is what spending time in high altitude does…apparently. Unfortunately that effect will be long gone by 22 April.

One thing I noticed it that my calves protested rather loudly the first couple of days, so I decided to book in for a sports massage and now I know that sports massage stands for voluntarily torture session for which you need to pay! Geeez...”Does this hurt she asked?” I couldn't even answer, my voice had completely disappeared, that was how much it hurt! I was sore for a day and a half! Do feel better for it now though as it really loosened my calves and thighs...she focussed on my legs only (obviously).

I will be picking up my running number on Wednesday, which I will publish later on for those of you wanting to support me from the comfort of there own home. ;-)

I will be okay, right?

Oh and it is still not too late to sponsor me and help me raise money for Merlin - Click here please - Many Many thanks!

Cheers
AZ

PS: On an extremely funny note: Go to Google – type in “official marathon preparation” and you will find my blog ranking number 1 and 2! Click here to check