Blogs

London Marathon

It is now over a week since I completed the 2011 Virgin London Marathon. Time has flown by and even this week has brought about a mixture of emotions. Imagine waking up every day for six months with one thing on your mind and then suddenly you don't have that to think about any more. I'm not really complaining all that much, I must be honest, and with the ballot for next years opening tomorrow I know that I will not be applying!

Did I not enjoy my day? Couldn't be further from the truth. I loved the whole day from waiting for the Tube to open to finally getting into my bed. It was one of the best days of my life without a doubt. Let me explain.....

The alarm went at half five. We had to be out of the hotel and on to the main line train as soon as possible because people had told us that it got very very busy. We got to our closest Tube stop and all of the gates were closed. One by one, a whole host of other worried looking people in sports kit turned up asking the same question. There I was stood in my Kidney Research UK vest, my purple tutu and a bright purple bow in my hair without even worrying if people were looking at me. The gates opened and a mass of us hurried down the stairs, one guy taking photos as we did. The Tube arrived and and we all got on. A few stops later we had arranged to meet two fellow Kidney Research UK fundraisers and there was a sigh of relief when we saw them and they got on the Tube with us. We finally embarked with the throng of other runners and made our way to our trains. This is where I had to say goodbye to Duncan as we were starting from different areas. This was the first time I felt very emotional and really had to hold back some tears.

So, I was then at the start and it was just a mass of people stretching, sitting, running around. Many different sizes, costumes but all with the same look on their face. You could feel the nervousness in the atmosphere. After lubing different areas up (don't ask) slapping on the factor 50 and two loo stops later it was time to start. I was much more composed than I ever imagined myself to be. You start moving, stop, start etc etc and then finally you see the start line and you cross. It was warm and I was quite worried about this right from the off and this was quite an issue throughout the race. There were hundreds, thousands of spectators right from the start line. Kids with their hands held out for a 'high five'. I of course felt I had to oblige probably each and every one of them around the entire 26.2 miles! The atmosphere was buzzing and was quite a site to see. People had brought their sofas out and were having BBQs and street parties. Bands were playing, people were handing out sweets, cakes and oranges every step of the way (ask my running partner.... I ate them all!!!)

It was hot, too hot. It was quite uncomfortable. The organisers do a great job in providing refreshments and showers to keep you cool. At about mile 6 I lost confidence. I'm not so sure why so early on but it did turn out to be my saving grace. It made me stop aiming for a time and allowed me to get on and enjoy the rest of it (at that point 20.2 miles so a long way). I started to relax and took in as much of what was going on around me as I could. I couldn't name you much of it now and I couldn't even tell you what parts I ran through but I know i enjoyed it. A huge highlight was seeing my Mum and Dad at Tower Bridge. This was about half way through and gave me another boost for the next half. I was getting hotter and hotter and my feet were rubbing. I had to stop several times to get Vaseline from the St Johns Ambulance people (who by the way are awesome) but I had no choice but to keep going! To keep going my running partner kept setting short term goals.... let's run to the next traffic light, bridge, landmark or whatever. It was tiring. 18 miles a Kidney Research UK cheering station (thank you) and then finally mile 25. I was so relieved to get there. This was the second cheering station and there was my Mum and Dad and my In-Laws. It was so nice to see all of them and just what i needed when the pain, emotion and tiredness was kicking in.

The final mile was OK. The final 0.2 of a mile was awful. I think because you are so close to the end your body starts to wind down and by this point I was gritting my teeth and became quite insular. You would not believe how long it takes to get from 800m to 600m to 400m!!! At 200m I could see the end and that was it, I was off and I was going to run (felt like sprinting at that point) and the finish line was crossed. You get swept along whilst someone takes your timer off, someone gives you a medal and someone gives you a bag. Done! Wow..... and more tears!! I then met up with Mum and Dad and we made our way to the Kidney Research UK reception where we had a massage and a shower as well as that well earned bottle of lager. It also gave me an opportunity to meet up with all of the other fundraisers who I have been fortunate enough to share the journey with. I hope we have now become life long friends.

Would I run a marathon again, no I don't think I will thank you very much! Would I encourage others to do it, then YES! It is an amazing experience and one which you will never forget. I am so thankful for all of my sponsorship and hope it continues to flood in. It was worth every blister!!!

Not long to go

I've just watched a clip about a young lad who needed a life saving transplant and the enormity of everything has sunk in. I'm running a marathon, it's nearly the end of this journey, I have raised nearly £3000 for a charity that is close to my heart. What a difference that can make.

I felt guilt for a long time after not being able to be a live donor for my mum. Now I realise perhaps why that wasn't meant to be. My mum got her kidney from a very special person and it has meant that I have been involved in hopefully making that possible for others. What can the money do? I don't know exactly what impact it can have but I know that my generous donators are thanked by many silent strangers.

I've decided to wear a bit of a silly outfit for the day. I've even roped some of my new friends into joining me! I hope it is all part of a very enjoyable day and even now, the thought of finishing and getting that medal is an emotional one. How I will keep it together, I just don't know!!

I'm not sure I will have much interesting to say before the event so I will probably bid you farewell until after the 'big day'.

Thank you for reading this and supporting Kidney research UK, and I really do mean that.

'The Big Day'

 We are now down to only six weeks to go until 'The Big Day'!! Doesn't seem long since it was six months to go and I have to admit, I am terrified about a whole new set of problems. When is the best time to change your trainers for a new pair? Should you stick with the old style or go for a new brand? How are you going to account for each type of weather on the day of the marathon? What exactly are you going to wear? How will you get to the start? Where should your family stand? Will you cry when you finish? Will you finish even?!!

Not only do I have six weeks to go but I now have £600 left to raise to meet my target. 80% of my fundraising done! We are holding a golf day next week and I am very grateful to our local golf club for their generosity and assistance. My mother-in-law has been busy organising events in the school she works in and has organised a cake sale and other various events for World Kidney Day on March 10th. I am hugely thankful and I have my fingers crossed for a successful day. I have also designed and ordered some purple pin badges for my pupils to buy and wear on World Kidney Day. I hope that they go down well. We recently held a lucky dip at our friends event 'Bugfest' and we managed to raise just over £80. I am very lucky to have the friends and family that I do.

It has been wonderful getting to know fellow Kidney research UK Virgin London Marathoners through the designated group on Facebook and making new friends too. It is amazing how much you need people to talk to. You need reassurance that it is OK to be tired, that eating the contents of your fridge in one sitting happens to us all and that we have all traded in a nights run for a cozy, warm evening on the sofa! It has been, and I am sure will continue to be a roller coaster of a journey. You don't need to be a runner (I still am in the dislike camp) to complete this, nor be the fittest person but you will certainly gain a whole new perspective on things. It is hard but do the rewards outweigh this? I really think they do. When a lady spoke to me when I was running my stall and told me her husband had died of kidney failure I felt very proud to be stood there hopefully giving her the knowledge that people care about Kidney disease and that we will try to do all that we can to prevent more tragedies from happening.

Don't Forget to check my fund raising page at www.kidneyresearchukevents.org/beckylou77