#VLM

I haven’t really been doing much training recently due to my legs generally feeling like they might fall apart, so I thought I’d write about last weekend and reflect on what is definitely one of the most well known and biggest dates in the running calendar. 

Having lived in London for six years and entered the ballot for the London Marathon four times, I have never been chosen and had never been to watch until last year.  Up until then, I had entered with the vague thought that I would like to run a marathon some day, but that the odds were probably against me and as no one else around me really did that type of thing other than my fiendish 3:14 marathon champion friend, I’d just leave it up to fate.  Then V was offered the charity place through her work and, to use a quote I enjoy spouting often: “this shit just got real”.  She had a training programme, money to raise, amazing training day opportunities, and a half marathon to get done before the race itself.  She did all of this with aplomb – you can read about it all in her archives – and I decided to give myself the gift of training and do the Silverstone Half with her on my 28th birthday.  We rocked the race – trotted around in a running-hero time of 2.45 and both managed not to punch anyone in the neck who responded with an amused “wow, you could have walked it quicker”.  Actually, we couldn’t have walked it quicker because, you know, we RAN around the course.  And, for the record, I’d be REALLY keen to know your time for the race if we’re having a competition…..oh wait, you didn’t do it?  How about you pipe it then….

*ahem*

So, I did the half, and then V powered off to conquer London.  Watching was immense, she trotted around the course like a hero, and afterwards we ate ribs to celebrate.  Having watched it all, I decided I DEFINITELY wanted a piece of the action so I entered the ballot again.  Now I could have asked for a charity place but my views on asking for donations to enable me to enter a race are potentially controversial so it wasn’t something I wanted to do.  V entered the ballot too and on the day the results were announced, she called to shriek that she’d been sent her info pack and mine must be at home.  I raced back to find….the fleece of rejection *cry face*.  It wasn’t my time, but the marathon spark that was ignited when I decided that I REALLY wanted to run London remained, so I decided to enter the Barcelona with my husband and a couple of friends.  I’ve already discussed why I wanted to run a marathon, but finishing one before my thirtieth birthday was a huge aim, plus I wanted the “I CAN DO ANYTHING” glow that I’d seen on so many people after my first London marathon outing.

So I was out but V was in.  We arranged training programmes again (always followed with a rather liberal pinch of salt…) and organised a half to practice.  We also headed along to the first Run Dem Crew West who I’ve already mentioned that I LOVE *running family*.  I headed off to Barcelona, and V conquered London last weekend.  And CONQUER is the right word.  She blasted through the course and whipped 24 minutes from her previous PB.  She powpowpowed her way through mile after mile and was essentially a hero.  She never took it too seriously, but always gave her training the respect it deserved, without allowing it to completely take over her life.  She puts the experience into much better words than I can muster, but she truly rocked it and was a total inspiration for how I’m going to tackle Dublin, which we’re running together – whoooooop – hopefully with some guys along the way too.  Here’s to the next race!