I think I've now just about recovered enough after Sunday's race to compose a short message!
I completed the Sussex Marathon in a time of 4:04:49 (see results page), which I was very pleased with, considering the course!
The day started early (porridge at 6:30) with perfect conditions for running: dry, clear and cool. There was an excited hum around the start line and we were off! The first 10k loop was fairly picturesque, and not too challenging, other than a reasonably steep downhill towards The Powder Mills. The course wound back round towards Battle and past Battle Abbey, before heading back to the start, where the first fuel/drink station awaited (banana/Mars Bars/Haribo/Sport Drink/Coke/Water)... By this time, we had all settled into a rhythm and began to head out on the first of the two 10-mile long spurs. It was clear from the start that it was going to get tough as soon as we headed out toward Penhurst, a long and winding downhill inevitably would lead to an uphill slog, not to mention the knowledge that we would be doomed to repeat those hills...and then do it all again once more. Eventually the road led to Ashburnham and the turn around point, once again a rather cruel and steep downhill turning into a cruel and steep uphill after a swig of water.
I didn't have any major mishaps along the way, despite rather seriously stubbing my toe on a large traffic cone after about 16 miles (I have the bruised toenail to prove it), the marshals even deftly directed us across the traffic a few times.
When it got tough, I thought of what my mum had been through, and all the kind donations people had given and pushed on.
By the time I was on the second return leg, my hips were threatening to seize up entirely, and my legs had turned to jelly, my knees to dust on the steep downhills and there was still the last big hill to go. My run had turned to a jog, then a trot, then a shuffle until it slowed to a limp for a couple of hundred metres or so. As the 24-mile sign appeared, I vowed to struggle on and up the pace.
As I neared the top of the hill, I thought I was in danger of coming in under 4 hours, which buoyed my spirits some, but this would have required a superhuman effort over the last couple of miles, and I no longer had the strength. I somehow managed to carry on, pressing toward the finish. As the end came into sight, my spirits were lifted by the sight of my partner and family awaiting me, and after a swift high five, my nieces joined me for the run across the line. I barely managed to protest as one of the marshals asked my niece whether she'd like to "give daddy his medal", and nearly toppled over as my legs tried to adjust to staying still after all that time.
There was nothing for it but a sit down, and later a bath, roast lamb, beer and a curry (I had burned over 2,800 calories!).
When I finally managed to get the data from my watch, I realised that there was 674m of ascent in this race, which explained the torture! I will probably look to do another marathon in future, but perhaps a flatter one (for comparison, London only has 189m over its course!).
o
Thanks for everyone who has given so far, for those who wish to do so, please visit my justgiving page.
