I did it!!!!

Yesterday I ran the London Marathon!!!!

The atmosphere at the start was great. It was lovely to start from the
charity start because there were sooooo many charity runners and the vests
were so colourful! No queues for the loos the first three times I used them
either! I wasn't too nervous. As I thought might happen, I was okay once
I got there. I'm used to standing in a dewy field on a Sunday morning
surrounded by portaloos and the smell of Ralgex!

Loved the atmosphere of the run - the boos when the routes merged, the
bands, the way every YMCA was playing - yes you've guessed it! I've nearly
got the movements sussed now! Did great for the first 16 miles, well within
my planned max 10 min milers then...

TWANG! Don't know what went but something went in my right hamstring that
caused me to come to a dead stop causing the inevitable huge pile up (sorry
peeps)! Thought I was out but I walked for a while and it eased but it
instantly replicated the pain in my calf that I'd been trying to get rid of
all week. I've been nursing a calf injury for a week and so had to start
seeing an emergency physio. My Best Friend, Pete the Physio had given me
tubigrip to put on if I had problems so once I had space (it would happen in
the most congested part of the course!) I put it on and hobbled through the
next couple of miles. Then I decided I was in a position to walk to the
Finish now so put a new plan into action, at every Water Station I would
walk for Point 2 of a mile and then run to the next water station.

Well this worked - slowly but it worked!

So I managed a sort of sprint down the Mall and did cross the Finish Line
with a smile on my face! Not the best time in the world but well within my
own little comfort zone of 5 hours so not bad given the problems! 4.40.53.
Age adjusted I was 728th!

A lovely touch was as I entered my Charity post race reception, all the
staff clapped! I felt really valued!

I've raised over £2700!




--
Rachael

176/116/119

www.justgiving.com/rachaelslondonmarathon

"Rachael Reynolds" wrote in message
. uk...

Yesterday I ran the London Marathon!!!!

The atmosphere at the start was great. It was lovely to start from the
charity start because there were sooooo many charity runners and the vests
were so colourful! No queues for the loos the first three times I used
them either! I wasn't too nervous. As I thought might happen, I was
okay once I got there. I'm used to standing in a dewy field on a Sunday
morning surrounded by portaloos and the smell of Ralgex!

Loved the atmosphere of the run - the boos when the routes merged, the
bands, the way every YMCA was playing - yes you've guessed it! I've nearly
got the movements sussed now! Did great for the first 16 miles, well
within my planned max 10 min milers then...

TWANG! Don't know what went but something went in my right hamstring that
caused me to come to a dead stop causing the inevitable huge pile up
(sorry peeps)! Thought I was out but I walked for a while and it eased but
it instantly replicated the pain in my calf that I'd been trying to get
rid of all week. I've been nursing a calf injury for a week and so had to
start seeing an emergency physio. My Best Friend, Pete the Physio had
given me tubigrip to put on if I had problems so once I had space (it
would happen in the most congested part of the course!) I put it on and
hobbled through the next couple of miles. Then I decided I was in a
position to walk to the Finish now so put a new plan into action, at every
Water Station I would walk for Point 2 of a mile and then run to the next
water station.

Well this worked - slowly but it worked!

So I managed a sort of sprint down the Mall and did cross the Finish Line
with a smile on my face! Not the best time in the world but well within my
own little comfort zone of 5 hours so not bad given the problems! 4.40.53.
Age adjusted I was 728th!

A lovely touch was as I entered my Charity post race reception, all the
staff clapped! I felt really valued!

I've raised over £2700!




--
Rachael

176/116/119

www.justgiving.com/rachaelslondonmarathon


Congrats on the most excellent accomplishment!!!
--
the volleyballchick

In article ,
"Rachael Reynolds" wrote:

Yesterday I ran the London Marathon!!!!

Fantastic!!!! Such an accomplishment, Rachael--more applause from me!!

Clap!!Clap!!Clap!!

Amy

--
Check it out!
http://www.tcfitnesschallenge.com/index.html

"Rachael Reynolds" wrote in message
. uk...
Yesterday I ran the London Marathon!!!!

Well done Rachael!

Joe 357/328/220

Rachael Reynolds wrote:

Yesterday I ran the London Marathon!!!!

Congratulations, Rachael. Fantastic job!

You are such an inspiration to me! I am a new runner, and still struggling
with 6 miles. Can you tell me, how long have you been running consistantly,
and how long did you train for this particular marathon? I'm trying to
decide if a marathon is in the cards for me by the end of this year, or if
I'll need to wait until next.

Congratulations!

"Rachael Reynolds" wrote in message
. uk...

Yesterday I ran the London Marathon!!!!

The atmosphere at the start was great. It was lovely to start from the
charity start because there were sooooo many charity runners and the vests
were so colourful! No queues for the loos the first three times I used
them either! I wasn't too nervous. As I thought might happen, I was
okay once I got there. I'm used to standing in a dewy field on a Sunday
morning surrounded by portaloos and the smell of Ralgex!

Loved the atmosphere of the run - the boos when the routes merged, the
bands, the way every YMCA was playing - yes you've guessed it! I've nearly
got the movements sussed now! Did great for the first 16 miles, well
within my planned max 10 min milers then...

TWANG! Don't know what went but something went in my right hamstring that
caused me to come to a dead stop causing the inevitable huge pile up
(sorry peeps)! Thought I was out but I walked for a while and it eased but
it instantly replicated the pain in my calf that I'd been trying to get
rid of all week. I've been nursing a calf injury for a week and so had to
start seeing an emergency physio. My Best Friend, Pete the Physio had
given me tubigrip to put on if I had problems so once I had space (it
would happen in the most congested part of the course!) I put it on and
hobbled through the next couple of miles. Then I decided I was in a
position to walk to the Finish now so put a new plan into action, at every
Water Station I would walk for Point 2 of a mile and then run to the next
water station.

Well this worked - slowly but it worked!

So I managed a sort of sprint down the Mall and did cross the Finish Line
with a smile on my face! Not the best time in the world but well within my
own little comfort zone of 5 hours so not bad given the problems! 4.40.53.
Age adjusted I was 728th!

A lovely touch was as I entered my Charity post race reception, all the
staff clapped! I felt really valued!

I've raised over £2700!




--
Rachael

176/116/119

www.justgiving.com/rachaelslondonmarathon

"determined" wrote in message
. ..
You are such an inspiration to me! I am a new runner, and still
struggling with 6 miles. Can you tell me, how long have you been running
consistantly, and how long did you train for this particular marathon?
I'm trying to decide if a marathon is in the cards for me by the end of
this year, or if I'll need to wait until next.

Congratulations!

Thanks for the congrats! Well, as a one Marathon Verteran I'm not sure I'm
the bes person to advise but....

I starte running getting on for 3 years ago and rand my first race in June
2005 (a 5K for Cancer Research which is a huge thing in the UK for women
only and gets loads into running, I then ran a 10k in September, a 10m in
October and my first Half Marathon in November.

The London Marathon runs on a ballot system so you need to apply in October
to see if you get a place the next April and the book I read said you should
have a year's experience of running (which I took from my first race rather
than my first attempts) so I didn't think I was quite there. From then I
just did more halfs, a couple of 16 milers etc and built up to 25-30 miles
weekly before starting my official 16 week Marathon plan on January 1.

To be honest, I'd give it another year. Lots of people do it from zero (and
you clearly aren't at zero) in 16 weeks but it depends what you want. I
know someone who walked yesterday from mile 4 - well good for her for guts
and determination but that depends on your goals. Good luck with whatever
you decide!

Rachael

On Mon, 23 Apr 2007 09:31:54 -0700, determined wrote:

I am a new runner, and still struggling
with 6 miles. Can you tell me, how long have you been running consistantly,
and how long did you train for this particular marathon? I'm trying to
decide if a marathon is in the cards for me by the end of this year, or if
I'll need to wait until next.

I, for one, hope you get to 20+ miles and real soon. That will mean you
will have 14 less hours to infiltrate this newsgroup with your mindless
blabber.
--
http://www.steppenwolf.com/lyr/mnnster.html

Wow! You even had a good excuse to quit and you didn't!!!!

Awesome!
WIll~

"Rachael Reynolds" wrote in message
. uk...

Yesterday I ran the London Marathon!!!!

The atmosphere at the start was great. It was lovely to start from the
charity start because there were sooooo many charity runners and the vests
were so colourful! No queues for the loos the first three times I used
them either! I wasn't too nervous. As I thought might happen, I was
okay once I got there. I'm used to standing in a dewy field on a Sunday
morning surrounded by portaloos and the smell of Ralgex!

Loved the atmosphere of the run - the boos when the routes merged, the
bands, the way every YMCA was playing - yes you've guessed it! I've nearly
got the movements sussed now! Did great for the first 16 miles, well
within my planned max 10 min milers then...

TWANG! Don't know what went but something went in my right hamstring that
caused me to come to a dead stop causing the inevitable huge pile up
(sorry peeps)! Thought I was out but I walked for a while and it eased but
it instantly replicated the pain in my calf that I'd been trying to get
rid of all week. I've been nursing a calf injury for a week and so had to
start seeing an emergency physio. My Best Friend, Pete the Physio had
given me tubigrip to put on if I had problems so once I had space (it
would happen in the most congested part of the course!) I put it on and
hobbled through the next couple of miles. Then I decided I was in a
position to walk to the Finish now so put a new plan into action, at every
Water Station I would walk for Point 2 of a mile and then run to the next
water station.

Well this worked - slowly but it worked!

So I managed a sort of sprint down the Mall and did cross the Finish Line
with a smile on my face! Not the best time in the world but well within my
own little comfort zone of 5 hours so not bad given the problems! 4.40.53.
Age adjusted I was 728th!

A lovely touch was as I entered my Charity post race reception, all the
staff clapped! I felt really valued!

I've raised over £2700!




--
Rachael

176/116/119

www.justgiving.com/rachaelslondonmarathon

On Apr 23, 4:34 am, "Rachael Reynolds"
wrote:
Yesterday I ran the London Marathon!!!!

The atmosphere at the start was great. It was lovely to start from the
charity start because there were sooooo many charity runners and the vests
were so colourful! No queues for the loos the first three times I used them
either! I wasn't too nervous. As I thought might happen, I was okay once
I got there. I'm used to standing in a dewy field on a Sunday morning
surrounded by portaloos and the smell of Ralgex!

Loved the atmosphere of the run - the boos when the routes merged, the
bands, the way every YMCA was playing - yes you've guessed it! I've nearly
got the movements sussed now! Did great for the first 16 miles, well within
my planned max 10 min milers then...

TWANG! Don't know what went but something went in my right hamstring that
caused me to come to a dead stop causing the inevitable huge pile up (sorry
peeps)! Thought I was out but I walked for a while and it eased but it
instantly replicated the pain in my calf that I'd been trying to get rid of
all week. I've been nursing a calf injury for a week and so had to start
seeing an emergency physio. My Best Friend, Pete the Physio had given me
tubigrip to put on if I had problems so once I had space (it would happen in
the most congested part of the course!) I put it on and hobbled through the
next couple of miles. Then I decided I was in a position to walk to the
Finish now so put a new plan into action, at every Water Station I would
walk for Point 2 of a mile and then run to the next water station.

Well this worked - slowly but it worked!

So I managed a sort of sprint down the Mall and did cross the Finish Line
with a smile on my face! Not the best time in the world but well within my
own little comfort zone of 5 hours so not bad given the problems! 4.40.53.
Age adjusted I was 728th!

A lovely touch was as I entered my Charity post race reception, all the
staff clapped! I felt really valued!

I've raised over £2700!

--
Rachael

176/116/119

www.justgiving.com/rachaelslondonmarathon