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Last Sunday I was one of 40,000 people who completed the Virgin London Marathon. I would like to say I ran the London Marathon, but the last few miles were a definite power walk/jog/shuffle hybrid!
I’d applied for a ballot place last May with the full expectation that I wouldn’t get a place – over 270,000 people applied. To say I was shocked to receive the ‘You’re In!’ magazine in October is an understatement
I’d class myself as a ‘social’ runner… I started running regularly in 2014 as part of my weight loss plan, and have done 6 half marathons and 10kms, with the support of my local ladies running group
But London..?! That was a big ask
I decided to embrace the training plan with real intent… I ran, swam and went to a spinning class – 5 sessions of exercise a week. I gave up all alcohol from New Years Eve to Marathon day. I rotated my trainers (2 pairs) to give me the best comfort options on the day. I practised fuelling and hydration strategies, did a dress rehearsal in my full marathon outfit. And I trained a total of 270 miles in the months leading up to the Marathon, including 2 twenty mile runs
I was prepared.
And yet… on the day, from 9 miles I wasn’t comfortable. My legs hurt like crazy. And it was surprisingly warm weather in London.
But I think the biggest impact on my progress was seeing so many others around me struggling, limping, bleeding. The impact of watching others humans in distress is huge – emotionally and mentally
My target finish time slipped away between miles 15 and 22… and the last four miles were a grim determination to get the finisher medal!
If I was focussed on the scoreboard – I would be disappointed. But I can’t be.
- I am proud of the commitment I gave to the training (in wind, hail, rain!)
- I am proud of the choices I made to increase my chances of success
- I am proud of my gang of runners (the self named #badassladiesrunningcrew) who trained together, supported each other and me, and created greater friendships as a result of the training
- I am proud of my resilience in the face of a tough event… and the focus on my bronze goal (Gold was 5:15 time, Silver was 5:30 and Bronze was finishing!)
- I am proud to have inspired and motivated others to run, even to start running
- I am proud to have shown my son that his mid 40s mumma isn’t a couch potato!
- I am proud that I ran the London Marathon
I am a winner
‘you don’t win a match by staring at the scoreboard’
Michaela Weller
Owner Director
@Michaela_Weller
Michaela is raising money for Cardiac Risk in the Young UK, a fantastic charity preventing young sudden cardiac deaths through awareness, screening and research, and supporting affected families.
If you’d like to make a donation please pop along to her fundraising page: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=michaelasmarathon
If you’d like more information about CRY UK please go to: http://www.c-r-y.org.uk
Thank you
