Living Outside the Lines: “London Marathon Chronicles”
by, Becky J Miller
Sunday, April 24, 2016 marked the conclusion of the 36th annual London Marathon. Since it’s inception, over one million athletes, professional and amateur alike, including yours truly, have completed the challenging 26.2 miles distance. The 2016 race marks the first anniversary of my participation so I thought it might be fun to share my adventures.
My race entry was as part of a charity team making the adventure extra exciting because I was part of something bigger than myself. Although he did not run the actual race, my husband James trained every single mile with me. His support was tantamount to my success, without him I may not have been up to the challenge of not only running my first full marathon, but also of participating in an event so vast on the global scale.
The team organizers inquired whether we would like to stay with a host family while in London. Anyone who knows me, knows that I don’t really do new people/strangers well, but I decided that despite my social issues, a host family was the way to go.
My decision turned out to be a very wise one! Our British hosts, Terry and Sue, were amazing! Terry picked us up at the airport, gave us invaluable guidance about public transportation, dropped us at the train station when it was raining, brought home traditional British fish and chips for dinner, introduced me to the Paddington movie and Paddington Station (I’ve loved Paddington Bear since childhood), and gave me an enormous British Cadbury’s chocolate bar!
Sue emailed several times before our arrival, fixed us breakfast every morning, made lovely dinners complete with fabulous desserts, gave us a walking tour of the town, told us all about the best local shopping, and made us feel completely at home. They also gave a financial contribution in support of my team fundraising for the marathon. They were simply remarkable people who not only took two strangers into their home; they embraced foreigners and treated us as family.
We arrived in London several days before the race so I could acclimate. We relaxed with our hosts, did a few light runs, visited the race expo and explored the local town. We had anticipated dreary weather but there was no rain except for race day, of course. It poured all night but had tapered off to a light drizzle by daybreak.
Expecting thick crowds, we left the house over two hours before the race began. The train started out empty, but filled with racers and their family/friends at every stop until I wasn’t sure anyone else would fit. It was about a two-mile trek from the train station to the starting corral and the place where I had to say good-bye to James.
Initially I had planned to run with a pacer but found out at the expo that I would not be able to. Deep breath, no panicking; I had my Garmin, my goal and a pace band to help keep me on track. Plus as it turned out, the course was clearly marked at every mile.
Surprisingly, I was quite calm standing there alone waiting for the race to start. When I say alone, I mean alone among 38,000 strangers who were also running the London Marathon that morning.
Training for 26.2 miles was brutal, but I can honestly say that the race was easy. I was well trained, fully supported by my family and friends and completely at peace. There was never a place during the race that I thought, “I can’t do this.”
Many runners hit the proverbial “wall” at mile 20, I didn’t. I did however have to make a pit stop at mile 18. I really didn’t want to, and debated with myself for about 5 miles before I finally stopped. Technically the stop cost me about 3 minutes, but trying to run another 8 miles on a full bladder might have been my undoing.
The race support was phenomenal! Imagine a tailgate party that stretches for 26.2 miles, that equals the London crowds. The cheering was so loud in some places that it literally drowned out the music on my iPod. Some spectators handed out candies, orange slices, even pizza; I could not help but smile at their thoughtful generosity.
The London Marathon is touted as the world’s largest charity fund-raiser. It was inspiring to see all the different athletes running for someone other than themselves, talk about some hard core selflessness.
As is my running style, as soon as the finish line came into view, I began to sprint. Crossing the finish line, tears streamed down my face; I’d done it, actually run the London Marathon and done it well!
I finished in 4 hours and 30 minutes, my target time, and in the upper 25% of the field, not too shabby for woman who broke her neck in 2011 and whose doctors weren’t sure she’d ever walk much less run again.
Initially I thought my first full marathon would also be my last, but now that it is a year post mortem, I’m starting to get an itch to try another. Were the circumstances to align, I would love to run London again but I’m open to other opportunities as well.
Here’s to new adventures and accomplishing things one never dreamed possible.
Until Next Time,
Becky J Miller
“Warrior Princess”
