Judith's Marathon Journey

I ran 2:23:19 in the Wellington Armstrong Group half-marathon yesterday, 10 minutes faster than my February effort. The first half went really well, and I turned around in 1:07. Initial soreness in the sacroiliac joint had eased off, and I thought I had a real chance at cracking 2hrs 15 minutes.

But the northerly took its toll, and then some pain kicked in. Two-thirds of the way through, I was feeling pretty bad – my feet (especially the left) hurt and I just wanted it to be over – it seemed like such a long way to go, and I remembered how in ‘the good old days’ this was the point where I lifted the pace to finish strongly! Huh!

I stopped to stretch and walk for a minute or so, and then somehow my mental strength came back. For the rest of the run, I was in a dark place, but I could keep going. The wind was strong, and the sun was relatively low in the sky, so I couldn’t see where I was going at some points. My foot pained with every footstrike, and my back and hips just seized up. I kept telling myself that I could walk if I really had to – but not yet…. There were signs every kilometre, and so I knew I was slowing down, but I also knew that if I could just keep going I would beat February’s time. In fact, until the last two kilometres even 2:20 was still a possibility (remote!). Then suddenly one of the marshalls called out that we just had 800m to go! I knew I could get there then! I also knew about the climb up the ramp to the Stadium concourse, and I was determined not to walk that bit! And then I was up there, and could just about make out the finish line… I even managed to get back into a decent rhythm for that last few hundred metres. Then it was over – I’d done it. I had a finisher’s medal around my neck, I talked to people I’d seen out on the course, and my mate Charlotte was there!

Today is a rest day…. no kidding??? To my surprise, I’m pain-free and feeling good! Back to training tomorrow, for the last 14 weeks of the journey….