Zoe’s Double Marathon Challenge for Charity

Double Marathon Challenge for Charity…

This challenge has been my target and sole focus for the past eight months. Status: COMPLETED!!!

Results: Flora London Marathon

Completed in 3hr 52min 41sec (Placing 8,414 out of 35,206 finishers)

Results: Albert Bartlett Edinburgh Marathon

Completed in 3hr 47min 31sec (Placing 1,699 out of 8,257 finishers)

Fundraising: I am proud to advise that the current fundraising total for the charity Sense (Deafblind) is a staggering £3,435.00!! With a couple of outstanding donations and the charity tins yet to count up, I am hoping we will break the £3,500 mark. Outstanding!!!

A special thank you to everyone for your unwavering support, messages of encouragement and especially your generosity during such difficult economic times!!! xxx

My journey, particularly over the last five months, has been an incredible rollercoaster of emotions. There were tears for my injuries, stress as training plans went awry, disappointment when canceling (training) races, relief when the first 20 mile training run was completed, excitement with each new purchase of running kit, laughter as the Bee costume made its public appearances, encouragement when noticing improvements in running speed/endurance and of course, pure pride and elation after successfully completing each marathon.

For five months training took precedence over almost all aspects of my life, running in the cold & dark, rain & snow. There were Saturdays when I was up at 4.00am to begin endurance training and Sundays when I spent over three continual hours glued to a treadmill. When I wasn’t running, I was stretching or strengthening or attending pilates or visiting various medical professionals.

I will always remember this year’s first endurance training run (in shorts) in -5 degrees, watching frost forming on a friend’s beanie whilst we ran along the River Thames, carefully stepping over ice and wondering when I would ever feel my fingers again!! Indeed, this is a stark contrast to the Edinburgh marathon on Sunday, where I ran in scorching 23 degree heat with almost no shade for 26 miles, except for my own shadow.

There were numerous times over the past few months that I thought I would never make it and I questioned my ability to continue, especially while carrying injury. However: determination, perseverance and stubbornness prevailed. The challenge is now completed and I sincerely want to thank you all for your kindness and support. Whilst your support didn’t make the physical challenge any easier, it certainly meant a lot to me personally and helped drive me forward. So, Thank you!!

The Future? I can safely say (and probably much to my husband’s relief) that there will be no more marathons this year…however I do have my ballot in for London 2010. I am currently eyeing off some Half-Marathon races, which should keep me busy over the coming months:o)

You can read about my latest marathon experience on the Edinburgh Marathon 2008 page or follow this link:

http://zoemarathon.goannatravel.com/edinburgh-marathon-2009/

£3,435.00

A HUGE thank you to everyone for your support.  I am still awaiting a couple more donations and I need to count the charity tins yet…so there is a good chance of breaking the £3,500 mark!!!  :o)

Outstanding!!!

Edinburgh Marathon Official Website (02/06/2009)

13,104 runners entered the marathon.  8,419 marathon runners started the race and 8,257 finished the race.  162 marathon runners started but did not finish. 

SCOTSMAN News (02/06/2009)

“RUNNERS have branded the Edinburgh Marathon as “shambolic” because of a shortage of water and a decision to cut short the race. Sunday’s event saw 160 participants treated by medics after the marathon got under way in temperatures of around 22C. Runners said that there was a critical lack of supplies at water stations.

Competitor Doug Steele said: “There was not a single bottle of water remaining at the first water station at Loch Road when I came, about 20 minutes into the race, and I passed a further four stations which had completely run out of water in East Lothian.  I had to rummage through discarded bottles at the roadside to find one or two with some water in them so I could stay hydrated.”

Organisers said there had been adequate supplies and that any shortages had been temporary. However, Alison Grant, who had traveled from Huddersfield, Yorkshire to compete in her first marathon, said: “The ‘temporary’ water shortages were inexcusable and not temporary at all – many water stations were just empty trestle tables and myself and many other runners were relying on the kindness of supporters and local residents.”

Ms Grant attacked the decision to cut the race length from the standard 26.2 miles to 24 for hundreds of the slowest runners. She said the move had left her feeling cheated.”

BBC News (02/06/2009)

“The organisers of the Edinburgh Marathon have revealed that more than 6,800 bottles of water were stolen before the start of the race. Sunday’s event was marred by complaints from many runners that inadequate supplies of water had been provided along the route.

Race director Neil Kilgour said the theft had left two water stations without water for 40 minutes.

More than 4,000 Lucozade energy gels were also stolen. Mr Kilgour said the thieves struck in the early hours of Sunday morning. The water had been left on three pallets along the route of the race. He added that organisers quickly organised mobile teams of police and support vehicles in an attempt to deliver water to those who missed out when it became apparent that two of the nine stations had run dry.”

I successfully ran the Edinburgh Marathon on Sunday in…3hr 47min 31sec!!!!!

Am so proud :o)

Not only is it a new PB (Personal Best), but I managed to cut an entire 5 mins off my London time.  I must admit that I totally fell apart from mile 18 though.  It was physical torture as the temperatures were so so hot (reports suggest 22-24degrees) with no shade the entire 26 miles and water stations were spread way too far apart.  For the first time ever in a marathon, I gave in to the temptation to walk and did so briefly three times in the latter stages.

It was such a relief to cross that finish line, I completely bawled my eyes out and poor Aaron didn’t know what was wrong!!! I just can’t believe that after 8 months it is finally over and I did it!!!!!!!!  :o)

Time to return to normal life….can you remind me what that is?? I’ve forgotten.  Hehehe.