State of Play...

[Seafront Plodder]

When I was cajoled into running the FLM by a so-called friend back in the Summer of 2002, I never imagined that 3 ½ years later I would still be involved in this sport..

What was I thinking? I have never been the whippet-build necessary, let alone take it up at 41. Ok I could sprint a bit as a 14 year-old, but adolescence dictated that I would always be better at throwing things than running.

I am still proud of the fact that I could throw a cricket ball 53 metres at the age of 10. I was District javelin champion at age 16, and Bexhill On-Sea and District Haggis Hurling champ at age 20!!. But running?? No bloody way.

It wouldn’t be until 21 years later that I would begin to run (for pleasure!) When I started I didn’t even know special shoes were made, let alone necessary. Web research led me to the RunnersWorld website, and then onto here. I owe Andy a huge debt of gratitude for encouraging me through those early times. I suppose I stayed here because it was obvious that this site was more biased towards the err….more social runner (than RW). Andy was (and still is ) a few years older than me, a beginner slightly more experienced than me, but his early diaries seemed to mirror my own worries and concerns with uncanny accuracy.

Anyone who has run a marathon or is considering one will know the absolute, unwavering dedication necessary to complete the task. I printed the following piece that Andy wrote in his early days, and stuck it on my wall to remind me of my goal…It helped, more that he will ever know.

“But what few understand is that every frozen minute of training, every shred of pain, every missed indulgence, every ounce of frustration and tedium and dread that fill those long pre-race months... are all worth it. When you pile up all those great rocks of pain and sulkiness and boredom and sacrifice on one side of the scales, and your solitary finisher's medal on the other, you find to your astonishment and delight, a perfect balance”

I am proud to be able to say that I have successfully run three marathons, very proud. But the truth is that I don’t know if I have another one in me.

In my New York Marathon Race Report , I tried to put into words how much that race took out of me. Not physically, no that kind of pain soon fades. It is mentally that I suffered most. I wrote about seeing Mrs SP at mile 17, (pic below) and telling her I wanted to quit – there and then. I was suffering badly with calf cramp; 1st Avenue was mentally draining because it is so bloody long – and straight, that I remember crying at the frustration and pain of it all. But it was she who reminded me of the shedload of MS Society sponsorship money, it was she who convinced me that I would finish the race, and it was she who reminded me how I would feel crossing the finishing line. And for that I am indebted to her.

Following NY I have done a couple of other ½’s, but prior to the Reebok Brighton 10K I twisted an ankle on the tennis court, missed that race and really have only done a few small plods since. Frankly I am enjoying being free from the pressure (because that is what it can be) of a training schedule.

Granted I could go out now and run 3 miles in relative comfort – something I couldn’t do 4 years ago – but I think at the moment I need……actually I’m not sure what I need. Perhaps we can pick this up over a glass of something in Almería.

SP