I will annonce it soon... promise

Just composing myself

Fantastic result LJ... I'm well impressed!!!

Hollywood...great time, thanks for giving me a few seconds in the bank

Has Granty been in yet?

Anyway, I must say it was great to meet Twinks et al, and thanks Twinks for the support...even though I didn't see you, I knew you were there and that helped loads

It was also good to have a chat with Irish runner at his stand... he's off to do Boston next weekend, lucky thing!

I had a good time at expo, despite feeling a little emotional when I went there the first time this year... it brought back memories of previos years when I'd gone with Rich during happier times. But I didn't let that get to me too much, I couldn't afford to let it afftect my race.

Cheriton came to expo on Saturday, and that was fun

By mid afternoon on Saturday I was all expo'ed out so went back to hotel and put my feet up for the rest of the day.

I used to time to prepare everything for the next day, so I had no last minute panics on race day.

I'll post my race report next....

Sorry, but if you're waiting for a drum roll......... ?

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I opened the curtains on race morning and smiled... blue sky, sunshine... I had a good feeling about the day ahead

As I was staying in a hotel in Greenwich there was no transport to worry about... just a leisurely walk to the green start. Cheriton walked to the start with me and I remember saying to him "well, this is it... after all the miles and miles of training, it's finally here" that was the moment that I started to feel a little nervous.

Cheriton left and went off to get some breakfast to help him through a long day of supporting, during which he would be jumping on and off trains, finding a spot in amongst the crowds, wave a banner, shout my name a few times (which unfortunately I didn't here ), before moving on to another part of the course.

Meanwhile I was trying to stay calm and focused, got myself organised, did some celebrity spotting, and paid 3 visits to the loos, the last of which I came out to find that no one was left queueing...they'd all left and gone to line up at the start :eek:

I didn't panic though, I jogged over, the gun went and it took me a fraction over 2 mins to get to the start line.

I was off. I'd set my garmin on a pre-programmed 26.2 so it gave me my average pace throughout the race. By 2 miles I was a little faster than I wanted to be at 7.58's but then I saw Hollywood and we had a brief chat. As I was chatting I glanced at my Garmin and found that he'd speeded me up, I was now on an average 7.56's so I said it was too fast for me at that stage and I needed to pull back, so Hollywood went on.

I constantly monitored my pace and made sure I felt comfortable at least until half way...

anything sounding like that will do

Sorry, but this is the best I can do.................Attachment 384

..................Attachment 385

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Oh, and stop being such a Drama Queen and get on with it !

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We can't stretch to a red carpet or a fanfare either...........

........................Attachment 386

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I started to feel it at around 16, thoughts of last year's London came to mind when I was really struggling with the injury by then. I pushed those thoughts away for fear of bringing it on.

I had a support group waiting for me at 17 and I knew Twinks was going to be at 22 miles, then it would only be another 4 miles to the finish.

Miles 18, 19 and 20 were hard... my head was telling me all kinds of lies. Mile 21 and I wanted to stop for a little rest... but I knew that would be fatal, besides Twinks might catch me slacking

22 miles and I looked out for Twinks... 23 and I knew I'd missed her. "Ok, regroup...3 to go...just 3 more and the pain will stop" I kept telling myself.

I went under what I thought was the 25 mile marker but it turned out to be the 40k marker... 25 came soon after. I started to feel sick. I should mention at this point that I actually felt hunger pangs just before the start...which concerned me. I hadn't eaten any less than I normally would. So during the race I made sure I had my gels and drank the energy drink I was carrying... even in the latter stages when I really didn't want to.

So I took on some more fluids and pushed myself on.

Then I saw a fellow female Hogweed, who is quite a fast lady and I'd expected her to be way ahead of me. I passed her easily and that gave me the motivation I needed at that point because I couldn't let her come back past me.

My garmin as still showing average pace of 8.02's, which surprised me, so head up, focus forward and ignore the voices screaming at me to stop.

Then the big sign said '385yrds to go', I turned the corner... the finish looked soooo far away. I picked up my legs and went for it.

As I ran across the final red mat the achievement felt real... more real than it's ever felt at London.

I was in a daze, could hardly believe it. It wasn't really until I woke up this morning that it finally sunk in that I had got a 3.31.34 finish time. A PB by over 9 minutes, and as even paced 26.2 miles as you could get.

stats say that i was:
4940th finisher
470th lady
62nd in my age group

Thanx Pedestrian at least it wasn't a raspberry...or worse

i've got an old rug that the dog sleeps on and an old 33 record of herp alpert and his tijuana brass if thats any hep

Thanks, Mr C. That'll have to do.

Crank up the ol' gramophone.............

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Fantastic Result Trinity, 9 mins off your previous pb is superb.

I was gutted that I missed you, but I did holler out to a fellow hogweed trotter of yours I am sure her name was lynette?

Again it was great to meet you on Saturday


Twinks

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A loser is not the one who runs last in the race. It's the one who sits and watches and who has never tried to run.
Bird in Boots :p

Amazing time trinity, that is definetely something to be proud of!

Now, you know I don't touch fruit!

Isn't it strange how great performances can quite often come right out of the blue?

Well done.......Attachment 387

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