I've looked at putting my name down for other marathons but they all seem to be full now - including Abingdon. Looks like I'll just have to wait to see if I get a place in FLM. I have, however, just entered a 10 miler in mid-October so that should ease me back in. I'm feeling much better about the whole situation now.

Looking at my fluid intake I really don't think I drank enough energy drink and if I was sweating and not replacing the salt then the same symptoms would occur that I experienced. Either way, I think I was right not to go on - it could have turned out quite nasty.

Hi Cheryl,
I am going to run my first marathon on the 15th of October.
My training has been long and, just like yours, on my own.
I am going to try to go for a slower time than what all race-time predictors say but I still fear blowing up.
Anyway... I will have a half-marathon test on Sunday, trying a new PB... And then I'll try to work out what sort of shape I'm in.

I hope you'll run the marathon again

J

What a stunning story. It's a sad ending to the chapter that you didn't make it through for the medal. But this is definitely only the end of the chapter and not the end of the whole story!

Well done on looking round for other marathons already - if you are very keen to run one now, then it is definitely worth talking to Abingdon, Cardiff, etc as they may have places come free as other people drop out through injuries. Also I think Luton will still have places...

However, I personally would recommend you wait until Spring before tackling the marathon again - the effort you put in was a marathon effort and will have taken a lot out of you.

Huge well done again on what you have achieved - including that treadmill marathon along the way and including collecting the 800 pounds - one sneaky thought is that you could try to use that money to help persuade NSPCC to give you a golden bond place for FLM...

Wow Cheryl, You're very brave, especially for acknowledging that you couldn't/shouldn't complete. Good luck for the 10miler in October.