2 weeks post-marathon and, weirdly, I’m still recovering! The good news first? We did it! All the cold winter nights doing laps around the meadows were worth it.
From the top!
The trip itself was quite funny, to be honest. Bags upon bags stopped at security (including ours) because of the sports gels. I’d say 60% of those flying to Barcelona were doing the marathon. We were all in it together – the marathon, and the 6am Ryanair flight!
Flying into Barcelona was very special – probably one of my favourite approaches (second only to Cape Town), spotting the Sagrada Familia standing tall in the early morning sunshine. The light in Barcelona is quite special in general, and I can’t wait to develop the photos I took.
Fast forward to the morning. Honestly, it hadn’t hit me yet. Up and ready to go at 7.30am, a quick bowl of porridge (what else!) and some bread. This seemed enough – it wasn’t! The delicate dilemma of how much to eat when the nerves are beginning to kick in and you’re not really hungry.
Adri, Gavin and I left for the start line – roughly a 30-minute walk away in perfect sunshine and a slight breeze like we know at home. Still, not very nervous. Even at the start line, the atmosphere was so great that it was really just excitement more than anything!
Hello, 25/30km … the pain was kicking in! Adri and I were seesawing our way up to this point – running at different paces due to Adri’s injury and my lightheadedness. Both suitably wrecked by the 30th km, we absolutely leaned on each other – and the amazing support of the crowds. We motivated each other – ‘just over two park runs to go’, etc. Whilst Adri’s leg was really bad by this point, I was feeling quite dizzy and no matter how many gels/fruit I had, I felt like I was going to faint. Run, walk, run, walk, head-in-hands type of situation. So many cheers for all the runners and ‘come on Scotland’, which cheered me up! We fought through, and we did it.
I ran with the charity in mind, with all the donations we had received, and with a purpose. I ran with Danny in mind. To feel pain, to feel dizzy, to feel emotional … Sometimes we forget how lucky we are to experience such feelings. To be here, to be fit and able to push ourselves to the max. We only have one shot!
When I felt like I couldn’t do it, I looked up to the sky. I remembered why I’d picked Barcelona. There was nothing going to stop us.
Adri and I crossed the finish line together in 4 hours 48 minutes. I would never have run a marathon without you, Adri – thanks for encouraging me to do the things I never thought I could! And for crossing the line with me.
A quote came to mind whilst writing this and reflecting on my reasons for running the marathon.
A runner far greater than we will ever be (more, a POW and WWII veteran with an extraordinary story), but a message worthy of remembering. A quote I read into having heard Coldplay’s ‘Miracles’ long, long ago.
“One day we were fighting for our lives, the next we were enjoying the clouds, the sunset, the soaring albatross, the dolphins and porpoises. Through it all, I never lost my sense that life could be beautiful. I kept my zest for living, morning and night. I’d made it this far and refused to give up because all my life I had always finished the race.” – Louis Zamperini
Louis Zamperini was a World War II prisoner of war and an Olympic athlete who became an inspirational figure and writer.
I didn’t want to appear all philosophical here, but in the Marathon that is life, I hope you are all as lucky as me – to have those to lean on, that will cheer you on no matter what, those that will get you through the bad days and make the good days even better. Life can be so painful and, equally, so beautiful. I experienced some of this in my 20s – as did many of my friends – and we will continue to experience those ups and downs throughout life. I hope that, in tough times, we all have people to reach out to, and that we know where to go for more help, for example, organisations such as Venture Scotland. I didn’t know about Venture Scotland when I was struggling, I certainly didn’t know how to feel better at the time.
I hope that those who have read my posts will have Venture Scotland on their radar now, and that you will spread the word when possible. Better, why not run a marathon and raise precious funds for this amazing cause? If I can do it, so can you!
Thank you to all those who have donated and supported. I look forward to my next challenge – whatever that may be!
