Job done

I got round in 2 hours 38 minutes!!

I always hoped and trained for under two hours, but through various bits of bad luck including being off work sick until the day before the race - sub 2 hours was never going to happen.

I set off with Rab and I trailed him for about 6 miles or so, then I lost him. He put in a cracking time!

2 miles in my blister started to do it's thing, but I decided to ignore completely until after the race.

At 7 miles a kind lady and her family who were standing outside their house watching us all plod past, gave me a couple of slices of orange which was a welcomed distraction from water.

I remember at 10 miles there was a line of speakers down the road as we ran past, playing music. Eminem, 8 mile was on and I really picked up the pace. I thought I was going to crack the course without walking. Then the speakers ran out, I slowed down and just before 11 miles I was absolutely done in. I was running, but not travelling forward very fast, and I got overtaken by an army bloke walking with a rucksack. That suggested to me that I should probably walk. When I stopped walking I almost fell over, I felt cold and had pins and needles in my arms.

Another spectator emerged from the crowd and shook my hand and gave words of encouragement - so I am guessing I looked pretty much how I felt!

Just after a little girl was handing out fun sized mars bars which was exactly what I needed at the time, followed by a small cup of juice!

I carried on walking for about 3/4 of a mile, listening to my ipod until the last water station, where I had a quick drink. Then I saw the sea over the crest of the hill, saw the red arrows start their display and felt it was time to get this thing finished! I started running again, past the 12 mile board, down the hill and turned left aong the sea front. The next thing I saw was the 800 metre to go board, then the finish line and it was all done. That last mile and a bit, for me, went the quickest of the whole race. I sprinted over the finish line, and the relief that it was all done and why we had done it was overwhelming.

What a day! The crowds are what got me round - especially my friend with the mars bar. Their support was incredible!

I can't say that the race was fun, I'm not sure even if I enjoyed it at the time (I probably did), but the sense of achievement crossing the line with the job done, given all of my set backs and the fact that I hadn't run for two weeks, I still find mind blowing. I ran 11 miles non-stop!

My legs were a bit on the weary side for a few days, but today I am good and back to normal.

I will be there next year, and this time I will do it in under 2 hours, and it looks like 9 members of team atko will be here too.

Running rocks!