I D I D I T ! ! ! ! !
Sunday 5th April 2009 I ran the Paris Marathon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THANK YOU - THANK YOU ALL for all your help and encouragement. THANK YOU to my wonderful support team - Mummy, Daddy, Celeste, Phillip, Hannah, Francesca, Vanessa, Christophe, David, Bonar, Florence and Thomas...
It was the most fantastic experience! So exciting standing in front of the Arc de Triomphe with thousands of others waiting to start and then running through the most beautiful city. Everyone was so NICE, weather was great, sunny but not too hot. (Also I didn't need the loo!) Only problem was a bottle neck at Place de la Bastille very early on where we had to stop running as it was so congested. But after that it was wonderful - even running through the tunnels when many runners were whistling and cheering.
I was still smiling when I saw my parents, the Slaters and F + T at about 30km. But when I saw D + B at 32 or 33km I was definitely feeling rather less cheery. There wasn't a moment when I felt I had hit the Wall, just a gradual increasing feeling that I was struggling. I decided it was OK to walk so I tried to stop and walk but my legs wouldn't let me do it !! I just had to keep running even though I was now running so slowly that some walkers were overtaking me!! At 35km I saw D + B again and yelled "Bar! Energy Bar" I ate that + it helped take my mind off the pain - I was telling myself only my mid-week run to go - I am passing Christelle's house now, the man with the toy aeroplane in his garden etc. I was hurting all over but I kept going (I also remembered to think of T's imaginary hand pushing me forward) and when I saw 42km I managed to sprint the last few metres! At that point I spotted V + C who were shouting "Allez Penny!". The feeling as I crossed the finish line was indescribable... According to my stop watch I took 4 hours 57 minutes 48 seconds.
It was really really really hard.... but I DID IT!!!!!! We all went out to dinner to celebrate and the next day I made it up the Eiffel Tower with the kids (by lift). I am now considering my next marathon when I turn 50!!...
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Thanks a million, Penny
