Things have been a bit quiet
lately for running, with some other things going on, so it was good
to get back for another event last Sunday. I almost didn’t go,
having got a migraine a couple of days before, and feeling low about
things. Bit I’m really glad I went, as I forgot all that for a few
hours. Running is really the best medicine.
Plus, it was the most
convenient marathon to get to - keeping it local in East London! The
race was organised by the Sikhs in the City Running Club, who are
just the most welcoming group of people. It was a just over 2 km lap
around the roads in Ilford, which looking at the map the night
before, I’d not been totally taken by the idea of. But! It is the
training route of Fauja Singh, who is now 107 years old, and holds
the record for being the first 100 year old to run a marathon. And
any training route which is good enough for this man, is somewhere I
want to run. Imagine, literally running in his footsteps. And he was
there today - I was way to shy too talk to him, which of course, I
really wish I hadn’t been now, but even to see him in person was a
dream. He is a legend indeed.
Walking from South Woodford
tube heading towards the start in a car park of an industrial estate
in the early morning dark, I felt a bit apprehensive about where
google maps was taking me. But there was no mistaking where the start
was, as milling about in the dark were hundreds of people, loads of
familiar faces pottering about, and the unmistakable atmosphere of a
race about to begin. Exciting!
I ran into Craig at the start,
and we ended up running for most of the marathon together. Craig is
someone else who is a legend; he’s just completed 100 sub-4
hour marathons this year (100! Sub-4! Less than a year!) So usually I
don’t get to talk to him much, as he is ahead of me. So it was
really good of him to run slower with me today when he knew I wasn’t
feeling great, and the laps passed quickly having a good chat - I’m
not sure how far I would have got left to my own devices and
thoughts, before I would have decided I couldn’t do it - so thanks
Craig for a great run!
For a marathon was 21 x 2 km
laps, and despite me not thinking much of the route beforehand, I
actually got to love the lap after a few rounds. There was a hill at
the start, which got it over with nice and soon, then the rest of the
lap was a nice long downhill, and a flat bit back to the timing mat,
which showed your time and lap up on the board, then the aid station
and lots of smiles from the people around, and then on to another
lap. It just goes to show that the world’s eldest marathon runner
knows what he’s talking about when it comes to having a good
training route.
And of course the whole way
round every lap there were loads of great people who I’m lucky to
be getting to know better the more events I do. I think, initially I
was a bit intimidated when I started marathon running about the
people that did it, and to begin with I didn’t do them that
frequently, and I didn’t really know anyone very well. But now, I
realise that there is no need to feel that way. All these events are
filled with amazing people doing incredible things, which I do find
intimidating, if I think about it and compare myself. But I’ve come
to know they all just want everyone else to do to achieve amazing
things too, whatever your goal is, as we all have our different
dreams and goals, and that’s what makes it interesting. And it
feels that coming to events like this is just like having a massive
hug from everyone for a few hours.
The end was fabulous, who
would have thought that a car park in an industrial estate could be
such a welcome! I temporarily recovered enough to eat some delicious
food, and it really was delicious. Never seen so many samosas in my
life. Thank you Sikhs in the City for a first class event! 👍👍👍
So, only 10 left now until
100. Typically, after having wanting to get closer and closer, now it
feels quite close, I’ve started to not want to actually get there
yet, because I realised after all this time, that is is really the
journey, not the end of the journey, that is important. But then, I’m
not planning on stopping at 100, so I suppose it’s just a
significant milestone on hopefully a much longer journey ahead.
When I feel low, I find that
planning things ahead is something that sometimes helps, so I’ve been booking
in my next 10, which are…..
91:
29.12.18 - Frozen Phoenix 1
92:
30.12.18 - Frozen Phoenix 2
93:
06.01.19 - East Hanningfield Trail Marathon
94:
20.01.19 - Winter Tanners 30
95:
27.01.19 - Excalibur 1
96:
09.02.19 - Philosophers Run
97:
10.02.19 - The Punchbowl 30
98:
16.01.19 - Winter Poppyline 50
99:
23.02.19 - The Jaw Dropper
100:
24.02.19 - Dirty Dancing Run
And it feels good to know
where the next part of my journey will be 😊
🌟🎄🎅Merry Christmas everyone, hope you have a fabulous time! 🎅🎄🌟
