Marathon 10: Preston Guilds Marathon

Preston was to be my final marathon of the year (well official marathon of the year). The past few weeks had been wet, very wet, the rain was pretty much relentless…mental prep?

The day of the Preston marathon wasn’t any different. The weather had been predicted that it would rain, and true to its word, exactly a minute before the race began it started to rain. As the day went on, it didn’t just rain it poured. In fact it was pretty relentless, and the icy rain chilled you to the bone despite pounding the pavement and working up a good sweat. Blisters…of course.

(The pre-race atmosphere about 2 seconds before the rain came)

The route itself wasn’t that inspiring, although it was better than I thought, taking us round country roads, however the weather was bleak. My time was the fastest that I had achieved since my knee injury at the beginning of the year, however I was nursing other injuries and niggles from the demands I was putting on my body.

All in all, it was a pretty bleak day. My body was tired, really tired, but with just over a month to go until my ultra, I had to suck it up and get on with it.

There was a lovely moment at around 2 miles from the finish where I knew I was going to see my family, a lovely moment as they hadn’t managed to get to my last few races, and having them cheer me on at the end for one final time that year definitely made my day. However the tears came, fast. I think people thought it was the emotions of completing a marathon, no it was the fact that I was freezing sore and had to go home, change my kit and complete another 10 miles. My tears were me feeling well and truly sorry for myself.

 (A quick little break at the finish, sopping wet)

A trudge to costa for a nice warm mocha and a packet of crisps later, it was off home to complete another 10 miles. The rain had eased off so I changed into warm kit. As soon as I stepped out again the skies went black and it didn’t just rain it well and truly belted it down for the next two hours I was out.

However, when training for an ultra-marathon there is a need must and I had to complete the distance, and I did. Completing my final official marathon of the year and then taking my total mileage of the day up to 36 miles…was I goosed…most definitely.

And I had another 18 miles to run the next day…bollocks.

(My last Marathon Medal of the year)