One down, one to go!

No, it hasn't taken me four days to be fit enough to sit at a computer and type! The silence since Sunday has actually been quite marathon-unconnected, due to being fully occupied as a London tour-guide for Ági and her mum. This was an ideal post-marathon activity, keeping me moving without being too intense. So I am happy to say that walking and bending (and particularly standing up and sitting down!) are now considerably easier than 72 hours ago!

What can I say about the Bungay Black Dog Marathon? That it was great, that it was torture; that it was exciting, that it was tedious; that it was inspiring, that it hurt; that crossing the finish line is a moment I'll never forget? Yes, all of these. But what of this kaleidoscope of images, experiences and emotions can I convey to you in a blog post?

Firstly, staying at All Hallows was a perfect preparation. As well as having every material need fully met, the calming and spiritually nourishing environment really made me ready for the challenge of the big day! Next, I can highly recommend the Bungay Black Dog for anybody considering running a marathon. With 250 participants this year, there was plenty of company and brilliant organisation, but the scale allowed for ingenious systems such as being able to grab your personal bottle of Lucozade from the hand of a marshal at any of the water stations! The route also takes in some exceptionally beautiful Suffolk and Norfolk countryside. Finally, I have to mention that I got round in a shorter time than I ever thought possible, and with no murmurs from that pesky knee problem! This is not to say it was an easy run. For most of the first lap (half the course) I had a tight, painful hamstring. This did eventually go off, but probably only because it was masked by increasing complaints from my quads! I also felt faintly nauseous most of the time, so struggled to take in enough calories (from Lucozade and sweets) to keep my energy levels high. By the end I felt that I was hardly lifting my feet at all - barely running. It's true I did slow down, but not nearly as much as that impression led me to believe; the second lap took me around 20 minutes longer than the first.

It was the support of so many people that enabled me to achieve what I did. A huge "thankyou" must go to John, who popped up on his bike from time to time and pedalled along beside me. The company, as well as the anticipation of it (arriving as it did at unpredictable moments), helped me to keep plodding on when all I wanted to do was stop - or at least walk for a while! And the "welcoming committee" of my mum and Helen had to be seen to be believed. The other spectators were quite taken aback by the volume of the cheers and shouts, if their expressions were anything to go by! Helen was also a complete star in providing me with soothing bath, restorative supper, comfortable bed, and a hundred other pieces of thoughtful attention.

The thoughts of "Oh no, I've got to do that again next Sunday" which nudged my consciousness in the hours following Bungay have faded amazingly quickly; for the first time in months I'm actually looking forward to running! Of course I will be stiffer and more tired, the course will be more crowded and there will be more litter to dodge, but however long it takes me, I think I can be optimistic about finishing.

One final "thankyou" has to be for all the prayers for me in this venture; I have been amazingly blessed in the past week. I don't understand prayer, but I'm sure this shower of blessings must somehow stem from it. I could never have achieved what I did from my own powers.