I started training for London Marathon from mid- January being sponsored a place by Sailors Society. While working on a full-time job I started following the training schedule to run in evenings after work. For first couple of weeks low winter temperatures made the training more of training your brain than your muscles to motivate yourself to get out of the warm, cozy house to hit the roads running. Once running in evenings was in my schedule I started running three time the five working days and two days over the weekend. Here I would take the opportunity to thank Coventry Park Run for providing an opportunity to race with group. By start of March I started running longer distances of 15 miles. These long races provided main training for muscles and also gave me confidence of completing the marathon. My usual track was to run around University of Warwick and then to Kenilworth Castle and back to Coventry for long run. I introduced swimming into my schedule from march which had added advantage.
In no time the race day 17th April 2011 was here. I have had a good night sleep and was now on my way to Greenwich towards red start. Friends were there with their usual banter which kept nerves relaxed. As part of my strategy I had taken a couple of ibuprofen pills before I began my run and I am pretty sure they helped me through to get to the end. During the race there were small kids giving high-fives, people cheering and bands at pubs making the lively ambiance all the time. Reaching mile 12-13 I could feel energy going low and then lucozade fuel and gel stations were strategically placed that came to my rescue to re-fuel the body. With a good running playlist I enjoyed the run and had not to walk until I crossed mile 23. I had known if I took a walking break it would be difficult to run again. For the last five kilometers my muscles gave up though I was not lacking energy my muscles would support me running, it was here that I had to keep myself going and cheering support from people helped. In the end I was able to successfully finish and words of one of the supporter will always be with me that said, "Pain is temporary, but Pride is permanent".
In no time the race day 17th April 2011 was here. I have had a good night sleep and was now on my way to Greenwich towards red start. Friends were there with their usual banter which kept nerves relaxed. As part of my strategy I had taken a couple of ibuprofen pills before I began my run and I am pretty sure they helped me through to get to the end. During the race there were small kids giving high-fives, people cheering and bands at pubs making the lively ambiance all the time. Reaching mile 12-13 I could feel energy going low and then lucozade fuel and gel stations were strategically placed that came to my rescue to re-fuel the body. With a good running playlist I enjoyed the run and had not to walk until I crossed mile 23. I had known if I took a walking break it would be difficult to run again. For the last five kilometers my muscles gave up though I was not lacking energy my muscles would support me running, it was here that I had to keep myself going and cheering support from people helped. In the end I was able to successfully finish and words of one of the supporter will always be with me that said, "Pain is temporary, but Pride is permanent".
