Reflections on the big day
It’s four weeks since the marathon and life is slowly getting back to normal. At least, I think I would call it normal – it’s been so long since I had a life that I can only just remember what one is.
It’s amazing how quickly the memory of the day has disappeared into the past. I’m really glad I sat down and wrote that long blog entry the evening of the race so that I will always remember how it felt. It was an amazing day, truly unique, and lived up to all of my expectations.
I have kept up some running since the marathon – mainly distances of around 5-7 miles. I think I’ll be happy to runs around that length from now on. I’d like to keep running half-marathons and have signed up for Windsor again this September.
It’s often said that, after the marathon, people feel a sense of loss, an emotional anticlimax as all of the effort of training and the adrenaline of the big day recedes. I’m pleased to say that I’ve not really felt that way. I have used the time to see friends that I have been neglecting for weeks, to do some things I enjoy, to eat some bad food and to drink some lovely beer – and now that summer is coming, I am looking forward to long, lazy afternoons in the pub without fear of what it might do to my training. It’s also wonderful to be injury free and able to walk around normally again. There were weeks on end in February and March when I couldn’t get out of a chair without wincing, before limping off down the corridor.
Looking back, the marathon day itself was everything I hoped that it would be. I was really, really lucky to get such a good experience and to feel fit for most of the way around. Other people I have spoken too suffered much more in the heat – it just goes to show how all of that training really paid off.
My final total for Shelter looks like being £2890. If you had said to me at the beginning I would not only make my £1500 target, but would double it, I’m not sure I would have believed you! I remain taken aback by people’s kindness and generosity. Thank you everyone!!
One final question remains in my head:
Is this my first marathon? Or my last?
It’s amazing how quickly the memory of the day has disappeared into the past. I’m really glad I sat down and wrote that long blog entry the evening of the race so that I will always remember how it felt. It was an amazing day, truly unique, and lived up to all of my expectations.
I have kept up some running since the marathon – mainly distances of around 5-7 miles. I think I’ll be happy to runs around that length from now on. I’d like to keep running half-marathons and have signed up for Windsor again this September.
It’s often said that, after the marathon, people feel a sense of loss, an emotional anticlimax as all of the effort of training and the adrenaline of the big day recedes. I’m pleased to say that I’ve not really felt that way. I have used the time to see friends that I have been neglecting for weeks, to do some things I enjoy, to eat some bad food and to drink some lovely beer – and now that summer is coming, I am looking forward to long, lazy afternoons in the pub without fear of what it might do to my training. It’s also wonderful to be injury free and able to walk around normally again. There were weeks on end in February and March when I couldn’t get out of a chair without wincing, before limping off down the corridor.
Looking back, the marathon day itself was everything I hoped that it would be. I was really, really lucky to get such a good experience and to feel fit for most of the way around. Other people I have spoken too suffered much more in the heat – it just goes to show how all of that training really paid off.
My final total for Shelter looks like being £2890. If you had said to me at the beginning I would not only make my £1500 target, but would double it, I’m not sure I would have believed you! I remain taken aback by people’s kindness and generosity. Thank you everyone!!
One final question remains in my head:
Is this my first marathon? Or my last?
posted by Jonathan @ 11:26 PM
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