When I got back from New York I promised my dad that I would get into the Grand Slam Club in memory of my mum. Eighty days after making that promise my dad died, he was heartbroken after losing my mum. Now I had even more reason to join the Grand Slam Club. I had been told that London was the best marathon to run but I can honestly say that I didn’t think it came anywhere near the experience I had in New York. I had travelled to my sisters a few days before the race so that I could enjoy some relaxation time beforehand.

RACE DAY

Once again it was an early rise, I left my sisters house around 7am and even at that when I got to the starting point I was about 15 minutes late so I had to do a bit of sprinting at the start. Clare, Meghan and Maia had come in to London to cheer me on, I took my mobile phone round with me so that I could let them know where I was going to be at a specific time and they would then be there to see me.

The first point at which I seen them was at Tower Bridge it was torrential rain  and they were soaked, I felt really bad for them and into the bargain they had to fight to get near the barrier to see me. I stopped and chatted to them for a few minutes and then started again, at this point I felt in good shape physically but inside I was pretty down. I knew I could complete this, I needed to keep focused.

My next contact with my family was at 19 miles where I stopped again for a few minutes, by this time they were absolutely drenched, at this point I didn’t feel tested at all, I felt as though I was out in a training run I think part of the reason for this was that my family were there. I headed off again, I knew I was nearing a part of the course that was cobbles and I had been told that it can be really sore on your feet and quite dangerous – I believe they have now excluded this part in the marathon. As I travelled round the course my mum and dad were never far from my thoughts, I was not in the zone as I had been in New York, I was heartbroken at the thought of my mum and dad and here was I running the London marathon and I didn’t even really want to be here. At this point in my life my whole family were finding it very difficult to cope with life. Before I knew it I had reached the section of the race that had the cobbles and knew I should be careful but I didn’t have the inclination to try and avoid them like many of the other runners were doing, I just ran straight up the middle of them trying to push myself more physically but nothing was happening.

I ran on past Big Ben and then up to Buckingham Palace and crossed the finish line but didn’t feel as if I had achieved anything, a total anti climax, nothing like being in New York. I then phoned my sister to tell her I had finished and that we would be back at her house soon as we had to fly home the same night, the tears then came again for me and my sister. At that I heard familiar voices it was the 3 ladies in my life, Clare Meghan and Maia, as soon as I seen them and held them all I felt much better.I took my medal off and gave it to Maia.

I didn’t want to celebrate, we then battled our way through the crowds and got on a train back to my sisters where we had something to eat and then left for the airport we were going home to Scotland. I don’t want to sound totally negative, it was a great race, I just ran it at the worst possible time in my life.

2 down……6 to go

How difficult was it?...............................4/10