London Marathon Memories

This morning, over 45,000 people will run the London Marathon.?

Some will be running their very first marathon, some will be running their umpteenth marathon.?

Every single one of them will be creating memories that will last a lifetime.

25 years ago, that was me.

Little did I know at the time,?running?26.2 miles?through?the?streets?of London would ultimately change my life and lead me on the most amazing adventure to help others achieve amazing things too.

Today, I want to share with you my memories from?amazing experience.?

The Ultimate Goal

Like most people, I used to love watching the London Marathon on tv when I was growing up. I always felt inspired by it but never really considered running it myself. It always looked to be for people way fitter than me.

That all changed when in the summer of 1997, my back went into spasm. I was in a lot of pain, afraid to move as the 'wrong' move would send shooting pains up and down my back.?

My GP prescribed me strong painkillers and signed me off work for 4 weeks.

While I was off, I happened to read a magazine article about entries opening for the 1998 London Marathon. I saw it as the ultimate goal to improve my fitness so I wouldn't go through life affected by back pain.?

To enter, you had to?collect?a?magazine from?a?sports shop.?Thinking?about it now,?going?in to Campus?Sports?in Perth and asking Frank, the owner,?for?a copy was?one?of the most nerve-wracking?experiences of my life!?Inside?the?magazine?was a form?you had?to fill in, tear out, fold?up,?stick your cheque?in,?seal like an?envelope and pop it in the post.?

And?hope for?the best!

Something that seemed impossible a few months earlier now made perfect sense. Perhaps the effect of the painkillers?

A Journey Into The Unknown

The biggest shock was one day in December 1997 when a magazine popped through the letterbox that said something like "You're in!" on the?front?of it. I remember phoning my Mum to tell her that I would be on tv and when I told her I would be running the marathon, her reply was "yer aff yer heid!" (you're off your head).

My?reaction?to?getting the magazine?was?largely?thinking "oh crap, I'm going to have to?start running!"

I wasn't fit or a regular runner and so this was really a journey into the unknown.

My only race experience until that point was the Fair City Fun Run (later to become the?Perth 10k?race, for which I am the organiser of) when I was 12!?

I only had a couple of weeks to really think about it before training?started?at the beginning of 1998.?Runners World magazine published training plans?so I just started?following?one?of?them.

It seemed perfect that I could enjoy the New Years celebrations and eat the last of the Christmas chocolates before training started on the first Monday in January.

An Experience Like No Other

Throughout the 16 weeks of training and?getting to?the the start line, it never once occurred to me that I couldn't do it. For?someone?who?doubted their ability to do anything prior?to?this,?this?was a new?feeling?for me.?

I?suppose when?you have?nothing?to?compare this kind of?thing to,?how?can you?know?if you can do it or not??

The?journey to London,?meeting?a?couple?of friends?from?Perth who were?also running,?going?to?registration,?collectingmy?number?etc were all on a?rollercoaster?of?nerves?and?excitement.?

Walking into?registration?and the expo, with the?famous theme?tune of the?marathon being played?on loop, added?tothe excitement and impossible?not?to?feel incredibly emotional?about.?

What seemed?so far away was now about to happen.

Thousands Of Friends You Haven't Yet Met

The atmosphere of the event on tv always looks amazing but it's so much more being part of it. It's like being among thousands of friends you haven't yet met! You can't help but feel inspired when you're among people of all ages and abilities.?

You can wonder if you're completely out of your depth when you're on your way to the start but when you're running, you feel right at home. Every single one of your fellow runners willing you on.

The early miles seemed to whizz by but from mile 17 onwards, it became more challenging. Even though my legs were feeling sore and I was beginning to wonder why I thought this was a good idea, I never doubted finishing the race.?

Perhaps it was the Scottish in me and the knowledge that I'd paid for the medal so I'm not going home without it, kept me going?

Anything IS Possible

Crossing the finish line blew me away.?

I felt an incredible sense of accomplishment I'd never felt before. That was the?first moment?I?realised?that?anything?IS?possible.

I followed the process of collecting my medal, foil blanket, goody bag then the realisation of what I'd just done hit me.?

The best way I can describe it is every emotion hitting you in the?space of 30 seconds. I've since discovered that this happens after every marathon.?

I now recommend to people to take a few moments to?themselves after?they finish?to?process?this before they meet?their family or friends waiting for them.?

As?I walked back?to my?hotel?(very?slowly), I?felt like?I had?discovered?a?secret and wanted?to?share?it with?everyone. I had an?overwhelming desire?to?help others achieve things?they?thought?were impossible for?them?and?feel?the?sameway I did.?

After all, if I?can?do it,?anyone?can!

A year later, I ran the London Marathon again, strengthened my desire, quit my job as a?Pizza Chef?and began a training course to become a Personal Trainer.?

The rest, as they say, is history.