This is my marathon in 26.2 pictures......
We arrived on Friday morning. We had to get up at 5am but we were actually really lucky as there was a plane fire (read all about it here) and 192 flights were cancelled.
1) Edinburgh Castle
We spent the day touring around the city which happens to be one of my favourites in the world!
2) It was exhausting! (this is my husband not a random stranger in case you were wondering)
We went out for dinner and had quite a bit to drink - my husband is a bad influence. Saturday was really hot and sunny. We spent the day on Portabello Beach. In the evening we met up with Bev and Penny to carb load - pizza!
3) Portabello Beach, Edinburgh
I slept fine and was up early. Met Penny and Bev for breakfast...
4) Scrambled egg on toast with marmite - the breakfast of champions!
5) We had a 1.5 mile walk to the bag drop....
6) Followed by the obligatory queue for the loo... (twice)
7) This is us at the start. Penny wasn't cold, she was hiding her number as she was purple and we were gold!!
8) We all moved forward and it started at 10am.....
I needed to stop for the loo. I kept telling myself it was all in my head but it wasn't so stopped off at about 1.5miles!
9) 1.5 miles (the loo was here) and you run into the Holyrood Park.
10) First water station....
11) Coming up to the beach, about 5 miles ish.... Check out the sunshine!
12) 6 mile marker, Portabello Beach....
13, 14, 15) The route follows the coastline which is absolutely beautiful.
16) This was the turn-point at about 17 miles. We left the coast and go through a really pretty park.....
17) Ok, so I didn't take this one but I should have, it was beautiful and you run straight past it (through the gates above)!
18) 21 mile marker...
19) 23 mile marker.... just a parkrun to go.....
I cried at mile 26. The sort that means you can't breathe so no photos of the finish I'm afraid. Good points were the scenery, bad points were no clock - I had no idea how long it took to cross the start line and no idea of how I was doing (my watch packed up at 16 miles) so my time was surprise to me; bus home - it was about a 30 minute walk to the park-and-ride and then a long queue to get on the bus and a 1.5 mile walk back to the hotel (not fun); not much support and no oranges (only sweets).
20) Nice medal and t-shirt!
21) And the end to my first ever marathon in Scotland!
22, 23) The walk to the bus home was miles and the queue was miles long. Then there was the walk back to the hotel - more miles up and down more hills....
24, 25, 26) The bagpipes welcomed us back to town and the sun was still shining!
Last thoughts..... chaffing - ouch my vest rubbed under my arm and it is very sore! The support in Edinburgh was nice but London is phenomenal! Thank you to everyone who has supported me and encouraged me through the last 21 weeks and 471 miles.
Total miles this week:
Tuesday: 6
Sunday: 26.6
Total: 32.6
Total marathon miles: 471.2
So good-bye until December when I start again for my next Spring challenge, the Brighton Marathon on 6th April 2014!
(this is the point 2 by the way)!
