We drove to Eastbourne Saturday evening and stopped over in the Travelodge there as I didn't want to pay the extra £60 to stay any closer! Olivia bounced around the room for hours (that girl loves a hotel) and finally slept about half 10, the boys were not quite as over excited and hard work!
I got up around 5;45, got ready then woke the children just after 6. I was amazed how enthusiastic they were even at that stupid time of the morning. We had snacks for breakfast and set off. Or tried to. The car was covered in thick frost that we weren't expecting so took a while to clear that. Just made it out of the car pack when the fan/heating/something stopped working so the windows kept steaming up so Mum couldn't see anything! Luckily I'd seen Keith deal with this before so I dismantled the dashboard and fiddled about with the wires until it worked. Wasn't entirely sure what I was doing, I could just as easily have broken something more t be honest but had nothing to lose as we weren't going anywhere anyway.
On our way at last ... All going smoothly until the sat nav tried to send us around a roundabout that wasn't there by Stanmer Park and we got a bit lost. Got back on track and I was very relieved to see the race course approaching where we were to park for the park and ride. Until we got closer and could see the queue of cars waiting to get in. By this point it was 8am and the last bus was due to leave at 8:20 to get to the start so I was panicking a bit! Me and the boys left Mum, Dad and Olivia and walked to the bus queue where we met the lovely Davina, Ian and Verity, I've been talking to Davina online for probably about 9 years or so? A long time, anyway so it was great to meet at last. Had hoped to meet up with friends from my running group, Bosh, but due to all the delays I missed them all which was a shame as they've all been a great help. I'll have to come back down to support at the full in April.
We made our way to the start area, with Ian very kindly agreeing to take the boys to the youth race start with Verity if Mum, Dad and Olivia didn't make it down in time. Alma, Lesley and Michelle (more organised than me!) made it down from the Bosh meeting point to the start as we had arranged to run together. I felt a lot more relaxed than at the Great North Run, although my foot was a little sore, at least I knew I was capable of the distance. It was a beautiful morning, so much nicer than 6 miles of rain in Newcastle!
We were off! I was a bit worried as Davina hadn't returned from taking Verity to the toilet but she caught us up after a mile. I'm not quite sure how me and Michelle lost Lesley and Alma, they were with us one minute and then they were gone. As is usual for me, I spent the first 3 or 4 miles trying to get into it, and worrying a little. Not helped at all by the fact that both me and Michelle needed the toilet before we started but didn't have time! The hill up to Roedean seemed to go on forever but I still much prefer running uphill to down.
I really enjoyed most of the route of this course, the 3 out and back loops meant we got to watch people coming back on the other side of the road, plenty of shouts of Bosh! (and plenty of people looking bewildered by it all!) From about mile 5 I felt pretty good for a while, although my foot was hurting, it was bearable. Michelle and me naturally ran at the same pace which was great as I was worried I'd be holding her up. I've never run that far with anybody but it was great, I think if I had been on my own I would have ended up walking at some points but the extra encouragement really helped.
Past the eye and down to the lagoon felt like it was going on forever and I was getting a bit worried by that point, probably about mile 9. There were a few points where we discussed if we should stop for a wee or a walk break but we decided to keep going, knowing we'd likely seize up and never get going properly again and I think that was definitively the right choice.
Coming past the beach huts on the last mile or so was a nightmare. There were a lot of runners even slower than us and combined with people just wandering about as the path was open to anyone it was a bit crowded and claustrophobic. I found it difficult to keep going while trying to dodge people. We passed Bosh HQ again, thanks so much everyone, the support really helped but I'm kinda hoping you can really photoshop any pictures so I don't look as bad as I felt!
I remember keep trying to make it seem less far to go! Started off about mile 7 with "only 2 parkruns to go", and ended off with "only 1 school run left
The last km .... Felt much longer than any of the previous miles! My legs felt so heavy and it was so difficult to keep going but I did it! We did it really as I really don't think I could've kept going without Michelle's encouragement. We Boshed it! She was in a similar position as I was at GNR, having only done 10 miles previously so did amazingly :-)
(Love this photo just as we finished as I was about to put plasters on Michelle's blisters! Just sums up the day, sore, hurting but bloody good fun!)
2:34:42 so only 5 mins 39 slower than GNR and I started with a bad foot. So happy with that as I'd expected a time of around 2:40/45.
Got past the finish line and finally saw Mum, Dad and the children, Mum took some photos, most of which weren't too bad actually!
I had such a great day, definitely a race I will do again :-)
