I started my London marathon journey in 2019 and due to COVID have completed in October 2021. This has been an epic journey and I would like to share my experience
The journey
As a 3rd year student Midwife I decided I wanted to do something with my newfound hobby of running. My friend had mentioned the possibility of the London Marathon and after a sleepless night of deliberating I decided: Yes I was going to do this! I found Tommy’s baby charity shared a cause I was very passionate about(which I will cover in more detail in a later blog). I read many training books and started training. I went through most of a training cycle before the April 2020 marathon was cancelled. I started my latest cycle as a qualified Midwife in Oxford.
The start
At the start I happened to meet another Iona(a much speedier one) and an amazing woman called Felicity. Felicity was running for Diabetes UK and we ran the first 6 miles together. I believe she made my race by helping me keep pace which I managed to keep consistent for the rest of the race. We parted ways as she went to a porta loo but she was a very special part of my experience. I kept steady for those first 13 miles and felt amazing. I couldn’t believe I felt so glad as I made it past Cutty Sark and then to Tower Bridge. The support on the route was unreal. It was like constant entertainment with bagpipes, speakers and relentless encouragement round every corner.
Mile 14-22
You might be thinking this a big distance to be recapping over but I knew my Dad was at mile 22 so in my mind I wasn’t aiming for 26 miles I was aiming for 22+4. This was the most difficult part for me as I was sticking in there. At mile 14 I tried to take a gel which I had used in training but it was making me feel sick suddenly so had as much as I could and then carried on. I kept steady until mile 19 where I decked it. By that I mean I fell very dramatically looking like I was going down a water slip slide straight onto my knees. I was fine just embarrassed and clumsy. I had a lucozade gel at mile 20 provided at aid stations which hit the spot. I ran next to several costumed people with my favourite being a man with a giant teddy bear strapped to his back running for a children’s hospital charity. When I asked how he was and he said the bear might end up on the train tracks after the marathon.
Mile 22-26.2
I made it to my Dad for a hug and some ribena. I only had 4 miles to go and started a run/walk. During my walks I would check in with other runners especially ones looking like they were struggling and saving themselves for the end. As we went along the Embankment seeing London Eye and that corner into Westminster it started to sink in: I was going to do this! The last mile was amazing. I still felt good and each landmark energised me even more. When I turned onto the Mall it was shorter than I managed so I went for it. I couldn’t believe it when I crossed the finish line. All that time and hard work had paid.
The Aftermath
I never imagined I could feel so good running 26.2 miles! No injuries and hardly any pain cave. I definitely felt mentally strong throughout. I had a wee cry after I crossed the finish line thinking about what I’d just achieved.
What I will say if you want to run a marathon and more importantly if you want to support a charity: Do it! I’m not a runner with natural talent or speed but you don’t need to be. You need a base of decent fitness, strong mind and desire to do it. I would recommend it to anyone!
Iona the Midwife runs 