‘I ran the Paris Marathon!’
WHL Running Editor and #RUNYOURCITY Run Club pacer Bethan Taylor gives us the lowdown on her Paris Marathon experience…
I RAN A MARATHON!! After months of preparation on Sunday 12 April 2015 I ran 26.2 glorious miles through the streets of Paris. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life and I can barely begin to explain how it made me feel, but it’s fair to say I loved every moment!
The final countdown
The week before the marathon didn’t go quite as I planned. A lot of unexpected changes had happened in my life and being totally honest running a marathon wasn’t at the forefront of my mind. So, instead of over-analysing my carb intake and worrying about my kit I found myself traipsing around house shares late in to the night looking for a new place to live. On reflection this was probably a good thing, it took my mind off what I was about to do.
Arriving in Paris my emotions went wild. I was so excited and so nervous. In moments I’d go from feeling sick to my stomach with nerves, to literally bouncing with excitement! It was bizarre, but even when I felt most nervous a little smile crept on to my face as I thought about what I was about to do. I had no doubts, my training would pay off and I’d conquer the marathon!
The big day
Waking up on race day I felt strangely calm. Ok, there was a bit of a moment when my Mum wanted to take a ‘short cut’ to the start line, but on the whole I was really calm! It was surreal, people swirled around me in the start pen, queuing for the portaloo (or squatting behind a jumper when the queue got too long), making small talk and adjusting their trainers, while I just stood there waiting for the race to start!
Suddenly I was running a marathon and it felt like the most natural thing in the world!
Quietly the marshals removed the fencing at the front of the pen and gradually my wave started to walk towards the start line heading down the Champs Elysees picking our way over discarded belongings. My walk turned in to a jog and unceremoniously I crossed the start line. Suddenly I was running a marathon and it felt like the most natural thing in the world!
It sounds insane, but I’m being totally honest when I say the first 20 miles of the marathon were AMAZING! The week before the race my legs had felt like lead, but come race day they were light as a feather and it felt like I was flying. I trotted through historic streets, past monuments and over cobbles. Crowds cheered in multiple languages, fire fighters dangled from ladders suspended across the street and there seemed to be a different band playing on every corner. The atmosphere was electric!!
When the going got tough…
I think every runner anticipates a moment during their race when things get tough. My moment came as I approached the 22 mile mark. Running stopped being so easy and it became a massive effort to keep my legs moving, my quads and hip flexors were tight and ached in a way I’d never experienced before. Things became harder and harder until my legs just stopped. I literally couldn’t run any more.
I can’t describe how tough it was, I walk/ran the last few miles and at points was literally gritting my teeth
Throughout my training I’d made a real point of listening to my body and giving it what it needed, and this situation was no different. My body needed me to walk, so I walked. As I walked I thought about what I was trying to achieve, about how much I wanted to finish this marathon and, with the aid of some emergency sweets, I started running again.
I can’t describe how tough it was, I walk/ran the last few miles and at points was literally gritting my teeth to make the effort I needed to. Mentally I just withdrew, I plugged myself in to an audio book and got on with the task in hand. I had to finish this race!
The finish line
Turning on to the Champs Elysee all my pain disappeared, my legs felt lighter and I was sprinting towards the finish line! Before I knew it a kind volunteer was presenting me with a medal and showering me with congratulations, I’d just run a marathon! There are no words to describe how I felt in that moment, it was just phenomenal.
So would I do it again? Absolutely, in a heartbeat. Yes it was hard, but it also felt like the most natural thing in the world, I loved it (or at least I loved the first 22 miles, which more than made up for the pain of the last four!). In fact, I loved it so much that within 12 hours I’d signed up for the next one, Bristol and Bath Marathon on 25 October 2015!
Bethan is a pacer for the #RUNYOURCITY Run Club, the new (free!) Hackney based Run Club from sportswear brand Odlo and We Heart Living
To join our FREE Hackney run club sign up here!