Katie's London Marathon Journey...
The first leg...
Although my official training hasn't started yet, I am still getting out & running, last weekend, Sunday 9th, I took part in my second ever half marathon, I had completed a course through my running club & felt confident about the run itself, that was until the week before when I came down with an awful cold which had me side-lined for the week before...
Sniffing into my tissue, doubt started to creep in... your mind is your worst enemy..
Race Day... cold is still there but I am ignoring it, I am ready to go, I am excited, I love the feel of race day, seeing all my Redway friends its always such a buzz...
I started off with the aim of keeping to the 2.45 pacer, unfortunately they never took part which left me a little lost for sorts having thought about it all week, Pauline, Kerry & I have been training together & it seemed right to start together, we scooped up another friend Catherine early on & remained as a foursome for most of 8 miles, I could feel a pain in my hip but I tried to ignore it, believing it was because I had pushed myself a little early...
All my training runs I had been running around 12-13 minute miles, we were 6 miles in & every one had been under 12 so I knew I needed to slow it down to see this to the end...
9.63 miles & I felt lost, having watched my awesome buddies disappear off into the distance I only had my new headphones (thanks to Benny for my early birthday present) to keep me company...
It is sooooo lonely out there alone, I had never experienced it before, I usually have my running bestie Mairead with me but because of injury & alcohol fuelled Christmas parties she was my top cheerleader this time instead...
Luckily along came a familiar face, Andy, he had been helping at the course I had attended & he soon scooped me up & pushed me along... "its only a park run home" where the famous words he told me!
By 11.11 miles I felt like a let down, with my hip hurting & walking was getting more often I felt absolutely devastated I felt like a failure, I was so lucky that Andy was there to basically tell me off for being so negative & to keep reminding me just how far I had already come...
Came round the corner from Mile 12, Lottey was there, cheering so loudly, it was awesome to hear, then around the corner came my head cheerleader of the day, my running bestie, right there at the right time, she had come to find me & run me in...
So there I was with less than a mile to go pushing my body to keep going, telling my head I could I do it....
"Its literally round this corner then its all downhill" Mairead said, she is not a run lead so I knew she was telling the truth !
There it was the finish line...
2:49:11
A personal best of over 27 minutes...
I gave Andy the biggest hug, he saved that race for me :-)
Goals going forward:
* To not rely on a pacer - trust myself to pace myself before a run in case of another no show
* To complete the full 13.1 miles without walking
* To believe in myself more... 1st January 2017 I started as a non runner, even thinking about running made me tired, if I can start from nothing & get to where I am now, I can do anything if I just put my mind to it & work hard...
I am now looking forward to going to up & running next week to try out some new footwear then seeing Rudi at The Treatment Lab for my assessment...
If I feel brave I might even head along to the last core class of 2018!
Over & out...
Sniffing into my tissue, doubt started to creep in... your mind is your worst enemy..
Race Day... cold is still there but I am ignoring it, I am ready to go, I am excited, I love the feel of race day, seeing all my Redway friends its always such a buzz...
I started off with the aim of keeping to the 2.45 pacer, unfortunately they never took part which left me a little lost for sorts having thought about it all week, Pauline, Kerry & I have been training together & it seemed right to start together, we scooped up another friend Catherine early on & remained as a foursome for most of 8 miles, I could feel a pain in my hip but I tried to ignore it, believing it was because I had pushed myself a little early...
All my training runs I had been running around 12-13 minute miles, we were 6 miles in & every one had been under 12 so I knew I needed to slow it down to see this to the end...
9.63 miles & I felt lost, having watched my awesome buddies disappear off into the distance I only had my new headphones (thanks to Benny for my early birthday present) to keep me company...
It is sooooo lonely out there alone, I had never experienced it before, I usually have my running bestie Mairead with me but because of injury & alcohol fuelled Christmas parties she was my top cheerleader this time instead...
Luckily along came a familiar face, Andy, he had been helping at the course I had attended & he soon scooped me up & pushed me along... "its only a park run home" where the famous words he told me!
By 11.11 miles I felt like a let down, with my hip hurting & walking was getting more often I felt absolutely devastated I felt like a failure, I was so lucky that Andy was there to basically tell me off for being so negative & to keep reminding me just how far I had already come...
Came round the corner from Mile 12, Lottey was there, cheering so loudly, it was awesome to hear, then around the corner came my head cheerleader of the day, my running bestie, right there at the right time, she had come to find me & run me in...
So there I was with less than a mile to go pushing my body to keep going, telling my head I could I do it....
"Its literally round this corner then its all downhill" Mairead said, she is not a run lead so I knew she was telling the truth !
There it was the finish line...
2:49:11
A personal best of over 27 minutes...
I gave Andy the biggest hug, he saved that race for me :-)
Goals going forward:
* To not rely on a pacer - trust myself to pace myself before a run in case of another no show
* To complete the full 13.1 miles without walking
* To believe in myself more... 1st January 2017 I started as a non runner, even thinking about running made me tired, if I can start from nothing & get to where I am now, I can do anything if I just put my mind to it & work hard...
I am now looking forward to going to up & running next week to try out some new footwear then seeing Rudi at The Treatment Lab for my assessment...
If I feel brave I might even head along to the last core class of 2018!
Over & out...
The first meet....
Weirdly I was so scared, worried I would arrive & they would say "oh lord, we meant another Katie" & all my hopes of running this Marathon properly would dispapear but thankfully it went swimmingly.
We spoke about out current plans, what we want our of the plans & how things will work, it was already so exciting.
My 16 week plan starts on the 7th January...
Over the next few weeks I get to see Rudi for an assessment & Dionne to sort out some new footwear, will also start some core classes once the small matter of my second half marathon is completed this Sunday (9th December)
We spoke about out current plans, what we want our of the plans & how things will work, it was already so exciting.
My 16 week plan starts on the 7th January...
Over the next few weeks I get to see Rudi for an assessment & Dionne to sort out some new footwear, will also start some core classes once the small matter of my second half marathon is completed this Sunday (9th December)
What is a Sponsored Athlete?
Clean Coach Katie, The Treatment Lab & Up & Running Milton Keynes set about finding two athletes to sponsor for a 2019 Marathon, they wanted someone who has never ran a marathon before & someone who wants to improve, Mikey & I are both thrilled to have been chosen as the sponsored Athletes for 2019.
Mikey is taking on the Manchester Marathon (as well as VLM a few weeks later) & I am taking on VLM for my first time...
Finding out that I had been chosen meant so much to me, it meant that 3 other people believed I could do it, it meant that I would have the help & support of 3 incredible companies & also Mikey.
Both Mikey & I receive all the following from our sponsors:
Monthly Sport Massages with Rudi at The Treatment Lab with extra sessions leading up to race day
Monthly PT sessions, weekly core classes and a training plan from Clean Coach Katie
Gait analysis and a free pair of trainers up to the value of £120. Nutritional advice and race day nutrition from Up & Running.
Ongoing support from all three to achieve the best on race day including training advice, nutrition support and coaching throughout the process
Mikey is taking on the Manchester Marathon (as well as VLM a few weeks later) & I am taking on VLM for my first time...
Finding out that I had been chosen meant so much to me, it meant that 3 other people believed I could do it, it meant that I would have the help & support of 3 incredible companies & also Mikey.
Both Mikey & I receive all the following from our sponsors:
Monthly Sport Massages with Rudi at The Treatment Lab with extra sessions leading up to race day
Monthly PT sessions, weekly core classes and a training plan from Clean Coach Katie
Gait analysis and a free pair of trainers up to the value of £120. Nutritional advice and race day nutrition from Up & Running.
Ongoing support from all three to achieve the best on race day including training advice, nutrition support and coaching throughout the process
A little about me...
My names Katie Elmer, I’m 33 and mum to Emily & Jake. I live with my partner Ben & we’ve been together for 12 years.
I joined Redway Runners in January 2017 as a beginner not being able to run for 30 seconds, my aim was a 10K race in August which I completed.
Fast forward to October last year & I felt like running wasn’t for me, I didn’t feel like I was improving & in fact felt slower.
On the 1st January this year after park run I saw a photo of myself that changed the way I was thinking, I decided to concentrate on running more & eating healthy, before I knew it I was absolutely loving running & everything about it.
I completed the same 10K race this year & knocked 17 minutes off my time set the year before. I completed my first half marathon in May 2018 & I enjoyed every single step!
I had always said I would only ever consider running one marathon & that would be London.
After the 4th year of applying the charity I founded in memory of my daughter Emily won a place in the ballot & everything pointed at me to take that place & run it for her…
When I saw the applications open for the sponsored athlete program open I knew I had to apply, after seeing the help & support Sally got last year through the program I knew it was something that too could help me.
When I opened up the “congratulations email” I burst into tears…
Having their belief that I can do this means so much, it’s going to be hard work but also enjoyable to complete a dream for myself in memory of my daughter
Watch out London, I’m coming for you!!
I joined Redway Runners in January 2017 as a beginner not being able to run for 30 seconds, my aim was a 10K race in August which I completed.
Fast forward to October last year & I felt like running wasn’t for me, I didn’t feel like I was improving & in fact felt slower.
On the 1st January this year after park run I saw a photo of myself that changed the way I was thinking, I decided to concentrate on running more & eating healthy, before I knew it I was absolutely loving running & everything about it.
I completed the same 10K race this year & knocked 17 minutes off my time set the year before. I completed my first half marathon in May 2018 & I enjoyed every single step!
I had always said I would only ever consider running one marathon & that would be London.
After the 4th year of applying the charity I founded in memory of my daughter Emily won a place in the ballot & everything pointed at me to take that place & run it for her…
When I saw the applications open for the sponsored athlete program open I knew I had to apply, after seeing the help & support Sally got last year through the program I knew it was something that too could help me.
When I opened up the “congratulations email” I burst into tears…
Having their belief that I can do this means so much, it’s going to be hard work but also enjoyable to complete a dream for myself in memory of my daughter
Watch out London, I’m coming for you!!
Fundraising....
As this is my first (and probably last marathon) I am running for & raising money for Emily's Star...
Below is my fundraising link if you would like to sponsor me, thank you :-)
Below is my fundraising link if you would like to sponsor me, thank you :-)
