From virtual Couch Potato to Marathoner

So this is how it began as I stood watching my husband run over the start line of the GNR in September of 2012 and running for Help the Heroes. I had tears in my eyes with pride and also sorrow as our eldest son had just began his second tour in Afghanistan.

I remember thinking I would never be able to do that, as I remember trying to do the Edinburgh 5K one year and it took me over 38 mins, and I could of cried it hurt so much I walked most of it. Anyhow, one night shortly into 2013 after a few (probably to many) drinks, I had a drunken bet I could do the Manchester 10K. We signed up for it and began training (me, not Matt, he could already run that distance no problem).

The day arrived and I was so excited and yet so nervous but Matt stayed with me all the way round and then sprinted off at the end so I had to do it, I finished one second in front of him. I was so proud I had achieved something and I felt so good. That afternoon we popped into a friend’s barbecue and guess what, after a few drinks (too many again) we had a drunken bet I couldn't do the GNR.

I set myself a goal of doing this one for charity and on the day I started right at the back (as I’d needed to pay a visit to the toilet) I popped in my headphones and ran (probably slow jog to most people) - I didn’t have them in for long as the crowds where unbelievable. I loved every minute of it and remember thinking as I hit the downhill just before you turned onto the seafront “Wow, that was over so quick!” A brilliant time of 2 hours 27 mins.

Over the winter I did a little bit of running maybe once or twice a couple of miles, but nothing like I had been doing over the summer, I needed something to motivate me. We both went back to Edinburgh to do the 5K in January and it was hard work at a time of 33 mins 18 secs - I felt exhausted.

We both thought we would join a club to help us get out and do something. January went and I hadn’t joined one, then I went on the Internet and rang my nearest running club and went along on the Monday night sessions. I stuck with them for a month but didn’t feel I fit in with them so I stopped going.

Then Matt joined a club recommended to him by a friend (Mark McConvile) I went to the first training session with Matt and we arrived at Seed Hill and went round to a park at the back. Chris Singleton was there and was taking the training session, we were running laps of the park. I felt so slow and out of place but everyone made me feel so welcome even as they lapped me (which I now accept as normal).

I then went to my first Monday night run with the club it turned out to be Pasture Lane. I remember not being able to run half way up it and going home in tears. Back to running up and down the greenway and Padiham woods for me then.

I finally signed up to Trawden in May and ran my first race with them, the Colne Lions 10K, it was horrendous as I came round to finish my first lap (Matt stood outside the Morris dancers with a pint in his hand waving me on) I could see the dark clouds coming over, and just as I hit the roundabout to go up the hill it started to thunder and it was pouring it down. I was thinking “What the hell am I doing?” but I kept going. I walked up some of the hill, as I am not a fan of hills, but I felt great when I had finished even though I was absolutely drenched.

Fleetwood Rotary 10K was my next race and I went under an hour for the first time and I won my first prize, a bottle of wine and socks! I began going to Monday nights again and started to enjoy myself even though I was at the back there was always someone who stayed with me, and on the Trawden 7 race I had Karen practically pushing me round.

I was improving all year round on my times and running techniques. Fleetwood Half Marathon I took a massive 17 mins of my GNR time. I was enjoying meeting new friends and enjoying my running and as with all races the encouragement and support of all the other members was fantastic, I knew I had joined the right club. I was running home one day after work (from Colne to Burnley) during the summer the plan was to go up Wheatley Lane and along the bypass, but as I ran past Pasture Lane I had a sudden urge to run up there and I was going to run all the way - and I did it!

Then came the decision to run the Manchester Marathon. I sat and thought about it for days then one night Matt said to me just push this button. I did, and he had filled in all the details, and I was in!

26.2 miles (don’t forget the .2 everyone says)

Training began over the winter .I kept up my running, I entered races and went along to speed training sessions. The speed sessions were great and there were always friendly faces there to give encouragement. I used a training plan similar to one I had used for half marathon training. I read up on the Internet, listened to other people’s advice, and put together the best package for me making sure I had a couple of weeks of over Christmas and allowing for if we had snow and I couldn’t get out or I was ill.

The training is so hard making sure you fit your long runs in and speed work, you don’t realise until you do it how much it takes you away from your family. Making sure you eat right and rest at the right times is so important so you don’t overdo it and injure yourself. I never had the same days off each week so my long runs were always on different days, which meant there could be two in one week and then the next would be ten days later. Gels were new to me, I had never used them before and there are so many, you have to go with what is best for you and so it’s trial and error. One of the hardest things was trying to work out routes for my long runs.

Trimpell 20 came and that was the furthest I had ever run and Mark Fawcett ran all the way round with me - he was fantastic in keeping me going. I managed it and came away feeling tired but thinking I could do six more on top of that. That was the furthest I went up to on my training plan and it was now four weeks till Manchester.

Keighley 10K was the next weekend and so I had planned to run this for work. One mile into the race I started with cramp in my left calf, I had never had this before. I slowed down and carried on running to the first water station where I had a good drink of water, this seemed to ease it and I carried onto the end. I was not bothered about what time I had done but what I had done to my calf. Panic kicked in on the phone to Andrew for an appointment. Panic over - I was told to rest and make sure I hydrate properly in future. Then the week after I had this awful cold, I was aching I lost my voice my throat was sore and all wanted to do was sleep. No running at all for me that week.

The two weeks before Manchester Marathon was all about tapering, cutting back on the long runs and doing slow steady runs. Then the worries started. Have I done enough will I be able to make it round, not sleeping right at night, I just wanted to get it over with. Then before you know it’s here, Sunday morning 19th April, it’s Marathon day! I’m up early with the usual pre-race breakfast of porridge, kit on, warm clothes over top, bag all packed and off we go collecting Derrick on the way. I wasn’t feeling too bad, I was excited and nervous all at the same time.

We parked up at old Trafford and walked into the charity village, had a coffee and a walk round, did a few toilet trips then went back to collect our bags from the car. As we put our bags into the baggage area we bumped into Andrew Mullen, Chell and Dale. We all walked round to the start and before I knew it the race had started.

Nice gentle pace was what I had planned and that is what I did. I set off nice and steady and as we went from old Trafford onto Bridgewater Way where I saw Chris Singleton and Dave Lord on the opposite carriageway coming back up towards Wharfeside running really well. Before I knew it I had done four miles and was running past Old Trafford, I remember thinking to myself I will be running back down here in about four hours.

As I was running along I knew that Autumn and Jason had said that they would be under the motorway bridge at around 6.5 miles. As I wasn’t running in the club vest but my charity one I made sure I stayed to the left hand side. It was great when I saw them and for a little person Autumn sure knows how to make some noise!

On I carried up Chester Road turning down Chapel Road and round Sale, we went through a little shopping area and over a bridge and followed the road round towards Brooklands cemetery where I knew Matt was going to be waiting to cheer me on. As I came around the corner he was standing on the right side of the road waving and cheering - about ten yards further down on the same side I spotted Karen, Steph and Ruth who were jumping up and down cheering like mad and taking photos. Music turned back up now as I knew this part was long until I came back round.

Running up this road I was able to spot other Trawden runners on the opposite side running back and was able to cheer them on. Soon I was at the halfway point and heading back. As I approached 15 miles the side of my left foot began to rub on the side of my trainer, it wasn’t too bad at that point and I slowed down a bit which seemed to ease it.

The support was fantastic and people where handing out sweets, water and oranges cut up, kids were lined up with their hands out for high fives, every time someone shouted out come on Liz keep going it gave you a boost.
I soon approached where Matt, Karen, Steph and Ruth where standing and I stopped for a bottle of water of them then carried on. I remember thinking only ten miles to go now and thinking I couldn’t run ten yards two year ago and now I am saying only ten miles to go!

I put my music back on now and tried to get back into my running pace and stay focused as the miles went down. This part approaching Carrington Village was the point I noticed my foot was hurting again so I put my head down and pushed on as only four miles to go at this point. On up the road I went and I could see Chester Road ahead just before mile 25 then I saw Autumn and Jason on the left hand side of the road, still as loud as at mile six but it was a great lift, even better was my last mile.

As I approached the corner to come onto Chester road there were Karen, Steph and Ruth cheering me on and Karen and Steph ran a good 50 yards or more alongside me, Karen doing what she is best at with those words of encouragement “Keep going Liz! You’re doing well Liz! You’re nearly there Liz!” just like in the Trawden 7.

I remember thinking a mile and you’ve done it, don’t loose it now, don’t fail at the last minute (that was one of the many dreams I had the week before me crawling over the line on my hands and knees). I could see the top of the hill (slight rise in road) in the distance. Then the next thing Matt was there and running alongside me telling me how well had done and I was nearly there I was going to make under 4.30 and to sprint the rest of the way (I looked at him and nearly swore at him) he then said see you at the finish and disappeared.

I ran up the slight rise and could see the finish line. As I turned the corner I took out of my pocket the picture I had carried all the way round with me, I had done a marathon, I felt so emotional I had achieved something I never thought I would ever be able to do, never mind want to do, and I had also raised over £600 for the Lullaby Trust in memory of my daughter and guess what? I did the sprint finish all the way down to the finish line!

I had always said I just want to get round and finish and wasn’t bothered about a time but secretly I had been aiming for under 4 hours 30 mins and I achieved a (what I think is respectable) 4 hours 25 mins and 42 secs!

There were plenty of water stations all the way round and the support from the spectators was absolutely fantastic. But most of all the support from everyone in Trawden over the last 12 months has been amazing thank you to you all.

Would I do another marathon? Erm, let me think…blisters, black toes and sore feet. Yes! I have had gone from a practically couch potato to marathoner and made some great new friends along the way.