Thoughts post the Gloucester Marathon

We've had our differences
and come through them
Stumbled and crawled along the way
but she means the whole world to me
I won't ever let her go away

What a day, oh what a day-ay-ay
What a day, oh what a day
What a day, oh what a day-ay-ay
What a day ohhhh-oh-oh-oh, what a day

(Saw Doctors, What a Day, 1997)

WHAT A day, oh what a day-ay-ay. 26.4 miles (not 26.2 miles according to my Garmin Forerunner) of torture masquerading as the Gloucester Marathon.

Please, never again!

The day started off rather precariously as the alarm clock on my blackberry screeched into action at six o’clock, telling me in no uncertain times that it was time to get up and do battle in Gloucester, home of the gothic Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester Docks and Gloucester Rugby Club (disappointedly failing to get through to the quarter finals of the Heineken Cup).

Although I managed to switch off the alarm without having to get out of bed, the next ten minutes were dangerous. ‘Do I really have to do this blasted marathon?’ ‘Why not a recuperative morning in bed sleeping and listening to the Archers?’ These wicked thoughts raced through my mind.

A month ago, I would have been tempted to succumb to them. But today, I knew I had no choice. If I couldn’t be bothered to do the Gloucester Marathon, what chance do I have of doing 10 marathons in 10 days around Lake Windermere in May? None whatsoever.

At 6.10 I emerged from my pit, had a quick shower (with Original Source shower gel: Mint and Tea Tree – for more details visit www.originalsource.co.uk) and prepared for the chore ahead of me. Porridge (Quaker oats – apple and blueberry) embellished with banana and raisins were consumed as was a peanut butter bagel. I then prepared my protein drinks (professional eh) for the two hour car journey to Gloucester, a drink supplied by Team Nutrition (www.teamnutrition.co.uk).

I can’t say I felt good but my spirits were buoyed when I arrived at Seven Vale Sports Centre in Quedgeley to be greeted by a mob of 10 in 10 Brathay marathon super stars – Davey Green (looking as handsome as I’ve ever seen him); Jim Meta (a running metronome); Howard Bailey (jovial as ever); Matt Dunn (a super runner); Diane Shaw (a lovely, down to earth person); Rob Dallison (sporting some wonderful barefoot running shoes) and the running machine that is Steve Edwards (a phenomenal athlete).

To the run. What a day, oh what a day-ay-ay! It really was a question of mind over matter. Five miles and then three identical laps of seven miles. Tough? Yes. Cotswold undulations everywhere. And the wind made running difficult, especially when it was in your face as yet another hill presented itself for ascent.

Most runners were hardcore – with many sporting 100 Marathon Club shirts in recognition of their marathon prowess/madness. There were also Comrades Marathon badges galore (a 56 mile race between Pietermaritzburg and Durban in South Africa – check it out at www.comrades.com). I felt a novice in comparison, especially since someone dressed as a nun ran ahead of me for most of the race and then sprinted off as if they had been called to an emergency mass.

The event was superbly organised (well done www.beyondthelimitations.co.uk) although the queue for tea and cakes was too long to join (it would have taken me 3 hours 58 minutes – my race time – to get to the front!). And I’m sure (as I said at the start) the course was a tad longer than it should have been.

Hats off to Matt Dunn and Steve Edwards who both ran magnificently. Indeed, hats off to all my fellow Brathay 10 marathon in 10 days colleagues. They were all magnificent on the day as they will be in May. And a big thank you to the gentleman who shouted ’10 in 10’ every time I passed him – I felt a bit of a super star.

I can’t say I feel brilliant as I write this. I am walking like a penguin although the Tiger Beer is helping my recovery! – sorry Team Nutrition). But one little snippet of joy. Some kind individual sponsored me £100 as a result of reading one of my tweets on the Gloucester Marathon. Thank you Dennis Hall!

What a day, oh what a day-ay-ay.

My blogs can be read at www.brathay.org.uk or via www.jeffprestridge.blogspot.com.  If you fancy sponsoring a 52 year old mad bad ginga (53 in May) – go to justgiving.com/jeff-prestridge. If you fancy a gander at the pictorial book I put together on my Coast to Coast walk in June 2011 – email me at jeff.prestridge@hotmail.co.uk  or jeff.prestridge@mailonsunday.co.uk.

Love you all.

What a day, oh what a day-ay-ay (I love the saw doctors).