Amanda Allman writes:
Mission accomplished: first marathon – check; sponsorship for Help the Hospices exceeded – check; amazing weekend full of highs and lows – check, check.
For my first (and probably last) Marathon, Edinburgh was always going to be a corker – amazing city, fantastic views and wonderfully friendly and supportive spectators – but hot??? Didn’t expect that! I lived there for 5.5 years and I don’t remember if ever hitting those dizzy temperatures, let alone trying to run in them. So suffice to say, I made the decision to scrap the aimed for time and just finish – which I did. Was close to spontaneously combusting before even getting to 10 miles, where my friends were waiting with smiles, hugs and extra water. It was then a long, hot slog weaving to get spots of shade, water from hosepipes and cowering in the shade of trees, portaloos, people – anything! Felt stronger again at the far end of the course, where we were out in a country estate and away from the tarmac, but this was gradually sapped when back in the full sun. So pleased to see my friends again at mile 24 – with much needed hugs, shouts of encouragement, sun-cream and sheltering in the shade. The shouts from the spectators were wonderful for the last mile to the racecourse and helped me to drag myself to the end, in 4hr 47mins. I was rather disappointed with the time, but if I ever even think about another one to beat my time then I need to have very strong words with myself!
I couldn’t have done it without the support of friends, family and running club throughout the preceding months, the big day and certainly not the days afterwards. Definitely an experience worth doing once in your life, and my hat is off to Russell – 5 marathons in 5 days, plus a warm-up in Edinburgh – he is a machine!
Well done Amanda!
