3 marathons in 3 days

Sunday 29th May - Tuesday 31st May 2011

Day One Blog - Sunday 29/5/11

Finishing a marathon!  (Not a medal or goodie bag in sight!)

Okay, I'm actually writing this shortly before I run my second marathon, but I'd still like to give a brief report.  I called this run the Peter Ryall Marathon, as I'd be running to his house three times.

Time? 6 hours and 1 min
Where? Coppull and Standish - 3 laps of an 8.7 mile route

The plan of the route was great.  I had two 'aid stations' set up: my house and my sister's house.  The lap started and ended at my house so I had two opportunities there to pick up drink and supplies.  Halfway through the lap was my sister's house, so I had three opportunities to take on board whatever I needed, leaving my carrying of stuff to a minimum.  To always be running to one or the other was psychologically a real boost.



0-4.7 miles - Feel out the knee, get into a rhythm
I kept thinking, not only do I want to save energy for later on in the run, but I also want to save energy for the following days as well.  So I ran slowly slowly to conserve energy.  To be seeing Carla (my sister) after only 4.7 miles was a real blessing.

4.7 miles - 13.4 miles - Carla carried me all the way
Carla ran with me for a whole lap back to her house which again was a blessing.  We talked and joked and laughed which was just ace.  She's so supportive of my running, it's untrue.  Thank you Carla!  As we got back to her house, the heavens opened which I didn't appreciate!

13.4 miles - 22.1 miles - Time to enjoy the scenery and enjoy the roses
As I was patient with my running the whole day, I felt so chilled and relaxed.  I picked up Honey, my dog, for my last lap as an extra running buddy!

22.1 miles - Finish - Tired and dizzy but not running alone.
At Carla's house, I stopped for 5 mins for half a cup of tea (luxuries!).  My girlfriend joined me to run the last lap, as well as my old friend Matt Moss from college.  Including Honey, there were 4 of us running through Coppull!

If you'd like to sponsor me, go to http://www.justgiving.com/runclimbmather - Thank you for supporting me in making a difference to those who live with autism

Day Two Blog - Monday 30/5/11

At the finish of day two, medal in one hand,
 picture of Peter in another.

That morning I had a ton of time to get ready.  The marathon only started at half past three!  Arrrgggh!  Worry, worry, worry....

As I arrived there, nerves set it.  I'd never ran two marathons back-to-back!  Here I was saying I was going to run three!  I was so nervous and anxious to get going.  I'd had all morning to think about it!

I started the run.  The Liverbird marathon is a course of  4 'out and back' laps of 6.6 miles or thereabouts (it was a marathon I assure you!).

I was fully aware of how anxious I was, so allowed myself to relax.  My knees had been sore overnight and so I used the first few miles to 'feel out' my body.  I listened to Michael McIntyre's Audiobook to calm my nerves!

The Liverbird marathons take place on a gorgeous Merseyside promenade between Brunswick Dock and Otterspool.  I'd ran a marathon there at New Year's
and a half-marathon the day after.  In fact, my very first miles of the year had taken place on that tarmac.  It was fitting that at mile 11 then that I broke through 500 miles in the year.  I'd pictured that moment for months, the 'Proclaimers moment'.  It came and went!

At New Years, I attempted a marathon double.  However, I'd only managed 'a marathon and a half'.  Therefore, I was pleased with my running, when at mile 13, I set off for the third lap, my legs not feeling too bad.  When I got to mile 17, I was heading back to the start of the fourth lap, knowing my girlfriend and my dad would be there to meet me.  It lifted my spirits.

I'd like you to read the next part knowing that I'm trying not to sound twee or cliche.  I'm trying my upmost to write honestly to give an account of what I went through.

The psychology of how you deal with a marathon is huge.  The event was 4 laps of a 6.6 mile course.  I knew  that if I got to three laps run, that I wouldn't quit.  At mile 18, I got a text from my sister that read, 'Peter been unsettled a lot of today - just telling you so that you know well and truly that what you are doing right now is all worthwhile'.

I completely broke down.  I was overcome with emotion.  I thought of Peter and the cards he was dealt with.  He had no choice, no say at all in the autism that he was born with.  I thought of my 'choice' that I had in 2 miles to quit or to finish the run.  What right had I to quit?  What right had I to choose to quit when Peter had no choice at all in the cards that were dealt to him?  I was spurred onto the finish with renewed vigour.

Within a mile, my dad appeared out of nowhere to run back to the start of lap 4.

On the final lap, I was fully entertained by my dad and girlfriend who cheered me on to the end!  I was really blessed!  For the final mile, I was alone.  What a great feeling it was!  When I finished, I didn't allow myself to worry about the next day.  I just to take in the moment and the achievement of a marathon double.  What would happen the following day would happen.  Who was to know what would happen?

Day Three Blog - Tuesday 31/5/11

At the finish

Finally!  I've got around to writing up my blog for the 3 marathon challenge.  It's going to be hard to relive all of the emotions I've gone through in the last couple days.  I've been procrastinating about it.  When I finish this blog post, it'll all be in the past.

I managed (just about) to run 3 marathons in 3 days, a goal I set out to do.  

My dad ran the marathon today with me, which was a massive boost.  I was tired at the start of the race, really tired, but set out at quite a quick pace (11 minutes a mile).  By the time we were 4 miles in, I realised I really needed to slow down to conserve energy.  My body was shot!  I slowed down to 14 or 15 minute mile pace, and dad carried on.

After 5 miles, I couldn't let myself think about what I was doing too much.  If I had, I'd have quit.  I just concentrated on the tiring miles, and allowed myself to feel a sense of achievement.  The achievement was that after 2 marathons, I was still running.  Like Elton John sings, 'I'm still standing', sometimes it's more than good enough that you're still here and you're still fighting the good fight.  If you'd have said to me on the evening of day one that I'd still be running, I'd have shaken your hand.

As the miles went on, things changed.  At mile 13, I started to feel really sorry for myself, not sure what I was doing or why I was doing it.  But the thing was, it just seemed to be about making progress, about just keeping moving.  Pace or speed did not matter one bit.  All that mattered was that I kept moving.  At the end of lap two, I grabbed a 9-bar, a bottle of hyrdation fluid and a massive scoop of haribo!

As I was on miles 17 and 18, my spirits started to lift.  I suddenly became very aware of what I was trying to do and the significance of it.  I also started to have a feeling of 'treasuring the moment'.  This marathon running would soon be coming to an end.  Even though I was hobbling along, it was still liberating and freeing to be alone with my thoughts.  I thought constantly 'Why am I doing this?'  The things that spur me on kept coming back to me.  I thought of Peter and his amazing love for life.

As I got to mile 18, I was listening to music on my phone to keep my mind occupied.  I spotted an elderly couple reading my running vest to see what I was running for.  I took my earphones off and said, 'Yeah National Autistic Society'.  Then in my best 'Eddie Izzard' voice I said, 'This is my 3rd marathon in 3 days.'  I think I can be humoured in copying one of my heroes.  We all need inspiration!

As I plodded on and on, I realised that this epic challenge of mine was about to come to an end.  The previous day's finish had been an incredible feeling, and I was determined to finish strong.  At mile 24, I looked at the time.  6:30pm!  If I didn't get a wriggle on, I wouldn't even make it a sub 7-hour marathon!  All of a sudden, the race to make it a good finish was on!  I'd been running 16/17 minute miles before, and now needed to run 14 minute miles to do it!

I knew there was pain in my knees (the nurofen was slightly hiding it!) but I was able to ignore it, knowing the finish was near.  I was almost sprinting near the end, the pain in my legs telling me that I couldn't keep up the pace any further than the finish line.

As I finished, I held my NAS t-shirt high above my head, shattered and victorious.

My dad had finished about an hour before me and it felt so fitting to have our picture taken together at the finish line.

Two proud marathoners!

The timing of the run finishing was uncanny.  That night, a documentary was shown by Panorama which highlighted a case of systematic abuse at a care home near Bristol.  Those with learning difficulties and indeed autism were abused by their cares regularly over a long period of time.  It highlighted to me how crucial the work of the National Autistic Society is.

My justgiving site is www.justgiving.com/runclimbmather