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Well the day was a huge success for our Elena and we are all so proud of her!! Read her last blog here....

I Gotta a Feeling

And it’s the best feeling ever. Passing the finishing line and putting my half marathon medal on…

 I got up at 7am. Had a cup of tea and toast and a pint and a half of water to make sure I was hydrated enough for the race.   I slowly got dressed into my running gear following the sequence I normally do for all my Sunday long runs. By 9am I was dressed and ready.

I was dropped off at 9.30am. Upon arrival a marshall told me to register so I duly joined that queue.  Once at the top of the queue (after 10 minutes waiting!) to my dismay I was told I had already registered when I collected my bib.  10 minutes of my life wasted.  Now the nerves were kicking in    B I G time.  I joined the toilet queue..another 10 minutes of my life wasted.   During the wait a race marshall instructed everyone to move to the start line as race starting in 5 minutes..mild panic and laughter with some fellow toilet queue people  joking half the race was still queuing! Nothing like a wee laugh to calm some nerves J

I then started the walk to the start line.   My heart beat was going fast now and I was sweating more. Then at the start line everyone gathered. After a short runners briefing BANG..the starters gun went off. I clicked my Garmin watch to start the clock and off we go past the Mansion House at Camperdown Park up towards the forest pathway.   I was very pleased I had run this part of the route twice before.  At the point there were many walking already and within 5 minutes and I was overtaking some of them! It was going good at miles 1, 3, 5.  Passersby were very friendly clapping and shouting ‘well done’.  It’s hard not to think you are a proper athlete at this point.  So far the route was following the green circular route in Dundee.  It was very scenic.  At mile 8 my time was 1 hour and 42 minutes. WOW at this rate I would beat my estimated time and be at finishing line for roughly 2 hour 45 mins.

Then more joy as my fantastic dad had travelled in his car looking for me and found me at mile 9 at the first roundabout on Arbroath Road he shouted words of encouragement and waved goodbye. Thanks dad!

Well, here is where I would love to tell you things just got better and better but sometimes reality hits you really hard! The rest of my race from this point was very hard and it felt like I had hit a race wall...I just couldn’t run any faster no matter what I tried to do.  I think I slowed down so much that toddlers with their parents were strolling past me. It’s so disheartening.  I soooo  thought I was going to beat my estimated time but the wind was against me now.  At this point many things flash through your mind..”Why has it not rained when I dressed for a rainy race day?”  “How long can the Arbroath road be?”  and  “Where is the bloody finish line?”

The only thing that cheered me up was that I noticed there were at least 5 people behind me.   I started to speed up, in case, WORST CASE, they managed to catch up with me.   For the next 2.5 miles I ran as though I was being chased, glancing over my shoulder to ensure I was far enough in front.  Forget my estimated time the race was on for not being the last across the line!

Then at 13miles I looked at my Garmin watch 2 hours and 58 minutes. Ace. But still no finish line! I was now running along the Monifieth beach front. More friendly passers by offering positive and kind words of support ‘’almost there, well done’’.  The final 100m was on a grass verge opposite Barnhill Rock Centre. How amazing to see my beautiful children, husband and parents all along the side cheering me on, waving, smiling and supporting me. I swear this alone made me speed up to my fastest ever yet!

I looked at my watch and as I crossed the finish line I felt like crying.  It had taken everything out of me to complete the race.   All the 5 months preparation training and now I had done it. My Garmin watch said 3 hours! I opened my ‘goodie bag’ and immediately put my medal on.  I kept it on all day only taking it off to go to bed.   I even teased my friends I would wear it to work!!

Now after achieving my goal-to run a half marathon- I want more. More half marathons. I just hope all my friends and family can put up with my training schedule again J I gotta a feeling..

Elena xxx