Windermere Marathon experience: I am a marathon runner!
On Sunday, I completed my first marathon 4 1/2 years after my last marathon and two weeks after the 4th birthday of my son. This time, my Windermere Marathon experience felt like a first marathon in many ways given the extensive break from running long and the changes I had gone through in the meantime. A child turns your life upside down in so many ways and change has been a constant during this time.
I had a very strong run and finished in 4:56:53 beating my expectations on finishing somewhere around 5h30 by a good bit. The course was very undulating (with 575m of elevation or so) and the day warmed up substantially. The first female came in in just over 3:02 in what was a new course record. My pacing and effort was very even and holding back at the beginning definitely paid off as well as running to feel all the way. This did show my previous experience of running marathons as I overtook people constantly from 25k on.
Running is an art – it can feel like flying. When finding that flow, it is serene. You are one with the effort and totally engrossed by it. I did not use my headphones/music or stories during the race because this lasted all the way for me on this occasion. Even when the time stretched out and the kilometers ticked by less fast. How else can you explain that 5 hours of running can be all encompassing?
Sure, I picked myself up by high-5ing kids, thanking marshals, picking up the odd little chat about the long uphill or other topics with fellow runners but mostly I was there, within the run, body and mind. It is a transcending experience that does not come easily. Many marathons can feel hard and have to be endured; ticking each kilometer off becomes a tough task because there are so many and each seems to last an eon.
I also practiced gratefulness, reminding myself how lucky I was to be here, to be doing what I was doing and that not everyone can or has the opportunity. In this, there was also the reflection of the hard work and dedication that I had put into it so far. For it was a sort-of triumph even if none of the numbers show it to anyone who takes a look at the cold numbers only.
It was also a reflection of the fact that my mum had just been sectioned because of her deteriorating mental health. She can no longer be looked after at home even with a permanent carer present. Live can be so cruel. It felt so privileged to be there, free and running. Doing what I love to be doing with my son waiting for me at the end of my Windermere Marathon experience. Relish those beautiful moments while you can.
Related link
