11th April - The Time of My Life

Well, it's taken me a week to come back down to earth from what was one of the best days of my life. Suddenly, I understood what all those months of hard training had been for..like a eureka moment 'ah, so that was what it was all about!'.

Excitement gave way to nerves on the morning of the marathon and the silent dining room at our hotel full of would-be marathon runners confirmed that I was not alone. Walked to the start line with James at about 8am, with the Champs Elysees as I have never seen it before. Thousands of runners milling about, some warming up and others just waiting in nervous anticipation.

Towards the Arc de Triomphe, I found my pen amongst other runners hoping to run a similar time. In what felt like minutes, I heard 'cinq seconds...departe!!' We were off! Erm, only we weren't as it took me 15 minutes to get to start line due to the sheer number of runners.

In fantastic sunshine, I crossed the starting line just before 9am and headed down towards Place de La Concorde, past the Bastille, at mile 4, where my mum and sister had said they would be. Searched frantically amongst the sea of faces to no avail, so carried on towards Chateau de Vincennes, a totally stunning building and another reminder that I am running a marathon in Paris!

Running through the Bois de Vincennes, we looped round at about mile 11, when I received a text from my sister (modern marathon running!) saying we're waiting just after mile 14 at the Bastille. Right, just three miles to go then before I see some familiar faces. It really spurred me on knowing that my family were going to pop up sporadically throughout the marathon - it broke down the endless miles into more manageable chunks.

I loved the feeling of running in a crowd, and this marathon felt really international, with runners from France, the UK, the USA, Brazil, Mexico, Germany...the list was endless. As we entered the various tunnels, including the notorious Pont de l'Alma tunnel, runners sang and chanted together in a universal language. This was truly a shared experience.

I knew the British Heart Foundation supporters would be there at mile 18, but better than that, as I turned the corner, suddenly to my left loomed the Eiffel Tower. It really doesn't get any better than that. Lots of cheering from the BHF reps spurred me on, as did the fact that I have now raised £660.50 with final donations from Liz & Chris, Lesley, Chris R, Lindsey, James Mc and Ed - thank you so much all. At this point, I was on top of the world.

Next support was coming at mile 22, I was informed by another text at mile 19. Right, 30 minutes I thought but I realised I was losing pace at this point because it took me a good 40 minutes to get there. I knew I was starting to lose form and made a conscious effort to pick up my feet which were starting to hurt like hell. I managed a weary high five to all three, as I ploughed on towards the Bois de Boulogne. Just four miles to go!

I knew by this point, there was no way I was going to make my secret target of sub 4h30 by now I really just wanted to get to the end without stopping. Somehow, I missed the mile 24 marker so I had no idea when I was so near the end. Several supporters had shouted 'courage Sophie!' as I'd been running previously and I kept repeating this as I willed myself on.

Turning a corner out of the woods, I suddenly realised I was on Avenue Foch and the finish line was in sight. I heard an 'Allez Sophie!' from the sidelines and spotted my family lined up with the crowd. I'd nearly done it! I managed to pick up the pace and surged forward.

Before I knew it, it was over, I'd done it! Stumbling forward, I was given a finishers' t-shirt and a medal. So disorientated, it took me about 40 minutes to find my family, and at one point, I felt I just couldn't walk another step and just sat down on a pavement hoping they'd come.

Meeting up with everyone, the enormity of what I'd achieved began to hit me and, exhausted as I was, I couldn't stop smiling.

I'd done it!! And in 4 hours 35 minutes...I was so happy!

It is so hard to put it into words the thoughts, feelings and emotions I experienced running this marathon. I will remember it always.

So, all that remains for me to do is to thank my fellow training partners, Julie, Lisa and Jo for their immense support over the last three months and wish them the very best in their respective forthcoming marathons...to quote many a well-meaning marshal, 'dig in now Eccleshill, you're nearly there...'

3rd April - Signing Off

My BHF running vest has arrived, I'm all stocked up on energy gels and bars, I've bitten the bullet and bought some new trainers, the Eurostar tickets are here,and I've completed my final longish run (9 miles today). I'm officially good to go...

I've completed approximately 320 training miles since the beginning of January and attended 13 sessions of boot camp...if I can't run a marathon now, I never will.

Just a couple of steady short runs this week and a whole lot of carb loading to get through.

Thank you to everyone for all your support, and a particularly massive thank you to everyone who has sponsored me - £590.50 now raised for the BHF, with the final generous donation from my good friend, Sharon, whose baby has suffered from a congenital heart defect and was part of my rationale for raising money for BHF.

À bientôt. See you on the other side...

27th March - False Alarm

I'm currently lying low with my fingers and toes crossed, as I woke up in the early hours of Saturday morning with excruciating pain in my right foot and found I was totally unable to put any weight on it.

Panic set in. For the first time, I had to cancel my scheduled run with Jo which was supposed to be a steady 13 miles - the first of my taper. As I hopped around the house, the catastrophising started. What if it didn't get better and I had to withdraw from the marathon - weeks and weeks of training would be wasted? What would I do with my sponsorship money? Would people think I'd just bottled it at the final hour?

Convinced I'd been sleepwalking and somehow fractured it in my sleep I headed off to minor injuries at Wharfedale Hospital. An x-ray confirmed there was nothing serious wrong with my foot - perhaps I'd just strained it? It seems fine now but I am nervous to run on it just in case.

At last Thursday's marathon school training session, Mick reminded us all that getting to the starting line healthy should be the main goal. I think I might have taken the taper a little far, however, given that I haven't run at all since last Thursday! The plan is to go out with Eccleshill tomorrow night (Julie, I hereby commit to being there), then marathon school Thursday night.

I'm not sure it's hit me yet that there's just over a week to go until we're off to Paris!

21st March - The Home Straight

The final long, long run is complete! Let the taper begin...though contrary to my initial idea of putting my feet up for two weeks, apparently I've still got to do quite a bit of running but no more of those epic three hour plus treks.

Well, not until the marathon itself.

It keeps occurring to me, how am I going to run so far? What if I can't do it and have to drop out? The shame.

A friend commented the other day that I must be really fit by now with all the training but the funny thing is I genuinely don't feel that I am. In fact, I sometimes feel my fitness levels are getting worse when I'm dragging myself round the streets of West Yorkshire. Perhaps my fitness will undergo a miraculous improvement during the taper?!

Training's gone well this week. Did boot camp on Wednesday, then marathon school on Thursday, which I loved - sprinting round a football pitch in the dark at Apperley Bridge (well, it's a marked improvement on running in the freezing cold with snow blowing in my face), something to do with VO2 training...Friday found me doing some heavy duty shopping after work (recovery shop?), then Sunday did the Otley run(though without the booze) nearly 16 miles with Julie and Lisa.

I'm still struggling with painful feet. I thought I was doing okay until about mile nine on Sunday and the now familiar nerve twitch returned. I'm resolved to get some new trainers but I'm not sure whether I've left it too late...I've got to do something though or I will be withdrawing from the race. Just kidding...

18th March - Big Hearts

I've now reached my fundraising target of £500 for the British Heart Foundation, so any extras will be a fantastic bonus. Thanks for the recent generous donations from: Sue B, Colin & Sue, Alex, Mick & Dawn, Alan, Nick and Claire H, which have taken me to today's total of £513.50!!! I'm so pleased, as are the BHF who have promised to send me a vest to wear in the marathon and lots of support along the route.

I managed to get back on my feet after Sunday, with a five mile run with VARR on Tuesday and boot camp last night. Marathon school tonight and we're apparently doing 300m repetitions, with emphasis on leg speed and form. I'll just have a little lie down first I think...

14th March - Time Wounds all Heels

A relatively early start to head off for sunny Morecambe (or Lancaster as it turned out to be) for the Trimpell 20 mile race prevented me from having time to feel nervous. I'd spent the day before preparing: stuffed my face with carbs all day (do rocky roads count?) and bought a bum bag for my gels, new thick socks and pads for my trainers in the hope that the recent pain I'm experiencing in my feet when running will go away.

It didn't.

I have never experienced such a painful run. From about eight miles on, every step felt like the nerves in my feet were being twisted.

Now I know why it's called endurance running.

We started off with a lap of a track from Salt Ayre Leisure Centre, and then headed off onto some cycle tracks. I stuck with Julie for the first 3-4 miles, which kept me at a great pace though I had to admit defeat eventually as I just couldn't keep up. I ran the rest of the race on my own counting down every single mile and desperately trying to keep within 10 minute miles. It was a good job I did those speedy first few miles because I was losing the will to live by about 13 miles, and the miles went down slower and slower. The negative talk set in and, at times, I very nearly walked and even considered dropping out all together.

But I didn't.

And thanks are due to some lifesavers, including Liz Jones who popped up sporadically to take photos and made me smile, the lady whose name I never caught but was training for London who ran with me from mile 16-18 and announced if I stopped or walked she was going to drag me round the final few miles, Nick the marine who ran with me for the last two miles and of course, Julie, Lisa and Jo my greatest supporters and inspiration who all ran the race in some amazing times.

When the pain was over, after the final gruelling two laps of the track (how cruel) we finished off with a lovely swim at Salt Ayre Leisure Centre.

I managed a time of 3 hours 27, which I'm hoping will mean I can complete Paris in a credible time. How I'm ever going to run six miles more than I did today, I just don't know. But I know I will.

7th March - With a Little Help From My Friends

Five weeks to go until marathon day, and the first of my three really tough weeks, until the taper, is complete.

And I pleased to report it really hasn't been too bad.

That said, I'm currently moving about as if I could do with a zimmer frame. But I have just run 16 miles (count 'em!).

After marshaling the final Peco X Country Race today, Julie and I headed out on the run she had planned (thank you, Julie) from Esholt to Guiseley, then onto Otley where we turned round by the river and ran back with a final three miles on the canal back to Apperley Bridge. It was a really lovely scenic run and the sun was shining which always makes a huge difference.

The next long run is the Trimpell 20 in Morecambe next Sunday, and it definitely doesn't feel too unachievable now.

Thank you my ERR friends for keeping me going...