London Marathon 2004

A birthday present for Ali

Thank you Farnham Tri for my place in the London Marathon 2004.

This was to be my fifth marathon to mark my fiftieth year and was also supposed to be a PB on which I could rest for another 10 years before my 60^th birthday and a 6^th marathon.  At the back of my mind I toyed with the idea that I could achieve sub-4hrs and a good for age tag.  But anyway 4hrs15 seemed realistic – I’d done 4:31 in 1999 after all and I thought I was running at least as well as that.  I should have taken more notice of my 4hrs50 in 2000.  As marathon training progressed I got slower and fatter and more and more fed up with my running.  I gradually adapted my target time until a sub-5 hrs seemed more likely.  Still I felt strong and after a good talking to by sundry friends and fellow runners I had a week’s complete rest in March and came back to training with renewed energy and enthusiasm.  (But still no great turn of speed.)

So Marathon weekend came along and by this time I was really looking forward to it.  I’d had a few good long-ish runs to counteract the hideous ones and I had a strategy for coping with “the wall” – I wouldn’t wait to crash.  As soon as I felt rough I would walk until I felt better and eat as much as I wanted and only get running when I felt able.  Let’s face it, the last few miles are pretty dreadful for most people.  If you can stop yourself from feeling despondent and carry on enjoying the day then you’re home and dry.  It worked.  I was fine until 17 or 18 miles then I walked a bit and ate a bit before running on to mile 20.  Then I walked a bit more and ate LOADS then ran on to mile 22.  Same again to mile 24.  At that point my mind played tricks on me and I thought I could still achieve a PB so kept on running and upped the pace.  At mile 25 I realised my mistake (the last 1.2 miles in about 2 minutes?  I don’t think so.)  But by then I was into a rhythm of sorts so I kept on jogging along.  I finished in good form in 4hours 40minutes 48seconds.  My second fastest marathon time.  I was well chuffed.  My dear husband Steve had been waiting around, chatting to other runners and stuff, for the last hour and a half so he was pleased to see me come in smiling and happy.  At 3hrs08 he’d achieved a good-for-age place for next year so it was smiles all round.

Afterwards we were lucky enough to get a massage at the Parkinsons Disease Society post-race reception – we’d been raising money for PDS following the death of my dad at Christmas – and we met up with family and friends there too.  More smiles and hugs and back-slapping.  It was a fantastic day, one of the best, and topped off by staying in a hotel so we could have a swim-down in the pool followed by a great meal and an early night.  I’m saving up for next year  - blow waiting until I’m 60!

Thanks again Farnham Tri.

Ali Wigg

Browse the other race reports.

Browse the photos.