5:58:51 !!!!!!!

There it is! Is that the sort of time a runner would take to complete a marathon? Well it did & I'm disappointed with it considering I was allowing a generous 5.30 to finish. Anyhow, can't change it, can probably learn something from it, though can't think what that might be right now except never underestimate what can happen during a marathon no matter how you prepare, how good the first half, etc. etc.

All pre-race preparations were in place, hydration, fuel, etc. slow start & first half all good. During the second half, however, I suffered badly; my quads just about completely seized up, were shot through with pain at every step & I just had to hang in there & keep moving forwards, backwards, sideways, any whichways as long as it took me towards the finish. Strangely, at no stage did I even consider not finishing; it was 'do or die' & I just kept telling myself I was getting stronger with each step (lies!), slower (for sure!), but nearer & nearer to the end. I was never going to give in while there was the slightest chance of finishing & I truly believed that no matter how badly I felt, I could still make it unless someone pulled me off the course!

So when the motor cycle police officer pulled up alongside at about 35km I thought that gruesome moment had arrived! He asked if I was OK! Who? Me? The Chickybare blogger? Sure, I was OK! Just stopping momentarily for some light refreshments! And off I wobbled again trying to look like I was having the time of my life....which I was in another kind of way though!
What this very kind man did was to ride ahead, alert others wearing similar gear that a lady in her (wait for it!) 50's was in trouble out on the course. Every km from there seemed like 10km before reaching the next km point, but with 1.5 km to go, Courtleylove's daughter, CR Eskiemo, came alongside & jogged with me; at the same time straight ahead the entire cheer squad was approaching...I thought I'd died & gone to heaven & here were the cherubim & seraphim coming to take me through the pearly gates!

This wonderful group lined themselves on either side of me & with shouts of encouragement , banner flying & pom poms waving, they saw that I got to the finish chute & still on my own two feet...I think! They didn't leave me there though; they just walked along outside the railings & I'll never, ever, forget the sound of their voices shouting "GO NORMA!" over & over until I crossed that damned line! These, not the run, are the memories I will take with me forever of GC 2005.

Monday I couldn't leave the apartment; my quads were in agony by then & far worse than during the marathon; had I gone out it is quite likely I'd have been arrested for loitering in a public place! I was moving like the Tinman in the "Wizard of Oz" but not nearly as elegantly. Tuesday I found I could cross the road to the beach by avoiding all the curbing & using those sloping bits they have for oldies! Even they felt like going up & down a roller coaster. I had a lovely time wading in the surf ....a wonderful massage for my weary legs. Tuesday I did the same but wore my cossie so I could duck under the waves....sheer bliss; also did a long walk along the sand; so beautiful those beaches.....seemingly endless stretches of white sand, warm water to wade in, mist from the sea breeze, balm for a tired body, soul & mind.

And this was pretty much how Chickybabe finished & sailed off into the sunset of her latest marathon!