A marathon tale

Well, it was always going to be slow and it was always going to hurt, and I was and it did!

It was a tale of two halves really, my injury had meant that a sub 5 was out of the question and a sub 6 was going to be only a vague possibility. I started out with the intention of run/walk on a 2:1 ratio and to be fair, that's what I stuck to. I had worked out that an average pace of just under 14and half minute milingwould get me in just under 6 hours.
I did the first 10k rather faster than that and even though run walking I was averaging just over 12 minute miling. Part of this is me being unable to pace myself properly and part of it was some anxiety over my support crew waiting around for me. I was trotting along and a couple of times, I realised that I was just not enjoying this at all. I spoke to no one and focused on getting to 17 miles to see friends and family.
From 16 miles on it really started to hurt, however, I was more than halfway to the finish line and was going to get in before the 8 hour cut off. I made it to mile 17 and there they were, relaxed and enjoying themselves, my friends and family. I told them that I was going to walk most of the rest of the way, I was hurting all over and tired and was likely to take another 3 hours, so they had time to do whatever they wanted to.
Lots of hugs kisses and jelly babies set me on my way again.
I was more relaxed now that I  was not so concerned about the family and set of at a good walking pace. I did run some, but not a lot. I started to take notice of the people around me and the incredible supporters who were sticking it out and encouraging us slower people all the way.
The first half of the race took me 2 hours 49 minutes
I saw some real heroes out there, people who were doggedly pushing through despite obvious disability and some very tired looking people. I was moved to tears by some of the sights I saw.
By the second half of a marathon runners are with the same dozen or so people and it can get quite friendly at the back there. There is only the competition with yourself to keep going, and that is helped along with the fantastic support from fellow marathoners and the supporters along the course.
I saw a woman who had some sort of spine problem, she looked as if she had been a runner in her time, but she had been forced into a bent over posture with this condition. I saw an elderly gentleman bent over in pain struggling one painful step at a time along the finish straight. And many many more. However it was the service men who reduced me to tears. There were half a dozen or so, injured soldiers running for Help for Heroes. many of them had amputated legs some had lost an arm. One of the young men - he must have been only in his twenties was in so much pain. He had lost an arm and a leg and was struggling with pain and exhaustion, but he and his comrades were going to finish by damn. I did manage to run with them for a while, but cramped calves brought me to a grinding halt. They finished just a couple of minutes in front of me and I was privileged to shake the hand of that hero, I wish him well for his future, that guts and determination will stand him in good stead for the rest of his life.
I completed in the end in 6 hours and 28 minutes.
Not everyone would contemplate doing a marathon to celebrate their 60th birthday, but believe me, it was the best birthday I could have had.
I have no photograph for this post at the moment, I'm sure I'll come across some of me out on the course somewhere, I'll publish it when I find a suitable one.