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Tomorrow.

Posted in Running with tags , , on April 25, 2011 by cmerritt42

Tomorrow will mark my third attempt to get into the London Marathon.

Three times, hopefully lucky.

It’s odd as I never really thought (before the age of 30 I should say) that I would ever become dedicated, even attached, to the notion of one day running the London Marathon.  Considering that I have run a marathon, and several very large half marathons before, to be fixated on one particular race is a bit awkward for me.

Perhaps it is because it is selective.  Take for instance the Boston Marathon, a marathon I will most likely never qualify for.  People work years to get into the Boston Marathon, because it is the Boston Marathon.  A race that has history, depth, might, glory.  London is sort of my Boston, because it has so much around it.  I know, when I make it in, there will be thousands of people who run just like me, so I can expect, even practice on the crowded Oxford streets, the heat and pace.  I’ve spectated it, so I am familiar with the never-ending crowds and water stations longer than some races are.  I am fully and totally aware that I am entering into a complete asinine situation.

And yet, I want this.

I want it because I can say I did it, because I know I will do it, because I know – as a marathoner – that once you finish a marathon no one can ever take it away from you.  Thing is, I know I want to run more marathons – many well away from London – but it is the notion, the thought, the idea of London that keeps my applying every year since I moved here.

So, tomorrow I do it again.  And if I don’t get in, there will be next year.  And the year after that.  But one of these times it will be my turn.

And I will finish.  And they won’t take it away.

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All the running about I want to do in England Land

Posted in Running with tags , , , , , , on April 10, 2011 by cmerritt42

There is a slight favour of being ill.  Whilst in repose on my settee, or, slumming as I am on the couch, I have begun… in the way one should when looking for positive healing vibes… to search on all the races I would ever like to run in England.  So, without further ado, I give you this list, plus the reasons behind it.

1. The Silverstone Half Marathon

I have actually run this race before in 2007.  This race is a race designed as a lead up to the London Marathon and, when I was there, boasted no lines to the women’s bathroom but huge, snaking lines to the mens.  It is also the place where I experienced no less than two ice storms during my run, and only narrowly did I finish ahead of a man dressed head-to-toe in full motorcycle gear.  The upside to the pelting ice storm is I wasn’t sore the next day and I carried the teeny-tiny medal and gi-normous finishers shirt around with me for an entire year.  This, I can say confidently, is a race vendetta.

2. The Bath Half Marathon

I’ve not yet been to Bath, and sometimes I find signing up for a race will get me to the city that I want to go to.  (See: Rome)  Bath is constantly referred to as “a place I should really visit” so it’s on my list to run.  Plus, the website looks cheerful and fun.

3. The Reading Half Marathon

I’ve known quite a few people who have run this.  It’s just one of those that you are supposed to “do” for all intents and purposes.  The only problem I foresee, despite knowing that I should be pronouncing the city as “Reding,” is the fact that whenever I encounter the city name the song “Reading Rainbow” enters my head.  Butterfly in the sky… I can go twice as high… take a look.  It’s in a book.  The Reading Raaaiiinnnboooooww.

4. The Royal Parks Half Marathon

All the pretty of the London Marathon without having to run the London Marathon.  Or, in my case, since the London Marathon has rejected me twice (those bastards) this may be the closest I’m ever going to get.  However…

5. The London Marathon

I will one day run this race, even if I’m 105 and walking it for three days.  When I got into running people would ask me after I finished my half marathons what marathon I would do.  “London!” I would answer, confidently thinking that the day would never come where I would be close enough to consider it.  Now, as it approaches this next weekend I’m already starting to search out the registration date for 2012.

I will run you, London.  Oh yes, I will.

Finally, the other marathon everyone in England goes nuts over, The Brighton Marathon. Because I have yet to actually visit the English coast. Perhaps it is due to the multitude of years living on white sandy beaches with clear blue water. Perhaps it is the fact that frankly, I sometimes forget I’m living on an island. But Brighton is yet another city I’m told I must visit. So, visit it I shall. Hopefully with running kit.

There you have it, the six races I hope to run (one again) in England. Of course, this is just based on two years of my own limited research. And it’s only England. I’m more than certain that Wales and Scotland place has a few interesting runs of their own.

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3 Days of Yoga

Posted in Running with tags , , on February 1, 2011 by cmerritt42

So, I had a three-day trial to the LA Fitness in Oxford.

For those who don’t know me, I don’t do gyms.  I just don’t.  The idea of going somewhere in order to exercise just annoys me.  In my world, building exercise into your day so you don’t have to go anywhere else to exercise is the ideal, happy, peaceful, chi environment.

But then again, I read Runner’s World.

For those of you who don’t understand the world of running, Runner’s World is the bomb-shizzy of running magazines.  It has really amazing articles to inspire you, educate you, and keep you moving.   Every couple of month’s they send out guides that let you do things like compare wick-away socks, and if you haven’t made it to the point where you get super-excited about articles on wick-away socks then you aren’t considered a runner.  No matter how fast you are.  We do have standards.

Anyways, they did this article about all the things you need to do in your age group to continue to be a proper runner and obsess over wick-away socks.  My “thing” is strength training.  Apparently, if you don’t keep up with strength training the runner community will get together and take away all your wick-away socks.  It’s that serious.

So… for the first time ever, I considered going to a gym.  Back in the States my condo had a gym.  The gym consisted of a treadmill that was usually working, one out of four stationary bikes that may be working, and a partially working weight set.  Twice a week I would pedal 10 miles and do weights and feel proud of myself.  This, mind you, is prior to the 35 miles I now regularly bike every week, plus all the walking I do because I live in the hippy town of Oxford.

Because I moved to hippy Oxford, I let strength training fall off to the wayside, believing that the reusable bags of fair trade co-op groceries I tote around would suffice.

But Runner’s World said nay to that.

It gave ideas… if you lived in a house where you had actual floor space (and closets, I miss closets sometimes).  And it also suggested… a gym.

And so, through my very awesome private insurance, I found a gym with ridiculously good prices and decided to try three classes.  Two yoga, one pilates.  I called and got my little free pass and signed up dutifully.

First was yoga.  I showed up half-muddy from running in that morning and made my way down to the studio where I was greeted by slivers of girls in adorable yoga-wear.   My bright-red “don’t hit me” shirt and mud spattered tights stood in sharp contrast to the gray and muted pastels of the girls around me.  I briefly had to remind myself that the median-age of a college town is considerably lower and that I was the hottest old chick in the room.

The instructor came in and was very cool, going through all different types of movements and even had us work on two that, no joke, will eventually lead you to being able to join you feet together in front of your face while your arms balance you.  Now, she wasn’t expecting us to churn on this position right there at the first class – her joy came from the fact that we could lean forward enough without completely falling on our faces.

I left feeling considerably better, if not sore from attempting to bend in new and interesting ways, and was excited to return and try pilates the next day.

I returned in high form and totally within protocol the next day.  First, I didn’t speak to anyone (apparently you aren’t supposed to).  Second, I grabbed the same items that people who were in the room and looked like they knew what they were doing grabbed.  Third, I chilled out.  You are supposed to chill out for these classes, apparently.  This was a lunch class and full of active pensioners, so I felt like the youngest chick in the room, but with hope that I would be as active and hot as the retirees.

That is, until the instructor announced herself.  Apparently the pilates instructor could not make it, so she was subbing in with yoga.  You would’ve thought the world exploded.  The pensioners roared with rage and several stomped from the class as if they were going to go to the front desk and beat the assistants with their foam blocks until a pilates instructor arrived.  Apparently, they had not chilled out appropriately before the instructor announced themselves.  Having sent the rioting horde of plus-65s away, we went through a more standard yoga class, which I again throughly enjoyed.

My third day I returned to yoga with the same instructor from the first day.  I learned how to balance at a right angle and pretend as if I was sliding up and down a wall.  It made me happy.

Out of it I noticed two things:

  1. I wasn’t as stiff as I normally was after my running days.
  2. I felt a little bit stronger all around when I was running.

This is why Runner’s World is the bomb-shizzy.  They actually do know what they are talking about sometimes.

So, I’ve decided to join the gym for a year, give this whole strength training class thing a try.  And not because I want to balance my feet in front of my face or potentially lead a pensioner raid to bring about more pilates, but because it is fundamentally something new and different to keep challenging me to be healthy.

And further me onwards towards an even more hippy lifestyle that only Oxford can provide.

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Backpacks for Run Commuting

Posted in Running with tags on December 8, 2010 by cmerritt42

People are who really interested in run commuting seem to end up at my blog.  I’m cool with this, and responsive to your needs… sort of.

A term that pops up next to run commuting is backpacks (or rucksack).  Here’s the deal: Every runner is unique.  This is why there are yearly reviews of shoes, socks, and kit.  So I can give you my opinion of the best type of packs to look for rather than the perfect, all-encompassing running backpack.  So:

  1. If you want to run as light as possible, you can invest in any good pack that has chest and waist clips.  These clips just keep things from bouncing around, which is all you will basically need.  Upside: Cost is generally quite low.  Downside: If you like wearing tanks you may need to switch to shirts – I run light and my pack will scratch at me if I run in a tank.
  2. If you run with a lot of things, or if you want to add weight to your runs to add an element to your training, you need to look at military-style packs.  These packs usually come with a ventilation back system, and the clips often come with padding around them.  The goal is to fit them comfortably close (but not tight) to the body so you can move but secure the pack to you.  Upside: Chances are you won’t be lacking anything for work clothing, or you may get some shopping in. Downside: You need to learn to pack your bag evenly in order to distribute weight and these packs are generally expensive.

Thing is, that’s really it.  Lots of companies go mental and design all sorts of aspects to packs, but as I see it until you run with one and become comfortable with it you’ll just sit and spin your wheels.  So if you are thinking about run commuting go out today and start with the cheap clip pack, ball up your clothes, a small snack, and a lunch and JUST DO IT.  Over time you will begin to develop a system, and if necessary that system will mean acquiring a different or perhaps a more specialized pack.  As a flourishing finish, here’s some stuff I’ve learned about my experience with packs, so make a note of this when you’re out shopping today and no longer just thinking about run commuting:

  • I’ve invested in a compartmental “bento box” lunch holder so nothing leaks out or breaks.
  • I leave the following clothing at work (for return once a week): trousers/skirts, a pair of boots, and a pair of dress shoes.  I pick out a top every day to run in with, along with underwear (though I have learned to leave spare underwear at work… long story).
  • Any hydration system is separate from the pack (again, leaking)!
  • I use my bike to transport fresh supplies in and dirty supplies home.  This breaks up my running and means I don’t require a heavier or more expensive pack.
  • I wear dayglo.  Not because the 80s are back, but because I don’t want to get hit by vehicles. (Nor do I want you to get hit by vehicles, which is why I wrote this line in.)

So there is my two cents.  Go buy a pack.  Now.  Run commuting is a great way to exercise without having to exercise, if you get my drift.  GET TO IT!

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Two Ideas:

Posted in Running with tags , , on October 13, 2010 by cmerritt42

So, I didn’t get into the London Marathon. Again.

It used to be that after 5 tries you got in, but that doesn’t exist anymore.  So when my turn will come with the London Marathon, I don’t know.

When I got the crummy news it reminded me of two ideas that I had:

1. Run the Oxford Marathon

The best part about the Oxford Marathon is that it doesn’t exist.  You couldn’t, really, organize for several thousand people to run through a medieval city plan.  But, as I learned through training for the Rome Marathon you can, feasibly, put together enough mileage between street and trail to equal 26.2 miles.  I could pick a date, and if any other London rejects want to join we could all go out and try it.  Of course I’d have to make a large fuss and pick a charity, as it is always good to run but even more fun to run for a purpose.  Plus, I’d have an excuse to make a logo and a t-shirt.

2. Introduce the Chubby Buns, UK equivalent to The Doughman

Now, I know what most runners think: “Why can’t I combine my desire for competitive eating alongside my training?”  Well, here’s your chance.  The Doughman is a team relay which requires you to eat before you do your portion of the event.  We’d almost replicate it in Oxford, though I don’t know if competitive punting can replace the swimming portion of the event.  This one would take work as I would need to find participating local restaurants, an actual course, and actual security.  In short, this one would cost actual money.  But, it would be loads of fun to do and great for local businesses.  Plus, I figure you put this on right at the end of term and no end of college students would happily participate.

So what do people think?  Should I go for one?  The other?  Or should I just stick to leisure running for the year?

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Run Commuting for Training

Posted in Marathon Training, Running with tags , , on August 26, 2010 by cmerritt42

So, you’ve decided to run to work, good for you.  You, like me, must hate scheduling separate workout time which interferes with important things like Gossip Girl. (There.  I admitted my problem.)  By now you should have:

  • Figured out a system of clothing for work (aka Not working in your stinky running clothes).
  • Found a good pack to run with, and if you have a laptop, a dang good one. (Or at least a dang good laptop insurance policy.)
  • Started wearing lots of dayglo and completely avoided doing stupid things like running in the street with your headphones.

What more to run commuting is there? Well, if you are wishing to actually train for something, like a marathon or half marathon, run commuting can take up the bulk of your mileage.   So, if you are so inclined to leap at such a wonderful and fulfilling opportunity, here’s the skinny:

Just like all training, you have to ramp up.

If you have been trotting back and forth to work for some time now you’ve probably reached a plateau and need to add challenge and distance to your running.  So:

  • Consider biking to work on certain days for cross training, increasing your miles as you would running.  You can also run with weights, as I’ve seen others do but have yet to participate in considering that I already have a pack on!
  • Become personal friends with GMaps Pedometer or get yourself a Garmin or Nike+ Training device of sorts. (I’ve used all three at one point or another.)  Plan your routes or circle back to slowly ramp your weekly mileage up.
  • Don’t attempt to add extreme amounts of mileage into your weekly plan all at once.  There are oodles and oodles of training plans, none of which say you should do this.  Be practical and reasonable and build to avoid injury and keep your mental strength intact!

There is nothing wrong with talking about your problem.

Just like my weird attraction to Gossip Girl, it’s perfectly okay to discuss your decision to train via run commuting with people like your boss.  You may need to consider flexible work hours so you can expand your mileage while still making time for your trashy television.  Preference on how this is done always comes down to the individual.  I far prefer running to work than running home, so I alternate days of coming in early and coming it at a regular time and everyone knows what I’m up to.  Occasionally this sparks others to do the same, which is nearly as satisfying (okay more so) than watching Gossip Girl.

Consider the terrain, consider your energy.

I’m sort of lucky in Oxford, there is a lot of nature and toepath to use to keep the feet and mind busy.  Think about how you plan a run in or out and if you can handle hill work and speed with a pack on.  You may need to consider fueling options and if you need to take extra gels or a water bottle with you.  As run commuting is often a logistical exercise with clothes and supplies you may need to become an ultra-planner to make sure you can handle your route and hit your goals without ending up in the hospital.  And don’t attempt a 20K in hopes you’ll have a runner’s high right before that big meeting or presentation, be reasonable with yourself and be sure to think of a proper balance.  You are, in the end, using run commuting to assist in training, not destroy your career.

Save the long runs for the weekends.

As much as you would like to have a glorious Saturday or Sunday to re-watch the entire Series 3 of Gossip Girl, consider placing one long run on one of those days.  This way you are allowing yourself the ability to recover throughout the afternoon or next day rather than putting your suit and tie on and hitting an important project immediately.  It’s also beneficial in that long runs can tell you quite a bit about how well your run commuting is impacting your preparation, and it’s nice to have time to reflect on it.

As always the benefits of run commuting are plentiful, no more so than being able to seamlessly work your fitness and your training routine into one.  It does take planning and preparation, but, when done properly it can make your goal of a half or full marathon completely within your reach.  And Chuck and Blair are so going to get together in the end, shame it probably won’t be until the end of the series. xoxo

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Welcome back to running, Idiot Cristin

Posted in Running on August 4, 2010 by cmerritt42

I took a month off running.  According to my level of blog postings it may seem a lot longer, but in reality it was nearly exactly perfectly lovingly one month off running.

They say your fitness level declines after two weeks of not running, but I thought (using the logic of those who drink diet drinks) that considering my cycling has increased by 4 miles each day, I would offset the decline in running ability and allow my ankle to heal.

Oh ho, Idiot Cristin, oh ho.

Everyone knows that cycling uses different muscles.  This is why bi-athletes and tri-athletes look like these awesome hot things with zero pooch fat on their bodies … they work lots of different muscle groups.  When you just cycle you partially neglect the stomach and arms, because they aren’t needed as much.  So, after 30 days of lack of run commuting my first day of 5 miles felt like nothing.  My second day of 5 miles was slow, but manageable.  My third day of recovery felt like someone at petrified my legs and that at any moment my arms might fall off.  It felt partially like when I started running in the first place, like a really stupid hobby to take up.

But despite my aches and my pains and my shockingly slow commute time (not to mention burping… I spent my whole run into work burping…) I know that the time I spend hoofing it in is precious time.  Me time.  Time to be incredibly selfish except when large vehicles are directly involved.  And even though I’m not up to my optimum mileage of current I know it will build.  My love of running is too great to destroy not keeping up with it.

Running is an addiction.  And I am an Idiot Cristin.  So here we go again!

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Run Commuting for Beginners

Posted in Running with tags , , , , , , on May 13, 2010 by cmerritt42

Someone searched this term and found my blog, so I thought I’d write a blog about a search term.  (This would therefore mean my next ones should be about Viagra and porn, though I shall sadly disappoint you.)

I run commute to work 2 days a week, at a distance of a 5K each direction.  I can do this because:

  1. Oxford, save for buses, white delivery vans, tourists and High Street, is a pedestrian-friendly city.
  2. England doesn’t have horrific cold or heat spells, though it can reach one or both in a day + ice.  I consider this part of the challenge.
  3. My work has a shower that is actually clean.

For anyone wishing to run commute to work, it takes a bit of planning and possibly a bit of investment.  However, as this completely removes any need to further schedule time for exercise as you are incorporating it into your daily routine, you’ll find it very rewarding.

So:

  1. Work out a run-friendly route.  This would include anything with sidewalks or pedestrian paths.  Don’t be foolish and think running in the road is a great way to start your day.  Many, many car people are very blerry and just waking up as they motor to work.  I’d rather you not become a human-sized bug splatter.
  2. Buy dayglo.  Please say farewell to black, if only using it for a fashion statement.  Again, blerry people, waking up or hurrying home.  Human-sized bug splatter.  Moving on.
  3. Invest in a good backpack.  If you carry mucho electronics (aka laptop) spend the money for something secure and well-padded.  There are, at last count, 1.3 billion types of running packs.  Some are mesh, some are waterproof, some can run along side and tell you your pace.  This was the hardest thing that I had to look for and I’m still not happy, though it is a good thing because:
  4. You need to purchase a shower kit and work out a system of clothing.  This is vital, as yesterday I failed to work out my clothing system and got to show very nice possible business partners our fancy conference room whilst dressed in a zip-up hoody.  Make a space in a drawer and either fill it up once a week or rotate through.  You may want to initially bring in things that go with most of your clothes (scarf, jacket, rain kit) as when running you probably want to be as light as possible.
  5. While you are at it stock your drawer with granola or trail mix for when you get in.  That way you don’t have all the glory high of running followed by all the moody crash that can sometimes follow it.
  6. Make a back-up plan.  Things like carrying change to get a bus or taxi fare in case you get to work and find out a project deadline has been moved up or as the day goes on you start feeling ill.  It’s a nice to have.

Finally, and you may hate me for this – you should consider avoiding headphones.  It annoys the crap out of me when people do this outside of a park and it annoys me even further when cyclists do this.  As you will most likely be cutting through a real city with real people and real painful vehicles zooming around you need to stay alert.  Leave the music as a reward for your nice park runs on the weekend.

Oh, and have fun.  Seriously, commute running is nothing like training in my opinion, it’s just good for fitness.  If you make it painful it will become painful, so don’t kick yourself on being off on pace.

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Into the breach! (Or ballot, whatever…)

Posted in Running with tags , on May 4, 2010 by cmerritt42

Once more, once more.

Into the breach, once more.

The ballot has opened,

the process begun.

Into the London Virgin Mara..thun.

Will I get in?  The world will find out in October.  Mark your calendars, say your prayers.  This year is a white jacket of rejection – and – considering that the color white and rejection are usually not associated – here is to hoping.

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How to Spectate the London Marathon

Posted in English Living, Running with tags , , , , on May 1, 2010 by cmerritt42

Blogger’s Note (12/4/11): Due to sparkling statistics I notice people are looking for the best tips to spectate.  Below is my experience of last year’s marathon, which is witty and wonderful and you should read it three times.  However, for those who want in, out, and on with their lives listen up:

  • Signs on bamboo sticks.  Or stakes, or tree trunks.  No joke.  Make a sign, a really simple sign on a very bright background (or with very bright paint) and put it on bamboo sticks.  This is because you will generally be crammed into a very small area with LOTS of people.  Show this sign to your runner before hand.  Don’t bother surprising them.  There are LOTS of people running, and they will know where you are and be grateful for it.
  • There is NO FOOD on the course.  At least, not last year.  So if your runner needs food you need to pick spots where they can get their bananas, power gels, etc.  It needs to be obvious, down to the side of the street you plan to be on.  If you have a sign like above, it will make it easier for them.
  • If you want to have a pack of people, dress the same.  Bright colours, pom-poms, noise makers, all out.  In the places I went I found myself sometimes four people deep.  So if you get trapped back, they see your sign and flashes of colour they will know where you are.
  • DO NOT EXPECT TO SEE YOUR RUNNER MORE THAN TWICE.  If they are fast, you’ll only see them once.  Travel is difficult and time consuming because everyone is there to cheer on their respective people.  Pick your spot WELL IN ADVANCE and camp there.  If your runner needs lots of support spread out the family and friends.  Paint them neon, have them carry signs on sticks.
  • Pick your meet up spot WELL IN ADVANCE.  The entire St. James Park is the finish area and it will be crawling.  They go by letter.  Pick your letter, meet there.
  • BRING FOOD.  Snacks, picnic, you name it.  For you and your runner.  This will keep you and your runner happy until you get home/to the after party.
  • BRING A CAMERA.  The stuff you’ll witness is incredible.
  • HAVE FUN.  It’s seriously the most intense experience I’ve had, and I wasn’t running!  It’s a lot to take in.  And if you have food, neon, and signs you can enjoy the experience in a very stress-free manner.  Be there for your runner!

And now, the bloggy:

I thought it was no big deal.  I mean, I knew the London Marathon was THE BIGGEST marathon anywhere.  51,000 registrants, and of that 39,000 would cross that start line for sure.  You average two supporters per runner and you are looking at 78,000 people.  You add people on top of that, who love watching races and live in the city, you’re looking at 100,000 people.

All in 26.2 miles.  52.4 if you consider both sides of the course lined, though they don’t let people line up a few places.

But I had spectated before.  I’d done Houston.  I’d done Disney.  Both have extensive entrants and supporters.  But it was nothing, absolutely nothing, compared to the London Marathon.

First, let us chat about the Expo.

They say it is the biggest anywhere, and I think it is just in floor space.  Truth be told if a running store wanted to bring their entire stock, they could’ve, and sold it right there on the floor.  The selection was incredible, and I’m grateful I left my purchasing power at home.  For samples, you had every imaginable power/energy bar and bean (which we considered mashing together into a super bar/bean, capable of the energy of the sun).  There was drink powders, apples, and … beer.

That’s right, go to the London Marathon Expo.  Get beer.

It wasn’t like they were handing out pints (well, they were handing out coupons to get pints and if you were a runner a pint can was in your goody bag).  But, if you were up to it, you could feasibly work your way through the floor with a 1/4 pint of beer, grab bits of energy bar and an apple, then loop back again.  I don’t know what to say about this being pre-race nutrition, however, if you are in a pinch remember: beer is a carb.

As for spectating:

You should show up several days early and, this is imperative, bring a mobile phone that works.

Several days of advance planning (if not weeks) is essential if you are going to properly spectate.  They were kind enough to provide several pages of spectating in a Virgin London Spectators Guide.  However, even though they listed approximate trains and boats and teleportation they were more concerned with the 72 pubs along the course, and less about you moving from one point to the other.  Sure, they wrote paragraphs on “the best way” and listed every station and foot tunnel closed, but,  unless you are a regular traveler to the central and east side of London, it sounded like a posh form of travel Twister.

Granted, since there are 100,000 – 200,000 people just crammed into the area they probably should have written:

“Transportation on the day of the marathon is somewhat like trying to squeeze yourself through a small rubber tube filled with people: You just don’t want to do it.  Instead, why not pick a place (relatively close to a pub) and paint yourself and a sign neon orange.  Attach balloons to that sign, and, if possible, shoot off fireworks every 5 minutes.  This is so your runner(s) know where you are.”

And that is because when they let the masses go, it is a never-ending mass.

My mobile phone had the very unfortunate task of dying on me as I made my way to the 10K mark.  This means that, despite my little painted shirt and my total lack of signage (due to rain, which destroyed the paper) it would not be easy to find my husband.  However, I hoped that my years of spectating experience would help me to find a place where I could stand out and be seen.

Nope.

As there is a never-ending mass of runners so there is a never-ending mass of spectators.  And the smart ones who painted themselves neon orange with neon signs saw all their friends.  They also put their signs on cloth on bamboo sticks.  I must remember that.

Lesson learned.

However, I can tell you that if you are caught in a bind and cannot use a mobile phone consider standing just outside of a water station, which I did at mile 19.  Provided the missile sounds of water bottles whizzing by your ears doesn’t bother you much, you’ll be a-okay, and people will clear the area.  Magically, this produced a meeting between myself and my husband.  Though we did decide in the future, should phone death occur, two pre-determined spots will be selected along with side of the road.  More than two and it’s just too darn difficult to travel.

Finally, when you have to get to the finish area (which one must… hopefully) do so with patience.  The British can queue.  Serious, hardcore queuing.  They bring lunch (which I was stupid enough not to).  My years of “meeting under the letter” are common.  Just not the “meeting under the letter with 300 of your closest friends” common.  Seriously, what is little tents lettered A-Z at most races are entire St. James Parks to the London Marathon.  Agree on a letter way in advance.  Thankfully my husband and I magically picked the same one.

So there you have it.  One day I’ll run the London Marathon, but until then I shall spectate it.  Preferably with neon.  And food.  And a phone that works.  Congratulations to all the runners.  I watched you and man, you looked awesome.

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