By – Megan Brewster
2018 was going to be the year that I finally did it… Made it round the Leicester half without walking…
I had ran the course twice before but both times came away disappointed with myself for listening to my inner critic that told me I was too tired and needed to walk…
Anyway, I finally joined Wreake Runners after almost signing up a few years ago but chickening out… I was persuaded by Katherine’s enthusiasm and the idea of a ‘train run’ which sounded way more fun than running alone again…
Suddenly I had lots of running buddies and so the training commenced for the half marathon…
This year I made sure I put the miles in and joined forces with Nicola for most of my long runs.
When she mentioned she had no one to watch her run the Robin Hood Half, I offered to spectate, then decided if I was going to watch I may as well take part! That meant running 2 half marathons within 2 weeks of each other but I always did like a challenge!
Well the day came for the Robin Hood and I had a horrific head cold! Typical! I got round (with walks… AGAIN) but somehow managed to get a PB! Mainly due to trying to keep up with speedy Nicola … I did however come home with a mighty blister on the ball of my foot…
I had a few days rest and the blister subsided but each time I ran it came back…
My last training run for the second race was Tuesdays club run, Mukesh taught me how to run up the imaginary new walk hill (earls way) and GT looked at my blister post run (it now felt like I was standing on a golf ball) and told me not to pop it…. Dammit I wish I listened!
The next evening I ended up at Melton urgent care with a foot that had doubled in size and had its own heartbeat! 20 puncture wounds later and a course of anti biotics in hand I went home and spent 3 days being miserable as I was certain I had ruined my chances of being able to run…
DJ happened to ask how my blister was, and became my in house doctor along with Corinna, lots of awful photos were sent their way and lots of advice was given and by Saturday I could walk again…just.
Sunday morning, I applied my Compeed and vaseline and went for a jog around the block in my new double lined socks before coming home to swap back into more comfortable ones and telling my partner that I would most likely not make it all the way! I met Rachel and we made our way to the start line…
This year my sister was running with me so I went and found her and before we knew it the claxon sounded and there was a mad dash to the start with our bin bag umbrellas! I had told my sister that I might not make it round as my foot was so sore but by the time we made it to mile 3 my foot had gone numb and the torrential rain helped me to ignore it!
My dad joined us both at mile 5 and broke up the mileage a bit before leaving us again at Birstall…
Now Birstall is the part of the race that I had always stopped at previously so I put my positive pants on told myself I could make it to McDonald’s and DJ was there supporting which gave me the extra boost I needed to keep going!
Once I was past Birstall, I knew I could make it! I still couldn’t feel my foot, I felt stronger and fitter than ever before and I started to wonder whether I could actually get a decent time too!
Everything was less blurred compared to previous years, I knew exactly where the photographer would be waiting in Abbey Park and I was disappointed that the steel band weren’t playing near the high cross this year..
As I came to the bottom of New Walk I knew I had to just get through that last mile… By this time I was seriously lagging but still so determined. I kept telling myself, If you don’t walk you never have to do this again
Anyway I made it to the top and the finish line came in to view. GT & Helen gave me one last push to the end and although I didn’t get a PB I literally could not have been happier…. I would have been proud of myself anyway but to do it whilst on anti biotics, with a huge blister and in torrential rain made the achievement even greater!
Although the general support was obviously lacking this year due to the weather, all of the Wreakies were there to lift your spirits and I truly don’t know if I would have got round without you guys supporting me! So to everyone I seen on the day, thankyou so much!
Now it’s time to rest and recover, give my poor foot a break and then get back to Club night in my new orange t-shirt!
