26.2 miles of pain.  Well not all of pain – probably only 9 miles of proper pain if I’m honest but that’s still plenty.   So, the day:  My alarm went off at 06:00, I was so paranoid I was going to over sleep – especially as I had a dream I woke up at 10 and missed the start! So I made sure I got up straight away.  I had a big bowl of porridge for breakfast and took a couple of cereal bars for just before the start.   My sister dropped me off (in her PJs I may add) and I was away.  I felt rather nervous and really had no idea what I was meant to do! It was completely new to me but the atmosphere was good and soon enough Mum and Dad were there to support me.

I made my way to the start and tried to hide at the back of the “green zone”, as this was the colour I was allocated when I was clearly on some random high and said I could do the marathon in 4.5 hours! I even asked if I could change but the lady just said stay to one side and stick to your pace so not to get pulled along at everyone else’s pace. So I did that, and soon got overtaken by a few thousand people!! haha

The start was great, the atmosphere, the people and support, it was incredibly tempting to go faster but I just knew that wouldn’t work so I stuck to my guns and kept slow and steady – remember the hare and the tortoise, I thought. A small hill at the beginning and a sign saying “Highest point on the course, it’s all downhill from here” of course, I knew this might technically be true – but I also knew of the hills ahead.

The first 5 miles were nice and flat and went pretty quickly then at mile 6, I lost some serious time waiting for the toilet.  It was quite frustrating and I must have waited around 20 minutes for the damn thing, I could have done a Radcliffe but figured it was probably best not to…we soon decided the only reason men were faster than women was because they didn’t have to wait so long for the loo! After this unscheduled stop, I found it quite hard to get back into my rhythm and so many people passed me that I was now right at the back with Spongebob.

Anyhow I powered on and made it to mile 10 feeling OK but I was ready for the Powerade offered, it was rather hot by now and I was sweating like a pregnant nun and therefore was truly grateful for the energy boost.  My only issue now was getting a stitch from running and drinking simultaneously, so I walked for a bit while I was drinking and then run again once the stitch had gone (apparently the real term for a stitch is exercise related transient abdominal pain (ETAP), well you learn something new everyday!).  The ETAP did come back with vengeance later on but we’ll come to that.

I was now approaching the half way point and starting to feel quite achy – the hills take their toll on your joints whether you’re going up or down.  Also bear in mind I was also approaching the same mileage as my longest training run and I knew it was going to be tough doing the same again but again there was a lot of support here, and I saw my family and some friends which picked me up till about 15 miles.  Then came the tough times. Running up Grand Avenue and Church Street were difficult, and although there was quite a lot of support, it was a bit boring and you could see the other runners coming back which is always a bit demoralising.  One thing which did make me chuckle was a group of people with a big sound system waiting for people called Eileen, then they would stick on Dixies Midnight Runners’ C’mon Eileen and get very excited!

At this point, I was struggling – I knew I still had a way to go and the ETAP was back.  I also, rather dramatically, thought I was having a heart attack.  This was mainly due to the tingling, strange feeling in my arm and the pain in my chest.  I started walking again just in case and felt a bit better, but by now I was seriously aching, felt like I had a massive bruise on my back and could feel the blisters forming. The next 6 miles seemed to take forever and I was mainly walking, going round Shoreham power station was really not the most exciting and there was a lack of much-needed support, which everyone seemed to feel.  It was then I wished I had ignored the health and safety advice and brought my ipod along, I could have done with something to concentrate on and zone out with.

The next part along the seafront was odd, it should have been good but as we were quite late in the day people were just walking normally along and it didn’t feel so much like we were part of an organised run.  I started talking to a girl who had injured her ankle, Emily, trying to keep the spirits up.  Once I could see the 25 mile marker, I was running again and knowing there was only just over a mile or so I keep up a good pace, forgetting the pain of the previous miles.  I had a few running buddies towards the end, my friend Alex ran along side me for a few hundred metres and then my sister and friends Natalie and Laura run with me right near the finish line.  I did tell them not to steal my glory!

And that was that, my final chip time was 06:01:12, place 7076 out of around 7500 I think.  I got beaten by the boobs in the picture below, but finished in front of Spongebob and Mr Testicles oh and the 82 year old! I did what I set out to do, I wanted to raise as much money as possible  - I don’t have a final tally yet as but I believe it is over £1500 for St Peter and St James Hospice – and I wanted to complete the inaugural Brighton Marathon.  Trust me, if I can do it – you can too, as long as you want to of course.  It just takes commitment, time and dedication – if you put your mind to it, anything is possible.

On that note, I shall leave you.  I need to work out what to do with my website www.carinajenkins.co.uk now, any suggestions – please let me know!!! If you know anyone who is thinking of running a marathon or is training for one, send them here, you never know 7 months of blogging might be of use to someone.

Below are some pictures, so you know I’m not lying

One day till the big day.  Sitting outside the pub – drinking orange juice of course, in the sunshine trying to relax before tomorrow.

Apparently it should be a nice day tomorrow possibly even 17 degrees but I guess not at 9 o clock in the morning.  So it’s going to be an interesting one getting the attire right.

This is just a short one, keeping you in touch with what’s going on.  I had a bit of a headache earlier and my back was aching but I think some of that may have been due to tension and possibly a bit psychological. I will try and get an early night and keep chilled out for tomorrow but I’m not sure if it will work!

Anyhow, hoping Tottenham can can get the win against Chelsea so off to see that now…Until next week when I give you a complete update! All the best, CJ xx

I had a bit of a stomachache before my run, which didn’t make the run the most comfortable but it was only a short one (30 mins) so it didn’t cause too much trouble. I was hoping to make a big batch of pasta to start the carb loading but in the end just made some rice to try and settle my stomach, still carbs but none for tomorrow lunch unfortunately.

Anyhow just a short one today to keep you updated. Looking forward to the day – not sure what sort of weather I’m hoping for but not wet I guess!

Lots of love CJ xx

It’s truly a terrifying thought, particularly as I haven’t done a long run for a couple of weeks – it’s what the schedule says, to make sure I’m nice and fresh for next week but still. I forgot to mention in an earlier post that I ran a small part of the course last Sunday.  I did the killer hill, and believe me, it is a killer.  One steep mofo.  But at least it’s at the beginning so it’s over with early on.  The weather has really perked up so it might be a nice day, which is really good in some ways but obviously will make it tougher in other ways.  I also have my running number lucky number 12727! So look out for it if you’re heading down next week.

Just a shortish run, 45 minutes, today.  To Bait’s Bite lock and back – I remember a time that I couldn’t even contemplate running solidly there so I’ve come along way and only time will tell how I’ll do next week.  Basically from Thursday I’ll be eating carbs morning, noon and night.

Thanks again to everyone who has sponsored me – I really appreciate it and have over £1000 pledged now! If you haven’t sponsored me yet and would like to please click here.

So here we go into the final stretch – keep your fingers crossed that I keep fit and healthy this week…6 days to go! AHHHHHH

CJ xxxx

I had another sports massage yesterday – the lady did my calves and released my hips.  It felt good but I went for a run straight away and perhaps I should have had a bit of a rest but I needed to run and it was getting late.  The runs are actually getting shorter now, only 45 minutes yesterday and an hour tomorrow.  Even at the weekend, on Sunday the long run day, I will be doing what I call a short run (of less than 90 minutes) but apparently I should be getting plenty of sleep and carbs – so I get to do some of my favourite things: sleep and eat!  I made a big shepherds pie today and promptly ate it all, it was good though.

Next week should be interesting, as I eat carbs morning, noon and night.  I hope I’ll be able to walk down to the start, let alone run! Apparently it’s to build up the glycogen stores so you don’t ‘hit the wall’.  I really hope I make it, in fact I will make it.  I have no other option.

Anyhow, I will keep you updated on how the last few days go on what is now the final countdown to 26.2 miles of agony! CJ xxx

So back to the matter in hand, running.  I did a good 90 minutes or so on Sunday, managed to get it in before the wedding (congrats to Kate and Simon by the way).  However, we ended up standing outside for quite a while and it certainly wasn’t the warmest day so by Monday I was extremely achy and was not feeling too great.  So ended up going into work at lunchtime on Monday to recover a bit, also having lost an hour due to the changeover to BST I was feeling rather tired and jaded.  Everyone in my house has a cold at the moment so I really don’t want to get one, although maybe it would be better to get it sooner rather than later sometimes these things are inevitable.

I did a 45 minute run yesterday, I was still quite tired but managed a decent-ish pace. Tomorrow I will run for an hour and at the weekend that will be my longest run…it’s a bit scary thinking I’m not going to do a longer run until the day but hopefully there is method to the schedule and it will make sure I am fresh and ready for the big day, where I will breeze 26.2 miles – or something like that.

For now, I bid you adieu.  CJ xxx

I’ve changed my website picture to include one in my new vest, taken by my housemate of course – the official photographer of Carina Jenkins’ marathon run! See the pics below:

Me posing in my new running vest...keep on running CJ!

Cheesy 'Rocky' style poster. Eye of the tiger!

The only thing that was quite worrying from the seminar yesterday was the personal trainer lady, Jenny, said we should have run between 16-20 miles total.  The schedule I’m following said that my run of 2.5 hours last week should be fine.  So I was feeling anxious.  Ultimately though it’s all about hitting the wall and dealing with it.  To be honest I think I might have hit the wall on some earlier runs when I was first trying to get into it all – I had cold sweats, felt dizzy, achey and generally rough and tended to get through it by walking for a little bit and conserving energy and then getting back to it.  I’m planning to eat pretty much constantly for three days prior to the run so I should have plenty of glycogen stored in my body.

I ran around 45 minutes this evening, I think I’ve been feeling OK since my run on Sunday and although I’m trying to find out the details of a sports masseur in Cambridge, so far I haven’t had any sports massages or anything.  In fact, talking of which I should really go and have a shower – came straight in and made some dinner but haven’t showered yet.  Yummy!

Till next time.. CJ xx

I’m not sure I could say the route was ‘hilly’ as this is still Cambridge but there were a few inclines and I ran quite a varied route.  I took some Lucozade sport with me so that helped to keep me going.  I still have plenty in the tank from all that Alsatian food.  Definitely had my fill of Choucroute (Sauerkraut) and pork.  Might lay off it for a while and get back on the carbs.

Yesterday was just a brief run probably only around 3.5/4 miles so quite short in comparison.  It’s only 4 weeks now and I think the runs will start winding down again in preparation for the long one!  It will be interesting, next week I have to get my run in before I go to my friends wedding so maybe an early rise for me.

Anyhow, enough blabbering.  I will keep you updated on these last few weeks, only 27 days now…uh oh

I’m still in France, as you may have gathered and I think I’ve eaten my weight in food over the past few days.  I’ve been trying to keep on top of the training and have even been on a couple of runs with my colleague but I have to admit I am a day behind. 

I didn’t manage my long run on Sunday, so did it on Monday instead.  It was an interesting one. I ran to the Statue of Liberty (not the one in NYC!) and round into Colmar town.  My plan was to be out for around an hour and a half but I got lost in town and went round in circles for a while, therefore I was actually out for 1 hour 50 mins! Apparently I covered 10 miles so was quite pleased with that, even if some of the time was spent squinting at signs.

I was out yesterday as well, quite a fast paced run and I’m hoping to get out tonight as well.  Then Saturday I will get back to the Schedule and Sunday is an important one – it should be the longest run yet!!!

Anyhow, only 30 days to go and I’m feeling a little unprepared at the moment.  Hopefully I will be back on track by the weekend.

Later all.  CJ xx

I managed a good run on Sunday at 9 o clock in the morning, no less.  It was nice actually I had a running buddy for the first time for a while and did a good 8.5 miles or so running to Waterbeach and back.  Having someone else there definitely made the time fly and although I’m not usually very good in the morning, I found it OK.  I have to admit, everyone was really friendly too.  More so than usual. We didn’t meet a single person who didn’t say ‘Morning’ or greet you and all the cyclists were apologising for one thing or another.  I think it probably helped that the sun was shining on a glorious spring day.

I am now in France. Colmar to be exact, and had my first taste of training over here.  It was quite difficult as I’m busy all day and therefore have to go running after I get back around 6.30pm.  I was aiming for an hour run tonight but ended up only doing around 45 minutes and not going very far.  As with most things in life, when you don’t really know where you are going – or you don’t have specific goals, you tend to get complacent and are less effective.  This was certainly the case for me.  I didn’t want to get lost so kept going back and forth rather than find a route and then wanted to make sure I could get some food so came back early.  It’s a sleepy town and there’s no guarantee of food after 8.30!! 
There were also a large number of roads to cross, which really slowed me down and were quite frustrating towards the end. 

Anyway I managed my first run and will keep up the hard work.  After all, only 39 days to go…

A bientot.  CJ xx