I ran London marathon for the first time in 2017. It was my second ever marathon and my first road marathon. I trained for sub-4 and was disappointed to finish in 4:17. This despite the fact that the day before the race I went Actually Blind. I woke up crosseyed. I could see clearly to about my fingertips, if I held my arms in front of me. This persisted until race day. Of course there was no time to organise or train with a guide runner. I considered deferring but I'd trained so hard. I didn't even Google to see if it was still possiblev at that late hour. I used the runner in front of me as my guide.
I was having an MS relapse. My second that year. I recovered (luckily, not everyone does) and by the end of 2017 I was finally diagnosed. I started treatment at the start of 2018, and I haven't had a relapse since.
Of course now I know that aside from the not being able to see thing, MS also causes extreme fatigue. Looking back I think it was a miracle I finished that race, and that 4:17 was a completely respectable time. I got my sub-4 in my next road marathon. I spent my next few races trying to get a qualifying time to get back into London Marathon (my first time was on a ballot place). A process I didn't really enjoy and didn't succeed in.
Then I discovered they do disability places! I went back to London Marathon in 2024, ran it at a much slower pace, and enjoyed being able to look around me, see the crowd, spot (and stop to chat to) my friends, read the signs.
Personally, I think that while social media has some benefits it has created an environment where people’s entire self worth revolves around likes and clicks and social media induced expectations. There are some people who I doubt would even participate if they couldn’t post about it or document it for social media.
Love your perspective. Just getting to the start line of any endurance race is a massive achievement. I agree with you the media and social love podiums but I am always looking for the other finishers. We do hard things and we should celebrate everyone. I do my part to share my experiences from a different angle and hoping more voices join that train.
I too ran a 4.00.08 marathon (and stopped for a week!) Zero regrets. It was enough. I’m just grateful I still get to do this. And those algorithms have a lot to answer for.
I raced the Panceltic gravel rally yesterday and at 85kms had to scratch because I ran out of tubes 🫠 this is exactly the reminder I needed today, having spent the evening in a bit of a grumble as my mates finished the route. Reminded myself I still did a hard thing, it's still awesome and I can always try and do more hard things next year!
I ran London in 2008 and did 4 hours and 4 minutes and I’ve still bloody rightly chuffed about that to this very day. Extremely sad to see the way that these big events have gone in modern times and I’m glad I rarely take part in mass participation events now. I did take part in the Dragon ride in 2024, another event I bloody proud of finishing, but I’m sure there is some folk who take part each year in that who behave in the way you suggest! Sad times 😔
I would also call for fewer pace excuses in the titles of Strava activities. e.g. a run titled "Just a slow jog with grandma" and their pace suggests otherwise. If you got out there and exercised, own your pace and be proud that you did the thing.
This was one of the things that I found so amazing about Rachel Entrekin's Cocodona 250 win - yes, it was an amazing feat, but she stayed at the finish to congratulate tons of other runners when they finished the race of hours and hours after her finished. That is one of the reasons that I love the sport of ultra-trail - the example set by the elites. They don't only congratulate their other team members sponsored by the same company - they congratulate and laud each other regardless of their affiliation or performance at any given race. And, now, so many races are actually celebrating and giving a special award to the DFL of the race - because just completing it is an enormous success!!
I'd like to say that in our running club we're total cheerleaders for one another no matter what the gun or chip time says. We're small (in terms of member numbers) but mighty in our support for one another. At XC or league races we clap every one of our runners over the line and no one goes home until our last runner has finished. It's been commented on by lots of the larger running clubs, and we've had people switch membership to us because of our behaviour.
That's not to say we're not competitive, and we have some very fast runners, but as a club we recognise and model that getting to the start line is just as brilliant as getting to the end.
We also have a club champs that's based on individual performance compared to last year. Times are taken for various distances in one season, and then points allocated for number of minutes you (intentionally or accidentally) take off in the new season. It doesn't just favour the fast runners (in fact they often struggle to set a new PB annually), and allows people to set personal goals if they want to
I ran London marathon for the first time in 2017. It was my second ever marathon and my first road marathon. I trained for sub-4 and was disappointed to finish in 4:17. This despite the fact that the day before the race I went Actually Blind. I woke up crosseyed. I could see clearly to about my fingertips, if I held my arms in front of me. This persisted until race day. Of course there was no time to organise or train with a guide runner. I considered deferring but I'd trained so hard. I didn't even Google to see if it was still possiblev at that late hour. I used the runner in front of me as my guide.
I was having an MS relapse. My second that year. I recovered (luckily, not everyone does) and by the end of 2017 I was finally diagnosed. I started treatment at the start of 2018, and I haven't had a relapse since.
Of course now I know that aside from the not being able to see thing, MS also causes extreme fatigue. Looking back I think it was a miracle I finished that race, and that 4:17 was a completely respectable time. I got my sub-4 in my next road marathon. I spent my next few races trying to get a qualifying time to get back into London Marathon (my first time was on a ballot place). A process I didn't really enjoy and didn't succeed in.
Then I discovered they do disability places! I went back to London Marathon in 2024, ran it at a much slower pace, and enjoyed being able to look around me, see the crowd, spot (and stop to chat to) my friends, read the signs.
Personally, I think that while social media has some benefits it has created an environment where people’s entire self worth revolves around likes and clicks and social media induced expectations. There are some people who I doubt would even participate if they couldn’t post about it or document it for social media.
Love your perspective. Just getting to the start line of any endurance race is a massive achievement. I agree with you the media and social love podiums but I am always looking for the other finishers. We do hard things and we should celebrate everyone. I do my part to share my experiences from a different angle and hoping more voices join that train.
I too ran a 4.00.08 marathon (and stopped for a week!) Zero regrets. It was enough. I’m just grateful I still get to do this. And those algorithms have a lot to answer for.
Ha, should say wee, not week
I raced the Panceltic gravel rally yesterday and at 85kms had to scratch because I ran out of tubes 🫠 this is exactly the reminder I needed today, having spent the evening in a bit of a grumble as my mates finished the route. Reminded myself I still did a hard thing, it's still awesome and I can always try and do more hard things next year!
That is gutting! I’m glad you know you’re still amazing and you’ll have another good ride on another day xx
People are odd, I loathe running (so don't) but love walking & cycling. That slogan aligns with my opinion of Nike as a brand...
Here here 👏👏 well flipping said 🫶all the yes
Brilliant piece. I was sooo disappointed, though, not to be the lanterne rouge when I did an ultra cycling event 😂😂😂
I ran London in 2008 and did 4 hours and 4 minutes and I’ve still bloody rightly chuffed about that to this very day. Extremely sad to see the way that these big events have gone in modern times and I’m glad I rarely take part in mass participation events now. I did take part in the Dragon ride in 2024, another event I bloody proud of finishing, but I’m sure there is some folk who take part each year in that who behave in the way you suggest! Sad times 😔
I would also call for fewer pace excuses in the titles of Strava activities. e.g. a run titled "Just a slow jog with grandma" and their pace suggests otherwise. If you got out there and exercised, own your pace and be proud that you did the thing.
Oh gosh yes! “Run with Brian” is always code for “Brian slowed me down so don’t judge me”. “Recovery spin” is another one.
This was one of the things that I found so amazing about Rachel Entrekin's Cocodona 250 win - yes, it was an amazing feat, but she stayed at the finish to congratulate tons of other runners when they finished the race of hours and hours after her finished. That is one of the reasons that I love the sport of ultra-trail - the example set by the elites. They don't only congratulate their other team members sponsored by the same company - they congratulate and laud each other regardless of their affiliation or performance at any given race. And, now, so many races are actually celebrating and giving a special award to the DFL of the race - because just completing it is an enormous success!!
I'd like to say that in our running club we're total cheerleaders for one another no matter what the gun or chip time says. We're small (in terms of member numbers) but mighty in our support for one another. At XC or league races we clap every one of our runners over the line and no one goes home until our last runner has finished. It's been commented on by lots of the larger running clubs, and we've had people switch membership to us because of our behaviour.
That's not to say we're not competitive, and we have some very fast runners, but as a club we recognise and model that getting to the start line is just as brilliant as getting to the end.
We also have a club champs that's based on individual performance compared to last year. Times are taken for various distances in one season, and then points allocated for number of minutes you (intentionally or accidentally) take off in the new season. It doesn't just favour the fast runners (in fact they often struggle to set a new PB annually), and allows people to set personal goals if they want to