It is with great pleasure that I share this blog post with you today because it is about the successful completion of my third marathon since I did my first one in November 2007. Yes, we did it, my friend Jamie Haugh and I successfully completed the Loch Ness Marathon on Sunday, 29 September 2013 in Inverness, Scotland.

If I’m honest it was my toughest marathon course to date because it was very hilly, much control is required at the downhills and much strength and stamina is required on the up hills and there was quite a lot of them!!

It was a marvelous day though and I was very mindful of embracing the day as much as possible, as I was thinking this was may be my last marathon.  🙂

Great Spirits

Jamie and I were in great spirits before the marathon started, we had such a laugh and got chatting to some other runners….I would like to give these people a mention:

• Thank you to Mo whom I met on the train heading to Inverness, Mo was doing her first marathon and I am delighted to say she successfully completed it in an amazing time.
• Thank you to the other marathoners who were staying at No.29 B&B Accommodation in Inverness, we had a right laugh at breakfast on marathon morning….Frank was doing his first marathon and I am so pleased to say he did it. He has already committed himself to doing it again next year, he’s on a mission to break the 4 hour barrier.
• Thank you to John Tougher, a friend from High School, whom we met for dinner the night before the marathon, John is “proper” runner and the Loch Ness was his 10th marathon, well done John on completing your 10th marathon in an amazing time.
• Thank you to Martin who was doing his first marathon, I used to work beside Martin’s lovely wife Ruth and we had been updating our marathon training progress on Facebook.  It was lovely to bump into Martin at the race start, amongst the sea of 4000 runners, there he was standing just in front of me.  It was great to be able to personally wish each other well.  Martin successfully completed his first marathon, well done Martin, you did it!!
• Thank you to Gerry whom we chatted to for a while before the marathon started, Gerry had some wonderful stories to tell us, he made us laugh, I don’t know how Gerry did but he has completed many many marathons so I have no doubt he successfully completed it…no doubt whatsoever, so I will say in confidence, well done Gerry.  🙂
• Thank you to all the other marathoners we had a wee chat to along the route, some really inspirational people running for some great charities and it was really wonderful to see and be part of.
• Thank you to all the supporters along the route and the hundreds of people lined across the streets of Inverness leading up to the finish line, I always had a smile for everyone of you because you helped me get through the last few miles much easier.  “Go girl in the orange top”, thank you to the lovely person who cheered me on at the last mile I significantly remember you shouting that at me.  🙂
• And last but certainly not least, thank you to Jamie Haugh for his company throughout the whole trip, we had such a laugh, played the “Positivity” game at 13th mile and the “I Am Strong” affirmation game at the 15th mile and you kept my spirits high, you did it, your second marathon this year, what an amazing achievement and you should be so proud of yourself.  Well done Jamie 🙂 🙂 🙂

The question is on, “Will I do another marathon?”, well, I haven’t broke the 5 hour barrier yet, I am 1 minute out……it is kinda annoying me hahahah, let’s just wait and see, I am contemplating it…..contemplating!!!  🙂

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