I collected my race pack on the Friday, leaving home a bit later than I planned to meant that I was not there at my customary time and the queues were longer than I had experienced before, not sure if this was due to the time or the fact that the organisers had changed the process so that numbers and start corals were assigned on the day.
However after passing through registration and being given the smallest kit bag ever I wandered round the expo, signed up for next year and headed home. Having run every year I feel that not entering each year is a problem. I have decided though that in 2019 that if the event is still going it will be the 10th running and I will be 50 at the time of the race so that seems like a reasonable time to stop.
My morning prep for Brighton has been quite similar each year, drive to Burgess Hill listening to Heart with Jenni Falconer, train to Preston Park and walk to the start. British Transport Police in their wisdom decided that Preston Park station should be closed during the period that people would be travelling to the start, so all the way to Brighton it was and then walk back to the start.
The start corals were different this year, rather than around the path in Preston Park they were side by side in the actual park, this seemed to be a better option with people able to move through easier, however the torrential rain on Saturday did mean that our trainers were about twice the weight with all the mud they had collected. Moving onto the path gave us opportunity to scrape the mud off our trainers before crossing the start lane.
Zoe Ball was the official starter and giving high 5's as we started the race, hope her hands are not too sore today.
I have been suffering with my calf muscle during training with my left leg giving me grief after about 2 miles, I have had some physio, rest and exercises which convinced me that I could actually complete Brighton. The first few miles passed without incident and I was going well and certainly on target for my sub 4 aim. Then at mile 5 my right calf gave way with a shooting pain, I tried to carry on and after a while the pain was manageable so I pressed on to try and finish.
I was surprised to get through half way in under 2 hours and thought that although I would not get sub 4 I may actually be able to get a PB.
The last 3 miles seemed to go on for an eternity and when I went into the last mile my left calf gave way too, so I was in quite severe pain getting to the finish and as soon as I crossed the line my legs gave way and I slumped to the floor. A first aider was with me immediately to try and get me moving to keep the finish area clear,
I managed to get to my feet with her help and headed off down to the road past Jenni Falconer who said Well Done as I limped by.
After getting my medal and kit bag back I headed off to the beach for a brief rest before getting back to the station for my return home. It felt like it took longer to get from the finish to the station than the first half of the run.
This morning I am in more pain than ever before after a marathon and hope that I can recover quickly so I can get back on with preparations for The Lakesman in June.
Brighton is a great event although marred a bit this year by the kit bag issue, there were so many different stories coming out about why the bags were so small, but in the end common sense seemed to prevail and as long as the right number was stuck to the bag they were accepted onto the lorry.
Thanks to all involved in the organisation and volunteers that made it such a great event, thanks also to all the supporters out on the course especially those in the last 3-4 miles without whom I wouldn't have got round, I'm sure I heard Zoe Ball again in her now customary cheering position.
