I'm still here!

Despite how it may look I haven't fallen off the face of the planet - have just been a lazy lard arse who can't be bothered to post! To all our millions of readers I offer my sincere apologies for my tardiness LOL!
Anyway GNR was fab, loved every minute of it and can't wait to do it again - especially the bit where I get to shout at Rodders, now that was fun!
Seriously, for the first time ever it all came together. I had a race plan which involved a quick walking break at every drinks station allowing me to view the race as smaller chunks and thus fooling my messy head into thinking I could do it rather than the usual I can't. Well, got to mile 3 and didn't feel at all like walking, even though we were that point heading in to 2.5 miles of constant up hill. 4.5 miles was the next walk break and again didn't need to use it. Did use the one at 6 miles to have a pee in a bush but that was neccessity rather than desire that forced that and then we were off again. The Nike power mile at mile 9 was fab - they were playing Snow Patrol and so rodders and I sang our way through a speedy mile (the music kept speeding us up!) and then hit the long hard slog of the last 2 mile hill. It was hard, it was hot, the Red Arrows did mildly distract us by making us want to cry and I lied to rodders twice about the sea being just over the top of the hill but we did it. the drop down to the seafront was a welcome relief and for me the last mile felt almost like the first. Crossed the finishing line with a big smile on my face and a tear in my eye and then proudly went to collect t shirt and medal with Rodders who despite having decided to get a medium t shirt this time opted for the large as it was a shorter distance to walk. Lots of stretching and getting changed in carparks followed then off for a fab massage at the Epilepsy Research tent. Then the best bit - chips and gravy and a cup of tea (HEAVEN!).
Was a long drive back after tea at my aunties (lovely big bowl of trifle with double cream to replace all of the 1800+ calories I'd burned) and slept a long and dreamless sleep.
Thanks to our super stretching strategy legs felt good the next day and a 2 mile bimble in the afternoon really sorted them out.
Rodders and I are having a couple of running for fun weeks before embarking on our next 1/2 marathon training programme ready for Wilmslow next March.
Laters
Dave x