Result!
So, we ran it all right. Paul and I did it in 1.50.27, nicely under the two-hour target which we were quietly setting ourselves. Lucy did it in 2.14. Emma, who hates running, managed it in 2.39. Ace!
For most of the race it was actually quite a comfortable experience. Running with someone else, e.g. one’s brother, helps a lot to maintain a steady speed, as well as for morale. And the first two-thirds of the run are mostly just a long, flat road, which is the same as training on a treadmill. We breezed along past people dressed as things like dragons. It was pissing it down at the start – in fact, one of the worst bits of the whole experience was waiting in the rain for about an hour before we could do any actual running, in that classic sitting-in-the-exam-room frame of mind. But the weather picked up halfway through and at about the 8-mile mark, I found myself starting to think (and even say, to Paul) things like ‘the worst is over’ and ‘this is basically fine’.
It’s at that moment of even minor complacency that a long race (or any endurance task) starts to punish you, and miles 9-11 were rather more difficult, and then 11-13 were quite a bit more difficult again. The route suddenly started weaving around the city centre, up and down hills and curves and zigzags. The presence of more and more spectators ironically became as much of a curse as a blessing, because well-meaning people would shout things like ‘JUST TWO MILES TO GO!’ when in fact it was more like three. It’s psychologically quite damaging to hear ‘two miles to go’ and then run for ages, and THEN see a sign that says ’2 miles to go’.
It was mostly my legs which were hurting by this point – no real risk of running out of breath – but towards the very end my chest started to feel a bit tight and, even though there was less and less to go, I felt less and less like doing it. Part of the problem was that the final mile was incredibly circuitous and roundabout: although you could practically reach out and touch the finish, you had to go a bloody long way round to get there, which meant you could constantly see people who were some way ahead of you. It’s when you start to feel you are actually running AWAY from the finish that your resolve begins to waver.
But I had Paul by my side (at one point I started to sing, in my head, the Hot Chip song ‘Brothers’, and it was all a bit Hollywood) and he badgered me successfully through the final couple of hundred metres and that was that. Ten minutes under two hours. We then were briefly wrapped in tin foil (they do this to insulate you, odd as it is) and then rushed round in time to see Emma, Sister 2 finish her race. She was grinning as she crossed the line, understandably for someone who, a year ago, would have pushed an ant 13 miles with her nose rather than run it. Later on she revealed that she’d also stopped for 10 minutes to queue for a portaloo, and THEN hung on for one which had toilet paper (!), so the time could have been even quicker. (Paul and I went for a wee by the side of the road at the 5 mile mark. Lots of people were doing it, though. Sorry.)
Overall it was not just an enormously satisfying feeling to do it, but, for two-thirds of the course, even quite a pleasant experience. I’ve always dabbled a bit in running, but I do mean a ‘bit’. Never run anything like that distance or in any organised way. It feels great to have made myself do something which I always felt I’d like to do, but perhaps would never have got round to, without the incentive of the girls’ charity.
On which note, thanks yet again to everyone who donated. Amazingly we’re now at about £1,350, and a huge chunk of that is from you, the readers of this blog. Given that for £30 a month we sponsor an entire family, you can imagine how much good can be done with that sort of sum. So thanks. It kept me going.
I’ll post some photos in the next couple of days and also probably harp on philosophically about the effect of this on my optimism, and so on.
I’ve now had a big roast dinner and am going to hobble on the train back to London.
Thanks!
Posted by Laura on September 7, 2010
Congratulations! I am terrible at running (even though I am pretty fit – I blame my rapidly-aging knees) so your feats impress me no end.
Posted by Ivan (@ivanbrett) on September 6, 2010
Congratulations!! That’s far more than I’ve ever managed. That money is going to a fantastic cause.
Surely your TSIC will get a big boost from that…
Posted by Aislinn on September 6, 2010
Bloody well done, Watson. I feel immensely proud, even though I’m sure that’s the kind of feeling you should only get if you’re a parent or similar.
Goodness knows I know what it’s like attempting to do anything by foot after having just ran/walked such a large distance, so here’s hoping for a quick recovery, foot-wise.
Posted by Corey on September 6, 2010
Well done all of you!!. I’ve started a self imposed driving ban for all none important uses of my car to help save petrol money and an attempt to get fitter as well.
So far since I last drove I’ve clocked up 55 miles in just over a week of walking time I wouldn’t have done beforehand. Its a 5 mile round trip walk from home to work and back and I find myself looking forward to what the i-pod will choose for me. Its not in your ‘marathon’ league but I’m happy with myself.
Posted by Naomi Bayliff on September 6, 2010
Well done, what a triumph, hope your not too sore this morning and managed to have a restful evening and a good sleepx
Posted by heatherooo on September 6, 2010
Well done to you all. That’s an amazing accomplishment and you should all be really proud. It must feel pretty awesome to have done it all together as well. Nothing beats the great feeling you get after doing something like that, alongside the people you care about.
And well done to everyone who has contributed so much towards it to. Sounds like it should make a huge difference for your sisters’ charity, which is fantastic. I am also going contribute myself, just as soon as I get some pennies again.
As a side-note, I am loving your use of Hot Chip tunes as motivation. You don’t do too badly with your musical choices, Watson.
Posted by Beth (@Doomed1) on September 6, 2010
Well Done!!! Sorry im yet to sponsor! But im very broke this month with my holiday. But will sort some money out for the charity on pay day!!
Posted by Ally on September 6, 2010
Wow! Well done! That’s definitely quite the achievement, I’m not sure I’d even contemplate walking 13 miles (though I probably could), let alone running it!
Posted by Josh on September 6, 2010
Well done for pissing at the side of a road, I’ll let you off for running 13 miles.
Posted by Tibbs on September 5, 2010
Congratulations to you and your siblings! Nice that you and your brother were able to keep the same pace. I’m much more of a walker than a runner myself (I tend to get winded if I run so much as a block) so the idea of running for almost two hours is pretty mind boggling to me!
Posted by Kathryn on September 5, 2010
Well done! I don’t think I could run one mile, never mind thirteen.
Posted by Laurs on September 5, 2010
Congratulations to the Watsons! I’m so pleased for you all, and great times too.
You also inspired me to go for a walk today too, so thank you for that!
Take some well earned rest now! x x
Posted by Lisa Brunders on September 5, 2010
Well done to all four of you.
Posted by Kate W on September 5, 2010
That’s really brilliant. Glad you all made it (and in some very respectable times) and that the whole thing wasn’t gruelling. Sounds like reversing the course would make it an easier run – that way you’d have the easy bit to finish with instead of the loopy section when you’re most tired.
Extremely well earned roast dinner that. And, as other people have said, would be lovely to hear more about Moldova at some point. Well done Watsons!
(This really ought to shame me into doing something on my running TYSIC. If someone as busy and knackered as you can run thirteen miles, I ought to at least run somewhere.)
Posted by Simone on September 5, 2010
A heartfelt congratulations to you all!
Posted by Al on September 5, 2010
Well done. You should all be very, very proud.
A word of warning though: you’ll be doing a full marathon before you know it! I did a half-marathon and felt like my head was going to explode at the end. I swore there and then that I’d never do a half-marathon again, let alone a full marathon. But two and a half years later I found myself doing the London Marathon. I loved it though. Strangely, it was more enjoyable than the half-marathon.
Posted by Rachael on September 5, 2010
Very well done Watsons! Glad it wasn’t too gruelling and that’s an impressive amount raised too
Posted by A lot of Rach[a]els on September 5, 2010
big well done to all of you for finishing and raising a nice sum of money (I finally got round to donating today)
Hope your roast and journey back are good and you don’t ache too much in the coming days
Posted by Maddie on September 5, 2010
Well Done!
Posted by JoC on September 5, 2010
Very well done! It’s an achievement I’m never likely to be able to claim and have such respect for people who try to do such crazy things. Sleep well!
Posted by Heather Jones on September 5, 2010
Good for you, Mark. And likewise your siblings. Very interesting to hear about the experience and the different phases as you went round
Does your success it make you wonder about maybe one day attempting a full-length marathon? I bet you could do it, you know – with a bit more regular training, obviously.
And do keep us updated with how your sisters’ Moldovian project develops.
Posted by Anna Lowman on September 5, 2010
Aw this blog had me grinning loads! Congratulations, young Watsons!
I have just read one third of your novel which, while not as impressive, is at least relevant, because you wrote it.
Posted by Aoife on September 5, 2010
Well done to you and indeed the whole Watson clan
Posted by SarahV on September 5, 2010
Fantastic, well done all!!!
What a great cause as well.
Posted by MusicalLottie on September 5, 2010
Woohoo! Well done to all of you! It’s fantastic to hear that the majority of it was a pleasant experience, and hopefully it has given your optimism a huge boost
Posted by Lydia on September 5, 2010
Well done all of you. I can’t even imagine running that far. You are all amazing. Really.
Posted by Kate B on September 5, 2010
Well done to you all! It’s nice to hear it wasn’t the worst experience ever. I can’t imagine myself being able to do something like that, but hopefully with some training one day I will! Congratulations!
Posted by Neera C on September 5, 2010
Well done!!
) xx
Posted by Shell on September 5, 2010
Well done to all Watsons. Congratulations Mark. I’m glad the majority of it was not too gruelling and a family Sunday dinner sounds a great way to round things off.
Did you have train much for this run distance specifically or did you find that you run regularly enough anyway? Must have been tough in Ed when so busy and at times ill!
A great achievement and surely a big boost to your TYSIC.
x
Posted by Meg on September 5, 2010
Congratulations Mark! I can’t even imagine running 13 miles – I am awfully unfit. It’s such an amazing achievement, well done to all the Watsons!
Posted by Misha on September 5, 2010
Well done all (again)!
I think somehow you’re allowed to wee on the roadside if you’re running 13 miles for charity, it’s generally considered quite acceptable.
I feel like I should get my arse in gear and aim to do something like this, I’m so unfit that after I ran for the bus on friday I could barely make it up the stairs to sit down. My only defence is that I was running doc martens, hardly ideal running gear.
Well done again, again.
Posted by ediscott on September 5, 2010
Well done. I never doubted for a moment that you would all succeed.