Marathon Number 2: Thames Meander

I really feel like this challenge has begun now. I've prooven to myself that I can run a marathon so soon after finishing one. I was so nervous about this race because of how much smaller and intimate it was compared to all of the other marathons I have done so far. I was worrying so much about what the more serious, faster runners would think of chubby, slow me at the back.

Soon as I arrived my nerves and everything I was worrying about was instantly put to rest. I was sat at a table attaching my race number when I heard "would you like a jelly baby?" I looked up and thought "yes..yes I bloody do" Obviously you shouldn't take sweets from strangers, but I think that this rule doesn't apply to runners. I took one and so did another guy sat with us. Jelly babies brought us all together. Bringing on the running banter. It was just what I needed because it reminded that we all have our personal goals in running. I wasn't treated any differently and my nerves turned into excitement. 

I'm now also starting to make some great friendships through running. I met a guy called Norm a few months ago, via twitter, and he's joining me on some of my marathons. He has been fantastically supportive, and it was his idea that I do 15 marathons in 15 months. Soon as the gun went off I felt someone touch my shoulder, it was my running buddy Norm. We ran together for about 4 miles but I'm aware he runs faster than me so I slowed my pace down and told him to go on. He gave me 4 miles of confidence and was happy to fall back and run alone. The biggest part of this race was there wasn't tens of thousands of people lining the streets cheering, shouting my name, there wasn't thousands of runners around me motivating me. Completing this race was gonna be down to me and my inner strength. 

I got to 13 miles when the faster runners were starting to come back down the other side. This was the moment I had been dreading, but I had got it all wrong. They all acknowledged me, encouraged me. It was amazing. It felt like all my friends were running passed me. I suddenly realised how amazing running in a smaller race is. I ran to Putney Bridge, which was 15 miles, and the turning point for running back. I stopped at the drink station for juice and Brownies (which were incredible) before making my way back to finish the race. The way back is when it got hard. All the faster runners were gone. The thames path was busy with walkers, joggers, families, dog walkers etc. To everyone else I was just another runner, no one knew I was 16 miles into a marathon. I just wanted to scream "move out the way I'm running a fucking marathon here!! 

As I was approaching 17 miles my Garmin started bleeping at me that the battery was low. Pissing thing. Also I was starting to hurt bad now too. One thing about this race, there was no mile markers at all. So soon as my Garmin died I'd be running just till I saw the finish. I carried on to mile 20 then decided stop my watch. I got 20 miles out if it. I thought "I'll be ok for the last 6 miles". No, no, no!! I wasn't ok at all. I had to result in walking. I couldn't bare the thought of walking for 6 miles. Then..just then.. a saviour came to my rescue. A lady in a pink pig hat. It's funny sometimes how things work out. She was struggling too. So we started chatting. Turns out she writes for 'Women's Running' magazine. She was incredibly inspiring. She's ran marathons all over the world. We did not stop talking, then all of a sudden we could just make out the finish. We both encouraged each other to start running again and we didn't stop until we crossed the finish line. She was super impressed with my marathon challenge and my plans to run the London marathon blindfolded so much that she wants to write an article about me. It was great to meet her. Had I had a better race this wouldn't have happened. Thank you Lisa if you get to read this. 2nd one ticked off now though. Marathon number 3: Vikings Coastal Marathon on 25th January 2015. 

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Marathon Number 1: The Berlin Marathon

This race, was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I have taken part in some incredible marathons, London, Paris, Dublin to name a few. I never thought anything would come close or even top London. For me, Berlin did just that. I tried for 5 years to get a ballot place. I soon realised that getting into the bigger marathons was more challenging than actually running one! Even more so with the World Major Marathons. I knew my only way in was through a charity place. I got my place via Sense during my training for the Brighton Marathon, and I could think of anything else.

I flew to Berlin straight from work on Friday, with my trusted travelling friend Laura. We landed at some ridiculous hour, and got ourselves to our hotel like a pair of professional travellers.

The marathon Expo was amazing! It was in an airport. It was huge! I just walked around grabbing all the free stuff I could carry, tasting every power bar, energy juice going, my race number was securely in my hands, I'd taken a thousand selfies holding it, used up my data roaming posting it all over social media now all I had to do was eat, eat and eat.

I just love running races outside the UK. What's more, I love the Germans! So running a race in Germany was always going to be a winner for me. We had about a 30min train journey to the start of the race. It was 6.30am and the train carriages were a mixture of marathon runners and people on their way home from partying or still partying. Berlin loves to party!! What a funny mix of people right there!! Soon enough our stop was here. We walked with thousands of other runners to the race village. Laura could only go so far with me, then I was on my own. I wouldn't see her again for at least 5 hours.

I found myself a tree to stretch against and just took soaked up the atmosphere. People just getting changed anywhere and everywhere! There were bare bums and other naked parts on display left, right and centre. Europeans just don't care! That's what I love.

I made my way to my starting pen, where I actually had a bit of a meltdown. This usually happens to me at some point during a marathon, though it's usually 20 miles in. I just couldn't believe what I was about to do. When you have dreamed of wanting something so bad, for so long, and it's happening, it is very overwhelming. I sooner snapped myself out of it when the trashy Euro music was being played loud and proud for the warm up. It was like the 'Eurovision Song Contest', on tour!! Then before I knew it, the gun was fired, thousands of balloons were released into the air, this was it. So excited. I was ready for this. I wanted to soak up every second of it, every mile!

The course was as flat as they said it would be. I never felt like there was any challenging moments to the race, other than just completing the 26.2 miles. I never doubted for a second that I would finish. The crowds were incredible and so supportive. I loved hearing "Go Kerry!!", "Super Kerry!" Being shouted in a German accent.

The only time I started to struggle was in the last 3 miles. Up until then, my body just felt amazing. I really had to focus hard on imagining that medal in my hand to get me through the final stretch. For as long as I live I will never forget the last 400 yards of the race. Even 6 hours into the race, there were thousands of people stood cheering the finishers. As soon as I was about to run through the Brandenburg Gate, I couldn't hold back the tears. I was so proud. So happy. I held the emotion in until I stepped over the finish line, then I just broke down. I couldn't stop crying. I was so happy. The lady who handed me my medal, grabbed hold of me, and in broken English was trying to ask me why I was crying. I just simply told her I was so happy. She hugged me for about 3 minutes while I sobbed, it was a little bit awkward, but she didn't seem to mind.

So there you have it. Marathon number one completed. The challenge has begun. I have a long road ahead of me. Looking forward to seeing how it pans out.

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The Challenge

Where did this daft idea come from? I ran my first marathon for Sense in April 2013. The Brighton Marathon. My best friend Dan called me out of the blue, to tell me that Sense had places left in the Brighton marathon, and did I want to do it with him. I should mention that I'd not long completed the Dublin Marathon and was giving myself a break. Soon as he asked me, I said yes instantly! So much for a rest! I couldn't say no for 2 reasons.

1. I wanted to run a marathon with my best friend, as it would be his first. 

2. I work in a special needs school in Hackney, and Sense work with our children who have hearing and visual impairment. How could I turn down an offer to help Sense?

So, what my friend Dan needs to realise, is that all of this is his fault! As it turns out, he pulled out of it due to injury, so I had to go it alone!

During the Brighton Marathon, I started struggling from about the 9th mile. My body was not my friend that day. I think it was still recovering from the Dublin Marathon. The only thing that was going to get me through the next 17.2 miles (that is still a loooong way to go!!) was mental strength and that is what I'm best at. I started thinking about the children in my school, and what I could do to raise more money for Sense. What should pop into my head? Not only running ANOTHER marathon but to run one BLINDFOLDED. I couldn't stop thinking about what a great idea it was. Of course, if I was to do it, it would have to be done at the London Marathon. Before I knew it I was at mile 24. I had blocked out the pain and mastered a plan. The first thing I said when I finished was "I'm gonna run a marathon blindfolded!" Obviously I was looked at like I'd lost my marbles.

Sure enough, I got myself a place for the London Marathon through Sense. I'm quite sure the London organisers weren't so keen on me running blindfold, as the message I got back from them was "we don't advise running with a blindfold!" Oh, you don't advise it, but you're not saying I can't do it!? And anyway, I'm sure it's not advisable to run with fridges on your back or run it in stilts but people do these amazing, crazy things.

During my training for the Brighton Marathon, I'd already secured my place in The Berlin Marathon for that year. As it was approaching, I decided to create a longer lasting challenge. I had always wanted to run the Berlin Marathon but wasn't sure where I'd take myself after I had done it. So.... As you'd guessed it, 15 marathons in 15 months was born. Well in actual fact, it started as 10 marathons in 12 months, but it didn't sit right with me. It didn't sound very impressive saying it out loud. Plus the numbers not matching was too much for my OCD! 15 in 15 months sounded more ideal.

My journey is set and I'm ready to raise £5000 for Sense.

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Welcome to my Blog!

Hello and welcome to me and my bonkers challenge that is '15 Marathons in 15 Months'

My name is Kerry and I am from Hackney, in London. Well originally I am from a tiny little place called Loftus, and you're probably asking yourself right now "Where the bloody hell is Loftus?" Well it is a tiny little town in the North east of England, but 15 years in London certifies me as a Londoner now I reckon :) I have a bit of an obsession for all things running related combined with raising money for charity.

Running: I began running 6 years ago. The only reason I started was because a 'Santa's on the Run 5k' in London, were offering a free Santa costume when you signed up! It only dawned on me a few days later that I'd have to now train for a 5k. Oh bloody hell! I knew nothing about running, I mean NOTHING! Yet here I am 5 years later with well over 50 races completed of 10ks, half marathons and marathons. That's right, marathons. Big, fat 26.2 miles of marathons.

Since taking up running, my life has completely turned itself around. Not that there was anything wrong with my life before running it's just made it so much more incredibly awesome!! Let's just get a few things straight. I'm not a professional athlete! I'm not a fast runner. So no world records are gonna be broken by me anytime,ever! What I do have, is the heart of a champion and the determination of a hungry lion taking down a zebra!

Marathons: from doing my first 5k in December 2009, I did my first half marathon, The Great North Run, 9 months later. As soon as I crossed that finish line in South Shields, as much as I was hurting, my instant thought was "I want to run a marathon". Suddenly nothing felt impossible.

There was really only one marathon I had to do. The Virgin London Marathon. As it was September, I'd missed the ballot and the results for the 2011 race were about to be posted out. Also during this time I had just found out that a dear old school friend of mine, Richard Taylor, was fighting leukaemia. So I was as determined than ever so fight for a charity place and run to support him. I got on the phone to 'Children with Cancer', who at the time were called 'Children with Leukaemia' and didn't let them hang up until they offered me one of their charity places. It worked, they offered me one there and then. Like I said, determination of a lion. Sadly, Richard passed away during my training and he never got to see me do this for him. I was now running in his memory. I did just that. I did him proud. Raised a lot of money for charity in his name. He was my strength in finishing that race and my passion for running marathons and raising money for charities was born. When I finish this challenge in December this year, my marathon total will be 20. Not bad for non runner who was only after a Santa costume!!

Blogging: As I have begun this challenge I have had a lot of people ask me to start a blog. I was never really interested in it before as I'm not a creative writer and my spelling is shite. I've mainly been using Instagram as I enjoy blogging through pictures. Though recently, I set up a Facebook page so people could follow my journey there, but people who were not on Facebook (that's right, some people aren't on Facebook) we're suggesting I set this up so they could follow my antics here. So here it is.

Disclaimer: I'm no expert, all I can give you is honest and straight from the heart posts. No bull shit. What I do know about running now, is everyone thinks they know EVERYTHING about running. There is so much contradicting advice out there. Some I take note of most I ignore. I'm not here to say what is right or wrong. I'm just here to offer a bit of inspiration to people out there who want to achieve things but may be a bit scared to do so. I want some one to think " Sod it!, if she can do it so can I"


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