On a cold damp morning we crossed the East River on the ferry to Staten Island. Just us and 55,000 other runners!

Our moods were swinging between total excitement at the day ahead and complete fear of the unknown. As you know,  we had done all the training and had pounded the streets from Bedford to Milton Keynes and even achieved some impressive distances, but nothing prepares you for the first time.

Jules’s reaction to being in this situation is to be very quiet, just like her charity sky dive a couple of years ago.  Mine is to babble on and on nervously about nothing!

Finally we reached the start line and our first big challenge – the 1.8 mile Verrazano Bridge which joins the island to Brooklyn. Get over this and the crowds would embrace us and carry us  the remaining 24.4 miles we told ourselves. Well,  as it was very wet and windy that was easier said that done. We were also wearing just about everything item of clothing we had in our suitcases as recommended in all of the blogs we had read.

After a couple of minutes running,  you have basically stripped off all the woollen hats, gloves, jogging bottoms and extra layers you are wearing because you warm up so quickly and we added to the mountains of clothing at roadside (we were told on good authority that these are donated to the homeless, so all good)

The bridge was awful. I almost gave up after a mile as it felt like I was running at altitude and looking around at my fellow runners – a lot of them seemed to feel the same way. However, nothing prepares you for the wall of noise which greets you as you come off the bridge and run into Brooklyn. Everyone shouts your name (we had stencilled these on ready for this) and the union jacks on our backs certainly went down well with the New Yorkers.

After that it was a breeze. Every time we felt that we were flagging, we just drew on the support of the crowd and our nutrition and water intake went like a dream. I’m not saying it wasn’t hard, it was in fact very tough, but the love coming from behind the barriers actually made it my most pleasurable run in the whole 16 week programme.

Around mile 20 we hit the dreaded wall that we had been told about, but by digging in and getting to the outskirts of Central Park three miles out we scented the finish line.  Jules posted a brilliant time but I was just happy with finishing. To be honest, I was enjoying myself too much to run too fast, leading singing in the crowd, enjoying the regular bands and even holding up some of the witty banners for selfies! Nothing prepares you for the experience, but the thought that complete strangers have given up their day to cheer on people they have never met was very life affirming.

We were on a high the next day,  walking around Manhattan bumping into our fellow runners all wearing medals. The legs were stiff but the glow of a fantastic achievement would last a very long time.

Postscript: Jules was quoted at the finish line saying “I am in pain, that was so tough, I will never do that again.”

All I can say is watch this space, the bug may have bitten!

If you are training for a marathon and need a specialist running coach, contact Fitbiznow for personal training in Bedfordshire, North Buckinghamshire or Northamptonshire. Just call Jules now for more expert advice and support.

So, we have now reached the half way stage of our marathon training programme with the start line in New York only seven short weeks away! Scary and exhilarating in equal measure.

The half-way point was met full on last week when we participated in the Two Arms on Two Legs half marathon course in Aylesbury. It was a tough course, less because of the 13.1 miles and more because of the tough terrain. Running along canal banks and narrow tracks is very different to the tarmac of New York’s streets, but all practice is good.

The good news is that we didn’t struggle with the distance and the hydration and nutrition seemed pretty much spot on in Jules’s capable hands. (I was allowed a carefully controlled stream of jelly babies on route!)

I was disappointed with my speed but have the time to work on that, now I know the distances don’t intimidate me. Jules is now concentrating on the length of my stride and making sure my heels come up properly so that I avoid the “Martin shuffle”. Well, as she says, if you double the length of your stride then essentially your time on the streets of New York will be halved., It’s a simple but effective mantra that I am trying to drill into my head.

It was also great to have her running next to me to “coax” me on to a better performance for the whole race. On November 5th, I will be alone apart from 2 million fans as I race through 5 boroughs of the Big Apple. I have heard that the roar form the crowd can literally get you round the course. I will be allowing for this extra lift as I am sure every runner is on the day.

Jules has somehow turned me into a potential marathon runner in a matter of weeks and so if you live in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire or Northamptonshire and are considering your own long distance event, (whether it’s running, a triathlon or a tough muddder) give her a call and she’ll transform your form too!

I think it was the very large fish and chips the night before that did it for me!

Run 4/week 6 of the marathon training programme and I am feeling tired and heavy,  half an hour into the two hour run. No wonder – given my bad dinner choice the night before, but I was at the seaside and that’s what you eat, right?

Turn the clock back a week and it had all been going so well. I wouldn’t say that I’m actually enjoying the programme,  but I was finding my stride and it’s amazing what some pretty scenery can do to help the time go by. I have found the best way of doing this is to run in as many different locations in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire as possible. There are beautiful parks and public spaces in all of these and some of the highlights have included Harrold Park, just north of Bedford and Stanwick Lakes near Rushden.

Then midweek and the rains came, followed by hailstones and then the force ten gales and I was beginning to imagine that New York in November could actually be like this. Lucky it’s summer now (ha-ha) but the autumn will be hard.

Another great tip I have discovered is to try to get out early in the morning to complete your run. That way, it’s done and doesn’t hang over you all day. This way I don’t hate Jules quite so much all day,  but as she keeps reminding me – it was my decision to run a marathon!

Earlier on in the programme, we both went to see those fine folk at No Limitz where we had our gait and running technique analysed on video.  I was diagnosed as having overpronation which means that I tend to run with my heels facing in and so the shoes I chose adjust this to make my running style more balanced. All clever stuff and I have definitely seen the benefit over the weeks.

So as we leave week 6 behind, my longest run has been 8 miles. Just 18.2 short of the distance I will need to go in November! Wish me luck!

If you’d like to run a marathon and need extra guidance, why not train with Jules and Fitbiznow? She offers personal training in Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire – call 01234 964047 to book a session.