So in June of 2011 I entered my name in the draw to get a place in the 2012 Houston Marathon, and I was successful. Basically from late June until d-day I was in training. The training schedule for a marathon is by no surprise double that of the half, some 26 weeks (~6 months). The first 3 months were easy since it was up to half marathon distance, but it did involve commitment. Dorte and I ran three mornings a week and then a long run at the weekend. Even though she was not running the marathon I had managed to talk her into doing the San Antonio half marathon in November with me. We did well at sticking to the training programme I had printed off the internet. Every day I would record how far I had run or if not running then what activity I had done instead (swimming or biking). At the end of the week I would total up total miles run to keep in check with the plan.
I remember my ground breaking moment when I woke early one Saturday to run 16 miles. I jumped out of bed with excitement at the idea of going further than I have ever goon before. I had planned a circular route – so no turning back – along the bayou and then through all the housing areas back home. My little piece of paper with the directions was vital to stop me shortening or, 
Even on holiday I had to continue running. When we were in the Carolinas I had Sam out with me, and then on my business trips to Denmark there was more running to be done.
The weekend before the race Dorte and I drove the course – oh my goodness I am not sure it was a good idea as it made me realise just how far 26.2 miles is. We worked out where Dorte would stand at mile 21 to run me into the finish – since 21 miles was the furthest I had run on my training runs.
On 14th January, the day before my marathon, Stuart and I had been invited to attend the USA Olympic Marathon Trials (the company was sponsoring them). They were also running from the George R Brown Centre in downtown Houston but they had to do a different course to us. It was about an 8 mile circuit so they would run past the spectators a couple of times. Unlike me who wanted just below 4 hours, these guys and girls did it in half the time! The speed of the runners coming past was amazing and watching all the different running styles – some looked very odd. It made me a little nervous as some looked really poorly when they finished – some got stretchered off, one pooped his shorts and a couple threw up! But I guess they were going a little faster than I planned.
Finally 15th January 2012 arrived. I had tried to eat well, drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol to the best of my ability (only the week leading up to the race though!). The morning of the race was a very early start – 4am! Since a number of us in the neighbourhood were running Amy agreed to drive us all (oh I probably forgot to mention because I said I would run it Amy said she would do it for a second year!). Because it was even earlier than my normal runs I couldn’t force myself to eat so I took a banana with me and hoped I would feel like it before we lined up at the start. We all got our weight recorded, so they could check how dehydrated you are at the end or if you collapsed half way through – nice thought!! I lost everyone else as I went to the start area but I was not planning to run with any of them anyway. I had my music to keep me going and I knew Stuart would be on the course at mile 13, 18 and 23 (he didn’t clone himself he moved the car between the different points!). It was a chilly January morning but it promised to heat up soon so getting it finished with as soon as possible was a good idea.
For the first 8 miles, the half and full run together so it is quite busy (22,000 runners), but it wasn’t too bad and I managed to keep a good pace, probably too good in the beginning. I lost one of my water bottles at mile 6, but I still had 3 so I wasn’t going to stop for it. At least it was empty because I thought I could make it around without refilling (unnecessary waste of time!). I saw Stuart at mile 13 and I was right on track for under 4 hours having completed it that part of the race in sub 2 hours. From mile 16 the pain started both mentally and physically. I took a salt sachet to stop cramp and that was horrible and by the time I saw Stuart at mile 18 I was feeling awful. I look like I am smiling in the photos but really I was crying inside. At mile 19 I walked for the first time – I was experiencing ‘hitting the wall’ as they call it. I was feeling even worse and my mind was telling me to stop on one side and carry on on the other. I finally found a water stop because I had finished all my water by then – or so I thought -I failed to notice the full bottle still on my belt!! (not feeling so good as I said). I ran and walked the next wee while and was overjoyed to see Dorte at mile 21 although I just wanted to walk. She got me running again which was horrible (not her, just the fact of getting my legs and feet moving again) and I didn’t talk 
As soon as you finish there are people everywhere someone trying to put a medal over your head, someone giving you a cold towel, others pushing you on to clear the finish area. I stepped on the scales and I had lost a few pounds of water but nothing too serious. I went and got my bag where I had a chocolate milk and drank that in seconds. I then had to go and get my finishers shirt. There was a small line and as I stood there I realised I was going to faint. I bent down in the line and the clever guy behind me said ‘are you stiff?’ I said nothing I just had to concentrate on not fainting. I got my shirt and a glass and stuffed them into my bag. I was so exhausted that all I wanted to do was cry. I made it to where you get food and it was so far to walk. I looked at what they were serving up and thought I was going to vomit. My stomach was not ready for solids. I took a banana, some more chocolate milk and then I saw the HEB yogurt truck. The lady said, in a nice voice, ‘what flavour?’ and I said ‘strawberry’ in a
Dorte and I then waited for Amy to come in who was also having a hard race. When she finally crossed the line we went to see how she was – and she was in tears! Not like I remembered her the year before! It was certainly hard, and so very much harder than all my training runs. The questions is will I do it again? Yes, I think I might because I still need to get below 4 hours!
My final results were:
| Place Overall | 3307/7614 (that finished) |
| Place Gender | 907/2795 |
| Place Division | 177/504 |
| Lastname | |
| State | TX |
| BIB | 11393 |
| Division | 30-34 |
| Age | 33 |
| Finish Net | 04:13:43 |
| Finish Gun | 04:21:41 |
