Running Man

In September, we jetted off to Berlin for Chris to run his second marathon. It had been almost 2 years since he ran the London marathon and his legs were itching to get moving again!

Let me set the scene for the big race day. There was light rain with spots of heavy rain and moments of drizzling followed by a period of even more rain. To put is mildly... it was raining!

However, Chris did not let the weather dampen his spirits. He rocked the course and at every meet up point was smiling like only he can! It warmed my heart to see him enjoying himself so much. I ran into a problem with the camera... mainly that I was excited every time I saw him that I forgot to take pictures! So you will have to just enjoy the few I snapped with my phone about 45 minutes after he finished and we were able to track each other down.

London Marathon Pictures

I had planned to be a picture taking fool on Sunday. However, I soon discovered that I needed about 3 more arms to make that happen. I found myself holding my coffee, a sign and the camera... not to mention the back pack on my back. I could have put the coffee down but we all know that would have gotten ugly very quickly! I decided to hold the sign up for the mile 6 meet-up and get pictures at mile 15 and the finish... but we missed each other at mile 15 and the finish was so exciting and crazy that I completely forgot about the camera!!

So with that said, here are the pics I did manage to snap in between coffee drinking, sign holding and the rest of the chaos!

Here is Chris is waiting for the train at about 7 am on the morning of the marathon. Look at that sweet little smile... he clearly has NO idea what he has gotten himself into... We will see if that smile is still there after 26.2 miles!

We first saw this in the official marathon magazine and laughed hysterically! So when I saw it again on the way to the start, I had to take a picture.

It says: Don't Wee in People's Gardens.

How great is that?!?

The Elite Men...

The guy in the yellow "vest" and gray pants placed 1st. The were running a world record pace until about 3/4 of the way through... Had they kept it up they would have finished in under 2 hours! The 3 guys in the black stripes are pacers. The pace was so fast that they had to drop out around Tower Bridge!


Don't look for Chris in this pictures because he isn't in it! This is the 15 mile marker where we were supposed to meet but alas it was not meant to be... Not for lack of trying, I even brought in replacements in the form of Tim to help me look! It is about 12:24 am here and Chris has been running for 2 hours. The weather was brilliant for the spectators but not so much for the runners. Clear skies and in the upper 70's. However, int he direct sun the temperature felt more like mid to high 80's!

How about that.... he is still smiling!

Granted this pictures was taken about 4 hours after he finished running...

However, he is smiling none the less!

He Did It!!!

I am sure no one is surprised that Chris ROCKED the London Marathon! He finished in about 4 hours and 7 minutes!!! He truly amazes me :-)

I met with with our friend, Tim, at Canary Wharf and he headed to mile 15. We held signs, shouted and screamed until we were horse but alas... we missed Chris in the throngs of runners! The tracking website that I was using (and sent to everyone else) was rubbish! Luckily, I was able to get on the official site and track Chris on every 5k... we still had time to get to the finish.

Off we went onto another PACKED train and then to the grand stands... I made it with nearly 20 minutes to spare so I set up shop on a step just behind the barricade. Luckily a lady in front of me moved and I was able to get a true first class view of the finish. When I first caught sight of Chris I nearly jumped out of my skin! I had his finish line sign high about my head and was screaming his name. The finish was not exactly what Chris wanted but regardless... he finished which is an AMAZING achievement all by itself!

Stayed tuned for pictures in the next few days... And as for the rest of today, there will be showers, food and LOTS of resting!

Congrats to Chris!!! I love my hubby!!!!

XOXO

go speed racer

Thought I missed him but then Chris popped out of no where with a kiss! He looked great. He was smiling and still had plenty of energy at mile 6. He was at 6 when the elite men were hitting half way! Heading to 2nd location on a PACKED train!!

Chris told me afterwards that the only reason he saw me was because of the sign!

Go Elite Chicks

The women just passed and Chris hasn't even started! My stomach is a mess and I just want to see him... Wheelchailers are here!

Coffee!!!

I sent Chris off to the red start with tears in my eyes. He amazes me sometimes... Actually most of the time! He is going to kick London Marathons A**!
Now on the subject of my grande skinny latte... Getting to the Starbucks I staked out via google street view was mission nearly impossible. In the end,I bribed the workmen putting up the baricades with cookies and now I have coffee! This morning I made Mike proud!!!