Guess What?

I only went and did it!

Hurrah! Faced with the prospect of hanging around for 6 hours whilst my friends all ran a marathon in the sunshine I investigated how I would get back to the start line when I had run as far as a could.

When I found out that I could stop at a water station, and there were water stations every 3miles along the course I decided that I could toddle off to the start, - be part of the race and get a 3 or 6 mile run in - since it was beautiful sunny weather.

I reached the water station at 3miles, then 6miles, then 9miles, then at 10miles I figured I would probably make a half marathon and was pleased with that. At 13.1miles I figured I could probably do another 3miles and after making it that far I realised that if I could get to the 20mile mark I could make it to the finish line.

It wasn't pain free, but as long as I took it gingerly down the hills my hip and leg seemed to be happy to just keep running. I didn't dare take a step of a walk in case I didn't get running again though. The final stretch was a great big uphill (which was a relief as the downhill sections were so much more uncomfortable and risky for me) then a long downhill to the finish. So close and yet moving quite slow at this point and my leg became harder and harder to bear weight on. I'd already been running for 4 and half hours at this point and this finish line just wouldn't arrive.

I hobbled down the hill and finished looking like a limpy thing rather than an athlete but I had finished!!! I had made my target of running a marathon 6months post FAI op. I was thrilled and I couldn't believe it. In a time of 4.49 which I was pleased with at the end of the day.

My final thoughts is that it is indeed possible to run a marathon 6months after my hip arthroscopy but I wouldn't recommend it :) A year after would be a much more sensible amount of time. Half marathon distances were no problem however!

My hip muscles and joint are pretty sore now and its going to take a few weeks of TLC to get them healed and healthy. I'm thrilled with the achievement of running the race and keen now to do lots of biking and leave out the impact for a month!!