Wowzers ... What a year!!
Before 2012 is replaced by 2013 I wanted to take a moment to look back ... reminisce a little and thank everyone who has made this year so amazing.
After doing 1,000 miles in 2011 I honestly thought that I would relish a break in 2012 ... Who was I kidding?!!?! With 10 events booked in and the added pressure of attempting to hit 2012 self propelled miles in 2012, it was going to be anything but a quiet year.
January and February were event free so by March I was ready for my first medal at Bath Half!!
It was a great event that allowed me to catch up with old friends ... And to meet some lovely new ones too!!
Next up was Brighton marathon ... Having never done it before I was intrigued and nervous but I needn't have been as it was brilliant!!! In fact, it was so good ... I have chosen it as my 'One Marathon' for the 2013 challenge! It was great to have more 2012 support from Ollie and Anthea too!!
The Virgin London Marathon was up next ... just 1 week after
Brighton!!! However, middle Wednesday had me quite literally stuck on
Mr Osteo's treatment table ... unable to move!!! Needles were pushed
into my butt, ridiculously strong painkillers were
prescribed and miraculously (I still don't know how) I managed to get
myself to the start line!! Massive thanks to Jules & Andy (off of
the Diddys) and David (off of http://www.mersearoadclinic.co.uk/) for everything you did!!!
May now and so for the big one ... the never been done before 52.4 miles of back to back MoonWalking!! It was Ultra-Moon time!!!! Watching the video of this reminds me of just how brutal it was but I can honestly say I only have happy and positive memories from this event. I can't even begin to thank everyone who supported and helped to make this possible but deep down ... you know who you are. From the WtW team who let me do it to the amazing friends and family who were there to see me across the line ... I could not have done it without you. Would I do it again? Yep ... Absolutely!!!!
With that out of the way it was time to see if I could remember how to run so it was back to London for the Bupa 10,000. I love this event but I was a little unprepared for just how hot it was going to be ... Hopefully it will be a little cooler in 2013!!
It's now June and Edinburgh is calling. I rather naively thought this one might feel a little easier after the Ultra ... how wrong I was!! The rain hammered down ... the temperatures dropped and that was before we had even started!! MoonWalk Edinburgh always feels special ... catching up with so many great friends before, during and after the event is truly wonderful and makes me realise just how lucky I am.
The next experience can't really be described as an event as such but can be described as totally life changing!!! On July 6th, it was my turn to carry the Olympic Torch. This has to be one of the most surreal moments EVER and the fact that it is leaning against the wall in my dining room still seems weird!! It was very humbling to have been part of something so huge and sharing the moment with my family and my little Praying Mantis was incredible!!!
August ... Canterbury Half!!! The less said about this one the better!!! Don't get me wrong ... it was a stunningly beautiful course but OMG ... the hills were unbelievable!!! To this day I don't know how I refrained from shoving the camera of the photographer, who was sat half way up one telling me to smile, down his throat!!
Come September though I would have gladly run those hills again
instead of doing the London Triathlon in quite possibly the worst
weather conditions ... EVER!!! High winds, driving rain and crashes
everywhere made this an incredibly tough event and there were times when
I thought I may be facing my first ever DNF but the support of
Christina and Bev (aka Caz) was incredible and helped me more than I
think either of them will every know. I will be back to do this event
... knowing it can't be any worse than it was this year is weirdly
reassuring!
And so back to the running ... 16 non stop miles in the Kingston
Challenge. I had never run this distance without stopping and so I was
putting my self under huge pressure to get to the end without having to
walk. I almost lost a hamstring or two along the way but I managed it
and was thrilled!!! So thrilled in fact that it didn't even bother me
this year that it was all for a china mug!!!! 
And so to the final event of the year ... the ***** that is Beachy Head Marathon!!! By now my hamstrings and pelvis had all but given up on me and I was physically and emotionally exhausted before I even began. There was a time pressure on this one though as the lovely Heidi was waiting for us in Southampton!!! The song '4 Seasons in one Day' sprang to mind throughout the day as we experienced rain, wind, sleet, snow and sun and despite sitting down on one of the 7 sisters whilst refusing to go any further ... I did get to the finish line and more importantly to Heidi's party!!!
And there you go ... 2012 - DONE!!!! I honestly thought that this year would be it for me for a while ... Seems quite the opposite though. Seems this year is serving as a nice little warm up for 2013 but more about that in the next blog!
To name names of those who have helped and supported would be impossible and I fear I would forget someone important so I am not going to do it. What I will do is thank each and every one of you who has been there for part of or all of quite an incredible year and I hope I can continue to count on your support in 2013.
A very Ultra-Crazy happy new year to you ... keep being brilliant ... you're all fab!!!
