Jill Turner ran her first marathon last weekend in London. Enjoy a wee insight into her experience.
What was the weather like on the day?
The weather was absolutely roasting!!!!! It was 22 degrees but sure felt well over 26, a couple of days before the marathon we got a email to say the weather is expected to be warm and the night before we got an email explaining to adapt your run to the weather conditions, PB’s are not recommended and it was to be scorching and it sure was!! Training in Scotland and in no more than 10 degree heat to have this weather on race day was a surprise
How was the course?
The course was a lot better than it was described I was dreading the part of the course where we doubled back on ourselves and down Embankment as heard it is monotonous but ended up being one of my fave parts I started at Greenwich and for the first 3 miles was all down hill we then joined the blue wave at mile 3 and from then the course was flat with slight gradient up hills when coming up from the underpasses but overall very flat and scenic!!!! The whole run I spent in complete awe at all the different landmarks and sights
How were the crowds?
ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!!!!!!! People say London is known for the crowds but I did not expect the wall of sound we received for every single mile!!!!!! Not one part of the course was empty or had no one shouting your name or giving out sweets, I had goosebumps with the sheer noise coming from every street, my ears were ringing and honestly made me forget I was actually running haha because the crowd just carried you along the whole course
Bling? Was the medal/t-shirt worth it?
1000000%!!!!!!!!! At the expo on Saturday I picked up the finishers t-shirt, I was like “I don’t like the fact we get it before the actual finish line” I put it straight in my bag and didn’t touch it until Sunday after the run. Other competitors were wearing it at the expo, getting photos with it on and even wearing it Saturday night at dinner but no no no I couldn’t even take mine out the wrapper because it wasn’t “my finishers top” until I crossed the line
When I seen the medal at the finish line I burst into tears (and never took it off until I got to airport security on way home). It is huge and the fact it is gold felt like I had just achieved an Olympic medal. A lot of people at the end of the run who have ran before said this medal is the best one yet and honestly I’d agree. On Monday in central London all finishers were wearing the finishers top and medal walking around and it was honestly incredible just walking about with the sun shining off the gold medal and smiling and congratulating each person that walked past!!
How was your training block?
I absolutely loved the training, this was my first marathon block and first of many, 16 weeks of hard work training in winter sub zero conditions, 90 mph winds to running distances I had never once believe I’d ever achieve. I was very fortunate to be training for a marathon along side fellow GGH runners Eilidh Black and Lauren Boyce, to have the support, cries of how are we are going to do the long runs and company when we could between shifts and plans was amazing. My training block was consistent and was very fortunate to not pick up any injuries along the way although maraonia is definitely a thing, kicked in 2 weeks before when I went to the physio with a sore leg (from a previous injury) to be told Jill your fine your just looking for an injury at this stage.
How did your race go?
I didn’t have a time in mind, I wasn’t going out for a time, London marathon was my debut and wanted to soak in the atmosphere, the experience and just love every single mile of it and that is what I did!!!! The Sunday morning I was SO nervous at the start line waiting to enter my wave, I have never felt nerves like it honestly was like “Can I run?” “Am I fit enough?” but the minute I crossed the start line and started running I knew this is what I’ve been training for and to just enjoy it, no pressure just soak it all up!! I was very fortunate that my best friend Eilidh had also got a place. We were in different waves, although worked it out to meet each other at mile 3. How often are you able to run your first marathon with your best friend. I got to the meet point first, paused my Strava and waited 4 minutes for her to catch up and we ran the remaining 24 miles together For me the mentally toughest part was Greenwich. I had in my head before I started I wasn’t going to enjoy the slog to Cutty Sark as this part is so out of the city and not much to see. This is when the heat was getting warmer and you starting doubting “Am I able to run this?” But when we arrived at Cutty Sark the buzz and the first milestone it was all excitement from then, our families came down to watch us on Sunday but we had no clue where they were going to be We heard our names from mile 1 to mile 26 but when we seen Shazza B’s iconic GGH sign and the loudest scream of our names we we were surprised by our families at 15k Everyone says about Tower Bridge and honestly running down this road to turn a sharp right and it hit you on the face this was my first cry of the course. The roar over Tower Bridge was a feeling like no other, I was overwhelmed and it was over so quickly. I was at the half way point and feeling good, in all honestly the first half absolutely flew in to settle into the run, calming the nerves and getting used to the loud crowd, but my goodness Canary Wharf and Isle of Dogs didn’t disappoint This was the bit we seen runners double back on other side of road, the roads were absolutely packed!!!!! There were showers every mile because of the heat and was needed to run through the fireman hoses for a cool down This was good to reset and focus when cooling down. Doris Heron’s friend who lives in London designed a GGH sign for us and was speechless when we saw it and someone had went to the effort to make it for us and was a lovely pick me up after the underpass turning back towards Canary Wharf. The Lucozade points were a game changer, and with a wee bit of sugar on we went to embankment!!!!! This was honestly INSANE!!!!! This part always stood out to me watching on the TV along the river Thames and to be running it my cheeks were hurting from the smile on my face!!! This was around mile 23/24 and all the way to mile 26 absolutely flew in, running into the Mall I said to Ginge “I don’t want it to finish.” Who even says that at the end of a marathon!! London is definitely not a place to hammer out a good time, it is absolutely packed and a lot of people walking which means you have to weave in and out, it’s dangerous at parts were it’s just crowds of people walking and can’t get passed but honestly loved every single mile of the run
What was your favourite part of the weekend?
I couldn’t even begin to rank what was my favourite part, the whole weekend was!!!! From the experience of going to the expo to pick up your number, to meeting truly wonderful people at the start and throughout the run to the finish line at the mall all crying together of sheer achievement and being part of it honestly everything was just everything I imagined and more, we were very fortunate to see our families three times in total throughout the run, the feeling of seeing them and giving them a hug was absolutely incredible!!
Official time 4.54.52
I can’t thank GGH enough for the absolute honour to of been given the opportunity to represent the club with the club place. The people who were there when I got the place after the Willow Bowl knew how much this meant to me when I started crying when my name was selected but to have been given the opportunity to focus and train for 16 weeks with all your support, tips and mottos was truly an absolute honour and really hope who gets the 2026 place has the experience I had because nothing will ever beat it!!!!!
Now what’s next? Whats the next major I can sign up too