It was a BIG goal.

A BIG HAIRY GOAL!

And they did it  😛

They ran a marathon.

26 miles of gruelling physical, mental and emotional effort.

For the very first time on 12^th April 2015 in Brighton.

In Kristen’s own words:

It was effectively a sofa start with my first 5km race 10 weeks after deciding it (the monster marathon) was possible, now there are 10km and 20km to look forward to and there is no second-guessing the ability to accomplish and finish the race.

The marathon is still a bit of a monster under the bed, but come 12th April 2015, I will stare it down and chase it all the way to the finish line where it will know it’s been BEATEN! 🙂

I still can’t believe they did it! And I saw them crossing the finishing line!

We first saw them about 5 miles into the run, then at about 7 miles and again around 14 miles.

Both completed within 7 hours. Kris was determined:

I just want to finish it. Within 7 hours. That’s my goal.

And she did!

Around mile 18 she got a cramp in her leg, slowed to a walk and walked it out for several miles. From around 22 miles the mental struggle became much tougher.

But she was not giving up. She was going to finish it. Afterwards, she admitted she bullied herself into finishing.

I was NOT going to come this far and give up!

On the day I stood there and caught sight of them running towards us, oblivious that we were there on the corner, watching and cheering. I was getting quite tearful at the thought of what my ‘little girl’ was up to. There was hardly space in my chest for my heart and the lump in my throat. I was so proud of the two of them.

They both finished. Not together, because when Kris got cramp, she told Emily to go ahead and maintain her pace. It was anxious times when Emily came into view without Kristen at around mile 20 until we heard what was going on.

Every runner has a story. One even stopped to propose to his girlfriend!

And now she’s gone and done it again! Entered for next year’s Brighton Marathon!

No stopping that girl now!