Here it is May. Almost half the year gone and the weather in Chicago still leaves so much to be desired. So cold, raw, rainy, it is really wearing on me. Jetting off to England was a wonderful diversion. The full race recap is coming SOON, but first it’s time for some London Marathon Runfessions.
We’re opening the Runfessional over coffee no less. I’m linking up with Deb and Coco. Let’s get started.
London Marathon Runfessions
Over coffee I runfess I was relieved when the “bottle belt” for the London Marathon never showed up for me to train with. After the crazy rules in Tokyo, all I wanted to do was drink whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. Marathons are hard enough without hydration rules and ecological initiatives. I wore a hydration pack so I’m doing my part!
But wait, there’s more: Just when I thought I was out of the woods with the bottle belt thing, I got another email inviting me to take part in a study while I ran in London. Here’s what they were looking for:
Over coffee I runfess I appreciate the British sense of humor. It is humor, isn’t it?? I mean who in their right mind would jump at the chance to be weighed and have blood drawn TWICE, and run a marathon in between??
Over coffee I runfess that flying 13 hours in first class is worlds easier than sitting in cattle class for the 8 hour flight from London to Chicago, even with an aisle seat.
On the way to London a woman asked if I and the other guy in my row (we had the middle seat gloriously empty) would switch seats with her two daughters so their family could all sort of sit together. When she assured me her daughter also had an aisle seat, I obliged. When I found my new seat with a very large guy planted in the middle seat, I was pretty ticked and considered demanding my original seat back, but how can you? So I sucked it up. Then, by the grace of God, right before takeoff, large guy got up and went somewhere never to return so I had the entire row to myself. How lucky was that?
For the life of me I can’t get this pic to turn but you get the idea
Over coffee I runfess the potty lines were so long in the start area in London I had to give up and head to my corral with a full bladder. That is until I saw this sign. I had to investigate. There were literally hundreds of urinals with only two other women utilizing the facility. Let’s just say I’m a female urinal virgin no longer.
I am not much of a fan of race pictures but since this was the very last of the World Marathon Majors, AND I was traveling completely alone, I figured I’d take advantage of the discounted photo option from MarathonFoto ahead of time for 50£. I runfess disappointed does not begin to cover the way I felt when I got the pics for download. There is not one single pic of me crossing the finish line. None. Not one in the homestretch with the palace in the background. Not one in front of Tower Bridge or any of the iconic landmarks. Seriously the best pic I have is one I asked a woman to take after the finish. In all my years of running, I don’t think I’ve ever been missed at the finish. I distinctly remember the finish being uncrowded when I came in as well. What the effing effer happened??
What have you to runfess? Would you complain about the race photos? Ever partake of a urinal of the female persuasion? Did you enter my giveaway?
What is a female urinal, a trough you squat over?
Glad you ended up with space to yourself on the flight. I’ve only upgraded myself once — SF to NYC to burn some miles, and I could get used to it
I think the London hydration thing that made the rounds the most here was the seaweed cups. No thanks!
Boo re: finish photos. Hopefully you find yourself in the untagged ones?
Well, you certainly scored on the flight by having the entire row to yourself (despite the stress of having large guy with you for a few moments). On my flight to DC last month, I was in the middle seat (with ZERO leg room…as is usually the case for me anyways)…and of the three seats in front of us, which passenger – do you suppose – had to recline his seat? Can’t make that flight crap up LOL Seriously, Marcia, huge congrats on that 6th World Major victory!! You are my hero!!!
What the heck is a female urinal??? Did you check back for the pics, I know they were uploading them in batches. Ugh, though. I didn’t take any pics during the race unfortunately but now I want to comb through all the ones my friends took to see if you were in the background! I’m so sorry that happened, how crap. Maybe they’ll appear. Oh – is there a search function in the race photos? I’ve found extra ones of myself (and my friend Louise found pics of me while searching for herself) so that might be an option, if you search for that white hat.
I would definitely complain about the photos and see if they’ll give you a refund. Now I’ll never pre-order! You really did luck out on that airline seat! Can’t wait for your full recap.
I have no photos of me crossing the finish line of Chicago ever. MarathonFoto is terrible. I did buy the package though because, marathon. I usually wait until the pictures come out and then buy what I want.
Do you think that woman actually lied about the seat? That’s terrible! Glad you had a good outcome anyway. See, good karma!
i’m intrigued by the female urinal…but I don’t think I ever want to try it, lol.
That’s such a bummer about the race photos! That actually happened to me in Chicago as well. I actually had ZERO race photos…ZERO!! Like how does that happen? It was fine because the race was a disaster so I didn’t really want photos from that day anyway lol.
Getting the whole row to yourself sounds pretty lucky. LOL And wow, I didn’t realize that we are almost half way through the year.
OK that is just plain nutty on the blood sample thing! Weird! I never like any of my run photos they are always so unattractive. You may have to do your own photo shoot w all of your medals! I saw some weird post about water capsules in sea weed pods at the marathon did you see those?? thanks for linking up
Well, since I was just a pincushion on Monday and one arm is STILL a little sore from the IV placed in the ambulance . . . um, no thank you. I didn’t even know stuff like that was a thing. Just like female urinals. Well, I’m glad you didn’t have to start with a full bladder, at least!
That is too bad about the photographers. I suppose that’s one of the good things about being more BOTP (assuming the photographers stay around, which I wonder about since that link I posted on FB).
I’ve flown to HI & Europe several times, always in coach. I have flown first class in the US a few times (long ago), when it was actually nicer than it is now — but yeah, if you can afford it, that’s the way to go!
Congrats on your London Marathon finish and your World Majors completed! What an amazing accomplishment! I must confess, I am a female urinal virgin too, but at the Chicago marathon, years ago a friend and I were in the same situation. We had to pee, but definitely did not have time to wait in the porta potty line. We found a semi-circle of bushes and squatted. Other women came in and joined us. There were over a dozen there by the time I left. What an embarrassing runfession!!!
OK – please explain the female urinals – are they in an open area like the men’s are?
That stinks about your race photos – I can’t believe they didn’t capture you at the finish. Marathon Foto really is the worse. I don’t understand why races keep using them.
Can’t wait to read your recap!
ok is it weird that I would have participated in that study? 😀
I heard a lot about the female urinals 😀 so I’m curious what you have to say further about them!
super sucks about the photos – definitely check back though!! because I know that I’ve gotten way more photos 2 weeks after the fact than right after the race.
looking forward to your recap!
The thought of those female urinals was just too much for me. Bummer about the race photos. I’d be crunchy about it too. Again, a huge congratulations on your Six Stars finish! I am so happy for you!
Indeed I am a fun of the race photos. They are beautiful memories.
I don’t like to change my seat in the flight. Usually we pay an extra for it so, if I choose a place, I want to keep it.
Potty lines are always a problem …. but I am a man and for me it is easier.
I did not know that female urinals are a thing, lol! I probably would have been too scared to try it, unless I really had to go and had no choice, haha!
I’m sorry you didn’t get better race photos :(. But at least you have the memories of all the sights around you. I can’t wait to hear your recap!
Having a whole row to yourself on the plane is the besttttt! I’ve only had it happen twice in my life, but both times have been glorious, haha.
Boo on the race photos though! Are there more that are still being uploaded?
Yay for a row to yourself! And boo for not getting good pictures.
You need to tell us more about the female urinal…
I can’t believe they didn’t get a picture of you crossing the finish line! I would be so disappointed too!
At first, big congratulation to you! You are looking great with the medals. But sorry to hear that about the photos. What is the secret of female urinal? I am eagerly waiting to know more. After all, very cool sharing! ♥
so disappointing about those pics!!
I have never flown anything but coach…
In France, the urinals were out in public view… Not a chance for women to use them.