Lets go see the #AbingdonMarathon.....

 Hi guys, welcome back to the Blog! 

This week I am sharing with you my adventure to go see the Abingdon Marathon, but first a little back story. 

On the 17th March 2022, I made the decision to sign up for the marathon, I had big races coming up any way, and Its a race i want to tick off my bucket list, so i committed myself to the idea, knew i had plenty of time to train and booked my space. Fast forward to the weeks after Seriously brutal and It came quickly apparent that the sporadic (but better than before) training toward to marathon and the higher level of fatigue from brutal than i was expecting, I wasn't going to get enough done to be ready for race day, so with a heavy heart I made the decision to park the race, take my training back to basics and look at it for 2023.

So roll around to today where i didn't race but I did go and get footage so off i set on my new adventure and chance to face a new fear! Riding in the rain. 

Okay so the rain itself isn't a problem, and I am very slowly gaining more confidence in riding, but combining the two is a huge fear, completely irrational but a fear none the less, so i decided today is the day to face it, grab on my kit, pick my route and after getting some tips from Chris I headed off on my first rainy ride! 

Ill be honest it wasn't as bad as i thought it was going to be, I took it slow, went easy round the corners and generally didn't do anything stupid, It was sketchy on the leaves and the puddles made me nervous because we have so many potholes it was now a game of where are they hiding?!?. 

I made it up to Tilsley park safely and I caught the marathon racers all lined up and ready to go! The heavens opened and it was a soggy start to a long race, although a fast and flat one which Abingdon is pegged as. Runners off I tentatively made my way (walking) down to the entrance of the park before crossing the road and taking a cycle route through the estate to get me to the main road to head back into town. 

Next challenge getting onto the road, because the marathon goes round the top of town the main roundabout was closed off so the cars where queued  up meaning i couldn't actually see, so off i hop walk along the path to a place i can see then eventually get myself back on the road, I navigated puddles, drains, and even overtaking a large bin lorry, something I've never done before, then followed along the route round where I caught the runners again before going through the park to catch them in town just before mile five. 

After this point I was mostly walking due to the adjust traffic, areas for runners and twisty paths to navigate, so I cut my losses, headed home parked up Elsa and changed into something suitable to walk down to meet Chris. 

I hiked my way to where Chris was supporting at an aid station, passing runners and generally spent most the time cheering them on, I spotted a friend who i didn't realise was doing it, and eventually made my way to Chris where I spent time recording, helping out a little and enjoying the now dry weather. Compared to the morning the weather was better. After this i headed home to wrap up my adventure. 

All in all it was great seeing the runners and being able to cheer them on, the great thing about the Abingdon marathon is that it isn't on fully closed roads so you can walk the route and cheer people on it means you don't have to wait and certain spots, I'm both nervous and excited to do it next year, next year will be my 3 attempt at getting to the start line! 

With that I'm going to wrap up the Vlog, next week will be a little later (probably the Monday after) as the adventure is working out to pretty much be a whole weekend long! 

Thanks for reading, 

Scribble back. 

From 

Jessie 

xxx