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Gaynor knocks seven minutes off her time
Thursday May 15th 2008. Posted: 09:30
It was definitely to be her last marathon. That’s what Gaynor Hulland had decided.
But when the BT broadband assurance diagnostics team leader put on the running shoes and felt the wind in her face, that vow fell by the wayside. Gaynor said she was “euphoric” to finish the London Marathon with a personal best time of three hours and 39 minutes - a full seven minutes faster than her 2003 time. “I was the 753rd woman to cross the line, 47th in my age group - over 50 - and 6,358 overall. “I did say this was my very last marathon, however I have gained automatic entry for next year because I gained a “Good for my age” place. I needed to run in under four hours to gain a place and I was well under that, so maybe I will take part next year.” Gaynor’s training got off to a good start. She stopped drinking alcohol in January and lost two stone in weight. She followed a tough schedule to the letter and had superb training with her running mates. “They would meet me for long runs on what was always a cold wet Saturday morning at 7.30am and then we would run mile after mile. I am so grateful for all their support and encouragement. “I love running but when the mileage suddenly creeps up from 10 to 22 it is hard to run on your own but my mates would run in turn with me. My running club mates are the best in the world,” Gaynor said. On the day of the marathon, the weather was dry and cold at the start and the miles just flew by. “But at 12 miles the rain and hail came down in torrents and it was cold and wet and my feet were soaking. “Two weeks previously, I had an infected blister on the side of my foot and ended up in hospital on an antibiotic intravenous drip. My foot had swollen and thoughts of running London were disappearing quickly, but ever the fighter and not a quitter I rested and took antibiotics and covered my blister with a blister plaster and gradually it healed . . . sort of.” But failure is never an option for Gaynor who thought she would run it anyway. The rain didn’t help and her feet were throbbing. The blister was aching so she had to walk for a few minutes. She comments wryly: “When I look at my times now if I hadn't walked I could have had a sub 3.30 but well you never know!” Gaynor said she is pleased to have finished in an “amazing” time and says she is not being “big-headed”. “Age is no barrier and at 51 I just get better and better. I know that sounds so smug but hey right at this moment I feel pretty smug. “So last marathon . . . we shall see.”
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Last updated:
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