T2 was a relief. I’d made it round the bike course and now had 8hours to run/walk the marathon. I still wanted to do it as fast as possible and whilst I knew under 13hours would be impossible, inside 14 was definitely realistic. I headed out onto the streets and spotted my family and gave them a cheery wave, setting off for the hill back out to New Hedges. Halfway up the first hill though, I knew something was wrong. I was running at my planned pace, my heart rate was fine, my legs were feeling exactly as I expected but my stomach felt like it was imploding. One step I felt I would throw up, the next like I was going to experience a diarrhea explosion. I couldn’t run without stopping and tensing my stomach muscles intermittently. My rhythm was destroyed and my pace slowed greatly. Descending the hill at a slow jog I saw Gary who had begun the run and was very much looking controlled at his own pace. I was relieved as I felt he would get his medal, which I knew he deserved.