Vital Statistics

So today with great excitement we set off for race inspection Day. We were actually at the Great Wall of China after all the lists, planning, blogging and dreaming....

The race organisers had arranged for us to walk the 3.5 kms on the wall. This was to familiarise us with the steps, the inclines and general conditions and help us to decide if we have in fact chosen the right course. Did any of us want to upgrade from the half marathon to the full marathon seeing we were here? Haha good one.

We had a fantastic experience joining in with the other race groups from all over the globe in Ying and Yang square.

After our race briefing and the critical instructions for the half marathoners ( follow the red arrow) full marathoners follow the black - we set off.

We can only tell you all that we were blessed with the most picture perfect weather and it was a special global village moment as we all strolled the steps, taking endless photos, selfies and chatting to everyone.

There were so many languages, t shirts and laughter and shock as we all realised what we have signed up to do.

Here are some interesting stats about the big day as at today:

2515 participants

802 full marathon runners

1192 half marathoners

519 fun run participants

from 50+ countries

we will drink 15,000 bottles of water

this is the 15th year

the race is run by the Danes and started in the first year with 300 Danish runners

one man is lining up for his 15th successive Beijing marathon 

the post run baguette was 30+ centimetres long

Things that we actually heard being said today:

My best marathon time is 3 hours 45 minutes (by ultra fit Italian girl....)

Look that girl is wearing Jimmy Choos out here - and they have BLING

After you kid (said to one of us en route - happy FGM!)

I don't run the NYC marathon. I like to do my marathons away from home

'Sore feet', even very sore ones, will not count as a medical condition 

Yay there's the blue tents we are nearly there. Wrong we still had over a kilometre to go

I'm just so pleased with myself

I've been training in the snow - where are you from?

Normally if I do a sub 2 hours 30 I'm happy, but these stairs might slow me up a little

You'd think they would have a hand rail here on this bit

Nice one princess (said to an even happier FGM)

So we started the day excited, fit and healthy. Now we have sore calves, wobbly legs from the downwards steps and hopefully no tummy bugs seeing they had lettuce on the baguettes at lunch. Liz reckons they would have washed the lettuce in bottled water... the rest of us are wondering how she knew.

Too late to change to the 8kms fun run now........

Today's establishment photo - definitely not 4 star rated