That sounds like one hell of a journey you have been on and conquered - respect and well done. Take a bow.
Some classic lines in there: "Crucially, she didn’t say I couldn’t do it, so I had the all-clear" and "After cleaning myself up, I pushed hard again."
Great writing - even better running!
Amazing achivement. Just proves to me that when i say I don't want to do this race I am right....
Well done you.