Four days after the London marathon and I’ve just recovered. Contrary to my original belief, the day that I was dreading was one of the best days of my life….. the crowds made the atmosphere amazing, having my name shouted out constantly in those last few grueling miles helped me to continue on and not to stop once.
I know I moaned about the endless training but it was all worthwhile on the day. Some of the people running in fancy dress costumes were amazing, we passed several rhinos running for Save the Rhinos, Mona in her picture frame and I was even jostled by a man, well presumably a man (as he was inside the costume) running for Prostate Cancer dressed as a pair of testicles, so name but a few!
The organization couldn’t be faulted, it was slick and clear, from going to the Excel the day before to pick up our numbers and chips the queues were minimal to clearing the finish line and collecting our kit bags.
Sense my charity have also been great both during the training period, sending me weekly training plans and updates and information and responding quickly to any queries. They even provided us with a post race reception and shuttle runners at the finish line to escort us weary runners to the reception and carry our bags. Once in there runners were provided with a lovely hot meal and could meet up in comfort with our friends and family who were also fed and watered free!
I can’t believe I’ve finally done it. Thank you to Lisa for that subtle nagging over the weeks / months and to Kate for asking me what I’d feel like when Lisa crossed the finish line and then I’d be the only one of our group of friends not to have run the London marathon, or any marathon for that matter! Also to my patient Pat who at 79 has run over 100 marathons, the most recent one being last year, and when I was debating whether or not to enter, his answer was just to say, “Stop twittering and just get on with it!” So thank you to all I’m glad you pushed me into it!!
I also need to say a BIG thank you to many of you who have supported me in so many ways. To those of you who have been buying my jams, chutneys cakes biscuits etc, and those of you who have helped me to make the produce, and to Bett, Claire and Billy for helping me sell the produce. Also to Caroline who gave me her old text books to sell and put the money towards my target, and to the many of you who have sponsored me. I never thought I’d raise anywhere near £1,500, let alone £3,000! I’ve now just got my final event. So thank you you’ve all been very generous and very patient with me! I must also say a final thank you to my hubby Bob, who has suffered me moaning and also put up with my frequent absences while I trained, mind some would say it was a blessing!
I only have one regret… that I didn’t quite beat my husband’s time. He ran the London marathon in 1986 and came in at 4.25.06. Much as I’m very proud to have come in at the time that I did (4.25.35) and alongside and hand in hand with my running buddy Lisa, who I couldn’t have completed the training or the marathon without, I would love to have beaten his time, not that I’m competitive you understand, but in those last few miles I just plain forgot about trying to beat his time! However when you consider an age gap of 20 years, and double the number of runners, of which it felt like we passed a good few of, once those handicaps have been taken into consideration I think we win! However hubby thinks I’ll be wanting to take up the challenge to make sure I thrash his time…… watch this space, I haven’t decided yet!
I know I moaned about the endless training but it was all worthwhile on the day. Some of the people running in fancy dress costumes were amazing, we passed several rhinos running for Save the Rhinos, Mona in her picture frame and I was even jostled by a man, well presumably a man (as he was inside the costume) running for Prostate Cancer dressed as a pair of testicles, so name but a few!
The organization couldn’t be faulted, it was slick and clear, from going to the Excel the day before to pick up our numbers and chips the queues were minimal to clearing the finish line and collecting our kit bags.
Sense my charity have also been great both during the training period, sending me weekly training plans and updates and information and responding quickly to any queries. They even provided us with a post race reception and shuttle runners at the finish line to escort us weary runners to the reception and carry our bags. Once in there runners were provided with a lovely hot meal and could meet up in comfort with our friends and family who were also fed and watered free!
I can’t believe I’ve finally done it. Thank you to Lisa for that subtle nagging over the weeks / months and to Kate for asking me what I’d feel like when Lisa crossed the finish line and then I’d be the only one of our group of friends not to have run the London marathon, or any marathon for that matter! Also to my patient Pat who at 79 has run over 100 marathons, the most recent one being last year, and when I was debating whether or not to enter, his answer was just to say, “Stop twittering and just get on with it!” So thank you to all I’m glad you pushed me into it!!
I also need to say a BIG thank you to many of you who have supported me in so many ways. To those of you who have been buying my jams, chutneys cakes biscuits etc, and those of you who have helped me to make the produce, and to Bett, Claire and Billy for helping me sell the produce. Also to Caroline who gave me her old text books to sell and put the money towards my target, and to the many of you who have sponsored me. I never thought I’d raise anywhere near £1,500, let alone £3,000! I’ve now just got my final event. So thank you you’ve all been very generous and very patient with me! I must also say a final thank you to my hubby Bob, who has suffered me moaning and also put up with my frequent absences while I trained, mind some would say it was a blessing!
I only have one regret… that I didn’t quite beat my husband’s time. He ran the London marathon in 1986 and came in at 4.25.06. Much as I’m very proud to have come in at the time that I did (4.25.35) and alongside and hand in hand with my running buddy Lisa, who I couldn’t have completed the training or the marathon without, I would love to have beaten his time, not that I’m competitive you understand, but in those last few miles I just plain forgot about trying to beat his time! However when you consider an age gap of 20 years, and double the number of runners, of which it felt like we passed a good few of, once those handicaps have been taken into consideration I think we win! However hubby thinks I’ll be wanting to take up the challenge to make sure I thrash his time…… watch this space, I haven’t decided yet!
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