London Marathon Memories

Morning all,

Happy Sunday to you all.

Eight years ago I was given the fantastic opportunity of taking part in the Flora London Marathon, an event that I love to watch either on TV or on the streets of London. It's one of those occasions that raises the spirits and fills me with renewed enthusiasm to do good and have fun.

My flirtation with 'running'....and I use that word loosely as 'lumbering' may be a better description of my movements to me honest...started when I watched David Bedford taking part in televised long distance runs when I was young and I remember being mesmerised by Brendan Foster when he got a bronze medal for the 10,000 metre race in an Olympic Games. In fact, so smitten was I with Mr. Foster that I wrote to him and I was thrilled when I received a signed photo of him by return. I still have that photo somewhere.

Many of you will have heard of the annual Race For Life events that take place as a fundraising scheme for cancer charities and it was signing up for one of the early local races that really got me going. Although the race was 'only' 5k/3 miles, it was enough to get me training regularly and to feel motivated by the challenge. I recall that during my training for that event I suffered my first bout of shin splints...a condition that I had never heard of but which I now know a lot about!

Entering the Race For Life has now become a regular thing for me. I love the sense of camaraderie around the day and I am passionate about raising funds for cancer research despite the negative things that are often written about such charities. When cancer has touched your life you feel that you would do anything to prevent another person going through any of the heartache that is involved. I don't think I finish the event any quicker these days than I did when I first took part in a 5k but it's all about the taking part for me.

However, back to the London Marathon. I remember going to London in 1982 to watch my first marathon 'live'. It was so exciting and I loved everything about the day and I made myself a promise that, if I ever got the chance, I would take part in it. One for the bucket list.
That chance came when I decided to fund-raise for the school that one of 'my boys' went to...in fact, he still goes there! Having tried all of the usual ways to get a place in the race and being unsuccessful I contacted the school to see if they could help me in my quest. They had some places available but I had to guarantee to raise several thousand pounds and I knew that would be impossible for me. I was disappointed but realistic and thought that maybe I'd apply again the following year. Imagine my surprise when, a week or so later, the school rang me and said that they could offer me a place if I could guarantee to raise £500!! I knew that target was doable and I accepted their offer immediately. I was euphoric.
The reality of the situation became obvious once I got my training schedule and my new trainers. This was going to be a tough challenge but I was ready to take it on.
I was in my mid 40's then and had only trotted the odd 5 km. 26.2 miles was a whole different ball game but I stuck to my training schedule rigidly until I had to run 13 miles and that's when the shin problems started. Despite resting, icing, painkillers and so forth, the damage was done and 13 miles was the furthest I was able to run in my training sessions.

Fast forward to the big day and the prospect of running 26 miles when the most I had ever done was 13 was daunting. There was little sleep the night before despite being put up in a posh hotel in the city for the night ahead of the race. I was prepared re kit, race numbers, and so on but I was terrified of letting myself and all of my family and friends down, not to mention the children at the school that I was running for.
Adrenaline can be a wonderful thing and it's exactly that and my sheer bloody-minded Taurean stubbornness that got me through the day. It was as thrilling and exciting as I had imagined it would be to stand at the start line of The London Marathon and I will never forget the experience. It didn't matter that the weather was bad, it only mattered that I was there and achieving one of my ambitions in life.
At various points of the route family members would pop up unexpectedly and cheer me on. It was such a thrill to see them. I remember seeing my sister at about 19 miles when I didn't think i could make it to the finish line. She gave me a hug and told me that I'd be fine and I was rejuvenated. My kids had made banners for me which were fantastic and,despite everything, I did make it to the end and I did get my finishers medal. My time wasn't great but that didn't matter, I had made it and I had raised over £1000 in the process.
I will never be able to put into words my feelings after the race. Delirium, exhaustion, elation, confusion, euphoria.....all I know is that it was one of the best days of my life and I'll never forget it.

So, today when the runners are lining up for the race to start, I'll be with them all in my heart. They will hear the 'Chariots of Fire' theme tune as they embark on their challenge of competing in one of the best sporting events in the world. I will be envious, especially as I doubt that I will ever take part again myself but you never know. Never say never!!

Have a great day everyone.

Much love

xxxx