Completed in 3 hours 54 minutes
At last, after seven applications, (and six rejections) a place in this year’s London marathon. That meant the start of serious training if the run was not to be a shameful shamble.
Everything seemed to start well in the November but disaster struck early on. I made the huge mistake of trying a different pair of running shoes. It wouldn’t seem that important but a twinge of pain started in one calf. The next time out a severe pain started and I had to walk home after only 8 miles. Rested the leg for a few days and all seemed fine but after only 2 miles the muscles in my right calf tore quite badly. It was if somebody had stuck a red hot poker into the back of the leg, I actually screamed in pain.
After all the problems in getting a place it looked as if injury would steal away the opportunity. Fortunately I was able to get some physiotherapy, rested for 3 weeks and very carefully started to run again. Of course by this time all the fitness had disappeared and it took another 2 months of increasing effort to get back to running 20 miles in a session.
Then at the beginning of March the left calf muscle tore for no obvious reason. This time it didn’t seem to be in quite as critical an area but it will mean no more running for another week at least. The fates are not smiling on this one.
The hotel is booked, the sponsorship forms are printed, I will do the marathon even if I have to crawl.
As it turned out there was no need to crawl. After a 2 week break was able to start running again but had to be careful. It meant that the longest pre-marathon run was only 18 miles, and nowhere near enough training.
Rather than staying in a hotel, managed to find a room in a house belonging to a priest living near Marleybone station. This was really fortunate as he was a marathon runner and triathlete. He promised me a special breakfast to get me ready for the run.
Went to the Excel centre in Docklands to register, a tale in itself and spent the rest of the Saturday in a meeting looking at ways of raising the profile of childhood diabetes in the UK. Managed to get to sleep in good time and woke bright and early to get a truly astonishing pre-marathon breakfast of frozen banana, yoghurt, oatmeal, honey and other ingredients, liquidised to a thick drink. It was very good.
Then off to the marathon itself. A warm, (too) sunny day with an amazing buzz in the air. There was nothing more to do in preparation and I was determined to enjoy the experience. Indeed for the first 20 miles I was wearing a big grin, enjoying the experience but then the lack of training began to tell and reached a point when my brain refused to let me continue to run, even though my legs felt good. So it was slow to a walk for 1/2 a mile then run, walk, run until the last 2 miles when I was able to run the rest of the way and completed the marathon in 3 hours and 54 minutes.
The support of the crowd was just wonderful. People were shouting encouragement all the way especially the last few miles. A couple of times people shouted to me “Come on Sir, you can do it”. What did I look like to warrant sir? The demeanour of a head teacher perhaps, or was it just the grey hair.
Managed to get back to the house in time to catch a train home. Such a good time that applied again as soon as the ballot opened, lets see if it takes another 6 attempts.