The Virgin London Marathon

This year’s marathon was different for me. In previous years it was something I watched on TV in bed with a cup of tea to ease into a lazy Sunday morning. Last year I broke from tradition and went along with my girlfriend to offer some much needed moral support for a friend who was running. As we watched the thousands of runners streaming by with a beer in one hand and a burger in the other I had a crazy thought – why not enter for the Virgin 2010 London Marathon? Just over 1 year later I can proudly say I was one of the 36,000 slightly sadistic runners who lined up to cover the 26.2 mile course around London. 4hrs and 20mins later I had achieved what was once a distant dream and joined that elite club of people who have successfully completed a marathon.

What an amazing experience. The first 13 miles flew by. The crowd seemed to be constantly shouting out my name (printed on my vest!) and I must have given hundreds of young kids standing on the roadside with their hands out high fives…

I was buzzing. I was going well up until mile 22 and on course to go sub 4hrs (my target) Unfortunately at this point the wheels fell off and I had to get some treatment from St Johns Ambulance for my legs which at that stage felt more like blocks of lead…

After a few miles of intermittently running and walking I saw some friends along the embankment who gave me a hug and a pep talk at which point I found a new lease of life and was able to run the last 2 and ½ miles in. A final shout of encouragement from my brother at Westminster Bridge and the right hand turn onto Birdcage Walk and I had the sudden realisation that I was going to make it (something that I had doubts about 5 miles previously)

It was a strange mix of euphoria and pain running the last 800 metres. The crowds were electric not only here but all around the course and I can safely say that without the constant shouts of encouragement I would never have made it. Like many of the other 36,000 runners I was running for a charity (for the Elimination of Leukaemia Fund, in memory of my grandpa who died of leukaemia) and it is this central cause that generates a sense of amazing camaraderie that unites all the runners.

Will I be entering London 2011? No
Will this be my one and only marathon? I doubt it…

In fact only yesterday I entered the Bristol half marathon in September. It is official…I have caught the running bug!

Travel Insurance small print

I am sure that I am not the only one who has been caught out by not reading the small print contained within an insurance policy. You take the time and spend the money to get covered but sometimes the policy you think is providing you with the security and comfort of full protection is not. Why not? Because like 99% of all people you do not read the pages and pages of small print that follow a policy document.

I recently returned from a weeks skiing in Switzerland. Whilst over there I was told a true story of how one unfortunate holiday maker fell victim to the insurance small print. Every skier or snow boarder’s worse nightmare is to wipe out at the top of a mountain badly enough to require air helicopter evacuation off the summit and then be transported on to the nearest hospital equipped to deal with your injuries. Worse still is to find that the insurance policy you thought covered your medical bill actually doesn’t and subsequently to be told by the insurance company that you have to foot the bill out of your own pocket.

The sad reality is that if you are planning to do any kind of extreme sport whether it is bungy jumping, scuba diving, white water rafting or skiing then a standard travel insurance policy will exclude cover from doing these activities. Make sure you get them added on. It might add a few more pounds to your insurance cost but this is preferable to the thousands it could cost you if an accident were to befall you.

Queenstown

If you are an adrenalin junkie by day and a party animal by night then Queenstown is the place for you!

So what to see? Depending on your budget here are some Lazyshark suggestions on how to spend your time and NZ dollars whilst you're there:

Money to burn?

1. Do a Bungy - Spiritual home of bungy jumping you can still bungy off the Kawarau bridge where it all first started back in 1988. However at 43 metres this is now viewed as small bungy...! So for you braver souls try out the Nevis Highwire, the highest bungy in Australasia with 8.5 seconds of fall time!

2. Skydiving - At certain times of the day, when weather conditions are clear, if you look up to the skies there is a procession of skydivers circling their way down from above.

3. The "Triple Challenge" - Combine a helicopter flight with jet boating and white water rafting for an all in one action packed day.

On a shoestring budget?

1. The Skyline Gondola - Venture up the gondola for a spectacular view over Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu and the peaks of the "Remarkables". While you are up there you should definately have a go on the 800 metre luge tracks.

2. Go fishing at Lake Wakatipu - Rainbow trout, brown trout and quinnat salmon can be caught all year round.

3. Admire the views - Climb Queenstown Hill or Ben Lomond for great vistas over Queenstown and the surrounding area. The national parks of Fiordland and Mount Aspiring are also both close for casual walkers or serious hikers alike.