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!

Too much booze makes for bad marathon preparation

Shock news... being hung over seriously affects your running performance. I know most of you reading this will be slapping your foreheads shouting 'duh' but being a novice runner I have only just recently experienced the true horror of running 9 miles the morning after the night before... I have to tell you it wasn't a pretty sight!

After a months sobriety in January things slightly went to pot during a recent weeks break in Guernsey. My goal of a sub 4 hour marathon time might just have suffered a mini set back. Back on the soft drinks for the next few weeks!!

Guernsey Mud n' Fun 2010

Just returned from a weeks break in Guernsey. Whilst there we took part in the Mud n' Fun run - a 4 mile assault course around rural Guernsey. Typical obstacles included running along douits, through waist high (in places head high) swampy bogs, scaling cargo nets over high stone brick castle walls, crawling under an electric fence, and swimming through skips of ice cold water. Just your average cross country run then!!

470 slightly crazy participants lined up for this cult event. I doubt you'd find a comparable race anywhere in Great Britain. Money was raised for a local charity Wigwam in order to provide a playground for disabled children.

Will ensure I am in Guernsey for the next Mud n' Fun in 2011.

The Great North Run 2009

Just completed my first half marathon at the Great North Run this weekend - what a buzz!

The spectators were great, lining the road almost from start to finish. The weather was glorious - have come back from Newcastle with a suntan - wouldn't have thought that was possible!

Next stop the London Marathon...(if my knees can take it!)

The spirit's willing but the flesh is - well - still a bit too fleshy...!

Endurance Sporting Events

Recently spent an exhausting 24 hrs at the Devizes to Westminster canoe race and I was only in the support crew!! Congratulations must go out to one of the Lazyshark founders Mike and his kayak partner James who completed the gruelling 125 mile non stop event in 25 hrs and 7 mins and this with only 4 months of paddling experience. Well done guys.

This got me thinking about other endurance events and in particular those in Australia and New Zealand. The Antipodeans definately have a penchant for hosting and competing in these kind of events. There are any number of ultra marathon, iron man and long distance cycling events you can undertake... A couple of sites worth visiting for any of you hard core competitors out there include Cool Running and Endurance Sport.

I think the challenge of competing in the Great North Run is more than enough for me at present...!