SMASHED! Marathon after thoughts!

Just to let you all know I SMASHED my time last year in London by 17 minutes! I also SMASHED by PB by 7 minutes! And I have currently SMASHED my target sponsorship (so far) by 64%.

I thoroughly enjoyed the race (yes that was possible!) and so pleased by lots of things. To summarise a few bits;

Highlights - time, sponsorship monies, that I did not walk and that the last 0.2 miles was at 5 minute mile pace.....after running 26 miles!

Most Pain - when I went through a shower during the race and the sweat got in my eyes and I could not see for over 30 seconds (which seemed like eternity)!!!

Fly Man - following a man dressed up as a fly for 10 miles (before I overtook him!) and getting really annoyed as ALL the crowd were shouting FLY MAN, which seemed too much like Simon and therefore I could not here anybody trying to encourage me

Wish I had - given Vicki and Mum a hug on the way around (too worried too stop just incase I could not get going again!)

Will I ever do another marathon.....I guess so!

All the gear....no idea - race day tomorrow!

The finaly funny comment that I have (which I am told is not allowed to envolve another toilet story....which takes out lots and lots of stories!) is probably more for the runners;

I decided to buy myself an expensive Garmin running watch that did everything! So I wore it to to my first race and showed it to me running friends and they had comments like "wow", "look at that", "very impressive" etc etc

So I turned it on and.............the battery bleeped, then it turned itself off (yes I was right it did everything!). I did not realise that you had to charge it before using it!

Anyway, just had enough pasta to feed a family of 8 (and I still feel hungry) and I am shortly going to go to bed for the big day......THANK YOU FOR FOLLOWING ME FOR ALL THESE MONTHS. Hopefully tomorrow goes well

Lost keys in the woods - 2 days before the marathon

Firstly have to say today that my running club was last night announced by Runners World as the UK Best Running Club, so I now run for the Club of the Year!

Anyway other important matters, my 2nd funny story (this is my best so do not expect tomorrows to be better). Well here goes;

- One Thursday morning me and Andy went for a run in the dark
- I was doing a race on the Sunday, so I decided to drive to where I was meeting him to save me running the 3 extra miles
- I left my house key in the car (to save carrying it or losing it) and carried the car key in my hand
- For a change (!) I got "caught short" running and I had to go in some trees for a few moments
- When I came out, luckilyl still dark so nobody saw me, I realised I did not have my car key on me
- So I went back in looking for it, trying to mind where I was standing!
- A few minutes later Andy came back, as he did not want to watch me and we decided I would not be able to find it as it was still dark!
- So we ran off, then I realised I did not have access to a house key
- So then I had to run the extra miles home, then try to wake Vicki up, who turned out to be in the shower.....so I spent 5 minutes at the front door trying to get her to hear me
- She then had to drive me to the car (not happy!) and then as it was now light, I went back to find the other key!
- I walked in to the woods and realised that there was a bus stop opposite the woods (was there anybody there when I visited there 1 hour before I do not know?)
- So I walk in, 5 seconds later bend down, then walk out......they really must have wondered what I was doing!

It still makes me laugh today and Andy does still run with me, however embarrassed he is with me!

Should I shave my legs? - 3 days before the marathon

I was thinking in the shower yesterday of trying to put 3 funny running memories down in the 3 days running (!) up to the marathon. The first is the one that made me laugh a lot.........

I jokingly said to Vicki a couple of weeks ago, whether if I shaved my legs would it make my marathon time quicker and if so, by how much? With her being an ex-swimmer, I thought she would understand it (and she shaves her legs too!).

Then we went out for a curry that evening she told everyone that I was considering doing it. I went red, cringe that Vicki said it and all I wanted to do was curl up and not knowing where to hide as NOBODY believed that I was joking when I mentioned it! And I was.

Cricket Season Starts today - Sat 17 Apr 10

Today is the first game of the cricket season. Bit foggy (is it fog or volcano ash?) this morning but meant to be a nice day, so very much unlike the normal cricket season!

Unfortunately not playing today or tomorrow, to try to minimize chance of injury.

Popped out last night for a couple of pints (of squash!) as Vicki is away.....all the sacrifices I have gone through for this one 26.2 mile race!

Anyway its just after 7am and better get on with studying for some exams I have next week.......I really do hope the next 8 days do work out VERY well for me!

Taper time now - Sun 11 Apr 2010

Now its proper taper time. Gentle 16 miler this morning and now "training" is best part of over.

Now just need to stay fit as in 2 weeks this whole marathon journey will be over.

Over £5k raised now. Will not bring Mo back but it is amazing all the support I have got. Thank you

9.15 am, 21 miles done! Sat 3 Apr 10

Early start but great that the run is out of the way for the weekend by 9.15am....result and highly recommend to "get it out of the way!"

Now lots of time to relax and I hope you all have a good weekend too