Andy's Great London Marathon Endeavor

 

I am running the London Marathon. I decided to apply for the London marathon for 2 reasons...

1) I thought it might be fun.

2) (and most importantly) I didnt think Id get in.

 

I have since learnt that:

1) It may well not be fun. It is fun watching it on tv, eating a big sandwich, listening to Terry Wogan commentating on how much fun everyone is having, what a fun atmosphere we are all enjoying, perhaps pointing out the fun competitor wearing the big fuzzy bear costume. Look beyond the big fuzzy bear costume. You will find a grim faced individual struggling with pain and exhaustion, slightly sick, 13 miles to go, only going to feel more sick still, amazed at how much more painful pain is than that which he imagines it to be whilst not in pain, now bemused and ashamed by his initial trimphant reaction to receiving the 'you're in' confirmation letter, knowing that if it weren't for compulsion, social pressure and the personal humiliation of failure he'd head home immediately and take a very long bath. Perhaps he peers down through the cramped sweaty slits of his big hairy bear head towards the tangled tussle of busy feet below, perhaps he wonders about a fall... the big fun fuzzy bear trampled, unable to continue.. assigned to an ambulance to escape the scene of so much fun, assigned to spend the rest of the day so tragically confined to a completely un-character-building soft comfortable hospital bed. A fallen hero! Terry Wogan will see it that way, surely! But no, he continues, he's put so much training in, remember, so many hours of preparatory pain and boredom, in order to equip himself adequately to endure successfully the ultimate test in pain and boredom, that it would be silly to give in now, afterall, its only a few hours of hell; tomorrow he has no such plans, as those he assigned for himself today. He finishes the race, his mates at the pub hail him a hero, his mother smothers him with pride, cancer research has progressed immeasurably, he's been on tv with Terry Wogan, and in hindsight (contemplating afterwards in the bath, no longer in pain) it was all great fun, just as he knew it would be.

2) I am in!! :-D  Its going to be brilliant!!!!!! (there will be no bear costume)

 

It is customary with these things to raise some money. I am raising money for MAG (Mines Advisory Group), clearly a very worthwhile cause. Land mines are in all likelihood the worst things in the world. Remnants of disagreements between parties since dispersed for causes since forgotten, the rest of the world moved on to neglect or dismiss what has been left behind, mines discriminate; most at risk are of course innocents, the poor, children looking to explore their surroundings. MAG not only remove land mines, they also educate, warn, and do loads of other good stuff.

 

In their own words:

 

MAG is a humanitarian organisation clearing the remnants of conflict for the benefit of communities worldwide. MAG is co-laureate of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize.

 

See their website www.maginternational.org to find out more.

 

 

Justgiving.com blurb...

 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - Andy raises more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity. So please dig deep and donate now.