Story
<p>Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.</p>
<p>I will be running in the 2012 London Marathon and raising money for the Stickler Syndrome Support Group. If, like me, you had never heard of Stickler Syndrome visit <a href="http://www.stickler.org.uk">www.stickler.org.uk</a> for more information. I have a very personal reason for wanting to support this charity and will be going all out to beat my fund raising target.</p>
<p>My Granddaughter, Isabella (or Izzy), has been diagnosed with Type 2 Sticklers. She has severe hearing loss and wears hearing aids just like Granddad (well mine aren't pink and sparkly!), and she also suffers from Myopia and wears glasses. Izzy is however a very determined little girl and, despite her difficulties, enjoys life to the full. If I can match her levels of energy, completing the marathon will be no problem.</p>
<p>This will be my third marathon (all London) and I will be aiming to get below 4 hours having just missed out in the previous attempts.</p>
<p>Made a major step forward in my training yesterday (6th Nov). Ran 20k race in 1 hour 35 minutes - a long way to go yet but that makes a 3 hour 30 minute marathon a real possibility!!</p>
<p>Training is going really well - did my first 20 mile run last Sunday (30th Jan) in well under my 3hr target and felt great. Now I need to get the fund raising moving along a bit faster!</p>
<p>After several frustrating weeks of relative inactivity following a torn calf muscle I ran for one hour on the treadmill today (5th March). Leg feels fine so, fingers crossed, it's back to serious training to get some miles back in my legs. Not pinning my hopes on a winners medal anymore, but there's a finisher's medal there with my name on it.</p>
<p>Back to full training at last. 50 miles last week, three more long runs, and then the taper!!</p>
<p>Two 20 mile Sunday runs done now - one more to go (plus the London Marathon of course!</p>
<p>Last long training run on April Fools day, and this idiot didn't drink enough. Made me feel absolutely dreadful, but I learned a salutary lesson which will not be repeated.</p>
<p>Well the training's over - just a couple of gentle jogs left. In 6 days time I'll be lining up with thousands of others and hopefully making the pain of the last 6 months all worthwhile.</p>
<p>Off to London tomorrow (20th April) to register, then a nice relaxing weekend - NOT!! Great news too - I've overtaken my fundraising target, although don't let that put you off making a donation.</p>
<p>All done. Finally did a sub 4 hour marathon (3:53:07), though it certainly wasn't easy. Managed the first half in 3hrs 47mins and all went well until about 19 miles when leg cramps set in. Had a stop/start last 6 miles but finally struggled over the line. My wife Zoe, who has been helping me with fund raising, also completed the course in under 6 hours. Given that she could just run 2 miles last October, this is an amazing achievement.</p>
<p>Our struggles are trivial however compared to those that children like our granddaughter Isabella will have to go through during their lives. We thank everyone sincerely for their support in raising funds for the Stickler Syndrome Support Group. It is our hope that we (with your help) have gone some way to enable SSSG to make the future for these children and their families that much brighter.</p>
<p>THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.</p>
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<p>So please dig deep and donate now.</p>