April 27th
Wow! It is over! It was an absolutely brilliant day and I scraped round in just under 6 hours. I spent most of the day in close proximity to 2 rhino's and a man carrying a fridge - it was very humbling. I was a little worried going into the day as training had somewhat tailed off, what with a work-filled Easter holiday, and it was going to be a very hot and sunny day - a challenge for my delicate, pasty English complexion. So I was so pleased when it started raining about 8.30 in the morning - I think the rhino's were pleased to see the rainy-season as well. I kind of conked-out at the end. The last six miles were a big struggle, but I was very glad to get over the line. A big thanks to all who have contributed and for making a difference.
End of Feb:
This month hasn't been so good on the training front. I overdid it on the running and have had pain in both knees (I can hear various people tutting and shaking their heads with an infuriating ‘I told you so’ air…). And I have suffered with a miserable cough – which my inspirational, (if occasionally sadistic) rowing coach at the gym says could be ‘rower’s lung’ after he made us do a particularly vicious 2000m race in half term. I am determined not to give up, though. I stopped running for 3-4 weeks and concentrated on the rowing and the yoga to continue shedding the weight without straining the knees. Rowing coach put me in touch with brilliant sports rehab chap (I think this is always a busy time of year for him), he is doing wonderful things with my knees. Feeling slightly anxious that time is ticking on and that I really ought to be getting back to the pavements, and also concentrating more on the fundraising which I haven’t put too much time into so far…Oh, and I don’t think I said that we’re buying and selling houses at the moment. ‘The Wall’ is not looking quite so much of a romantic challenge all of a sudden….
End of Jan:
Training is going well – I’ve had to undertake quite a fitness regime to lose the excess kilos that I don’t want to be taking around with me on April 25. When I have told people that I’m doing the marathon they look down at my girth somewhat involuntarily and follow it with an incredulous “really?”. As well as doing the usual pavement work, I’ve also been down at the gym enjoying rowing classes to build fitness whilst saving the knees, and have recently joined a yoga group, which I read is also good for marathon runners. Feeling slightly awkward as the only man in a class of women trying to escape their husbands and children for an hour and a quarter, especially as I seem to fall over much more often than they do!
Mid Jan: I decided to do apply to CHC to run the marathon for them shortly before the beginning of the spring term in January. I was flicking through one of their magaziness that had arrived in my pigeon hole, and saw that they needed another runner. As the girls at Notre Dame had chosen the Centre as their nominated charity this year, I felt a serendipitous call from the page. I have always wanted to run a marathon but have shied away from it because of horrors stories to knees and not being able to walk for weeks afterwards etc. A couple of years ago I used to run, nay, enjoy running 8-10 milers regularly. But a cancelled gym membership and many trays of biscuits in the ND staff-room later, I also wasn’t in the perfect physical shape, let’s say. So there was a part of me which admitted it was a ridiculous idea. Still, I am attracted by the romantic ideal of doing the marathon, like swimming the channel, doing battle with ‘The Wall’ at 16 miles or whenever it kicks in. I worry that I have been watching too many Top Gear repeats, and am overly influenced by the bull-ish optimism of Clarkeson and co. when they undertake their ridiculous challenges...
