update
The race started at 10.15, weather beautiful, a crisp autumn day with a clearing sky. After initial nerves due to the magnitude of the task and trying to judge how fast I should be starting off, I settled into a comfortable pace and found I was actually enjoying the experience. The Wiltshire countrside rolled by and first 13 miles were consumed in 1hr 54 min. Wow I thought this is going great.......at about 16 miles the autumn sun was now feeling more like high summer and my legs now had a slight 'weight' not felt before. Onwards was the mantra. The second part of the Marathon is hillier than the first....and at about 17 miles they loomed large. Legs becoming heavier as the hills took their toll, my pace was now flagging and I knew at 20 miles that a time under 4 hrs was now unattainable. Many around me were suffering too, but on we went with the mile markers counting down. With 4 miles to go the terrain was undulating, short punishing uphill sections, a respite of flat then the glorious relief of downhill. My legs, now, like lead weights, were not responding well, just three miles to go...I needed to find a positive thought to hang on to, this was getting way tougher than I'd imagined, all those training runs didn't seem to prepare me for this last push. That's it I thought, just imagine your setting out on an easy three mile training run. This strategy worked on and off till the 1 mile marker hove into view. Now I didn't feel like I was running...more a plodding sensation. So that's how I negotiated my last marathon mile, plodding and grimacing. Rounding the last corner to the finish, a great sight, Sally, Charlie and Nell, along with Sally's brother and his girlfriend, cheering me on. Sprint they shouted, I looked up to see the finishing line clock...Ok I give it a go, my legs responded to their cheers and I crossed the finish line at a canter....
My time: 4hrs 09mins 58 sec
So that's it, the race has now been run, and I like to say a huge thank you to all those who've supported me over the last few months, the encouraging texts, emails and of course your sponsorship (Still not to late to donate)
In memory of my Uncle Bob who died earlier this year, I have decided to run the Clarendon marathon on October 4th to raise money for the hospice that cared for him in his final weeks. Most hospices receive very little money from government and rely on donations to provide outstanding palliative care and support for the families.
I'm sure Bob, who was not frightened of a challenge himself, would approve of my choice of the Clarendon Marathon as my fund raising vehicle. This is a hilly cross-country course, starting at Salisbury and ending in Winchester, so I've been out training hard. Lucky for you I've not uploaded a picture of my now mangled and blistered feet.....
Any sponsorship would be most appreciated, so thanks in advance.
Yours apprehensively!
Guy
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