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I have added new photos of marathon day . Click on "photos" to view.
In September 2009, our dear friend Richard Wootton died suddenly aged 60yrs. I felt that I would like to do something worthwhile in Richards memory. After discussion with his widow Liz, it was decided that I would run the London Marathon in April 2010, raising funds for DERBYSHIRE,LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND AIR AMBULANCE. A cause close to both their hearts.
The DLRAA is a registered charity that operates in the East Midlands attending casualties and providing assistance over an area of 2100square miles, and covers a population of more than 1.4 million people.
The helicopter carries a crew of a pilot, doctor and paramedics all dedicated to fast reactive treatment in emergency situations, especially in areas inaccessible by land ambulances. The service is provided 7 days a week , with no goverment funding, only existing through charitable donations.
It costs £1.5 million per year to operate, approx £4000 per day. To find more information about DLRAA visit their website at : www.dlraa.co.uk
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 - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
So please dig deep and donate now.
This will be my first ever, and only, marathon and I am doing this for Richard. Thank you in anticipation of your generous donation.
Mary
My Blog
7th Feb 2010
The training is going well so far, but I really need to increase my miles. To that end,I thought I would enter The Ropsley Raid, a 13mile course(challenge) to help build up my stamina. Having ran , not very far, through fields of mud with what felt like paddles on my feet I began to doubt my sanity at ever deciding to do the marathon in the first place. On the plus side, I ran with 2 other people who were very supportive, and 3 mud covered hours later I made it back to the finish. What a feeling to have got round! Next week I intend to increase the miles to 15! watch this space. That's if I ever return!16th Feb 2010
I have returned from my intended 15 miler this weekend, but was loosing the will to live by mile 9. There is a good reason for this( well it sounded good at the time). During Feb half term we always go to Robin Hood's Bay for a few days, and if you know the area, you will appreciate the everywhere is vertical!!
I think we started badly, in the SLEET! got soaked within 30secs of leaving the house. My support team consisting of "Ruby" the dog and Lesley my cycling support, coach and morale booster, just could not keep me going through slimy- very slippy mud- and I gave up at mile 9. However I do think that running constantly uphill (they do say that what goes up must come down, but I don't believe that in RHB) will help with stamina and this week I have mapped a 15mile course on roads (no mud) and relatively flat, so here we go again!
22nd Feb 2010
YESSSSS. 15 MILES. Done. Thankfully Saturday was the day chosen, beautiful, bright, relatively warm and little wind. Perfect.
Now I just have to get out more, short runs, long runs, effort runs, but now that particular hurdle is over I feel mentally ready for the next stage. At the beginning of March the club I run with (NOTFAST) have invited someone to discuss nutrition and hydration, all very technical, but I am sure it will be worth it.
This weeks challenge is to fit in 3 shorter runs and Sunday is a half marathon. Pray for decent weather.
28th Feb 2010
I have achieved all that I set out to do this week and more! Three shorter runs through the week and a BOOT CAMP on Saturday, was I really ready for another Half marathon.
Well, it didn't start out to well, very little sleep the night before and awful weather predicted. However having got to the venue the wind and rain were not so bad and apart from the bone chilling cold, I felt upbeat. Lincolnshire, in case you didn't know, IS hilly and about 10% of the course was -my favorite- mud, but I just kept plodding on. At mile 5 I met up with one of the runners from the Ropsley challenge of a few weeks ago, and time just whizzed by. Her name is Shonna and she will be running in the Edinburgh marathon with her brother as I will be doing in May with my brother. All in all a good chance meeting and again her chat and support was invaluable. Who says that long distance running is lonely!
Shonna has rechristened me Mary Doll and I quite like that. I might have that printed on my marathon vest.
Anyway back to the running. I did achieve the distance improving on my time by a couple of minutes, but the last mile was a bit of a slog.
Next week is another half marathon-Grantham-hilly, I'm told. Well whats new?
7th March 2010
Another good week of training culminating in the Grantham Half Marathon. I feel very pleased with myself. I took a whopping 10mins off my time of last week. No slacking at the end just gritty determination. I think this weeks motivation was all the support at the end when I came into the stadium to complete the last lap. People shouting out your name and words of encouragement really does get you round-Well, you can't let folks down, can you?
Since I last wrote the Lucazade Sports Representative has visited the running club and discussed nutrition and hydration. That has probably helped in some way, obviously for the good.
No organised runs have been penciled in for next week but Saturday is the day earmarked for my longest run so far, 18 miles, only another 8 to go!
15th March
Well, Saturday arrived, and so did my running partner for this mega 18miles. We both completed it, but by mile 16, I was practically crawling and if my life depended on it I could not have gone another yard. Those in the know call this month "Monster Month" because of all the accumulated miles - we are only half way through and I am desperate for the long runs to end and marathon day to arrive! Must have it bad.
This week I intend to run only short distances ( to help with recovery ) and on Sunday I will run the Lincoln 10K. I know that the distance is short, but I have done this race for the past few years now and feel it may be bad luck to miss it out.
After the Lincoln 10k there are 2 more long runs of 20 miles each, penciled in, but no more races 'til THE BIG DAY.
As I was running on Saturday I was trying to think of some amusing comment to write in the blog, but it wasn't amusing, just a slog! So better mental preparation next time.
23rd March
Not a bad training week. The weather was a great help and the fact that I was keeping the miles short helped mentally.
I did the Lincoln 10k on Sunday (perfect running day ) and, although slightly disappointed with my time, it was still my best 10k run to date. This week is the big 20 miles (the first of 2 ). I have just mapped out the route and will be running it tomorrow. Plenty of pasta for dinner and an early night I think. I really haven't thought about what happens for the rest of the week but I expect it will be short runs only 'till the following week and the final long run before the day itself! I'll speak again next week and let you know the outcome of tomorrow's run.
3rd April
Hi everyone, been a bit quiet recently. I have picked up a virus that has meant I have not been able to train as much as I had hoped. I did complete the first of the 20mile routes in a fairly good time, but I was completely drained at the end. I did another two shorter runs after that, but was feeling ropey, so the 2nd 20miler became 10.5 miles and total exhaustion.
I am taking the advice of those that know about these things and resting to get over the virus before I do any more.
The positive is that I still have 3 weeks before London, so I should be fit, and with all the training that I have put in hopefully that won't be lost and I will still make a reasonable attempt on the 25th
While I have been at home I have been looking at the fundraising effort, and the online donations have been fantastic. Thank you. But I got to looking at the other forms of sponsorship and counted that up, and as you can see, we are over the £2000 mark. I am staggered by everyone's generosity. I won't let you down on the day. Thank you.
I'll be back online when I am back to the training regime.
16th April
Back to training again. Last night was my first run outside since I aquired this virus, and it felt really good to be running again. Obviously I have missed the final 20mile run that I hoped to do and now there is not the time to fit it in before next week but I hope that I have done enough. I feel well rested and up for the challenge.
On Sunday I will run for a couple of hours in the morning and that will be the last push before the big day. I'll just do a couple of short bursts and eat lots of pasta before I head down to London on Friday!
Today I picked up the running vest that I was having printed for the marathon. I'm really pleased with it. It has my name on the front(so people can cheer me on!) and Richard's name and why I'm running on the back. No turning back now, I'm all set!!
21st April
Just returned from London having registered at the "Marathon Expo". I now have my timing chip and running number "in the flesh" as it were, and the final instructions for getting to the start, journey times, water stations etc etc.
London seemed to be full of very fit people all eating pasta, so Charles and I did the same!! I do hope that some of their confidence rubs off on me on Sunday. I'm feeling very nervous, but all my training is now under my belt and I am as ready as I am ever going to be. Last night the local paper came to the running club in Newark to photograph all the club members who are running the marathon (there are 6 of us), so that is about all the excitement for this week. I'll probably have a few words before I catch the train on Friday, but until then I think I should be quiet in a darkened room somewhere!
24th April 11.45
I am in London now at my sister's house. The day is very warm and obviously not ideal for a long run and this is making me very nervous. Yesterday before I left home the atmosphere felt like Christmas Eve! great excitement, people calling in to wish me luck and the 'phone ringing constantly.The thing about Christmas Eve is that however well prepared you are for it, it may not all go according to plan! Fingers crossed. I have been in touch with some of the other people that I know are running and we are all here, in London, trying to keep calm. Today Helen(my sister) and I are going into central London to have a look at the final preparations on the course and to choose a spot to met up at the end, then, you've guessed it, a pasta meal, back to Helen's and early bed. My day starts at 6am-carb loading and many trips to the loo!!.
If you have been following my blog, keep reading next week. I will post my official time and how the fund raising effort has gone and if you are very lucky!! A photograph.
26th April 22.50
Thought I would change the colour to signify the end. I have so much to tell you but please forgive me if you have to wait another couple of days so that I can get my thoughts together and try and paint a proper picture for you. For now I just want to tell you that I achieved my goal. I ran the course in 5hrs 29mins and 17secs(a personal best for me!). I ran the entire way , no walking and no stopping. My support team were FANTASTIC, but more on that next time, and to everyone of you that have sent your good wishes and finacial support, many many thanks. The final blog will, hopefully, contain some photograghs.
1st May (last entry)
It's 6 days since the marathon and at last I have come back down to earth. The high has been amazing, just thinking about the run makes me feel all good inside again.
The day itself-weather wise- was kind. Started wet but became warm and humid with little sun and a gentle cooling breeze. The organisation in all respects was brilliant and this extended to the water and fueling stations around the course, they even had sprinkler showers around the course that were very much apprieciated.
As for the spectators-well- people who have ran the course before said the atmosphere was trememdous, but to experience that yourself is incredibly emotional. As you are running round all of a sudden you are confronted by a wall of sound and it feels like everyone is shouting just for you-remarkable. Running along the Embankment towards Westminster, spectators were 10-12 people deep, that increased as you got closer to Buckingham Palace and The Mall, and the noise was even louder. Anyone that looked as if they were stuggling were cheered on and names were being roared out to keep you going those last few hundred meters-Amazing.
My own supporters had a marathon day themselves getting from one veiw point to another, but they did so well that I managed to see them at all the places that I could remember they said they would be. A great achievement when you consider all the people flooding the streets. We met, as arranged, just around Admiralty Arch/ Trafalger Square. I felt so emotional I just cried for at least 5mins. WOW!! What a feeling. The end.
I know that I should not single out people especially, but I feel I must say thank you to one or two, who have helped me over the last few months and without their help this achievement would not be possible.
Notfast Running Club-for giving me the opportunity to run the marathon after I was unsuccessful in the ballott
Colin and Marian Green-Loads of good advice re training and nutrition.
Suzanne Birkett-My training partner. Keeping each other going through all those miles.
Helen, Richard ,Victoria and Alistair Exworthy-for putting me up over the weekend and being there.
Janet and Steve Webb- An oasis at the end of the day on Sunday
Liz and Helen-for being there and supporting me over the months
Lesley, David,India and Jacob Pearson-Motovation, lots of organisation, and the loudest voices (not forgetting Ruby the dog who helped with training sessions early on!)
Alan and Lizzie-you have been great, just remember every day can be a challenge, so embrace it!!
Finally
Charles-for making this happen. You know what you did. All the miles cycled all the encouragement(nagging) when I didn't want to do it. Rubbing the sore bits! You're a star, love you.
I think thats enough for now. Except to say that with your great generosity I know that we have raised £4000!!!! for the Air Ambulance. Money is still coming in so that total may go higher. Thank you on behalf of the Air Ambulance.
I have been asked would I ever do the marathon again, my answer was NEVER AGAIN,....... But Watch this space!
