THANK YOU ALL! WE DOUBLED OUR INITIAL TARGET - THANKS FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT!!
We did it! And we ran all the way!! OK, maybe the last stretch up Buchanan Street was like the Chariots of Fire in incredibly slow motion, but I still managed 35 mins on the clock while Charlie (the only one who'd done any actual training) came in ahead of the mammies and the three-wheeler prams at a respectable 28 mins.
There's a batch of picturess that I took of the run which you can see by clicking on 'Photos' just to the left of here. There's one vid - more can be accessed here:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=info&ref=mf&id=100000170027039#/profile.php?v=wall&ref=mf&id=100000170027039
When I say "we" did it, I should clarify: 2 of us did it. The bhoy Collie went to see Depeche Mode last night, got blootered and called off at 8.32am. I understand it is the only way to get through a Depeche Mode concert but please generate much abuse in his general direction.
This was the biggest Santa Dash yet - more than 3,500 eejits of all shapes, sizes and genders turned up in a very misty George Square. Running up the hill along St Vincent Street had me breathing out of various orifices and not just the obvious one but the view ahead and behind was amazing - a blizzard of red and white as far as either eye could see. Greggs shops (at least four were open en route) taunted me along the way but I did not falter - other than the first few minutes while holding the Santa Suit troosers up with one hand before realising they had a drawstring to keep them on tight. Unfortunately I'd already torn the arse out of them when I bent down to tie my trainers earlier but, as many of you have witnessed, that's not an uncommon scenario. There were people cheering and car drivers tooting all along the route and some amazing Santas on show, including a few inflatable Santa Suits. (At least I hope they were inflatable - they all overtook me at some point)
Heading down to the Squinty Bridge beset by fog was another impressive sight. Charlie had already started to forge ahead on a solo mission which was good (as his patter's usually gash after the first 15 minutes). I started to struggle around the 4k mark - got the first sign of a stitch while passing through the Heilanman's Umbrella at Central Station, right in front of the The Blue Lagoon chip shop. Oh the irony! The last stretch, from Buchanan Street to the end of George Square, was real heart attack material. It felt like the world - or at least Susan Boyle - was on my shoulders. But the finishing line was crossed and I was given a banana. Then an apple. Then it was a bottle of water, a packet of M&Ms, a macaroni pie, a packet of paprika McCoys and a trip to KFC for a bucket of chicken. . . so all was good an hour or so later. Two hours after the race finished Charlie got a call from his Mum saying she'd seen him on the STV news - hi-fiving Hoopy the Huddle Hound and Broxy Bear at the finishing line. (I didn't even have the breath left in me to dig up Broxy Bear about his institution's dire financial situation, so you know how bad I must have been)
Over £400 has been raised from you all so far - likely to creep up to nearer £500 as more have pledged donations - and over £150 has been raised via Gift Aid. Fantastic! This money goes to the Marina Dalglish and Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice cancer charities. It was great fun for us taking part but truly heartening that you all supported us so tremendously.
Many, many thanks. Paul & Charlie (and wee Davie, when he gets out of bed)
