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Dear Kind Sponsors,
 
I will be sending you all an individual thank you note, but I just wanted to say now how grateful I am. Below is a report of the day's events, from my perspective and in gruesome detail, in case you are interested. (But if not, let me just say - thank you!)

If you didn't sponsor me and want to, you still can!
 
The blue start on Blackheath was rather like a rock festival, people lying around in strange and scanty clothing in the sunshine. I set out with a couple of friends but one of them went off ahead pretty early on. We were aiming for 8 minute miles but of course the first mile was much slower than that because of the crowds. Still we made up ground and caught the 8 minute mile pacer. However, I knew that I was unlikely to maintain it - my legs felt heavy from the start. I have had serious problems with my left shin and have not run at all since a 20 mile race three weeks ago. I knew I was running too fast and would have to slow down. I stopped for the loo about mile 12 and lost the pacer, and just settled in to what I thought was a slower rhythm. I saw various supporters (mother, wife, friends) just after Tower Bridge and they told me later I was less than a minute behind the pace at that point. I lost track of time for a bit, and stopped seeing mile posts, although it seems I kept the pace up. The heat was getting to me. Then, about 2 hours 45, I felt a toenail break loose. It hurt, but on the plus side, it distracted me from the pain in my shin. I considered pressing on but thought better of it and found the St Johns people. I sat down and took off the right shoe, and then saw that the toe of the left shoe was soaked in blood. So I took that one off too. They patched me up but it was hard to get going again, and painful to run. I came to a point where I thought the course doubled back on itself, so that I could see people ahead of me running past me. They were going slowly, many walking; and I noticed they did not look all that athletic. I supposed that I had really slowed up and I felt quite disappointed. I was just telling myself that it served me right for being hubristic, when I saw the mile 22 post, and realised that these were people behind me at mile 13. That was a relief, but also filled me with respect for them - they still had half the course to run, and I had four miles. I slowed up a lot over those miles though - legs threatening to cramp up, head spinning from the heat, toes hurting. I had hoped that I would surge at the last mile but when I tried I felt like I might die so I just put my head down and plodded on. Got in at 3.45, fifteen minutes slower than I had hoped. But then I only started regular running in September, and only started training for the marathon at the end of January - so I am hopeful for next time! I took the great Dave Eastman's place (from the triathlon club) when he had to give it up due to the progress of Parkinson's. So I'm grateful to him, and pleased I made it. The Parkinson's Disease Society are a lovely bunch (showers and pasta for their runners!) and a really worthy cause, I think, and so I'm incredibly grateful to everyone who helped them by sponsoring me!
 
Thanks again and all best,
Alex


Original message:

Rather late in the day, I picked up a place in the 2009 London Marathon. (To be clear, this counts as Good News, since I've wanted to run a marathon for a while, and particularly with a view to eventually completing an Ironman triathlon - but no promises for that.) The man who was meant to have the place suffers from Parkinson's disease. He is a seasoned triathlete, with 13 marathons under his belt, who had intended to run his 14th for Parkinson's. But it turned out to be a bridge too far, and he made a painful decision to give his place up, along with the opportunity to raise money for the same illness that prevented him from running. I admire his ambition and I am also grateful to have got his place, so I would like to be able to raise money for his cause. The Parkinson's Disease Society provides support for sufferers, family and carers, and would welcome your contribution.

Donation by Anonymous on 13/07/09

 
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Well done, very impressive Donation by Daniel Blaney on 29/04/09

 
£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

3.45 sounds brilliant to me! Donation by Peter Smith on 28/04/09

 
£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

ooh I bet those toenails hurt Donation by moira burgham on 27/04/09

 
£10.00

Well done Alex. Hope you're not limping too much afterwards... Donation by Torben on 27/04/09

 
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Donation by Anonymous on 26/04/09

 
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Trust the Paynes to come through at the last minute! All the best today Alex. Donation by Emily Payne on 26/04/09

 
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck Alex! Donation by Kate and John Payne and family on 26/04/09

 
£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

that's 50p a mile if you share it with the monkey! Donation by Jim and Anne Secord on 26/04/09

 
£26.00 + £7.33 Gift Aid

Good luck! Donation by Sorin on 25/04/09

 
£10.00

Slowly and gingerly is the best way, I think :D Donation by Vanessa H on 24/04/09

 
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Go Alex!! Looking forward to coming to watch - wear something distinctive ;) x Donation by Cathy Elks on 24/04/09

 
£10.00

I am not sure how this is going to help your bench press?? Donation by David Hill on 23/04/09

 
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Donation by Kevin Brosnan on 23/04/09

 
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Best of luck Alex! Hope you have the perfect weather on the day Donation by Emilia Sanabria on 23/04/09

 
£10.00

good luck - what a cool thing to be able to say you've done! Donation by Elma Brenner on 22/04/09

 
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

bugger grunt Donation by nathan on 21/04/09

 
£20.00

a finger for every minute behind omar... Donation by sam on 21/04/09

 
£13.00 + £3.67 Gift Aid

kos birader kos! Donation by Mehmet on 20/04/09

 
£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

I hope it went well Donation by Thomas Baldwin on 20/04/09

 
£26.00 + £7.33 Gift Aid

Good luck to you and your monkey! Donation by Mark Sprevak on 19/04/09

 
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck and thanks for your help! Donation by Carys & Andrew on 15/04/09

 
£26.22 + £7.40 Gift Aid

I hope you really enjoy the day Donation by Irenee on 11/04/09

 
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck! Donation by Rich Flower on 10/04/09

 
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck, Alex. Jacob, Jonah and I will think of you! Donation by Diana Lipton on 08/04/09

 
£180.00 + £50.77 Gift Aid
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* Total raised online: £1,332.30
  Offline donations: £5.00
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  Total Raised: £1,337.30
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £289.75

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