UPDATE - 30/10/09 (2 days to go!)
For those wanting to follow Ems and my progress during the race, or check on how we got on afterwards … (we’re aiming for around the 5 hour mark) … our start time is 10.30am local time, and so 3.30pm here in UK ...
You can register to receive email updates every 5 miles here:
http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/athlete_alert.htm
At the bottom of that page it says: “Also, don't forget to track runners in your web browser on race day with our Race Day Tracker (launching on race morning on Sunday, November 1.).” … so I’m guessing there’ll be a page on the above site to see how we’re doing …
My registration details which you might need are as follows:
NAME: Benjamin Thornton
BIB: 57823
Entry Number: 436619
UPDATE - 29/09/09 (1 month to go!)
My long run is now at 16 miles. On Sunday I ran down to the Thames and headed west, crossed over Barnes Bridge, up to Richmond Park, completed one circuit of the park, and then headed back home ... in 2 hours and 10 minutes. I'm aiming to run 17 miles next weekend, and 18 the following weekend ... the 2 weekends before the race I'll cut the long run back to about 10 miles.
UPDATE - 06/09/09 - Bristol Half Marathon
Bristol Half Marathon pics + movie clip
Completed the Bristol Half Marathon today, running with Emma ... click on the link above for pictures from around the course, and a movie clip of us crossing the finishing line!
WHY A MARATHON?
Well, it's all Matt's fault. He's the one two to the left from me (my right) in the picture. He has sat next to us in the Matthew Harding Lower at Chelsea for many years now, and although he's 14 years younger and a lot fitter than me, he managed to persuade me over a few pre and post match beers in December that it would be a great idea to run a marathon. As soon as I told Emma, she decided that she wanted to do it too ... and once she'd said that there was no backing out!
WHY NEW YORK?
My brother Jo lives there with his family, it is supposed to be one of the most beautiful city marathons (passing through 5 completely different boroughs), and to be honest ... any excuse to go to New York is a good one ... and I'll only be missing Bolton away (not that I knew that when I signed up!)
WHY SAVE THE RHINO?
10 years ago my younger brother Giles was killed in Kenya. He not only helped raise money for Save the Rhino (including the Kilimanjaro climb in December 1994), but also worked on the ground at Laikipia, in the Chyulu Hills, and for Tony Fitzjohn at Mkomazi. Having visited Kenya on a number of occasions, and seen first hand the work being carried out at both Laikipia and in the Chyulu Hills, I could not fail to be impressed with the efforts being made on these programmes to create viable populations of critically endangered rhino species "in the wild". The rhinos are free-ranging, within an area of natural rhino habitat large enough to sustain a breeding group, feeding off natural vegetation in the area (ie, without human intervention).
You can find out more about Giles here: www.ajumpisajump.com
You can find out more about Save the Rhino here: www.savetherhino.org
MY EXPERIENCE OF LONG DISTANCE RUNNING?
In a word ... NONE! Apart from the annual cross-country run at school, in which I used to get a "stitch" after about 400 yards ... I'd like to think I was built for short sharp bursts of speed, not long distance. Since leaving University, 20 years ago, I have continued to play football every Sunday despite ever more frequent visits to the doctor for football related injuries. There was therefore a little bit of fitness in the legs back in January when Emma and I started training. However, a run from home, a single circuit of Ravenscourt Park and back to home (all of 1.5 miles) was enough to get me thinking that this was a VERY stupid idea ... how on earth was I going to manage 26.2 miles when a 1.5 mile slow jog does me in?
Emma's JustGiving page is here: www.justgiving.com/emmathornton
Matt's JustGiving page is here: www.justgiving.com/if-youre-bored-train
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