I did it! Thanks for all your support! On all fronts! It really helped.
It was an amazing day. The spectators were fabulous. They made a huge difference. Great energy. They didn't stop shouting and cheering, waving flags, or extending jelly beans and orange slices to flagging runners. It felt like a 26.2-mile block party representing the best of multi-cultural London.
I really liked the live music (lost count of the brass bands), encouragement (appreciated the 'well done, Colleens' as I ran past), and all the flavors of people -- from the monsignor at the Catholic Church in Greenwich sprinkling us with holy water to the congregation at the Methodist Church in Deptford dispensing samosas to passing runners. I also appreciated the runner dressed as Obama, with a 'yes you can' message pinned on his suit. And I got all choked up running through Greenwich (a place with family significance) and running over Tower Bridge.
I completed the course in about 5.5 hours, not including a 25-minute wait in the 'loo queue' around Mile 14 (which meant my official chip time is just under 6 hours: 5:59:58 thanks to a sprint at the finish). While waiting in the Portaloo queue, I saw celebrity duo Katie 'Jordan' Price and Peter Andre and entourage run past. A half hour later I overtook them. (Yes!) My goal at that point was to ensure that they didn't lap me later on. Turns out I was well ahead. What carried me through the last third were not lofty thoughts about altruism or strategic thinking about timing (OK, some of that) but competitive thoughts about not being bested by celebs. ☺
The one person I saw whom I recognized to speak with was a Queen Mary, University of London student volunteer working at Mile 18 - one of four students I met up with by chance on Friday in the Students' Union. A serendipitous coincidence, since our collective effort on this page has been on behalf of the Queen Mary student volunteer chapter of READ International (see details below my picture).
Btw, READ's London East Book Project is also nearing its 2009 finish: Over the next two weeks, besides doing exams, the QM student team will be boxing up thousands of books that have been collected (currently stored at a Big Yellow in Bow) for delivery to children in Tanzania this summer.
So, thank you all!
Love x, Colleen
PS for the 'retrospective contributors': Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: READ International gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.
Raised:
117%
Raised so far: £1,762.00
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Good luck Donation by Leigh Oakes on 23/04/09 |
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Peter McGinty, Penny Robertson, Eddie Hughes, Robi Persad, Fr Bruce, the Wisconsinites... Donation by Offline supporters on 23/04/09 |
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Good luck & ENJOY your day! Donation by Trish [gym] on 22/04/09 |
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I am just so impressed! The very best of luck. Donation by Caroline (gym buddy) on 22/04/09 |
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Good luck for the big day (the first one of this year!). How about Junior Walker's 'Road Runner'? Donation by Sue Fox on 20/04/09 |
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Our love and prays are with you. You have always been an inspiration. Donation by Mom and Dad on 19/04/09 |
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Good luck - what a bumper year! Donation by Lucy and Michael on 17/04/09 |
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Very best of luck! Donation by Rosa Vidal on 16/04/09 |
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I'm awed at the prospect of running that long a race! Wow! Donation by Deborah Tannen on 16/04/09 |
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Good luck, wind at your back. . . Donation by Harris Dillon on 16/04/09 |
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Go Colleen! Love and support from Sue, Neil & Euan xxx Donation by Sue Harris on 07/04/09 |
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The very best of luck Colleen! As ever, an inspiration.... Donation by Lisa Atalianis on 07/04/09 |
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All the best Donation by Nick Watkins on 06/04/09 |
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Forza, Colleen! Keep on running... Donation by Pauline Small on 06/04/09 |
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Gimme a C; gimme an O; gimme an L; gimme an L; gimme an E; gimme an E; gimme an N: what have we got? Loony!! Go Colleen. Your song must be 'Respect'! Donation by Jill Evans on 06/04/09 |
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toi toi toi Donation by Astrid Köhler on 03/04/09 |
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I'm so impressed! Celebration at the Morgan Arms after! Donation by Devyani Sharma on 01/04/09 |
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Good Luck!!! Donation by Barbara Clark on 31/03/09 |
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Donation by Robert Gillett on 31/03/09 |
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Obvious song for Ipod: 'Keep on running' Donation by Shirley Jordan on 29/03/09 |
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Good for you, Mr Hassan Yate! Donation by Rosemary Combridge on 28/03/09 |
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May the force of supercompensation be with you! Donation by Tom Van Hout on 26/03/09 |
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God speed, Colleen Cotter! Donation by Phil on 26/03/09 |
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Donation by Prof. dr. Wim Vandenbussche on 26/03/09 |
| * Total raised online: | £1,400.00 |
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| Offline donations: | £362.00 |
| Mobile donations: | £0.00 |
| Total Raised: | £1,762.00 |
| Gift Aid plus supplement: | £308.56 |
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Find out
how much it is and what we do for it.