I did it!  26.2 miles in the scorching heat and I finished.  5107th in 4:36:37, so I managed to beat my race number (8615).

How do you train for a marathon?  They recommend taking at least 4 months, with a gradual increase in distance (no more than 10% per week), peaking at between 18 and 23 miles about 3 weeks beforehand, tailing off gradually to allow the body to recover before the big day.

Well, shortly after signing up for the Edinburgh Marathon, I developed plantar fasciitis, and by the time I got the all-clear to run again, there were only 9 weeks to go.  So my gradual ramp went like this: 2½ miles the first week, 4½ miles the second, then 9½ miles, then 16 miles before peaking with a couple of 18 mile training runs. I was sort-of following the training plan the organisers sent out each week, until my feet starting complaining too much (and I became critical path on the WM8948 delivery to customers).

However, the day dawned fine and sunny, and I lined up at the start with all the others. We started at the side of Calton Hill, headed down to Abbeyhill, round the Palace and through the park to Meadowbank and then down to Leith Links and round to the coast. My family were waiting to cheer at Portobello as I went past, keeping well to my schedule.  As we passed Musselburgh racecourse and headed for Prestonpans I still felt reasonably good, though it was very nice to catch little bits of shade from the trees. At Longniddry the route took a dog-leg up the hill and back down again – with 15 miles in the legs that was touch and a camera-man caught me struggling.  By the time we got into the grounds of Gosford House I was starting to struggle and had to stop and walk for the first time.  But once through there we were on the return leg and near the next water station…or so I thought.  But they had already run out! 19 miles at this point and feeling dry.  Managed to get a bottle from St Andrew’s Ambulance a couple of miles later, and then it was a matter of running as much as I could and walking more than I’d hoped as gradually the last miles went past.  I managed a “sprint” at the end (i.e. I did the last mile almost as fast as I was going during the first half) and eventually staggered over the line in a time of 4:36:37, very hot and sore.

Masochism is probably a good description, but there was another reason for it.  My nephew is profoundly handicapped, and the respite care he gets makes a huge difference to my sister Jennifer and the whole family.  Butterwick House Children’s Hospice look after him about once a month, giving Jennifer and Tony a break and allowing them to do things with Matthew’s brother and sister which can’t be done with a wheelchair. They are completely dependent on donations to keep running.  Thank you to everyone who has sponsored me so far.  For the rest of you, you can donate here through www.justgiving.com/ianbrockbank and Wolfson have agreed to match the donations.  Thanks in advance!