Hi all, 

First of all, many thanks for visiting my fundraising page and for supporting me. The last 18 months or so has been quite an amazing period for all of us and we are so grateful to everyone who has supported us. I must confess to having wanted to attempt ta marathon for years but why I didn`t have a go when I was 20 something I`ll never know. That said, the FLM is an amazing event and for me, it is a great opportunity to raise awareness for organ donation and the fact that  many thousands of people in the UK remain on the transplant register today in urgent need of a transplant to either improve the quality of their life and their family and sadly in many cases, to save their life. There is still a massive organ shortage and many sadly never receive the transplant they need. To date, I am one of the very fortunate ones and I never stop thinking of my donor or their family. That said, if you have already registered as an organ donor, good for you, but if you haven`t, it would be fantastic if you would consider doing so. It is really easy and takes just a few minutes via the UK Transplant website which is www.uktransplant.org,uk I also want to support UHB Charities and the Liver unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. The QEH as it is known, is a world class hospital and unit which currently undertakes around 180+ liver transplants per year. The brilliant staff at this hospital are there to help everyone in the in this highly specialised area.

Anyway, I thought I would just give you a quick update on our FLM run which was interesting to say the least despite all my training. Whoever said it was a jog was mad...think it was me! I now know that it really is a long way and perhaps my brain and decision making isn`t what it used to be. Definitely the medication! I am therefore retired…… for a short while at least! Don`t tell anyone but I tried to enter on line today....just in case!

Up at 4.30am because the neighbours car alarm kept going off. Porridge and Shredded Wheat at 5am and the first of my drugs including my steroid; yuk! (thought didn`t cross my mind to have a couple extra and try to beat Martin Lel. Wouldn`t have looked good).

5.45am Pete arrives, meet Tracy (who is totally hyper and looks like she does this everyday!) and we set off for London. First mad moment of the day at Heston Services and toilet stop number 1. As I return to the car, I open the worng car door only to disturb a young couple. Pete and Tracy are uncontrollable whilst I am very calm and charge them £8 for a congestion charge ticket! Get to Blackheath about about 8am, met by Ed who kindly invites us to spend time with him before the run.

Alot of whooping, nervousness, at least 6 toilet stops, quick chat with Batman, couple of fairies and we are off at 9.45am. Cross line around 10am. First thoughts are joy and what a crowd before wondering what on earth are we doing. Perhaps Carolyn will poke me in a minute and tell me to stop snoring...no, its real...better keep the old 'peggies' going. Tracy bolts off and for the next 5 hours plus she 'high fives' the hand of every child between here and the Embankment. Remarkable.

First 8 miles are great in excellent conditions. My injured metatarsal (dodgy toe in old terms) is ok`ish and we are running slightly faster than schedule. Pete is pacing things beautifully whilst Tracy continues to slap hands, talk to the odd Womble, Batman and some chap we met on the line who spent weeks sorting out his IPOD songs for the run only to press start and discover the batteries are flat. Help!  Toilet stop number 2 is timed for the rain which is awful. As well as being wet, its cold; infact its sleet and we all get really cold. Things start to go a little wrong but we pick up again until mile 13 and Tower Bridge which is just amazing. All a bit too much and a few tears shed here as I ponder how I got here, my two buddies running with me, the crowds and our familes waiting close by. Seeing them is great and a real spur. For the next few miles, we wheel in a few more disney characters, overtake the Army, super heroes etc and at 17 miles it rains again....for the next 4 miles. Splish splosh. Tracy is happy as Larry and as she looks around her mind wonders if we have both turned into camels; basically she thinks we have the 'hump'! From mile 17, I struggle thinking any minute I`m going to cramp up and that will be it. We are all cold too. 

Mile 22 arrives and our brilliant supporters do all they can to spur us on. I`m now moving at 0.1mph and hoping someone will bring the line forward. We run on until the inevitable happens at mile 23 when I get cramp in both legs at the same time and my tum also cramps up. Why I deserve this I`ll never know but worst things happen. I decide to take 10 in the middle of the road not that I have any choice at all. First aid arrives and after a free massage, we are off again. Crowd are brilliant as are my little helpers. Tracy leaves us here as she is now suffering from frostbite whilst superman Pete supports me up until mile 25 where some energy comes from somewhere and we run to the finish. Crowd are amazing although I wish I could find the 6 legged camel, Bill and Ben plus Brian the snail who overtook us here! They really didn`t have to do it. It actually took us close on 50 minutes to run/walk the last 3 miles. Medal on and an hour slower than we would have liked but hey ho, its over. What a day. Truly memorable and as emotional as it comes. I really didn`t think I would complete the last 6 miles but the few prayers I received, the brilliant support from those on the street and our friends and families plus Pete and Tracy, all combined to bring me home somehow. These two were amazing. Both good runners who would have done alot better without 'slow coach'.

Next day arrives and remarkably no aches at all. In fact I feel like I could go for a run. Someone tell me what is going on!  

I understand that one of the first things I said when I awoke in ITU was that I would run a marathon the following year. Well I didn`t quite make it but this was close enough. My love and thanks to everyone who has supported us and the liver unit. Like the FLM, it has been an amazing journey. For those thinking of giving the FLM a crack; GO FOR IT!  The FLM is spectacular and the crowds and energy of the event are just something to behold. Despite the pain and anguish, the whole event leaves you with so many wonderful memories and none more so than the fact that there are so many nice people around. Thanks again for all your support. 

Much love and thanks again, Ian xx 

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