Hello everyone
Thanks for visiting our fundraising page. The Skinns twins are running the London Marathon 2009! Both of us have been training hard, including cycling to work and back, and running 3-4 times per week. As part of our training, we also took part in a half-marathon in the New Forest in September, which we completed in 1 hr 41 (Jess) and 1 hr 45 minutes (Layla). Jess deserves a bit of extra credit too as this is her third attempt at the marathon. She was originally prevented from doing it in 2007 by being knocked off her bike and then in 2008 by knee-surgery arising from the accident. So third-time lucky for Jess and first-time lucky for Layla!
We’re running it for the Gorilla Organisation http://www.gorillas.org/ , which was set up by Diane Fossey (the woman from Gorillas in the Mist). We have to raise £3000 between us. The Gorilla Organisation undertakes conservation work in Western Africa including Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. The charity is not just about saving the fluffy gorillas; it undertakes development projects with local people targeted at protecting gorilla habitats. A good friend of ours works for the Gorilla Organisation and from what he has told us, it is very definitely a deserving cause. We’re confident that we’ll finish the marathon. All the same, 26 miles is a really long way, so please give generously. And no, we won’t be wearing gorilla suits!
Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: The Gorilla Organization 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.
Many many thanks for your generosity and we hope to see some of you cheering us on, on our way round London.
Layla and Jess
**Updates**
9 March 2009
Thanks to everyone who has sponsored us so far. During training I think nice things about you all to take away the pain of running for three hours!
So far we have both found marathon-training to be a bit of a roller-coaster, as we have been struggling with illness and injury. We both have the same knee injury on our left knees. Twins eh?! Independently of each other, we also both bought exactly the same pair of trainers.
However, none of this has completely de-railed our training. I recently completed 19 miles of the Cambridge Boundary Run in 2 hrs 40 minutes. Jess is also getting up to 20 miles in her training. We are also averaging about 40 miles a week each. Anyway, so we're vaguely on track for running 8-8.5 minute miles in the marathon and completing it in 3.5 - 4 hours.
Last week we also received our running vests from the Gorilla Organization, which makes it official and exciting. They're illuminous green, so hopefully you'll be able to spot us on our way round.
Layla
**Update 17 April **
Only nine days to go until marathon day. I cannot believe how quickly the days have passed. We are both feeling nervous and excited as the day approaches. My biggest fear at the moment is of eating the equivalent of ten large bowls of pasta every day for the last three days before the marathon! Carb-loading or just exploding?
In spite of a few aches and pains and ongoing knee injuries, we are both feeling marathon-fit. Jess went on holiday …. ahem high altitude training in Columbia, whilst I only made it to theLake District. I did a beautiful, albeit rain-soaked long-run through round Ennerdale water and up to the Blacksail youth hostel, which reminded me of what running is all about …. enjoyment!
In addition, a couple of weeks ago, we both completed our maximum runs of 23 miles in around 3 hours. The last few miles were not pretty and I definitely learned my lesson about the need to keep re-fuelling during the marathon. I now have new-found passion for blackcurrant energy gel gloop!
The training is now beginning to taper down and I find myself with somewhat restless feet. I suppose this is a little taste of how I will feel once the marathon is over. Hmmm triathalons are beginning to seem like a good idea. Only kidding Matt!
Many thanks to everyone who has sponsored us. It means a lot to us and the gorillas.
A special thanks also to my boyfriend, Matthew, who has doubled-up rather nicely as my personal trainer and training buddy. His support and encouragement, particularly at the points when I thought I couldn't do it, has been invaluable.
Layla
PS Don’t forget to look out for us on the tv in our bright-green vests, which we are modelling above.
**29 April** Final Update
Marathonday came and went and what a day it was. I think it is safe to say that Jess and I enjoyed it immensely (as much as one can enjoy running 26.2 miles). The atmosphere was amazing, as were our four support teams; all of which raised our spirits immensely throughout the course. Jess and I ran together for the majority of the way, although I lost the Lean Mean Running Machine at around 20 miles. We both finished well within our target and our times were 3 hours 48 (Jess) and 3 hours 50 (Layla) being placed 7379 and 7913 respectively (out of about 36,000 or so runners). Not bad for a first marathon eh? For more details of the run carry on reading ……
We got off to a slow start at 10am from Greenwich, having to dodge in and out of the other runners and finding it frustrating that we couldn’t really keep to a constant pace. I remember running past a giant rhino and a fireman resplendent in his full battle-gear, including an oxygen tank and thinking to myself those poor buggers. In Bermondsey, at about 11-12 miles we got our first sight of support team no. 1 (Caswell, Matt, Marsha and Paddy), bearing a money-on-a-stick. I felt elated as I was convinced we had somehow missed them along the way.
Then, overTowerBridgewhich was pretty exciting with Jess, my tour guide, pointing out the views. Shortly after we passed the half-way mark and further along at around 15 miles, I was surprised to see support team no. 3, Liz and Steve, who I had been expecting to see later on the course. Brilliant!CanaryWharf(19 miles) was then soon upon us where support team no. 1 and 2 (Becca, Mia and Andrew) had joined forces. We could hardly miss the monkey-on-a-stick AND a fabulous banner painted by Becca and Mia which said ‘Go Gorilla Twins!’
The next section (19-23 miles) up to Blackwall and then doubling-back towardsTowerBridgeand beyond was the least inspiring for me. This was also probably because my injured ITB was hurting like mad by this point, even after a handful of ibuprofen and a few stretches en route. Running in direct sunlight was also a bit of a killer. This was definitely when I had to ‘dig deep’, mentally reminding myself of how disappointed I would be with myself if I stopped. Somehow I urged myself onwards.
From around 23 miles onwards everything began to look a lot more familiar, which was great; I wasn’t far from my old office in London. By this point I was on my own and without any support team for another couple of miles. This is when some energy gel gloop and the crowd were really important. I had lots of shouts and people singing ‘Layla, you got me on my knees, Layla’. Thanks for naming me after a song mum and dad!
Hooray, then, 25 miles and I was frantically looking for support team no. 4 (Julia and Sarah), knowing that it would give me the boost that I needed to see me into the home straits. To my surprise, there was support team no. 2 (Becca, Mia and Andrew) and then further along right at the front were Julia and Sarah. I nearly mowed down a nearby police officer as I galloped up to them!
From here onwards I decided that I was just going to enjoy it, knowing that I may never do this again. I put a smile on my face and began to soak it all up. I also really began to push it, knowing that it was not much further to go. However, I can’t decide whether I was simply sprinting in my head rather than actually sprinting! 600 metres to go and I am properly sprinting. I can here the announcer in the background saying that Gordon Ramsay is not far behind me and thinking to myself as if I care. Then, I’m over the finish line. Stopping felt good and was shortly followed by water, food and the pub (in that order).
Since, I’ve completed the marathon lots have people have asked me if I would do it again. The answer is that I would like to run the race, but not have to sacrifice so much of my life in order to do the training. However, watch this space …..stranger things have happened.
A big thanks to everyone who has supported us in various different and wonderful ways. It really has meant a lot.
That’s all folks.
Layla
