Leroy Arbouine
Leroys London Marathon Experience 2009
Fundraising for ChildLine
Story
27.4.2009
Yesterday I felt like a superhero. I completed the 26 mile London Marathon largely because of the constant vocal support from the crowds including friends and family.
The marathon is much more than a run; it is a rich and vibrant experience, with great camaraderie, spirit, noise, colour and endurance in evidence. Although being overtaken by a bloke in a canoe was a somewhat humbling experience.
I now recognise what a great event this is... and that is the unique attraction of the day ~ It challenges you to believe in yourself, ignoring your head when it is telling you to stop, your lungs when their about to explode and your legs when they turn to lead.
The last four miles were really painful as I hobbled towards the finish line, but I was determined to finish.
It was really hot right from the start and although I was averaging 10 minute miles on my training runs, I came nowhere near that yesterday.
I would like to raise a glass to the fantastic spectators who line the streets of London that make this event that extra bit special. Their shouted encouragement, and enthusiasm, cannot be underestimated, and put a spring back into even the most weariest runner’s step.
I also want to thank the NSPCC / Childline TEAM GO for their support and Sam and Mandie for their fundraising efforts.
And last but not least I want to recognise every runner yesterday..there was one chap running as a pack mule..absolutely phenomenal performance along with Darth Vadar who kept me company between miles 15-16.
Today I am nursing my various aches and pains, but while sitting in front of my computer I have already registered for a place in next years race !!
This is one experience that will stay with you forever !!!
Hopefully see you at the start line next year 
Thanks again to all who donated and to those who didn't there is still time !
19.4.2009
Colleagues,
In only a few more days this madness will be over. Quite why I decided to enter the London Marathon has been completely lost in the mists of early morning jogs, but the torment is nearly done. Just the 26.2 miles to go.
I’m in the taper down period at the moment. This means that with one week left until the Marathon, activity is scaled down by 75%. For me this has basically meant lying back in the sofa doing some heavy lifting with the TV remote control and shaking my head in despair as Arsenal get knocked out of another competition by Chelsea!
When I started this Journey before Christmas the opportunity to run the Marathon was my main goal and my second objective was raising money for Childline, four months later my perspective has changed.......
I've read a lot of the literature and realise how important every pound raised for the Charity is and this has placed many things in perspective and given real purpose to my quest...have a look at . It’s an incredibly powerful few minutes and I hope it will inspire those who have yet to sponsor me to go crazy with their credit cards and to those who have....I want to sincerely thank you and let you know that your donations WILL make a difference.
Thank You
8.4.2009
Only 18 more days and this madness will be over. Quite why I decided to enter the Marathon has been completely lost in the hustle and bustle of evening jogs, but the torment is nearly done. Just the 26.2 miles to go.
I’m told I should be easing down, but I still feel I'm behind in training and want to make a big push over the Easter holiday before I enter the final week !
Sunday 26th April can’t come quickly enough now, even though I am going to spend a large proportion of it pounding, running, walking and crawling around the streets of London. It will be very strange to be surrounded (or rather) following 50,000 fellow joggers, having spent the past three months running alone between Brentford and Kingston in relative isolation this is going to be a new experience...
I've been told that occasionally, just occasionally, everything falls into place for the long distance runner.
You feel like you are floating rather than running, carried by the warm breath of a choir of angels. The ground itself is as soft to the touch as the finest Axminster, and every step provides you with renewed energy.
Mind, heart and body work in perfect harmony as you effortless consume mile after mile, free of fatigue or weariness.
Unfortunately I have never had that experience and doubt if I ever will !
Thanks again to all who donated, and for those who didn't......... there is still time!
2.3.2009
No more updates until I hit the £1400 mark..so please donate if you want to read the next chapter !!!
28.2.2009
My training runs have been too infrequent in recent weeks and too short in distance.
But on the positive side, all the advice is that it is better to be under prepared than over prepared so on that score I couldn’t be more ready.
I can’t imagine not completing the course, but I also can’t imagine completing it either, so come what may I am in for a surprise on the day !!
The more of you that sponsor me, the more compelled I feel to keep running. So to make me suffer, and buy me pain with your credit card.
REmember every penny raised goes to CHILDLINE & The NSPCC
19.2.2009
My running vest arrived this week ! It is very green!
The good thing is that it won't clash too much with my face as it turns to purple as I try and get around the marathon course. The arrival of the running vest had made the idea of the marathon a bit more real. I have got 'the fear' you could say and I know that the big day is approaching – and fast!!
Up until now I had been focusing on just getting myself out to train and the marathon had just been looming somewhere in the future. I think now it is time to face facts and realise that very soon I will be running the marathon, and so I should start to prepare for the actual run itself.
Lots of people have asked me what it is that I think about when I am running and if I ever get bored. If I answer that honestly then I think that yes, sometimes I do. The main thing that I do is to plug myself into my i-pod. Music keeps my mind occupied and often I lose myself and fall into a running rhythm, covering a lot of distance before I realise it.
Last week I forgot my i-pod. It sounds a bit silly, but I really found it so hard to run! I could not get into a rhythm, I was thinking a lot about my body, my breathing, and I kept looking at my watch. Needless to say, the time passed very slowly!!
5.2.2009
Participated on a call today with the other runner from BT aiming to complete the Marathon..I was slightly shocked by the question and answer section, one lady asked how she could improve her speed as her target was to beat 3hrs 31mins !!!
Another guy said he was jogging in the GYM at a pace of 13.2km/h. So rather than hit the road tonight I went to the gym started on the jogger at 8km/h which was fast, but I thought I'd do 10 mins at 13Km/h as soon as I pressed the speed button I realised I had made a serious mistake, 13km is not a running pace, its a suicidal sprint which almost threw me off the machine and I had to dive for the Safety cut-off switch, much to the amusement of the other gym users.
All that aside, I’m pretty pleased with progress to date. I am now 10lbs lighter, than when I first entertained the idea of running back in November, and I am regularly running seven miles.
1.2.2009
Today I faced a new challenge snow and a waterlogged Richmond Park !
I got out of bed and set off without paying much attention to the weather. During the night there had been very heavy rainfall, which had saturated the track I run through Richmond Park. I started off well covering the 3 miles over Kew Bridge and along the main road, through Richmond and into the Park.
I normally run along a cycle track that goes through the wooded area , I noticed the conditions were deteriorating but little did I know that within the next 200metres I would find the path covered in 12 inches of water.
Too late to go back I splashed on and over the next 2 miles the water got steadily deeper and for one 200 metre stretch was actually above my ankles |!!
I suppose it was all good training for the Marathon. Running through water takes considerable effort and concentration as you constantly loose your footing on the wet mud underneath and at one stage I looked like bambi on ice as I struggled to maintain my balance.
I really can’t describe the dedication and sacrifice that go into running a marathon, mainly because I haven’t completed one yet, but I do know that nearly 30,000 people conquer the mental demons to complete the 26 mile challenge every year in London alone.Only now do I really appreciate their achievements.
6.12.2008
Recently received a MP3 player and its amazing the effect music has on my athletic performance.
As soon as ''The Boys are back in town' by Thin Lizzy comes on ..I immediately speed up.
Another song which gives me a shot of adrenalin and gets the legs pumping is Madness, One Step Beyond ...which is quite appropriate ~ However anything by Morrissey, James Blunt or Kate Nash not only slows me down to a snails pace but makes me want to jump in front of the first passing car !
Obviously if I am going to get around the 26 mile marathon course I need to worry less about my fitness and more about the contents of my MP3 player.
Suggestions for inspiring tracks please.....
If you haven't done so yet, be carefree, be reckless, abandon self control, and go mental with your credit card. do a collection within your team ( two have already contributed, Chris Rush and Julian Terry which is really appreciated ), but I need more of you to help.... Remember every pound you give, helps childline.
27th November 2008
At this point in time, I can barely walk up the five flights (102 steps...counted every one ) at Kingston TE without getting breathless so the thought of running 26 miles is a little daunting.
The last time I broke into a sweat through sporting endeavour was when I waddled enthusiastically from the sofa to the front door to greet the pizza delivery man.
Can I manage in the next four months to achieve the levels of fitness I had in my youth so that I can complete the 26.2 mile course in April ?
Actually I need to achieve far greater levels of fitness than I had then, as my only previous distance running event was the Richmond half-marathon which ended in failure around the 8 mile mark, mainly due to a complete lack of training, and my presence in a nightclub until 3.30am the night before.
I am both older, wiser and slightly heavier now and shan’t be making the mistake of underestimating the challenge that lies ahead. To have any chance of completing the demanding course I will need to use all the time I have got to get into shape
The title of my blog, however, is very important......I have absolutely no idea how much blood, sweat & tears ( and hopefully a few pounds ) I'm going to shed training for this and that suits me just fine! I have a very long way to go....and then I have to run 26 miles.
I'll be filling in this blog as I go along every two weeks so you can track my progress and hopefully before I realise it... I will be standing at the finish line clutching my medal!
And more importantly I want to exceed my fundraising target too... so please visit my justgiving site.
www.justgiving.com/leroyarbouine
Remember every pound you donate will go to Childline and its important to recognise where that money will be spent....
In 2007 over 630,000 calls were received – Childline answered 47% of these calls
23% of children counselled were aged 5-11. 58% were aged 12-15. 20% were aged 16-18
13% of calls were about abuse & violence
We can make a real difference so please sponsor me and check back in two weeks for an update on my training !
Help sponsor my madness!
For some reason I have always dreamt of running the marathon,I've talked about it for years but never really believed I would do it.....So when then opportunity presented itself I spontaneously said yes ! But then reality kicked in..the furthest I've run recently was to catch the bus and that wasn't easy, so how could I even contemplate doing the Marathon!
I've never run anything like this distance before, so it's going to be a real challenge and one that's definitely worth your money!
Your support and sponsorship will make the aches, pains and many miles I'm going to have to run during the winter months worthwhile, and more importantly it raises money for CHILDLINE.
CHILDLINE makes a difference for young people, have a look below at the main reasons children gave for calling Childline last year....
Bullying: 37,074 (23%)
Family relationships (including divorce and separation): 21,088 (13%)
Physical abuse: 12,453 (8%)
Concern for others: 11,375 (7%)
Facts of life: 10,658 (7%)
Sexual abuse: 9,279 (6%)
Pregnancy: 7,700 (5%)
My aim is to raise £2000 and your sponsorship will make a difference, so please dig deep and sponsor me online.
I will update this with page regularly and let you know how my training is progressing
Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: ChildLine 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.
I thank you for your support
I thank you for your support
Leroy