01/05/06: WELL I DID IT!  And looking back a week later, I actually really enjoyed it. Despite the non-stop rain, the crowds were simply amazing, and with my name scribbled on my shirt I managed to get a good deal of personal support from thousands of complete strangers - some who'd made it their day's challenge to get you to run faster/or at all in my case at one point.

 

 

 

The first seven miles was all not too bad. The pre-pain banter was quite amusing with so many costumes around, and the cries of the crowds at the Cutty Sark in Greenwich (6.5miles) could be heard from a mile away. The next six miles to Tower Bridge was all about keeping a steady pace, which for me was very slow.  I just about managed to say a quick hi to my family going over Tower Bridge , but it was so crammed there you couldn't stop. It was then off to the gloom of going around the Isle of Dogs/Canary Wharf and the frustration of seeing the elite runners running in the opposite direction to you on their 21st mile whilst me on my 14th. If only I could sneak across the road!

 

 

 

It's relatively quiet going around the Isle of Dogs and difficult to keep a steady pace as there were so many bottle-necks where the roads became narrow, and the water stops were becoming treacherous pile-ups with so many weary legs around. I just listened to my music at this point to try and take my mind away from the low constant drubbing pain that was rapidly becoming more acute.

 

 

 

Mile 16 on, and I'm just dreading the inevitable - my legs cramping up. In the last marathon I did, which was in tremendous heat, I got really bad cramp at mile 16 and it was ten miles of misery to follow. So I was absolutely delighted with every mile that passed. It was also at this 16 mile point, that I read quite a striking and poignant banner: 'Prostrate cancer is HARD, 26 miles is EASY, EASY, EASY!' It put everything into perspective, and somehow it did seem a little easier.

 

 

 

So I carried on trotting and all of a sudden I was at mile 20, feeling pretty good, thinking I could maybe pick up the pace a little, and then a big scare hit me. If I could just keep this pace going I was going to beat my 'dreamed of, but never nearly attained' goal - a 4hr time. In some ways, I was really chuffed because this would be completely unexpected vis-a-vis the training I'd done/not done. In another way, I was actually really annoyed as it meant I was going to have to really push myself to beat it, which would have been horrible.

 

 

 

Unfortunately the feeling of being able to pick up the pace rapidly transformed into major cramp coming upto Blackfriars Bridge . I had been in touch with the family and knew that they were just after Blackfriars, so after a good stretch I managed to get myself to running/hobbling pace and pass them with a smile and an 'it's all okay' expression, ruined of course by the fact I was at least ten minutes late.

 

 

 

There were now only 2 or so miles to go, and I knew that it was going to be over very soon. I tried walking again but the crowd just wouldn't allow it, and so back to the 'hobble/run gait coupled with a grimaced face' that gets you extra sympathy with the crowd.  The support really was unbelievable and especially so as I was running close to various cartoon characters such as The Caveman, who was continuously mistaken as Tarzan. I tried to pick up the pace a few times in the belief that it would all be over soooner if I went quicker, but I could feel the cramp returning. With only 200 metres to go down the Mall, it still wouldn't disappear and still threatened disaster. But the distance passed, and I crossed the line, far too tired to pose for the camera above and your 'professional photo'. A wave of relief ran through my body that I completed it (4hrs 18mins), and the girl blubbed beside me into her phone that she had done it.

 

 

 

Next to come was the really hard bit - getting out of there. The legs seized up immediately on stopping, and every step from then on was like a mountaineer's steps above 7000m - very slow! It was all the way to Waterloo , propped by my parents, but I think the walk did some good.  A high level of TLC was on offer by my sister that night and it really was appreciated.

 

 

 

A week on and I’m pretty much recovered, bar a Rooney-esque metatarsal bruise from continual pounding of the feet. Counting up the monies raised has been the best bit as it’s made it all worth it. Thankyou to you all!

 

 

 

 

 

Original message:

Hi there! Thanks for visiting my fund raising web site.

Once again, I'm running for North West Cancer Research. It's the same deal - you sponsor me, and I put myself through a near-death experience.

North West Cancer Research is a great charity. My father's been Chairman for a number of years and puts a tremendous amount of work into it.  They manage to put nearly 90p in the £ directly into research, so it's money well spent; and I think the charity cause has probably touched everyone. Tremendous strides have been made in the last twenty years, and will continue to do so with your help, however small.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: North West Cancer Research Fund will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

If you're in town on the big day, Sunday 23rd April, then please come along and support. It's a fantastic atmosphere, and if you're really lucky like somebody last time, you can give me a hamstring stretch when I've got cramp at the usual 21 mile post.

MANY THANKS. YOUR DONATIONS WILL BE MOST APPRECIATED, HOWEVER SMALL.

Gareth LL

PS.

Below is the website of NWCR, and the picture on the front page is what I'll look like in 30 years time. But please add hair into the imagination.

http://www.cancerresearchnorthwest.co.uk/