Story
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<p><em>Marathon day update, 29-04-12 (please scroll down to see why I did this!)</em></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: left; background-color: #ffffff;">Short version. Marathon started well but I started cramping from about 11 miles and the ever-increasing pain slowed me down. As a result I became colder than I've ever felt in my life. Forced to abandon at 20 miles when I got thrown into the back of an ambulance with uncontrollable shakes and mild hypothermia. Gutted. I didn't even feel tired.</span><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: left; background-color: #ffffff;"><br style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: left; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: left; background-color: #ffffff;">Long version. Set off really well despite </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: left; background-color: #ffffff;">atrocious weather, the 3.75h pace felt comfortable and sustainable and I felt confident. Left quad started cramping at 11 miles and I tried to run through it but the pain forced me to stop and stretch every few minutes. I was forced to take small steps but still made it to the 13 mile mark in reasonable time (1hr50m ish). Miles 13 to 20 were miserable, because of my slow speed I was losing heat in the driving rain. At mile 20 I was beyond cold and I knew it was game over. Spectators propped me up until the I got into the ambulance which was already home to 8 casualties. It was so crowded that one chap volunteered to get out to make space for me. Other folk mostly had the same issues, plus one hernia, one asthma attack, one panic attack. So many people were forced to abandon that stagecoach laid on a double-decker to move us all back to the start. It wasn't all bad, I spoke to some fantastic people whilst hanging around.<br><br>Thank-you to everyone who has supported and encouraged me. I now have some unfinished business and will be running another marathon as soon as is sensible. Because nobody saw it today (it was under a waterproof layer) I shall be wearing my Max Appeal running top with pride on my next 26.2er :-) Thank you VERY much to everyone who has donated. Mike.</span></p>
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<p><em>Original post.</em></p>
<p>On a whim I have decided to enter this year's Greater Manchester Marathon. As a non-runner this is a totally crazy idea, and apart from a few weeks of training prior to a 10K event last year (which I did not enjoy) I haven't run anywhere for over two decades. I'm not sure what inspired me, perhaps David Walliam's Thames swim, Chrissie Wellington's "A life without limits" book, or a few pints of real ale. Whatever it was I really wish I'd thought of it sooner, 6 weeks of training for a full marathon does not sound much!</p>
<p>I'm only running three days a week (short, medium, long), the rest of the time I'll be on my bike because it's far more enjoyable :) Please get in touch if you fancy joining me either for training or on the day itself. You needn't even run, just turn up to laugh at my stupidity!</p>
<p>And now the important stuff: -</p>
<p>Some of you may be lucky enough to know my 4 year old niece Sarah. As well as Albinism Sarah was born with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (which occurs when a part of the DNA on chromosome 22 is missing). The features of this syndrome vary wildly (and include heart defects) but Sarah's thankfully fall at the mild end of the scale. She was born with a cleft palate and suffers from a weak immune system, hearing impairment, anxiety, various physical features, and a general delay in global development. Thanks to her mum's (my little sister's) phenomenal dedication you would struggle to recognise much of this when first meeting Sarah, she is one of the happiest, most loving, and loveable, little people on the planet. <a title="Max Appeal" href="http://www.maxappeal.org.uk">Max Appeal</a> is a small national charity whose mission is to try to ensure that every person with 22q11.2 deletion lives as independent and prosperous a life as possible.</p>
<p>Please donate if you can, every penny counts.</p>
<p>Thank you in advance for your support, I'll see you in sunny Manchester on 29th April :-)</p>
<p>Mike</p>
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