My work here is done!  After all those months of training the day of the marathon has come and gone in a bit of a blur and I am still stunned and can’t quite believe that I have done the London Marathon!!  It took me 5 hours and 57 minutes, which was just under the dreaded 6 hours that I thought I might be going over after my car crash and following interruption to my training. Having lost my asthma inhaler somewhere around mile 9 (which made me panic for a bit) and discovering an injured right ankle this morning (it’s a lovely dark colour, swollen and makes lots of crunchy noises when I move it), which I must have picked up somewhere around mile 18, as it was then that it started being too painful to run the whole way to the end and I had to walk a bit every now and then instead – I am even more pleased with my time!!!  Should be able to beat it next time though… The atmosphere was fantastic, the crowds where great, the sense of achievement is overwhelming, the weather wasn’t that bad really and my own personal support crew (Karl, Kathryn, Mark, Dave, Laura) were always there just when I needed them!! Karl managed to catch up with me four times!! First just after the Cutty Sark (with the rest of the crew), then at Tower Bridge (Karl on his own), then at Canary Wharf (where the crew was briefly joined by an extra two smiley faced: Angela and Suzanne) and one last (and much needed) time at mile 23 in the City (by which time Cathryn had managed to catch up with them). I can’t explain how nice it is to see those familiar faces in the crowd.  I managed to have a finishing photograph taken (though my smile was very shaky), proudly presenting my new medal, and staggered off to find Karl and the others once I had collected my kit and goody bags. We had planned to go to Henry’s atGreenPark, but couldn’t get there in the end as the roads were still shut – sorry if anyone was trying to find us in there! We ended up going/hobbling to Nando’s at Charing X instead, where Rob joined us. My thanks go to:
* Kathryn for making a lovely pink and green sign to help me find them in the crowds!
* Mark, Dave, Laura, Cathryn and Rob for being there for me on the day!
* Claire for making things soooo much easier by driving us to the station in the morning before the race!
* All family and friends for their encouraging words and telling me they knew I could do it over the last few weeks and months!
* Everyone at work for my lovely bouquet of flowers to wish me good luck!
* All my generous sponsors!
and
* Last but, by no means, least: Karl! Who has been my training partner, pace setter and motivator, bought me my invaluable pink engraved iPod Nano especially for the marathon, has put up with my various hissy fits throughout the whole training, ended-up carrying all my gear most of the day and still wants to marry me! I couldn’t have done it without you!! So, just a skydive 10th May, half marathon 8th June, wedding 29th June and sprint distance London Triathlon in August next… not that much time to rest then. Incidentally, Karl has just applied for a place in next year’s London Marathon and I am quite tempted myself. That and/orBerlin… hmmmm… Mini
xx p.s. Anyone who sponsored me using the form let me know if you’d like me to remind you of the amount you put down. You can also sponsor me online instead if it’s easier than giving me cash. ______________________________________________________ Hello everyone - Ok, I'm getting VERY nervous now! Karl and I did the Paddock Wood Half Marathon on 30th March (see evidence left) and apart from wanting to collapse in a heap due to back pain and knee aches at around mile 11 it was fun! Ha-haa... so double that distance should be a doddle - hmmmm. Time wasn't great, but I'm starting to realise that maybe for my very first ever marathon I should just aim to complete rather than setting myself a goal finishing time. Humpf! Karl is planning a pub crawl with some friends along the route to cheer me on (I'm sure seeing him and friends waving at me with pints in hands will be very motivating!), so get in touch if you would like to join him/them. FYI - My race number is 39564 ______________________________________________________ I am pleased (and at the same time quite scared) to say that I have been accepted for a place in this year's Flora London Marathon, raising funds for The Friends Of The RSPCA Leybourne Animal Centre. The RSPCA Leybourne Animal Centre was opened in 1996 and each year helps around 3,000 unwanted, abandoned and neglected animals. The site extends to some 23 acres and ongoing maintenance work is required to keep the Animal Centre looking spic and span for the 80,000 visitors who come each year. The RSPCA Leybourne Animal Centre covers a huge area including Kent, Sussex, Essex and parts of Greater London too; its doors are ever open to help needy animals. Although the Centre is funded by the RSPCA Headquarters the amount received is never enough to cover the additional requirements of a thriving and expanding Centre in these days of spiralling costs. Please help me help the little (and some not so little) fluffs by donating and hopefully also by supporting me on the day. The more cheering I hear from the crowds, the more likely I am to finish with a smile on my face. Until my car crash on 18th December, I was well on track with all my training - after a break to recover from concussion, I am now building up to running longer distances again and hope to finish the 26.2 miles on my legs, with no crawling. Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: The Friends Of The Rspca Leybourne Animal Centre 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.
So please sponsor me now!
Many thanks for your support. Mini xxx
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