Story
<p>21st March 2011 and I have woken to the rather singular experience of scabs on my nipples (more on that later!). Mission accomplished and Pricey and I would like to thank each of our donors and those that supported us wholeheartedly for their consideration and thoughtfulness. At time of writing, over £600 has been raised on this site alone and Pricey has raised even more (see <a href="http://www.justgiving.com/daveandjacob2011">http://www.justgiving.com/daveandjacob2011</a> ).</p>
<p>The PAIN - yeah, you all want to hear about it, and suffice to say, it was hurting so bad by the end of the run, the bleeding nipples were not even noticed by yours truly until we took the post run shots and Pricey casually remarked "your nipples is bleeding, mate" (see, bleeding nipples piccy). Pricey hit a superb time of 1:54:12 which is PHENOMENAL as he pushed Jacob the whole way. I stayed with Dave until the 10th mile, but was starting to flag at this point while Pricey was prancing about like a young thouroughbred on hot mash. So we clapped hands and parted at this point and off he went, taking 4 minutes out of my time in the last 3 miles - bloody youngsters. An amazing result for him, he got a huge roar as he came in to the stadium which I heard outside the park. A real buzz for David and Jacob and summed up the support of the crowd and other runners - thanks, by the way, to the runner who stuffed £10 in to our hands as we ran past him. I finished on 1:58:41 just ducking under the 2 hour target I had set myself for the run.</p>
<p>THE DAY - highly recommended, the atmosphere was superb. 19,000 runners, some brilliant bands playing around the course and Pricey and I parting the traffic with our "chariot". Jacob had a great time, thoroughly enjoying the crowds and giving it a Mexican wave when the crowds really got vocal. Massive experience made remarkeable by the fact that Tracy Kane and her friend who came to support, spotted us in the melee as we pounded through Reading town centre. Thanks Tracy, Fran and Charlotte.</p>
<p>Last, but not least, thanks to my wife Louise who without complaint woke up at 6.30 on a Sunday to drop me off and who puts up with these mad, ill construed fantasies and has to tolerate my wimping around the house as I both train and recover from this self torture.</p>
<p>THE MADNESS - even as I limped around town with Pricey just an hour after the finish, calves cramped, back hurting like hell and nipples still bleeding, we are planning a Reading re-run, determined to Finish together. The theory is, Dave will be another year older and Jacob will be bigger and heavier. Spot the flaw? I'LL be another year older, but obviously not wiser, but, hey, you have to have something to work towards in life! In the meantime, we have the Royal Parks Marathon to look forward to and Pricey is going to trot off 20 miles this weekend, then "wind down" ready for the London Marathon. I love him, but hate him, if you can understand that.</p>
<p>Where will it all end??</p>
<p>(Thanks to the crew at Autistica for their encouragement and support, keep up the good work for kids like Jacob and Families like Pricey see <a href="http://www.autistica.org.uk">www.autistica.org.uk</a> )</p>
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<p>17th March 2011. OK, thanks for visiting. Pricey and I are at it again, going for the burn to raise money for Autustica.</p>
<p>Dig deep, motley crew because it's going to be tough. Pricey is now a thinner, leaner model than last year and is using this half marathon as a training run for the BIG ONE (London Marathon). Meanwhile, I continue to drag my aging, increasingly complaining carcass around the track in a vain effort to keep up with the yoofs and wondering how I get talked in to these things!</p>
<p>Dave this time will be PUSHING his son Jacob who has autism, in his new buggy and I will be keeping him company and hopefully some of the pace. The only glimmer on the horizon is the buggy is big enough to take two if things go pear shaped. The story continues and we need your support, so please donate whatever you can, large or small, it all helps.</p>