Dear All,
Well, just check out that final total at the top of the page!
Unbelievable !!
You folks really know how to support a worthwhile charity and I am totally blown away by you all. Thank you so very much.
Thanks also for all of the kind enquiries after my general health and wellbeing. I am pleased to report that apart from a couple of occasionally rebelling knees, the rest of the body has held up valiantly and, after a couple of weeks R and R/laziness, I am backing trotting around the South Downs.....for fun again!
For those who have asked..."Next year?" the answer is " Thanks, but no thanks !". I have made a pact with my creaking bones - they humoured me this time by getting me round, but I owe them a more leisurely retirement henceforth ! I am going to do the Great South Run in October with my son and daughter ( a mere 10 miles...ha!) to keep ticking off the Bucket List but that will bring down the curtain on this madness!
I have often wondered "why run a marathon?" and 26 miles later I still dont get it !!!!
I have learnt a lot through the process - some things about my own mental stamina, but most of all, just how fantastic the support from you all has been - not just in the great Just Giving captions, but by the endless personal enquiries, kindness and support wherever I have been - and your limitless patience with my persistent e-mailing ! You have all continually greeted me with a smile (you don't know just how unusual that is to a QS !) and immediate reference to the marathon which, ultimately, was the key factor when deciding whether or not to risk the injured Achilles a couple of days before the run. I simply couldnt let you all down, which proved exactly the right decision. Thanks for that (also saved me deferring for a year and so having to do ALL of that training again, of course, too - a BIG thanks for that !).
Thought I'd finish off with a picture of the full Scragg support crew immediately after the torture .....and Yes, they are holding me up !! Huge thanks to them for tolerating the gloomy Sunday post-long run moods and fatigue and, particularly, for appearing at miles 7, 18 and 23 on the day - they could have bought ME a Travelcard too though !
Well, will sign off now....seems like the end of an era ("Yes, the Dark Ages" I can hear you mutter ! ). You can now turn your computers on every morning, safe in the knowledge that the harrassment is over.....bet you'll actually miss me after all this time....and you can't say THAT about many QSs either !
Thanks again, pat yourselves on the back, raise a glass to our joint success and swear never to do anything so stupid yourselves !
Pete, the Dead Beat
