Thank you for visiting my fundraising page.
I'm running the London Marathon on 13th April followed by the Edinburgh Marathon just a few weeks later.
Having never raced a marathon before, I have stupidly set myself the somewhat ambitious target of recording a time under the 2 hours 45 required to qualify as an “elite” runner.
Whilst I'm out pounding the pavements getting ready for 52.4 miles of extreme pain, (which will no doubt last long after the races have finished), I'd be grateful if you would please dig deep and sponsor me online.
I'll be back to give updates on this site on how I'm progressing and after each race.
Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: ACROSS 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.
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Update 10 Feb 2008
My first warm up race went really well. Wokingham 1/2 Marathon in 1hr 17min17sec which puts me bang on target to get round a marathon in just under 2:45.......in theory !!
Thanks for all of the sponsorship so far! Keep it coming :-)
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Update 17 March 2008
Oh well - I guess I was hoping for too much. A minor calf injury has cost me 10 days of training and meant that I had to miss my second and final warm-up race yesterday. Still, I'm starting some gentle training again today with just 4 weeks to go until London. This has all the twists and turns of a Hollywood blockbuster in the making!!!
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Update 15 April 2008
The London Marathon was fantastic - everything people say about it being an experience not to be missed is an understatement. The race itself went perfectly to plan until I got to the Isle of Dogs (about 15 miles) and it started raining cats and dogs for 20 minutes along with a gale force wind that came out of nowhere. I went on to finish in 2hrs 45min 33sec just missing my target time but like any good sportsman, I have my excuses at the ready and blame those 33 seconds on the wind and the rain. I'm now hobbling around looking like I've been caught short but I hope to get back training at the weekend so I'm ready for Edinburgh in just under 6 weeks time when I should be ready to shave a bit of time off and get under the dream 2:45 barrier.
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Final update after the Edinburgh Marathon on 25 May 2008
I started the Edinburgh Marathon in some trepidation given the predominantly easterly course which was exposed to the strong easterly winds coming off the North Sea that we have been enjoying for the last week. Given this headwind I thought my chances of improving on the London time were very slim but somehow I managed to dig deep to finish 25th overall in 2hrs 43min 49sec.
Here is a link to my official result and race splits
Since I've squeezed under the 2hr45 barrier I am delighted to say that I'm now qualified to start from the AAA Championship start (the "elite" start) at next year's London Marathon. This gives me the chance to start with the Kenyans as opposed to starting behind the celebrities and having to take a lengthy detour around the likes of Jade Goody and Gordon Ramsey.
Thank you again for all of your support
