Richard Colquhoun
Rich's marathon challenge
Fundraising for Cystic Fibrosis Trust
Story
http://www.cftrust.org.uk
Marathon day
Sunday morning up at 06.30 looked out the window to see clear blue sky, a good day for the marathon.
Drove down to Greenwich from Gillingham, Lisa (wife) dropped me off at Greenwich park then went off with the kids for a Mc Donalds breakfast, I got a bowl of porridge and an energy bar, Hmmm.
Walking through the park towards the start was an experience in it's self. Thousands of runners all were making their way to there respective start gates. Mine was gate 8, which meant starting near the back of the field.
The sun was getting quite strong so I kept topping up with fluids, and put some sun cream on the old slap head.
As 9.45 loomed closer the crowds moved slowly forwards towards the start line.
9.45 was the mass start, I crossed the start line about 10.15 :o)) it was jogging commuter style, shoulder to shoulder. It was like that for about 6 miles which was both good, because it stopped me going off to quickly, and bad because it was frustrating trying to get past runners that were doing the marathon on a walk run routine (quite a few walkers by the 6 mile point) Still it was my first marathon so I wasn't to worried about how long it took. The crowds were brilliant, the sun was shining and by 12 miles I was on a 4.5 hour pace. At the 13-mile marker I saw Lisa and the kids, which gave me a boost. I was a bit concerned about the heat, so I made sure of taking on water and the lucozade sport drink that was provided.
By 15 miles I was getting a bit tired. 18 miles and it was getting painful, but the crowds around Canary wharf were doing a great job spurring all the runners on. At 20 miles I had to stop and take my trainers off because I could feel some blisters starting. A quick sort out with my socks and I was on my way again, at a reduced pace. 23 miles and I was hurting badly, met a couple of other CF runners who were in the same condition (in pain but cheerful) At 24 mile I got overtaken by a bloke in a Rhino suit, no way!!! I had to pull the stops out and get a shift on :o)) Just imagine the finishing photograph and I'm behind a bloke in a 2 stone Rhino suit. BTW a huge well done and respect for all those runners in the costumes, they must be super fit, or mad, either way they are marvellous... They must have sweated buckets Running down Birdcage walk was agony, but I managed to get across the finish line in 5 hours. What a relief that was, and not to bad since I only started training on Jan 1st. Would I do it again? If you asked yesterday no chance would have been the answer. Today, despite aching for England, I might. ;o)) Thanks every one for looking in on my web page, and thanks for your sponsorship and words of encouragement, they have kept me going. Hi my name is Richard and I shall be running the Flora London Marathon for Cystic Fibrosis to help find a cure for this inherited genetic disease. My daughter Lois has Cystic Fibrosis, she is nine years old and although looks very healthy, is often very poorly. She has daily medication which includes oral and nebulised antibiotics, steroids and vitamins. She also takes lots of enzymes to help digest her food. She has poor school attendance and misses her friends and lots of parties when she is ill. She has regular hospital visits and i.v's at home every three months. For one so young she has to endure physiotherapy three times a day to clear the sticky mucus which clog up her lungs and causes chest infections. Cystic Fibrosis is the UK's most common life-threatening inherited disease. The disease affects over 7,500 people in the United Kingdom. In the UK 2.3 million people carry the faulty gene, there is a 1 in 4 chance with every pregnancy that their child will have Cystic Fibrosis. The Cystic Fibrosis Trust needs money to fund research to help find a cure. Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. Please dig deep and sponsor me online. Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Cystic Fibrosis Trust 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. A few Facts and Figures from the CF trust - Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is the UK's most common, life-threatening, inherited disease. - Cystic Fibrosis affects over 7,500 people in the UK. - Of the people with CF, 50% are under 15 and 70% are under 20. - In the UK, 2.3 million people carry the faulty CF gene - 1 in 25 of the population. - If both parents are carriers of the faulty gene, there is a 1 in 4 chance with every pregnancy that their child will have Cystic Fibrosis. - Cystic Fibrosis affects vital organs in the body, especially the lungs and digestive system, clogging them with sticky mucus, which makes it difficult to breathe and digest food. - Each week five babies are born with Cystic Fibrosis. - Each week three young lives are lost to Cystic Fibrosis. - Average life expectancy for someone with CF is 31 years. - The Cystic Fibrosis Trust needs to raise £5 million every year to fund its vital work. - We fund research aimed at understanding, treating and curing Cystic Fibrosis. - We also aim to ensure that people with CF receive the best possible care and support in all aspects of their lives.
Marathon day
Sunday morning up at 06.30 looked out the window to see clear blue sky, a good day for the marathon.
Drove down to Greenwich from Gillingham, Lisa (wife) dropped me off at Greenwich park then went off with the kids for a Mc Donalds breakfast, I got a bowl of porridge and an energy bar, Hmmm.
Walking through the park towards the start was an experience in it's self. Thousands of runners all were making their way to there respective start gates. Mine was gate 8, which meant starting near the back of the field.
The sun was getting quite strong so I kept topping up with fluids, and put some sun cream on the old slap head.
As 9.45 loomed closer the crowds moved slowly forwards towards the start line.
9.45 was the mass start, I crossed the start line about 10.15 :o)) it was jogging commuter style, shoulder to shoulder. It was like that for about 6 miles which was both good, because it stopped me going off to quickly, and bad because it was frustrating trying to get past runners that were doing the marathon on a walk run routine (quite a few walkers by the 6 mile point) Still it was my first marathon so I wasn't to worried about how long it took. The crowds were brilliant, the sun was shining and by 12 miles I was on a 4.5 hour pace. At the 13-mile marker I saw Lisa and the kids, which gave me a boost. I was a bit concerned about the heat, so I made sure of taking on water and the lucozade sport drink that was provided.
By 15 miles I was getting a bit tired. 18 miles and it was getting painful, but the crowds around Canary wharf were doing a great job spurring all the runners on. At 20 miles I had to stop and take my trainers off because I could feel some blisters starting. A quick sort out with my socks and I was on my way again, at a reduced pace. 23 miles and I was hurting badly, met a couple of other CF runners who were in the same condition (in pain but cheerful) At 24 mile I got overtaken by a bloke in a Rhino suit, no way!!! I had to pull the stops out and get a shift on :o)) Just imagine the finishing photograph and I'm behind a bloke in a 2 stone Rhino suit. BTW a huge well done and respect for all those runners in the costumes, they must be super fit, or mad, either way they are marvellous... They must have sweated buckets Running down Birdcage walk was agony, but I managed to get across the finish line in 5 hours. What a relief that was, and not to bad since I only started training on Jan 1st. Would I do it again? If you asked yesterday no chance would have been the answer. Today, despite aching for England, I might. ;o)) Thanks every one for looking in on my web page, and thanks for your sponsorship and words of encouragement, they have kept me going. Hi my name is Richard and I shall be running the Flora London Marathon for Cystic Fibrosis to help find a cure for this inherited genetic disease. My daughter Lois has Cystic Fibrosis, she is nine years old and although looks very healthy, is often very poorly. She has daily medication which includes oral and nebulised antibiotics, steroids and vitamins. She also takes lots of enzymes to help digest her food. She has poor school attendance and misses her friends and lots of parties when she is ill. She has regular hospital visits and i.v's at home every three months. For one so young she has to endure physiotherapy three times a day to clear the sticky mucus which clog up her lungs and causes chest infections. Cystic Fibrosis is the UK's most common life-threatening inherited disease. The disease affects over 7,500 people in the United Kingdom. In the UK 2.3 million people carry the faulty gene, there is a 1 in 4 chance with every pregnancy that their child will have Cystic Fibrosis. The Cystic Fibrosis Trust needs money to fund research to help find a cure. Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. Please dig deep and sponsor me online. Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Cystic Fibrosis Trust 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. A few Facts and Figures from the CF trust - Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is the UK's most common, life-threatening, inherited disease. - Cystic Fibrosis affects over 7,500 people in the UK. - Of the people with CF, 50% are under 15 and 70% are under 20. - In the UK, 2.3 million people carry the faulty CF gene - 1 in 25 of the population. - If both parents are carriers of the faulty gene, there is a 1 in 4 chance with every pregnancy that their child will have Cystic Fibrosis. - Cystic Fibrosis affects vital organs in the body, especially the lungs and digestive system, clogging them with sticky mucus, which makes it difficult to breathe and digest food. - Each week five babies are born with Cystic Fibrosis. - Each week three young lives are lost to Cystic Fibrosis. - Average life expectancy for someone with CF is 31 years. - The Cystic Fibrosis Trust needs to raise £5 million every year to fund its vital work. - We fund research aimed at understanding, treating and curing Cystic Fibrosis. - We also aim to ensure that people with CF receive the best possible care and support in all aspects of their lives.