Raised: 101%
Target: £4,000.00
Raised so far: £4,055.00
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My story

 
DONE AND DUSTED
Both Rob and I are glad to get out the other side in one piece, although I think I might be losing a toe nail in the next few days.

We would just like to say a heart felt thank you on behalf of not just the 2 of us, but also Keith, Rita and Rowan, to all of you who have supported us with your generosity and help raise a fantastic amount of money for a great cause.  For those of you who haven't done so yet, it's ok, but you'd better get on with it.

HOW DID WE DO
Not bad.  After setting a challenging time to aim for, our confidence was reduced due to slight knocks and work OT taking the edge of the latter stages of our training.  In very cold conditions we got off to steady first quarter and looked at finishing around 3h 45m.  With a little sunshine and 2 consecutively quicker quarters after that, we entered the final 10k feeling strong and a mere 45 minutes outside our original time.  We decided to give it ago, along with some chap called Dave(?).  Unfortunately Rob pulled up with cramp shortly after.  I was genuinely caught in two minds whether to stop but Rob shouted me on in a scene reminiscent of an epic war film... it was emotional.  Dave and I pushed on and despite slicing through the field, the final 30mins was seriously long and tough.  I lost Dave as he had more legs getting up the last hill.  I tried to hang on to his coat tails but failed.  Into the last mile I contemplated easing in but instead the sudden emergence of an energetic crowd lifted me once more, and I like to think they appreciated my attempts of the what could be the slowest grandstand sprint finish in world history as I crossed the line in 3hr 32m 25s.  Meanwhile Rob stretched out his cramp and painfully got back to his running.  His last 30min was plagued by more bouts of cramp in almost every muscle of his legs (as well as his right arm!?), and he bravely stopped, stretched and started himself again to finish in a very respectable 3h 45m 09s.  With a little more luck we would have come in together.

HIGHWAY TO GEL
Long training runs are tough as you have limited fluid and fuel to claw back some of the 2000-3000 calories lost during the run.  When Rob got wind of a university research project which would give us as many 'High5' energy gels as you could carry in exchange for a urine and blood sample either side of the run, we signed up.  How often do we have take these things?  Every 20minutes.  EVERY 20 MINUTES.  That's about 13 or 14.  I hope these things taste nice.  They didn't, and certainly not by the 7th inside 2hrs.  By the 14th I was nearly sick.  Reward for our participation was that we walked away with 2*30 boxes of more energy gels each.  Great.  We also got interviewed for a High5 TV campaign to recount our experiences and pretend that their gels actually tasted nice.  So watch out for us in a home near you soon.

TAKING THE MICHAEL
Animals.  Just animals.  Put perfectly respectable individuals in an endurance event like this and they lose all sense of decency.  I think every possible part of Dublin on the route was used as a wateringstop, and I don't mean drinking water.  While penned in starting zone, some chap wee'd on the floor, a lady stood next to him, looked at the pool around his now slightly damp trainers, smiled and started chatting to him.  Bizarre.  At this stage it was 2mins before the start and not a toilet in sight and I was desperate.  I had running tights on and considered just letting go in hope of drying off once I got running.  Decency prevailed and I eventually stopped after about 10k for a much needed leak, which slowed us up by about 2 or 3 minutes.  The same amount of time we were outside of the target time.  I think there is a lesson in there somewhere, although not a pleasant one.

Why did we do such a thing?
In the summer of last year a good friend of ours, Gaz Allingham, tragically took his own life.  For those of you didn't have the pleasure, I can tell you Gaz was a very kind, well humoured and generous young man.  He has left a gap in the lives of those who knew him and none more than he most wonderful family who miss him dearly.

Where does my money go?
To 'Papyrus'.  A charity committed to suicide prevention, focusing predominantly on the emotional well-being of children, teenagers and young adults.

'Each year in the UK 1800 young people between 15 and 34 end their own lives, more than 1300 of these are young men.' PAPYRUS, 2007.

Papryus also run HOPElineUK, a confidential helpline staffed by trained professionals who can give support, practical advice and information to anyone concerned that a young person they know maybe at risk of harming themselves.  Please have a look at thier website to see how important their work is: www.papyrus-uk.org.

What do I get in return?
A warm fuzzy feeling of well-being that you have contributed to a worthwhile cause and recongised a decent effort put into to get round in a reasonable time.

What we'd like?
It's still not too late to add a contribution and any donation will be a fantastic gesture and gratefully received. 

Thank you for visiting and reading our page.  Please dig deep and sponsor us any money in the hope that it will prevent the unnecessary loss of another young person through suicide.

Ed and Rob

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor us: Papyrus will receive your money faster and, if you are a taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

If you want to discuss the run, charity or just say hi, please feel free to contact me on: 07976 728 132 or eddie_meow@hotmail.com

Good luck Rob, looking forward to seeing you bright and early on Tuesday morning! Donation by Chris P 24/10/08  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

all the best x Donation by the gibs 24/10/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Best of luck Rob, lets hope guinness is a good energy drink! Donation by Rick Lee 24/10/08  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Enjoy the 'time off' Rob. Good luck! Donation by Jac 24/10/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Fantastic effort, guys. Obviously, if I didn't have the Birmingham Half on Sunday, I'd be there myself.... ;) Donation by Adam 24/10/08  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Don't forget to check your spreadsheet formula, or you may pull a muscle ;-) Donation by James 24/10/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Great cause-good luck fellas. Will double this for under your target time. Donation by Gerry 21/10/08  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Lots of luck. Run run run!!!xx Donation by Cee 20/10/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

A great cause. Good luck! Donation by Beth Austin 20/10/08  

£20.00

Go Uncle Ed! Good Luck xxx Donation by Ailsa, James and Jake 18/10/08  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Two more of the 'Good Guys'...well done! Donation by Eric Pratt & Jan Mitchell 17/10/08  

£50.00

Shake ya booties boys! x Donation by Chelsea 16/10/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good effort already lads continue it on the day Donation by Fred Woodham 15/10/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck to you both - I shall be thinking of you on the day xxx Donation by Gill Robertson 14/10/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Good Luck lads, keep training hard, i hope you reach your target xx Donation by Katy Watkins 14/10/08  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

I'm sure you'll do it and smash your target times. :-) Donation by Kate 14/10/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Keep your achilles tendons and groins warmed up for the big day! Will be thinking of you all the way from Chile! Donation by Jo Banana 13/10/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Best wishes and thank you both so much!! We'll be thinking of you, Gareth and family. xxx Donation by Gareth's cousins from Down Under 13/10/08  

£50.00

Good luck to you both! Donation by Friends from Gainford 12/10/08  

£60.00 + £16.92 Gift Aid

all the best with it boys. well done. Donation by Jim and Lou 10/10/08  

£35.00 + £9.87 Gift Aid

Good luck Donation by Chris and John Stanley 10/10/08  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

best of luck guys, a fantastic effort for a friend dearly missed Donation by Dom Watson 09/10/08  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Well done-its people like you who make a difference luv Haze (i work with your mum) Donation by Hazel Steventon 03/10/08  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Well done and wishing you lots of luck! x Donation by Anna Woodham 03/10/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Wishing you all the very best x Donation by Dawn & Rosie 03/10/08  

£40.00 + £11.28 Gift Aid

£25 base with another £75 if you meet target times.Sorry guys lifes hard so get training. XXX to Keith & Rita. Donation by Nigel & Julia McClune 02/10/08  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

Well done guys. Hope it goes really well! Donation by Steve & Judy 02/10/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Best of luck Donation by John Clark 01/10/08  

£50.00

Good luck to two very good friends of dear Gareth xx Donation by Chris and Neen 01/10/08  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

I'll double it if, sorry when, you smash your target time :) Thank you so much for honouring Gareth's memory in this way. X Donation by Kazia 30/09/08  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid
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* Total raised online: £4,055.00
  Offline donations: £0.00
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £1,001.00

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