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Raised so far: £1,576.00
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My story

 

Update: 28/09/09:

The results are in: I was aiming for 2.36 and made it over the line in 2.38.08 in 4179th place with 10% of the field still behind me.  I ran metronomically with each mile coming up every 12 minutes.  The course was very hot and very hilly, but I only put my heel down to walk once on the hill at the 10 mile marker.  I was even able to put on a bit of Chariots of Fire finish spurred on when I saw Daniel cheering me from on top of Grandpa Joe's shoulders.

It was a painful but almost wholly positive experience!

Today, I can hardly walk, I was just stopped coming in from the car park this morning by a colleague who shouted 'Mark are you OK, what's happened to you?' - I proudly told him that I had run a half marathon!

Thankyou to everybody for your generous donations - If you haven't donated yet your sponsorship would still be very welcome for an excellent cause!

 

Original message:

I'm going to launch a challenge on the Windsor Half Marathon this coming weekend ... for a man built more for comfort than for speed this will be my biggest ever physical challenge.  The training has been fairly arduous spanning 5 months with various strains and crunching joints: after an intensive altitude training camp in North Yorkshire I have come back from injury and completed my last big training run yesterday still able to walk!

The aim is to try and get round the course in about 2 and half hours, but to tell you the truth I'll be happy to get round without requiring the amputation of my lower legs.

I am running on behalf of the Neonatal Unit at St. Peter's Hospital in Chertsey. This unit is downstairs from where Hannah was born in June this year and helps sick babies and their families. The money will be used for vital and expensive equipment necessary to provide Intensive care for babies.  We are very lucky indeed that neither Hannah nor Daniel needed their help!   Hannah is the reason that I am undertaking this challenge, about a year ago after an awful summer of tests we were told that Rachel would need an operation to have more children, and I declared that I would run the Windsor Half marathon if she got pregnant before the operation ... Rachel immediatey fell pregnant and I was left with a challenge ahead! 

If you don't think me training for and running a half marathon is sufficient for you to part with your cash then please consider this as sponsorship for Rachel who has had to look after a new baby and Daniel whilst I have been pounding the pavements!

If anyone fancies coming to support me on Sunday it would be great to see you in Windsor, the run goes up the Long Walk and through the Great Park so it should be good for a picnic!

 

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Thanks to Nas Donation by Mark Griffiths 21/11/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Hope you have fully recovered and are looking forwards to the next one! Donation by Rowen 09/11/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

...sorry this is late chap... well done! Donation by Nick Lyon 18/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

well done (said the tortoise :) Donation by Susan McGuffie 09/10/09  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Thanks to Ray, Jon, Neil and Phil Donation by Mark Griffiths 09/10/09  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

congrats Mark! hopefully we can see you all before Christmas... Donation by Richard Lindley 06/10/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

I'm in shock! I didn't know you had it in you :-) Congratulations. Donation by Anna Hill 04/10/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Well done Mark. Whatever next, a triathlon? Donation by Tom Hallewell 01/10/09  

£20.00

Well done mate. I did 2 miles on the tread mill yesterday and gave up. So I reckon you did good! Donation by Darren Power 01/10/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Well done Sir! A sparkling effort! Donation by Anthony Mannion 30/09/09  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Congratulations Mark, great acheivement. Donation by Jennifer Colbourn 30/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Well Done Donation by Mohammed Ajmal 30/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Congratulations Mark, hope the blisters are easing! Donation by stuart ellerker 29/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Shame you cheated by walking - hope you realise you have to start from the beginning again or it doesn't count...Wicksie Donation by Sarah Dow 29/09/09  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Well done Mark Donation by Jonathan Tiverton Brown 29/09/09  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Challenge laid down, accepted and achieved. Well done Mark... Donation by Ajit Thomas 29/09/09  

£26.00 + £7.33 Gift Aid

Congratulations - great time and great cause Donation by louise watson 29/09/09  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Well done Mark! With much admiration, Linda, Steve and bumpino x Donation by Linda Ditri 28/09/09  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Well done, Mark! Next year, the full Marathon?? Donation by Alison Davies 28/09/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Well done Mark - hope you've not done any permanent damage! Donation by ross wilkinson 28/09/09  

£5.00

Well done Mark...... Donation by Martin Melarkey 28/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

As promised - Well Done Donation by Colin Blythe 28/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Well done hop-a-long Donation by Nick Reeves 28/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Well done Mark - another string to your bow ! Donation by Michael Bounford 28/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Well done Mark!! Donation by Sam Karbani 28/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Donation by Kulvinder Birdi 28/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Great cause. Well done buddy. We should all be so motivated. Donation by Sanjay Juneja 28/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Well done Bro - fantastic effort! Donation by Paul Griffiths 27/09/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Well done Grif. I'm getting tired just thinking of running that far Donation by Andy Brown 27/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

You'd be better taking the plane fool! ;-) Nice one. Donation by Jerry Dawson 25/09/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
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