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!
If you haven't used JustGiving before here is all the blurb:
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
So please dig deep and donate now.
