"To cross the finish line, for those who are no longer able to"

I had that in my head during the pain points of the 26 miles of torture. So despite running the thing with a manky squash knee, being treated for blisters, cramp and Achilles pain on three occasions during the race I can proudly say "I completed the London Marathon". I have a shiny medal to prove it and some lingering aches and pains if I was in any doubt!

I just wanted to share some experiences of the day which will stay with me forever. As ever the inevitable drama with me, I thought I had prepared quite well the night before got all my gear packed a little pouch for my keys, credit card (Visa) and Oyster which I could keep during the race and allow me to get home later and cover every eventuality, when you live alone you have to think of the worst that can happen. So the plan was to wake up at 6.15am, alarm set though leisurely breakfast, indian tea to get my jangles janggling maybe some cereal etc.

Inevitably I didn’t sleep too well I got up at 4ish, then nodded back off thinking the alarm will go off in 2 hours. So I did, drifted away, and thought to myself ‘I am sleeping longer than 2 hours’ looked at the alarm and it was flipping 8.15am (e.g. 1 hour before the time I should be in Greenwich!). A number of 4 letter expletives later I got dressed quicker than I have ever done, grabbed a coffee a banana and a health bar then decided to drive to Stratford and get a train – this was likely to be my only way if making it. Much to my relief there were lots of other bright red Virgin kit bags, so I could relax a tad. I was still stumped as to why the alarm didn’t go off, its got me on to Heathrow flights at 6am in the past so of all the days it buggers up, this wasn’t the one! The thought I would have missed the race for being late doesn’t beggar belief! I would have let all of you guys down for a start!

Anyway, made it to Greenwich ok got my kitbag onto the numbered lorries and put on my Royal British Legion vest and my official number 46270 – I was a real runner – wow! I fell into the massive start line for the ‘masses’ category with dinosaurs, donkeys, Super Ted, Dangermouse and a bus, yes a bus?!! But what an atmosphere, but what nerves too. I was in flipping Greenwich I would think twice about getting a tube here, let alone the thought I had to run to the more familiar ground of Central London.

I realised that the Nike App on my iphone wasn’t worth using as it needed the 3G signal to be on and I didn’t like the idea of folks calling me or texting during the race so I decided against timing myself and relied on the fact that I didn’t really care about the time, just making it to the end in one piece. I had an amazing first 10 miles the best ever, in all my training the most I had ever run was one 15 miler and a couple of 10’s and quite a lot of 5’s. In all cases I stopped along the way, but during the race I breezed through the first 10. I was actually enjoying it, some great moments including passing a Sikh Gurudwara around the 2^nd mile and I ironically had a Bhangra tune on my iphone so I had to raise my arms high in a bhangra wiggle which got great cheers from the supporting Sikhs lined along the road.

Further along there was some rather ghetto sounding bashment rig blasting some heavy bass, the Jamaicans who manned it gave me a wave as I tried to ‘bogle’ whilst running this theme continued through the miles with the variations of music that played with the bands that lined the streets. This was just a truly amazing part of the journey to 26 miles that London came out in its full glory, different communities, creeds and colours all supporting the 37,000 who came to run for glory, passion, causes or self-satisfaction whatever their reasons the support of the public throughout the whole route is the amazing thing about the Marathon.

I couldn’t even pee for the first 10 miles, I thought about it but despite taking in lots of water I just couldn’t for some reason. I am sure some seasoned runner will explain the reasons why, but what did happen at mile 10 was my iphone packed in for some reason. I couldn’t work out why, so I tried to faff around with it for a couple of miles then I just turned it off. So my plans of using music to get me through were out the window, but hey that’s how we Kenyans roll! Moses Kiptanui never had an iphone – he probably has now and uses it to make payments in Kenya but that’s a different story!

I will never forget the run through Tower Bridge this was packed with well wishers and the cheers were the loudest of the whole lot, amazing feeling when folks who don’t know you from Adam shout “Riten, Riten” (my name was on my vest) from the streets has an amazing sense of belonging that I cannot describe.

As I turned the corner of Tower Bridge there was the official cheering gang from the Royal British Legion, there was an amazing roar and I was startled and I didn’t know what to do apart form silly dance whilst running, I put it down to still being freaked out for almost being late – so apologies to all who had to witness it!

I found the Isle of Dogs quite tough, it started to warm up and some of it just seemed to wind round and around. Still some great crowds, the moment that captured the London spirit for me was group of Milwall fans shouting my name, now one can easily say things like there were the obvious expletives to follow the shouting of my name but it was genuine support. So I gave a wave back and it was something rather surreal.

My memory escapes me during those middle miles, I know that I had to pull up 3 times for the really helpful St Johns Ambulance folks to patch me up. But coming out towards Poplar gave me the sense that the hell was coming towards an end and passing 17 miles seemed closer to 26 than it was further and the longest I had ever run in my life!. Coming down towards the City I thought I am gonna finish this, though it was sad to see that some had to pull out along the sides and I tried not to look too much as it would have been tempting to do the same.

"To cross the finish line, for those who are no longer able to" I thought of this again clenched my fist and said to myself come on get it together. I am not sure if that was ‘The Wall’ for me, I actually think I hit The Wall at the start but I put that down to my drama in the morning.

It was great to bump into my friend Anil around mile 20, he had been training for a while and well done on him to get this far I decided I wanted to run as much as I could to get closer to 26. I would meet Anil later after the finish. Further along I met another Legion runner, and we chatted a bit, its amazing how you can have a chat doing a marathon actually we were most concerned about the party after and neither of us could remember where it was!

As the City, turned to Temple, then Embankment I knew I was close, I had been pissed in these areas on many occasions this was drinking territory for Gohil and I thought I am now in my comfort zone and I thought of the next few miles in terms of bars, Oxo then Las iguanas on the South Bank, to Bhudda Bar and Opal near Embankment tube and Dusk at Somerset House, all I needed to know was Zander wasn’t far and that was pretty much the end. It’s crazy to think of a marathon in terms of alcohol but having been without it for 3 months, it was calling!

I did walk a lot of the last 5 I will be honest, I wasn’t tired just the aches and pains and it probably was the reason for finishing in 6 hrs but with that and the 3 stops I think it was a fair return for the effort I put in. I still had something in my locker for the finish, I tried the iphone to see if I could get a Powersong for the final spring down The Mall, I decided to go for a song composed by my friend Rahul Sharma called Maya, it’s one of those uplifting track that has a great tempo and was made for the occasion. I darted across the line I had always dreamed of doing this and no matter what state I was in I achieved a dream at that moment. I punched the air as I crossed and thought – I can actually do another 10 miles – not!

I got a bit emotional at the end I must admit, initially my thoughts were about my achievement during a rather tough year then I shrugged it off and realised that really is nothing in the grand scheme of things. Along the way I saw images of runners who were there for family members who had passed away, pictures of young toddlers who had been taken from this world with an uncurable disease, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers all who had a reasons for doing what they did they are the real hero’s of the day. I am just one of the masses who believed in the cause I supported and my way of giving something back to those who have given us the things we enjoy in life today. I finished for them.  

Whilst I am proud of my shiny medal I am totally gobsmacked by the fact I made the £2,000 mark in sponsorship and whether you got lost reading this half way or even sooner, I cannot but extend my gratitude to each and every one of you for helping me get across the line. The moment when I realised I nearly missed the day, I felt I would have let you all down and my Mr Bean moment turned out to be the most valuable day in my life which I will never forget.

I never made the party that night, to me I partied all the way through the 26 miles in the worlds biggest nightclub and I was drunk on the elixir of life. For once in my life I really felt I had done something really meaningful and I will never forget it.

So I got home had dinner with my cousin (thanks Chitt) who had to give me some Physio as my leg had got cramped up. I had a bath and walked into my bedroom and the radio was on - the alarm mystery solved - I had it down for 6.15pm rather than am! What a wally.

 

I am sure the money I have raised will be used by the legion to preserve the memories of those who have served us or to help those serving today and their families feel comforted by the fact that each and every one of you care. Thanks so much and I hope I get to speak to you all soon.

Best Wishes

Riten