IT'S DONE!!!!  What an amazing experience.  36,000 people doing the same thing.  And some 100,000 cheering us on.  Unforgettable.  The bands, the kindness, the friends and family, the cheering, the pain, the music, the costumes. Did I say costumes?  I passed Pamela Anderson in drag, 8 men in kilts, a flower pot, Sponge Bob and a Rhinoceros.  I heard people cheering for Noddy, near the finish, but luckily wasn't passed by him!!

And, during miles 15 - 20, I thought about all the kind friends who have donated to KKR to give me encouragement.  

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE who helped.  The charity is not the only one who is thrilled!!  (and Just Giving accepts donations for a one month period after the race so don't be shy if you check in afterwards -- as I said, we'll all be thrilled and I'll think the pain was even more worth it) 

By the way, the photo of old shoes is Just Giving's - my shoes are now only a little bit newer, but not nearly so photogenic (nor am I!)  In the photos, the Barnes Runners Club shirt refers to the terrific group who make the LONG runs bearable, and therefore the marathon possible.

Quick background - by encouraging me in my training you will be supporting Kids Kidney Research, a small London based charity that helps Great Ormond Street hospital (as well as others) to help kids.   They provide the seed money to get a research project off the ground, at which point it can attract larger funding.   Need I say more?    I'll send you more information about the effective research they have kick started as an attachment to my request "letters".

Donating through JustGiving is simple, REALLY fast and totally secure.  Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - while it doesn't count towards my goal, it definitely counts for the charity.

As Nike would say, "just do it!".  And, if you have a moment, I love reading your notes of support, suggestions, gossip, weather reports, whatever!