!!! *** UPDATE *** !!!

People scoured the TV and even with the 'Red Button' finish line camera footage, but they couldn't catch me on TV - the Red Button footage switched to Gordon Ramsay and Will Young - both who incidentally I managed to vanquish!! :D

A fantastic day was had by all, we were all very lucky weatherwise, a cool, but sunny start for the runners and a comfortable one for the spectators with the only time we got rained on was as I limped off to celebrate, post race!!

To anybody who has given doing the London Marathon the remotest thought, I would really recommend it, with the proviso that it truly is a physical and mental test for all but the most regular of runners of this kind of distance. Obviously doing anything carries a risk, including doing little or nothing and whilst the race tragically claimed a fatality, I saw a number of both highly distressed and unconscious runners and stressed paramedics over the final four miles and had read that this would likely be the case.

The whole Marathon experience is an expression of a huge bunch of disparate people coming together to do something and make something happen that others are prepared to sponsor with a combination of personal interest, encouragement, amazement and also financially. This, all largely for the health benefits of others, whose lot in life is hampered or very marginal, across the broad range of life issues that people struggle with and to that extent alone, it is an amazing event.

So I would like to thank everybody who has sponsored me for their support from the kerbside, comments, inspiration and of course financially - together, we have  all contributed to improve the finances that can be aimed at research for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, however the race as a whole benefits everybody, as few of us know what the future holds for each of us. I can safely say that in the 4 hours 23 minutes and 29 seconds that just the race took, let alone all the build up, that I have probably thought about you all in some way and am very grateful for being able to do so.. :D Xx..

P.S. I will be applying for a place in the public ballot for The VLM 2013 - so we'll have to see what, if anything, happens next year!!

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You What

On 22nd April, feel free to languish in your favourite armchair in disbelief, as you catch a fleeting glimpse of me almost powering through the finish line, having taken the 34 thousand 584 four-foot strides I reckon I'll need to take to get to the finish line. It maybe a few more if my stride shortens and/or I have to finish on all fours!!

So I'd be really grateful, on behalf of all the Duchenne sufferers past and present, if you'd like to invest in my not insignificant pain - it's not just a Movember moustache after all - which surely is more like just growing some lagging for those winter months anyway!! ;)

Background

Well I've trained pretty hard, after having loads of trouble with my knees and so latterly having to defer my place from the 2011 Marathon to 2012 Olympic year - so more recently I've been training since the tail end of 2011 - through the snow and the more recent warm spell.  A couple each of 10/12/14/16/18/20 milers, plus all the extra "shorter" mid-week runs which have formed part of my Adonis programme.. :) My final 20 miler was this roasting Wednesday 28th March - then it's the wind-down for the big wind-up on the 22nd April.

On The Day

I am determined to finish it, but I am a Virgin at London Marathons  and understand bad stuff can happen - but barring some kind of castastrophe which is most likely post 20 miles, I do aim to celebrate with some considerable Pride, yes, London Pride - a fitting end to what I hope will be a great day for all involved.. :)

I've deleted the standard Justgiving blurb about security and Gift-Aid, as initially, at any rate, I thought my banter was marginally more interesting and we all know how this stuff works by now anyways.. :)

Lastly

The sum raised is hopefully going to be doubled by Santander, so that's not only a great motivator for me, but I hope for you all too - to help find and fund a research cure for what is a condition that currently limits their lives and puts boys in electric wheelchairs forever from around 12 years, some earlier, some a little later - today there are no exceptions to this - but ultimately, with everyone's help and scientific drive/endeavour, this need not and will not be the case.

I think of this fact often, but as my legs kill, at around 20 miles - about 3.5 hours of running for me - I realise that I really am very, very fortunate to be able to experience this level of discomfort - a pain that others can only and surely do simply dream of being able to experience - it spurs me on and I am certain on 22nd April it will take me through the final 6.2 miles that I've never yet done.. :)

Thanks from Runner # 17,856

chin chin.. :)