I did it!  What a day.  After very warm temperatures being predicted it started off with very heavy rain and, not having a waterproof, I got throughly soaked.  I started well and was hitting 11 minute miling for my 5 hour finish.  At mile 12 my knee (the one I twisted as well as hurting my back when I fell down the stairs Easter Sunday) just hurt so badly that I started favouring it causing blisters on the sole of my right foot. My miling went out of the window and I knew at that point it was a case of getting to the finish line.  I had to made a stop for the call of nature which cost me 25 minutes waiting for a portaloo.

It was a very emotional day for me.  I knew I was running for my friend Ajay and my brother Paul and they were constantly in my thoughts and I often felt the tears well up.  It also made reading the tributes on other people's back all the more poignant.  Everyone was running with their own burdens, their own pain and carrying their own emotional wounds.

I did finish in 6.41 hours.  Not great again but actually 25 minutes faster than last year if I take out the loo break.  It was physically more of a struggle but the triumph was greater: at one point I wasn't sure that I was physically capable of making it.

I admit to openly crying as I crossed the finish line. 

If they were here I know Ajay would be laughing thinking I'm crazy and my brother, who was a man of few words just saying 'Thanks Pal'.

For Paul and Ajay who will always be remembered with love.

If you would still like to sponsor me, this page is still open and accepting donations.

Thank you for all the sponsorship and support

Fiona xx

 

 

Hi everyone,

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I should imagine a number of you are wondering 'why on earth would she do it again?!', especially as my time was so bad last year!  Well, I ask myself that too but this year I have very strong reasons to run the Virgin London Marathon and my chosen charity is the British Heart Foundation.

In February 2009 I got the shocking news that my dear friend Ajay Bhuchar had died suddenly and unexpectedly of a heart attack aged only 41.  Ajay was such a big hearted man and he and his wife Narinder were really there for me through some very difficult times.  It is so tragic to know that his death may have been prevented had he known about his heart condition so hence my choice of charity as they promote heart health.  I would also like to thank Narinder for organising to make it possible for me to run the marathon this year.  I send Narinder and their daughter Jaya my love and want them to know that they are often in my thoughts.

Not only did my dear friend pass on but in May 2009 I lost my elder brother Paul who was only 39 years old.  Although my brother had other health issues from which he died, he also suffered from a shunt in his heart which weakened him making it hard for him to fight his final struggle.  It is so hard to lose a sibling so young and I miss him very much.

So this is in memory of my dear friend Ajay and my dear brother Paul, sadly missed and always remembered.  My target is £1,000 which is very ambitious but if you don't ask, you dont get!

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.

Please donate to this very good cause

Love

Fiona x