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Many thanks for supporting my London Marathon 2009 fundraising efforts for Macmillan Cancer Support |
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I would just like to say a huge, huge thanks for supporting my London Marathon 2009 fundraising efforts. Race Report: My official finishing time was 5.09.32, not quite my slowest (that was in 2007 when temperatures reached 26 degrees) but I was hoping to do it under five hours. Still I know exactly what to do to achieve this; simply train more. The run started out well and at the halfway stage, things were looking good with a time of 2.12 (reasonable for me and the time I did for the Great North last year). However at about mile 16 the “dead legs” set in and after that it was a real struggle. It was simply a matter of no fuel in the legs department. Overall, it
was a fantastic and memorable event. I knew I was in for an
interesting day when getting ready at the start I got into a conversation
with Steve who asked me to take a picture of him skipping and doing a
headstand (not at the same time I hasten to add!). It was his 20th
London and the headstand is apparently his usual finish line act. He
was running for a Zimbabwe charity. Good on you Steve. About a mile
into the run I got chatting to two runners discussing the Comrades (an
ultra marathon in South Africa). The one guy has run the Comrades 22 times
and the other guy, Dave, a Scot who has lived in South Africa for 40
years, has two Comrades behind him. So London was simply a training
run for them. Respect has to be in order. I ran with Dave till
about mile 7 chatting all the way and it really made the time pass
quickly. So thanks to Dave. Once again the crowds out on the streets were absolutely fantastic and the good weather meant the streets were packed. I wore my name on my vest for the first time this year, and what a difference it makes, as hearing your name shouted out what seems continuously, and particularly when you are flagging, is very encouraging indeed. A big thanks to friends and family I met on the way, which made it all the less painful: Cathryn at mile 6 (and two bananas); Tamsin and Emily at Mudshute (and half a banana, and Emily, really appreciated you dashing inside to get some suntan lotion for my rapidly roasting bald head); Tom at mile 23, who deserves a medal for perseverance in getting my attention as it took me a while to see him and respond to his shouting (not sure I was fully compus mentis at that stage); and Heather and Tom for meeting me at the finish. And then of course a huge thanks to all the Macmillan supporters for their encouragement and cheering throughout the course. It was awesome and the shouting and green banners and t-shirts were greatly encouraging. Also have to give a very big thanks to all the people that lined the streets on Sunday which makes the whole event so enjoyable and memorable. Macmillan's
recovery station in the Foreign and Commonwealth building was great, lots
to eat and drink and off course the great massage which made all the
difference. It was as if I had been provided with a new pair of
legs. Absolute bliss!! Thank you Macmillan, you looked after
us very well and made the runners feel quite special. Two days later
I am feeling fine. My legs are still aching a little but the muscles
are generally OK. So what's next? Well, the next marathon in
my sights is New York in November. I am hoping to get an automatic
place as I have had three consecutive rejections in the online ballot. And
have signed up for the Virgin 2010 London
Marathon. So sub five hours is definitely on!! Many thanks once again for your wonderful support and generosity in helping me raise funds for a very worthy cause. Best wishes Allan Boardman
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