Run the London Marathon

I ran my first half-marathon at the beginning of October, and managed to complete it in 2hrs35mins. Not bad for someone who only gave birth 5 months previously!
My hips were absolutely killing me by the end (I have torn cartilage in both of my hips), so I don’t think I’ll manage a whole marathon before they get fixed. I might try another half marathon next spring.

I was running this race in memory of my step-dad Paul, who died suddenly in March from an unexpected heart attack (mercifully in his sleep). I managed to raise nearly £500 for the British Heart Foundation. Every time things got tough during the race, I’d think about why I was doing it, which would spur me on. Unfortunately it also made me start to cry, making my throat tighten and causing me difficulty in breathing! So then I’d have to make myself stop thinking about Paul!

The picture is of me at the finish line, receiving my medal – of which I am inordinately proud!

I’m incredibly impressed by this.
Awed.
Amazed.
Jealous.
And not just a little bit turned on.

Eddie Izzard runs 43 marathons in 51 days‏!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8256589.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/entertainment/newsid_10000000/newsid_10001700/10001723.stm

I want to run this for The Make A Wish Foundation. Great charity doing great work. Also so I can tell my son “Hey, I did that” when he’s old enough to expect a bit more than tickles!

...Superwoman! before, i used to want to run it as a teddy bear. now it’s suddenly become Superwoman, for some inexplicable reason.

I always thought that I wanted to try and get fit before applying to run the marathon (and it has to be London first as a London boy!), but given how hard it is supposed to be to get a place then I’ll just start applying each year – plus if I get a place then I have to get fit! Sub 4 hours would be great, but I’m not too worried about the time.

One of my other goals was to raise at least £100 for the NSPCA. I just had the best idea, why not run the marathon and aim to et sponsored, run it for the NSPCA. Although I still have no idea how to apply or how to train adequately :(

About three weeks ago my best friend said to me that his manager at work wanted for his company and all of his colleagues to do more for charity and also to get everyone fit and healthy. He told me that he had a place in the London Marathon. We laughed together at the thought as without being too unkind it seemed like the impossible task for someone who hadn’t always applied himself to any kind of exercise. I congratulated him and that was that. A week later whilst on our way to Bristol for a friends stag weekend he asked if I would like to do it. I said that I didn’t know, it sounded daunting. I had loved sport and exercise as a kid and teenager but over the last few years I had stopped and become lazy, a drinker and worse still a smoker of 20 a day. I was about 115kg and the thought of doing this to my legs and body seemed unfair and a little sadist. A couple of days later I called my friend and said that if he could get me a place I would do it with him. As an incentive I found that the charity that I would be running for was a childrens charity called Whiz Kidz I worthy charity and anything that makes a childs life more comfortable is good in my book. Its day fifteen now and I’ve been training hard down the gym for most of it. I’ve lost about 4 kg’s and I’m starting to feel like my old self. It’s a great feeling and I cannot wait to hit the roads. Although I have to be really careful as my joints get very sore easily. I know it’s early days but I think that this might be a turning point for me, so here go’s 273 days to go.

I didn’t quite have the conviction to sign up for the next marathon in 2010. Besides the year after will be the 30th anniversary of the London Marathon so I will no doubt be more motivated. This will also give me time to improve my general fitness levels first.

So that I can say I’ve done it and whilst I still can. Although I like running I hate the after feeling though.

I really want to do this, it looks like such an achievement. I have good fitness, but it’s just getting round to it!