Oh my goodness gracious me!! I have done it. Finally. I rocked in to the finish line on Monday morning as they were still sweeping up! NOT REALLY! But yes, I have finally completed The Flora London Marathon 2008 and it was an experience to say the least. Due to my injured knee, or 'bastard knee' as it was aptly named, it started to ache at mile 4!!! From 6-16 I did a weird kind of hobble run where I ran on my left foot and my right toes. I didn't dare think about what that position was doing to my body I just knew it was the only way I could run that was comfortable.
The family were a welcome, surprise sight at mile 9 and I knew I had to keep running to see friends at mile 12 (Tower bridge), I desperately wanted them to see me running because I knew I would have to walk soon! The bridge came and went with no one on it! Oh the disappointedment! I carried on spending far too much time queueing for bloody toilets and weirdly hauling my ass over the next couple of miles. Finally I knew I had to walk at mile 16 where it then rained on me, hailed on me and blew me around canary wharf. Just as I thought I might freeze to death (my hands were shaking and fizzing!?) a sight for sore eyes were my friends Kate and Nick at mile 19!!
I carried on, gaining a binbag for warmth and a new found energy. The end was near! I saw more friends and then the family again at mile 23!! Check out my weird 'mum' run here. I was only running because I saw them!
The home stretch from 25 to the end was a strange hopping/run that got me across the finish line. I made it in something like 5 hrs 40 mins! I was running and raising money for British heart Foundation and although I've reached my target, every penny counts, Below I have listed things that affect my heart. Big things, small things. Important things, beautiful things...Things that have smashed it to pieces and things that have just grazed the side of it:
My family.My friends.Comedy.Letters.Eileen and Eric.The Kite Runner.Cyprus.Writing.Kings Canyon.Adam Riches.Vivenne Westwood exhibition 2004.Geoff Taylor.Swimming in the sea.Little Miss Sunshine.Paris.The summer of '97.Skiing.Mrs.P.The smoke Jumper.Lance Armstrong.Singapore.Hannah's heart.Germany.Crumble - my dog.James Hitchcox.Cath leaving for Zimbabwe.Smoking.Uncle Bob.Delirious Love by Neil Diamond.Gina Hayes.On foot through Africa.Chris Moon.New York City.Grandma Wyn and Grandma Barbara.Boy who likes marmite.The time travellers wife.My bike........
Thanks to those who have sponsered, came and stood in the rain and sent me messages all day.......I'm going to do it again! 4 hr 40 mins is what I'm going for next time!
Thanks again...Lovings all round Love me xx
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