And even more

Big Jay running passed Big Ben
It's almost over.

More Photos...

No mum you can't have it for your jewelry collection.

 Marathon support: Thanks to Joy and Erin.

Thanks also goes to 'Team J' who spurred me on during the last few painful miles.

London Marathon photos

Before: Leaving at 6:30am

After: Around 4pm

With David - who limped through training but got a heroic time, and Snowy, Daly Thompson's trainer.  

Through the square window:  With fellow Barnardo's runners Floella Benjamin (TV presenter) and mate from work, David Bassom. 

I did it.

The Flora London Marathon - April 13th 2008

Marathon day starts at 4:30am. I put my alarm clock on for 5:45 but my body just wants to be up.  I put the coffee and computer on and try to get into the mood.  Unfortunately my body wanted me to be up but my wife didn't.  She coaxed me back for an hour or so and I drifted into a dream land.

After breakfast and putting my running togs on I was ready to leave.  I'd packed everything I needed in my bag the night before - runner's number, pins, sun cream, Ipod and vaseline. Me being me, had to have a 'Flippin' eck where's my... moment'.  Where is my Oyster Card?  A few minutes later, after waking Erin up twice, it's found.  And I leave with my marathon kit bag and number on it.

At the tube station it's like a monday morning. But instead of black suits and leather bags it's tracksuits and kitsbags.  The nearer to London Bridge we go the more tracksuits fill the train.  At London Bridge the escalators are lined with fit looking people in a trance.

I leave the train at Greenwich and proceed to the Red Area to meet with my mate David.  We were supposed to meet at Maize Hill but after several texts and phone calls we find each other in the Red Zone. 

Off to the loo to get rid of all the water we took in the day before.

After the pit stop we walk around looking for other Barnardo's runners and take in some more water. 

We are quickly back queuing for the toilets.

After that - the last before we start to run - we take in the sights, seeing several Wonderwomen, a rather large Minnie Mouse, an impressive Bananaman, A samaritans phone and a few thousand runners of all shapes and sizes in various state of stretch. 

We then strip off down to our running gear, put our kitbags on the bag trucks. Ready for the start?  Well, one more loo stop won't hurt.

3rd time lucky and we are off to the start - pen 8 - the one next to all the Scooby Doos.

The starting pistol goes.  Apparently, anyway. But we are too far back to hear.

Mile 1: The walking pace picks up after leaving Greenwich Park.  100 meters to the start and we are  jogging.  9 mins after the official start we pass the start with stop watch and Ipod now counting the seconds until the finish.  A stormtrooper, bunny girl and far too many kinky afro wigs pass us.

Mile 2: Keeping an eye on my pace with my Ipod and see I'm going a bit too fast.  See a few boys standing by a field, as only boys can, and join them leaving David to go ahead. 

Mile 3: Meet up with two Welsh boys and get passed by a cornish pasty.  Slow down a bit only to get stuck behind a man running in a Mara-thong. Not pretty and it's time to get quicker

Mile 4: Meet up with David again.  He looks like he's done 26 miles already.

Mile 5: Enjoying the drums under a motorway tunnel. But where's David gone?

Mile 6:  Pass a pub banging out YMCA. This was banned at our wedding but seeing all the runners doing the actions is a sight to behold and ultimately very contagious. Passed David and the stormtrooper.

Mile 7:  Toilet break - the other end this time - you don't need to know details but need to eradicate any possibilities of all systems go around mile 23. Meet up with David but he ran on as I queued for 8 minutes. 

Mile 8:  Wondering if I am in Bermondsey where Erin and my mum and dad are waiting for me.  Walk at the mile marker for the first time, which I do until mile 20.

Mile 9:  Take an orange Jelly Baby off a small child. She was offering, honest.  It's the best thing I've eaten in 3 years.  I savour every mouth watering chew.

Mile 10:  Where's Bermondsey?  I'm feeling a few niggles now.

Mile 11: Bermondsey.  See Erin and Samina - Erin's colleague who surprised me by coming out and the image of her smile stayed with me for a while.  Give her a kiss  - Erin not Samina - then look for mum and dad to no avail. Have another Jelly baby.

Mile 12: Running over Tower Bridge to the soundtrack of Live Forever is a feeling I will never forget.  Shout Oggi, Oggi, Oggi to an amazing response but can only muster the first line. I'm beginning to realise that it's a long way until the finish.  See Kate from work. Feel perked up for the half way point.

Mile 13.  Halfway at 2:20.  The 4:30 target is definitely out of reach. Catch up with David and ask him to stick with me.  He says 'You go on without me'.  I head on.

Mile 14:  Seeing the elite runners come back at the other side on their mile 21 looking tired but very fast is not encouraging.

Mile 15:  See St Johns Ambulance people telling runners to step aside 'Move over, Broken leg'.  What do I do? Take a big old stare and the image of a man's leg ripped 60  degrees off it's joint with a gaping crevasse where his knee should be doesn't leave me until my next Jelly Baby.

Mile 16. See Erin and my parents.  Get a good feeling after being down for about a mile. See Catherine from Barnardo's on the charity stand and whoop a massive 'come on'.  Shouldn't have. Have to walk for a while a minute later. Getting sick of Jelly Babies.

Mile 17: Forgot I'd seen my mum and dad.  And start looking for them.  

If I never see another Jelly Baby in my life again it will be too soon.

Mile 18:  It's now hurting.  No wall, but feel that the pavement has turned into mud; Thick, concrete-like mud. The type of stuff you could build walls with. 

Mile 19:  Don't remember a thing except looking for my mum and dad.

Mile 20 - 23: See Jude who's a Barnardo's fundraiser and run with her for what could be the worst 3 miles of the run. She looks fresh and has an good gait, chatting with spectators as they wish her luck.  Her enthusiasm keeps me going. Thanks Jude. 

Mile 24:  I know some of my best mates are nearby to cheer me on and take a minute or so to walk and feel fresh for seeing them.  Jude keeps on going.  

See my mates, Simon, Sarah and then Tim, and go a bit hysterical giving high fives as I pass them.  See the Barnardo's cheering station and instinctively throw my bottle of water over them.  Instantly regret it, and worry about them all the way to Buckingham Palace. 

Mile 25: Pass Jude.  Morally, feel that I should stick with her but can't stop the speed - although not that speedy - I'm currently doing.  

I hear a supporter shout 'come on Scooby'.  Turn round to the fella next to me and tell him we're going to get beaten by Scooby Doo.  He swears at me and we up our pace.  

On bird cage Walk and I don't know where the finish is.  I want to get faster but know there are only fumes left in the tank.  Turn the corner, see the finish, pass a few runners and breath a sigh of relief as I stop my watch on 4:45.  

Finish: Cross the line and seize up.  I see Scooby. Get the heaviest medal in the world placed over me.  Pick up kit bag.  And realise I have no idea where I am and set off to go to the Barnardo's party.

30 mins later: Find Barnardo's marathon party which is 2 minutes away from the finish.  Apologise to my parents for not seeing them.  They tell me I waved to them.  The memory starts to come back.  

It only sinks in that I finished a marathon while walking up steps to Trafalgar Square. Wow it hurts.

The London Marathon

I finished in 4:45.  More later...

The day before

Erin's currently fixing everything in the house that is broken while singing to motivate me for tomorrow and making up the best words ever to the tune of Karma Kameleon.

Me, on the other hand. Sorry, I, on the other hand, have been sitting in silence filling up my belly with pasta and Ipod with uplifting tunes.  I thought it was going to be fun but I just keep thinking if Cake's The Distance track is the one to get me through the Isle of Dogs, if Eels can get me to the Embankment or if by listening to From Paris To Berlin (purely for medicinal purposes) I'll miss the people who be turning out to cheer for me.

It has been a dilemma 'to Ipod or not to Ipod' and I hope not to switch it on at all to listen to really, and just used it to gauge my pace.  But I know I'll need it at some stage. 

They say don't do anything different to your earlier runs on the day.  This is mainly about diet and pace.  And if you haven't eaten three bananas before you go on your long Sunday run then don't do it for the marathon.  But I've been listening to my mate's music on long runs which consists of Manu Chao, Jens Lekman and Kate Nash.  All of which I like but haven't added to the big day's running track list.

Actually, having just put tunes on, I'm now going away from the computer, not going to think about what is on my Ipod until tomorrow and enjoy the shuffle surprise as my body surprises me by what it can tolerate when running for possibly 5 hours.  I hope.

Can anyone guess what I'm having for dinner tonight?

Weather update number 3

Check the BBC marathon weather update if you're going to watch it.  If not enjoy the warm, dry, comfort of your home knowing there are going to be showers welcomed by runners and dreaded by the spectators.

Celeb runners

The Londonpaper has printed some celebrities' target times for Sunday's London Marathon.  Here they are:

Johnny Lee Miller: 3:15

James Cracknell: 3:35

Ronan Keating: 3:30

Gordon Ramsey: 3:45

Ben Fogle: 4:00

Kate Lawler: 5-6 hours.

I believe Ronan Keating was on GMTV this week saying the longest he had run in his training is 6.2 miles. And he wants to finish in 3:30?  We'll see which one of these is true.  

A massive thanks

I've now topped my sponsorship goal. Thanks to everyone who has sponsored me.  And thanks to my boss's, boss's, boss's, boss's boss, even though he does want some pain for his money.

3 day weather forecast

We may have had bright summer sunshine over the last few days but the BBC forecast for Sunday still has the Black Clouds, Sunshine and, now, Two Drips of rain on it.  I just hope the rain comes after 4pm when most people have finished and have been cheered home.

I'm also still hoping that like the last few days that the forecast is wrong and the Weatherpeople will be changing the signs to a Sun and a Fluffy Cloud on the Day.

JB's Paris Marathon Part 2

...And here's how it ended.

Mile 14 – It’s getting serious now as we follow the river Seine past Notre Dame, with the Eiffel Tower coming into view in the distance. It’s the start of a series of tunnels, which finish with uphill sections into the fresh air. My left knee starts hurting, this isn’t good.

Mile 15 – A really small woman overtakes me - I reckon she’d give R2 D2 a run for his money in the height stakes – either I’m slowing down or she’s sprinting! We go through to Alma tunnel where Diana died although Royal history is the last thing on my mind at this point. It’s time to put Editors on the I-Pod.

Mile 16 – I get a few strange looks from fellow runners after shouting, “come on this is massive” in a loud voice. Not sure why I did it but with just 10 miles to go I was searching for anything to get me going.

Mile 17 – I’m really feeling it now and struggling to stay concentrated, this is the crucial time because the furthest I’ve ever run is 18 miles.

Mile 18 – My will power breaks and I start walking for a few yards then jogging and walking for a few yards before jogging again. Hopefully this won’t last long, it feels like I’m being overtaken by hundreds of people and ruining my chances of getting a good time. There are plenty of other people struggling but R2 D2 woman must be f**king miles away by now.

Mile 19 – A guy with John written on his back goes past and I decide to use him as my pacemaker. Suddenly an old guy runs past John and shouts “come on don’t let a old bloke beat you.” I accept the challenge.

Mile 20 – The old guy disappears into the distance.

Mile 21 – I think this is what they call the wall but it shows no sign of letting up. I’ve totally lost energy, it’s hard to concentrate, negative thoughts start creeping in and I can’t even come up with my all time worst Leicester City 11. Time to put the Charlatans on the I-Pod. A man on stilts overtakes me - this is getting ridiculous.

Mile 22 – I’m looking for anything to restore my energy so I grab dates, a sugar cube and an orange slice from one of the refreshment stands. Two hours ago kilometres were passing in a flash now they feel like they’re going on forever. I select Martin Hodge in goal but that’s as far as it goes. The man with the huge inflatable ball on his back overtakes me.

Mile 23 – I’m getting desperate for energy now and grab a cider from a stall on the side of the road. You can take the boy out of the westcountry but you can’t take the westcountry out of the boy.

Mile 24 – Finally there’s some light at the end of the tunnel and as I can feel the finish line getting closer I pick up a bit of pace. An attractive woman shouts my name.

Mile 25 – Everything hurts but I can hear the buzz at the finish in the distance, no way I’m going to stop running now.

Mile 26 – It feels pretty emotional as I get see the finish line but it still feels miles away. The road widens into a huge straight and I run close to the crowd to spur me on to the end and finally after 4 hours and 30 minutes I’m over. I’m pretty disappointed with the time but relieved I didn’t let anyone down by not finishing. I feel dreadful physically but getting my hands on the medal perks me up – it’s all over. Now where’s R2 D2 woman?!

JB's Paris Marathon Part 1

As I wrote last week, my mate JB ran the Paris Marathon on Sunday. Here's part one of his take on how it went. Please note that what you are about to read isn't exactly going to be like Radio 4's From Our Own Correspondent...

Lining up on the Champs Elysees the nerves really start to kick in - Everyone around me looks a lot more prepared with packed utility belts, race plans and snazzy kit but after a quick look behind me at the Arc De Triomphe we’re underway to the tune of Chariots of Fire on the PA system.

Mile 1 – It’s really hard to keep a slow pace with the adrenaline really kicking in, especially when you’re running past thousands of cheering crowds and loads of TV cameras – I give one of the cameras a wave but then spend the next mile worrying it may have looked like a Nazi salute. There are dozens of discarded jumpers and bags so everyone’s being really careful not to slip over – that would be embarrassing...

Mile 1 (contd) – Nearly slip over.

Miles 2 – We’re past the cobbled section and into the really busy Paris streets. I was told the public here don’t get enthusiastic about the marathon but they seem really up for it and it’s a real buzz being cheered on.

Mile 3 – A little kid shouts “Allez John” from the pavement. For a minute I wonder what’s going on but then I remember he’s seen the name on my shirt. I decide to see how many attractive women I can get to shout my name.

Mile 4 – No attractive women have shouted my name.

Mile 5 – No attractive women have shouted my name.

Mile 6 – A Trevor Mcdonald look-alike shouts my name. I give him the thumbs up and shout “merci” – beggars can’t be choosers!

Mile 7 – We pass the 10km and I give the inflatable marker a little punch – my ill thought out race plan is to split the race into 4 10km blocks so one down three to go – I’m just behind the 4 hour marathon pace.

Mile 8 – Pick up a bottle of water at the drinks stop – it’s a bit of a scrum and you have to dodge other runners and bottles as people throw them on the side of the road. Getting one of them in the head would really hurt.

Mile 8 (contd) – get a bottle in the head.

Mile 9 – Things get a bit more challenging as we leave the city and head into a huge park where the crowds are a lot thinner. I decide to pass the time by coming up with my all time Leicester City best 11.

Mile 9 – I controversially choose Mike Whitlow at left back.

Mile 10 – I see a runner having a poo next to a tree and I’m relieved that I didn’t have that second banana at breakfast. It’s hilarious seeing all these people sprinting into the woods.

Mile 11 – I sprint into the woods for a quick pee!

Mile 12 – My legs are starting to feel a bit tight but I’m feeling ok coming up to the halfway point, it’s time to eat one of my gels – blueberry – nice!

Mile 13 – Over halfway, heading back into the city and the crowds are really beginning to grow. I overtake a man wearing a huge inflatable ball on his back. He’s really struggling so I give him a pat on the back and shout “bon courage.” I’ve done the half marathon in two hours, which could be a mistake!

In part 2...watch out for when John next sees the man with the inflatable ball and the R2D2 girl.

5 Day forecast

Today, the BBC weather forecast has a dark cloud with rain at the bottom and a bright sun in the top right hand corner for the London Marathon on Sunday.  I don't actually think this means much especially as today's forecast, yesterday, had the same symbol until the sun came out and the BBC weathermen (or women) changed it. The max temp is predicted at 11 and Min is 3 degrees C. Last year temperatures topped 21.

Final week is on track

All day I've been under a cloud of depression. People have been asking if I'm excited or worried and, to be honest, I have no feelings about the marathon at all.

I've just got home from a long tube journey without my usual run home from London Bridge to break up the monotony.  Marathon or not, running home is the way forward.  There's only so much stink, sweat and sullen faces you can take in rush hour. I finished off The Guardian from this morning, read both London free papers, and scouted around to see what other people were reading as I had left my Ipod to charge at home - girl opposite, The Kite Runner; bloke next to me, Alastair Campbell's Diaries; and a bloke standing up was engrossed in Heat.

The two freebies both had marathon tips in them.  They were talking about tapering and what the week should entail.  One said you should have a marathon plan and stick to it.  Now,  I've had a plan which has been steadily developing since January.  Although, sticking to it will be the difficult part.

Here it is:

Mile 1. Start off slowly and run a 10:30 mile.

Mile 2-5.  Run 10 minute miles.

Mile 6- 18.  Get into a rhythm that will enable a 9:30 pace but with 30 seconds of walking at each mile marker to take in water and PowerBar gels.

Mile 18- 26. Sprint finish.  Well, er, no, not really,  but no particular planned stops just run as far as I can with as few walking breaks as my withering, failing body will allow.

Mile 26 - 26.2(Finish).  One last push.

Now, Unlike the rest of the day, I'm getting a little psyched for Sunday.

Tapering

Just in case you've clicked on this for a bit of insight, or you're a mate wondering what I'm going on about by the word tapering, here are a few links to explain. But it's mainly about recovering from the excess training before the marathon.

Here are the links:

From Marathontraining.com

The BBC website

Runner's World

and another Runner's World one focussing on what you shouldn't do.

Well done fella

I've just taken a phone call from my mate JB.  He ran the Paris Marathon today.  He finished in 4 hours 36 mins. It might not be what he originally wanted to do it in but it's brilliant for a first timer.  I'm now waiting to chat with him all about it when he comes back.  He said he hit the wall with 10 miles to go and didn't really get out of it.  Crossing the finish line must have been the best feeling in the world. Well done JB again. 

A big fat lie

Yesterday I lied.  At the end of my blog I said I was going to go out for a 10 mile run. I didn't.  

I was out for around an hour running and walking and plodding and working myself into a frenzy for just shy of 6 miles.  I started out with the sun in my eyes, then when I found shade it would often blindingly let the sun back onto my eyes, then I was hit with inertia and started to worry about the world, his brother and his work, and then I was passed by several other runners.

All in all it wasn't a happy time and it made me a grumpy old moody grump for the rest of the day.

I've now put it down to experience and forgetting about it.  Note I've not quite forgotten yet. But I got an email from a fellow Barnardo's runner last night answering a few of my tapering worries and after I received that the world seemed a brighter day.  He's tapering with only a few short steady runs and eating lots of carbs.  He didn't do anything like 10 miles this weekend and will only be doing a 4 miler mid week.  So I'm only doing 3.

Things go up and down very quickly with my marathon moods.

I'm not sure if this week is going to be the longest or shortest ever. Probably a bit of both.

In-Seine

I ran 5 miles on Thursday evening.  After the elation of the night before of running a personal best for the mile this run was struggle.  My mate JB who's running the Paris Marathon on Sunday called to say he was at my house just as I had started running. He was early and I was distracted all the way back home thinking I should be there quicker.  When you know you should be somewhere and also know you need to control your pace it's not a good place to be.  Anyway I got home eventually and we continued to bore my wife to bits about pasta, 10K runs and comedy clips from the internet. 

John has taken a different approach to his first marathon than myself.  Where as I have soaked up every ounce of advice from books, blogs and previous runners he's tried to do his way and closed his eyes and ears to what everyone (often conflicting) has said.  He's younger and fitter so will be coming home, hopefully, in around 4 hours.  Bon Luck and Good Chance for Sunday mate.  

I'm now off to run to Tower Bridge and back.  My last 10 miler before the big day and my penultimate run.

Thanks

Thanks goes to Si for giving me £4 a mile to run the London Marathon.  My Barnardo's fundraising target has almost been made and if anyone wants to push it past the 1600 mark, be my guest.

Shoot the runner

I ran 3.5 miles tonight.  I'm tapering so trying to keep it slow and steady before April 13th.  This was more difficult than it sounds.  I was trying to keep to the pace of 10 minutes per mile for the first two miles which is what I want to run the first 3 or 4 miles of the marathon in.  But unfortunately my pace kept creeping up.  

It's weird. Four weeks ago I was struggling to run anything faster than 10 minute miles and now when I want to keep that pace it's virtually impossible.  I think it's nerves. Everyone I talk to who is running the marathon is just itching to get to the starting line now.  Yesterday, someone quite bluntly, as I was telling them about what's going through my mind, simply said: 'You just need to get it over with now, don't you?'

Yes.

Anyway, after the two miles of watching my speed I just let myself go and ran home.   I knew I was doing a decent pace but to my knowledge it was nothing out of the ordinary.  But when I got home and pressed End Workout on my Ipod Paula Radcliffe popped up to tell me I'd just run my fastest mile.  That's ridiculous, when all I wanted to do last month was go out hard hoping to try and improve my shorter distance time and simply couldn't. 

Anyway its given me a boost. A boost that seriously doesn't explain the bad mood I've been in all night. Weird things are afoot.

Oh, and Kasabian's Shoot The Runner came on at the end of my run which I though was apt for tonight's blog.

Will the real Lance Armstrong please stand up?

If you look right, you'll see my fundraising has almost hit target.  Thanks goes to all of you who have given money to my Barnardo's justgiving page, joined in with the pub quiz or promised me some cash.  Some wonderful people have given me one hundred pounds (Thanks Anna, Sar and number 6), which brings me on to another point.  Not how wonderful some people are, but guessing who gave what.  I know who number 6 is now, even though he tried to deflect me by saying he never plays number 6 but number 3 on the rugby field.  I got through his defense in the end and a big thanks goes to JL.  But who has signed themselves as Lance Armstrong on my justgiving site? It harks back to my first blog post and unless Lance Armstrong is paying British taxes I know it's not the legendary ex-Mr Crow. So Lance Armstrong please stand up and be counted, who are you?