London Marathon

marisco_2

You will love the London marathon Vestan, the atmosphere is electric. So many fabulous sights to see. Keep those eyes open this time man. How could you possibly miss the Eiffel Tower, that has made me really chuckle.

Very wise to take it easier after suffering an injury. Lets hope the weather is good, not to hot but dry.

Turtle

marisco wrote: »

Turtle I would not miss it for the world. It always falls around my birthday and has been a special birthday treat for me since I was a little girl. When I was very young the race use to finish on Westminster Bridge. A man was limping toward the finishing line one year, really struggling. A little girl ran out on to the road toward him, she was almost bald. It turns out she was in remission from Leukemia and he was her dad running to raise money for cancer research. He picked her up and sprinted across that line and all the crowd errupted with claps for them both. Ever since that day I have always sponsored a runner.

That story brought a real lump to my throat. It's such an emotional thing I think for both the runners and the supporters who must see all sorts of emotional sights. I read an article in Reader's Digest a few years ago about the boxer (Michael Watson) who suffered brain damage in a fight. He walked round the course, took him 6 days and they recreated the finish line for him to cross. Me and OH were both in floods of tears reading that.

I've watched it every year for as long as I can remember and I always knew one day I would do it. Since I did it, every year I watch it as soon as I hear the music I'm overcome with emotions and I'm sniffling all the way through it!

marisco_2

I agree it is a very emotional day. Well worth taking the time to take it all in whether you be a runner or a spectator. You see some amazing sights. For me it restores my faith in people being really good natured at heart and wanting to help others. Hearing little children shouting go for it daddy/mummy/grandad etc is just lovely. If you watch carefully you can see who they are shouting out to because there is a wave, a huge smile and suddenly they go faster.

Along some points of the route the pubs have live bands playing which makes a lovely atmosphere. I remember a year or so ago a lady being helped round who had been paralised. It took her a good couple of weeks I think. Her husband was there with her the whole time, supporting her and encouraging her. Now that is an amazing kind of love. She was on the news every night. I was in floods of tears when it was broadcast that she had completed the route

I should really get some shares in Kleenex the amount I get through on that day.

citykid5

my wife is running this years marathon for the very first time. having only just taken up jogging last year at the age of 46. she managed to secure a ballot entry and the amount of training she has had to put in over the last 16 weeks is truly inspirational.she works full time and looks after most of the household chores as i am disabled. and she isn't stick thin, won't say how much she ways for fear of reprisals. and she is raising money for the dystonia society through virginmoneygiveing vicky jennings and has managed to raise around £600 . not only that but her friend who also wanted to run it didn't get a place so had to find a charity place, which required them to raise £1500 and they have also meet her target by doing bag packing,raffles. cake sales and other events. i realy am ore struck by their dedication to reach their goal

marisco_2

Wow citykid you are right to be so proud. That is amazing. I hope she really enjoys the marathon. It will be such a huge achievement when she completes it. Send her my very best wishes for a good run wont you.

citykid5

marisco wrote: »

Wow citykid you are right to be so proud. That is amazing. I hope she really enjoys the marathon. It will be such a huge achievement when she completes it. Send her my very best wishes for a good run wont you.

thank you, will pass on your best wishes :beer:

fufu_banterwaite

I ran a double marathon (52.4miles) two weeks ago despite never having done anything more than a half-marathon and raised over £2,500 for the charity I did it for. The thought of all the people who had sponsored me kept me going when I was at my lowest ebb.

uberalles

Brilliant . I was meaning to ask you how you got on.

Did the crowd cheer for fufu or was you using a pseudonym for the purpose of the race.

What time did you achieve.

fufu_banterwaite

I did it in 10hours 22minutes and I was the 9th person home of 37, which I am pleased with all things considered.

Wasn’t a big crowd really! It was 8 laps of 6.55mile course so I kept seeing the same volunteers at the aid stations every two miles and they were all very encouraging and supportive. Saw my dad when I came round every lap (he drew the short straw of driving me up there for a 6am start and then having to wait around until about 4.20pm when I finished, seeing me every hour and 20minutes or so!) and some friends and family turned up for the last couple of laps which provided a much needed boost!

I really enjoyed and would love to do it again, but the sheer amount of time it took out of my life training was too much! If I ever won the lottery then I would retire and take up ultramarathon running I think!

uberalles

Hats off to you. That is a very good time. The training whilst vital is a killer .

I did the London Marathon as a 42 year old and did it in 4hrs 40 minutes but the first 18 miles took 3 hours and for the remaining 8 I slowed right down. I had only trained up to 18 miles which in hindsight was a mistake but couldn't be avoided.

My saving thought was that , with the exception of 100 meters to prove I could walk the last 8 miles quicker, I never stopped the running motion' picking those thighs up.

We'll done fufu .