The 40th Race - thank you and well done - you are all amazing.

**  Here is my Virgin Money Giving page for anyone who wants to sponsor me **

 

London Marathon - April 26th, 2020 - Pandemic says no. 

London Marathon My Way - October 4th, 2020 - weather says 'have fun'

The time, the place, the company, none of it turned out how I had planned my London Marathon to be this year. The only thing that made me consider running that far in the first place was the crowd, the thousands of people on the streets cheering you on. However, a pandemic happened so that didn't but being out in the rain on Sunday wearing a race number there were so many people who cheered, honked car horns (even an Ocado delivery driver) and other runners who waved or stopped for a chat... it was incredible, what is more incredible to me is that those 45 000 people that should have been in London were all over the world still running together and sharing their stories and challenges. This is social media at its best, as a community as support from all around the world. 

One thing I did want to do was to use my marathon journey to encourage others to challenge themselves. To show the power of sport to build confidence and community. I ran on the 4th of October in 4 legs with 4 different people, each of whom challenged themselves and did something amazing and I am incredibly proud of them all. I also know that even in the kind of weather that would have had most events cancelled they came outside, and they ran, in some cases further than they have ever run before. They also kept me running, when there was a gale force head wind and driving rain there were smiles and encouragement and together, we kept going. These 4, and every single person who completed those 26.2 miles, or who ran with someone who did, are amazing. 

Leg One - The boy aged 9 - 1:26:22. Second ever 10km and the first since his diabetes diagnosis over the summer. He was a bit worried about his sugar levels, but dad was there with Percy Pigs and the device that checks his sugar levels and he ran, with limited moaning. In torrential rain. On a course with hills. 

Leg Two - Alice aged considerably more than 9 - 1:18:40. She would totally have run faster had I not being slowing her down which is pretty good considering she hates running. Turns out though that she quite likes wind (as long as it is behind her). 

Leg Three - Anne aged... um... 21? - 1:32:17. Honestly thought the weather could not get any worse. And then it did. Anne had never run more than 7.5 km before so we agreed that we run to 8km, then we would have a wine gum and walk. Then the weather got EVEN worse so we ran some more. I think I may have just sat down on the sea front and waited for the rain to stop if she had not been there to keep me going. 

Leg Four - Becks, my favourite person - several hours. We walked because that meant we could put on waterproof trousers and walking boots and have dry feet. God it was so nice to have dry feet. 

Bring on 2021

(all running with non-household members was socially distant although I am not sure even Covid would have gone out in that weather voluntarily)