Well I did it!
It wasn't quick and it wasn't pretty but I finished it, all 26.2 miles in something like 5:38 (don't worry Dick your record is safe).
What an experience, the crowds, the runners, the pain, the even worse pain than before. Not kidding as I type I am lying in bed in agony from the waist down, you know those little muscles that make your ankles work, well yes, even they hurt, all of them.
As for the race (and I know I haven't been calling it that, but a friend who was also running was told "it's a race not a hike" so I'm calling it a race) I would like to be able to take you all blow by blow through mile 1 to 26, but I can't. I can remember less about this run than any of my training runs, and a lot more happened.
I would like to thank so many people, firstly all of the people who have sponsored me, I ran with you all in my thoughts and tried to not let anyone of you down.
I'd like to thank all the supporters on the route, you can not believe what it means to have literally thousands of people calling out your name as your run past.
I'd like to thank the Anthony Nolan trust for all their help in getting me to the start and the finish.
and I'd like to thank my wife, she has been my coach, my inspiration and the person who has calmed me down when nothing else would, and who has picked me up the many times I doubted myself.
It hasn't quite sunk in yet, I got back and had a few beers (what else) but I do feel I have achieved something, I am no Kenyan, and I am no Paula, and congratulations to them all, but I did something for my mate, I did something I always wanted to do, but never ever ever thought I could and I burst into tears at the end (you were right Karen).
So, the soles of my feet hurt, my ankles hurt, my shins hurt, my calves hurt, my knees hurt, my thighs hurt, no I would not do it again, but boy am I pleased I did it once.
There were 2 posters on route, both inspirational for different reasons, the first was "Pain is temporary, pride lasts for ever", which was good, but my favourite was the one that I could hear Mickey shouting after I saw it, "Not finishing is not a f**king option".
To Mickey.
5 comments:
Paul,
I am so proud of you. It was harder than either of us thought, but I knew you could do it.
Well done.
I love you.
Amy x
Paul,
I knew you could do it because it's in your genes (Dad running from Newcastle to Rothbury!)
Love Dad
Paul,
Your potential was obvious to me on that first run from Alwinton to Rothbury. It was because you were looking after me that you got on the bus, wasn't it?
I could see the shades of the long distance runner even then...
Love Mam x
nov 4 2007 - breaking news
hundreds of thousands of people are evacuated across california and arizona as fears of an imminent earthquake spread. seismic tremors persisted for over five hours as the nation contemplates a disaster of epic proportions.
nov 5 2007 - breaking news
fears of impending disaster on the west coast subside as an estimated one million residents return to their homes. the governor of california said "it was not a shift in the continental shelf, it turns out to be some big bloke running in the new york marathon!"
Hi Paul
Just been reading the New York Times. Bit of a close shave for those guys on the west coast. Also, bit of a coincidence that your time was just over five hours - and the bloke was described as BIG.
Anyway, congratulations - you've done a fantastic thing. I'm proud to be a friend of the bloke who was prepared to go through pain for a great cause and scare the shit out of a million Yanks.
See you soon
Martin
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