Paul Cook
Reading 1/2 Marathon - only 13.1 miles!!
Fundraising for Bibs Babies In Buscot Support
Story
12/04/07 - Collecting cash!
Just so you know this page will be closed to new donations after 25 April 2007 so if you want to sponsor me do so now! I'll be going into the hospital at the end of April to give them a big cheque and get my photo taken!
26/03/07 - 1 hour 55 minutes of pain!
Well, after a last minute panic to find my race pack I toddled off to the Reading half-marathon having consumed a fair amount of food and liquid in the past 24 hours. The race site was cold, the bands on the radio stage were bad, and I've never seen so many portable loos.
After wandering round for a bit I dropped off my kit bag, donned my radio chip and race number and headed off to the start post with 14,999 fellow half-marathoners. I duely lined up at the 2hr mark and counted down to the start. By the time we got over the start line the elite runners were past the first mile - still time to catch them up!
I took it easy for the first half hour, having been warned that people tend to be a bit enthusiastic on the day. I stayed close to the 2hr pacemaker who's arms must have been hurting from the 2hr sign he was carrying all the way round the course. Coming up to 2 miles Beth and Samuel were there to cheer me on which gave me a boost.
Feeling ok I picked up the pace a bit for the next half hour before settling into a nice steady pace through the rest of the course. I didn't expect quite so many people to come out and cheer everyone on and the drinks stations quickly turned into plastic bottle litter sites as the runners churned through.
The last mile was an absolute killer and I just wanted to drop down dead! I'm still struggling to walk at the moment. But running into the Madjeski stadium was a great way to finish and hopefully I've pipped the magic 2hr mark. The official times will tell.
Thanks again to everyone for your support. The website will stay up for a month for people to give if they haven't got round to it yet or want to help us up to the £1,000 mark. Time now for plenty of steaks, fry-up's and kebabs and even less exercise. Until next time....
Paul
Just so you know this page will be closed to new donations after 25 April 2007 so if you want to sponsor me do so now! I'll be going into the hospital at the end of April to give them a big cheque and get my photo taken!
26/03/07 - 1 hour 55 minutes of pain!
Well, after a last minute panic to find my race pack I toddled off to the Reading half-marathon having consumed a fair amount of food and liquid in the past 24 hours. The race site was cold, the bands on the radio stage were bad, and I've never seen so many portable loos.
After wandering round for a bit I dropped off my kit bag, donned my radio chip and race number and headed off to the start post with 14,999 fellow half-marathoners. I duely lined up at the 2hr mark and counted down to the start. By the time we got over the start line the elite runners were past the first mile - still time to catch them up!
I took it easy for the first half hour, having been warned that people tend to be a bit enthusiastic on the day. I stayed close to the 2hr pacemaker who's arms must have been hurting from the 2hr sign he was carrying all the way round the course. Coming up to 2 miles Beth and Samuel were there to cheer me on which gave me a boost.
Feeling ok I picked up the pace a bit for the next half hour before settling into a nice steady pace through the rest of the course. I didn't expect quite so many people to come out and cheer everyone on and the drinks stations quickly turned into plastic bottle litter sites as the runners churned through.
The last mile was an absolute killer and I just wanted to drop down dead! I'm still struggling to walk at the moment. But running into the Madjeski stadium was a great way to finish and hopefully I've pipped the magic 2hr mark. The official times will tell.
Thanks again to everyone for your support. The website will stay up for a month for people to give if they haven't got round to it yet or want to help us up to the £1,000 mark. Time now for plenty of steaks, fry-up's and kebabs and even less exercise. Until next time....
Paul