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UPDATE! I am delighted to report that the Marathon went so much better than I had dared hope – 3hr 35min 35 sec and 10th in my age-group – so I am thrilled. Thanks to some very strong painkillers (lucky I wasn’t drugs tested!) and a tubigrip on my thigh, my injured leg (a very hamstrung hamstring) felt OK until about mile 16/17 when there is a slight hill (which seemed like Everest!) and it started to object, and by the time I got to the last four miles it was very tough – real mind over matter stuff – I was doing fractions overtime! Fortunately the weather was absolutely perfect for me – the sunnier the better as far as I am concerned. Plus for the first time I had put my name on my running top – I knew I would need all the encouragement I could get! – so when I was struggling along the Embankment to hear people shouting “Go on June, you are looking really good!” when I was feeling absolutely terrible (and knew I was looking terrible too!) was a great fillip! The spur of the sponsorship for the British Heart Foundation combined with the support of the crowd was what made the end result possible.
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This year I am running my 11th London Marathon in memory of my brother Andrew who died, suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 38, of heart disease. Andrew used to do lots of running, not only the London Marathon but also cross-country, and this year, for the first time, I included cross-country in my training. Apparently it strengthens the legs and I am hoping that the mud packs are good for them too!
When Andrew died he was not only running marathons, he was captain of a rugby team and he was living life to the full—he had everything to live for. Nothing can bring him back but by sponsoring me you can help the BHF prevent someone else—someone like Andrew—from dying too soon. The BHF’s important work helps so many people, please help them to help even more.
And don’t forget to tick the Gift Aid box so that the taxman can sponsor me too.*
Thank you,
June
*If you are a taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure that 25% in Giftaid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.