Hi All

 

Just a big thank you to you all for sponsoring me to run Water Aid.  Including cash donations, I have raised over £600 which is amazing considering I only did a sponsored half marathon last October as well.  I promise 'no more sponsored events' for at least a year! I don't want to become known as the friend you can't afford to have!

 

The marathon yesterday was fab, if a little hot - lovely for the spectators though.  The first half seemed ok, I made friends with other runners as we trotted around quite confidently, chatting about training plans, the joys of tapering and other stuff which is only fascinating to runners.  We ran past Brighton pier and the crowd were fantastic in cheering us on, I felt quite emotional at this point and chocked back the tears a few times. 

 

Past about 16 miles, there was a long, never-ending road in Hove which we looped back on with less crowds and then it started getting harder....when I reached 19 miles, my confidence was faltering as we ran around Shoreham power station which was industrial and desolate.  Luckily, I caught up with an earlier running buddy, a man dressed as a toilet who was also running for Water Aid and we kept each other going with pep talks about all the training we've done and how we've "only" got 6 miles to go, etc.

 

As we ran back towards Brighton I saw loads of my friends and family cheering me on and the crowd don't really let you stop running as they keep shouting "only 2 miles to go, keep going", etc.  It was absolutely fantastic, and I would urge anyone thinking about it to go for it as you can pretend you are an Olympic star just for one day.

 

The rest of the day was spent with family and friends in the pub, as all good post-marathoners should do. 

 

And, I did it in 4 hours 39 minutes which I'm royally proud of!

 

So thank you again for your kind donations, it is very much appreciated by Water Aid and kept me going when my mind, legs and everything else was telling me to stop!

 

Love Claire xx