Updated on March 9th.

IT'S ALL OVER!

On an amazing, exhausting, painful and emotional day I finished with a heat and back-affected 5:28.39. At 9 miles I felt amazing, at 13 miles I felt less so and then very quickly at 14 miles I felt pretty low. I think that if I am a distance runner, then I'm a half-marathon runner! My back and chest went into a slight spasm at the halfway point (2:31) and from then on I couldn't breathe heavily, so the speed for a negative split (i.e. second half faster than the first) wasn't an option. From 17 miles I just needed to survive, so I adopted a ten minute run - two minute walk strategy which got me through to 23 miles and then I jogged in from there. Disappointing to run slower than in training, but in the end it was all about finishing.

So enough negative stuff. I did it. I'm a marathon runner. Thanks to all of you for contributing to the cause, which will be spent on rebuilding a kids' play area, the hiring of a sports coach for disabled adults, the purchase of minibuses for estate kids to see the countryside and seaside and new equipment for OAP art classes.

And just to prove that I really did finish:

http://bit.ly/flcAOz

 

Just a quick note to say that I've entered the Newham 10k on 27th March. A quick hour's blast with a route that goes into the Olympic Park (also known as the New West Ham Stadium). Should be a fun way to taper the training.

 

Updated on Feb 9th 2011 at 5:40 PM from the JustGiving API

Hi all. Thought I'd let you know how it's going. Last week was the week of the Great Bentley Half Marathon near Colchester. 728 of us took to the cold and windy roads on Sunday morning, generating a really friendly atmosphere. I ran what felt like a solid 13.1 miles and was delighted to see a new personal best of 2 hours 16 minutes and 3 seconds - six minutes faster than my best training run. A really great experience that's got me looking forward to the big day even more. On the flip side of all this positivity, I've had to register with a local sports injury clinic to sort out my sore knees but I'm in good hands and have already started ongoing treatment to see me home. Just nine weeks to go!

 

 

 

“I’ve always said that I’d like to run the Marathon before I die. After the first three weeks of training I’ve realised that the two events might occur rather close to one another.”

One of the main things that sets me apart from Bruce Springsteen is that I was most definitely not born to run. However I have always dreamt of running a Marathon; specifically the London version. I applied last year and didn’t get in and thought “fair enough” and didn’t think any more of it. However this year when I got the rejection letter I wasn’t prepared to give up. I’d been training for a couple of weeks and for the first time I’d got the running bug. I don’t find it easy hauling my 15 stone backside up and down the hills of Epping - in fact it’s hell – but at the time of writing I’m doing a little more every day and starting to feel like a runner.

I'm running for a charity called the Dockland Settlements (www.docklandsettlements.org.uk). They operate in the area my family comes from; the East End of London (and they have done for over a century – my Nan remembers them when she was growing up in Custom House). They give the less fortunate of Stratford, the Isle of Dogs and Rotherhithe an opportunity to add value to their lives – parent and toddler groups, scout and cub packs, pensioner’s tea dances and much much more. A reason to get out of the house and meet other people.  A chance to make new friends or learn new skills. It’s a very admirable charity and due to aging buildings and the Olympics they are undertaking a major rebuilding project across their east London Settlements. Please take a look at their details and website as it explains everything better than I could.

So yes, I’m asking you to help me realise my personal ambition, but it is for a very good cause and one of those charities for whom a small amount will make a noticeable difference. If my grand helps a group of grannies from Canning Town dance the Ladies’ Excuse Me once a week, then my slogging round London on an April morning next year will have been worth it.

Here’s the JustGiving bit:

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.

Cheers,

Dan M