Race Report

My original target was to finally crack the sub-4 but after several pretty fast (for me!) long runs with Michael, I had a sneaky look at what I would have to run to qualify for London Good For Age and figured sub-3:50 could indeed be possible. I decided to keep my target to myself until the start line when I informed Michael that we would be aiming for 10 minutes quicker than I had previously stated! With our pen essentially on the start line there was very minimal crowd-age crossing the line and we got into a rhythm pretty quickly. Michael fell predictably into our usual running formation - ie he ran about 2 paces in front of me. I stubbornly refused to speed up and kept a steady 8:40ish. We passed Binksy (earning me my extra £10 donation!) and Ian and saw Eleanor waiting for Pauline for her relay leg, no sight of Mum and Jennie though. Michael began to struggle at around 14M and told me to go on ahead so I (guiltily) left him behind and ended up picking up to about 8:30m/m for the next few miles. Saw the leaders heading back towards the finish not very long after that - I quite like to see the speedies, they make it look so easy! After the turn around, the nice tail wind I had been running with turned in to an excellent head wind and at around 18/19M it became time to just dig in and grimace my way to the finish. As the wind became even stronger I experimented with attempts to draft but came to the conclusion that it just doesnt work with running. I caved with about a mile and a half to go and had a walk but after a consultation of my watch I saw time was short to make 3:50 so forced myself to run again. Heard and saw Mum and Jennie on the final straight to the finish (the Allan foghorn voice can come in handy sometimes!), crossing the line in 3:49:15 - 28 minute PB and London qualifying time!

Bonjourno and welcome to my justgiving page.

As many of you will already know, my father died suddenly in 2008 of a heart attack at the age of only 56. His father also died young from a heart attack and his mother suffered from several heart attacks during her life. Heart disease has touched my family as it does many others all over the world. I ran my first marathon in 2008 shortly after my father passed away and I am running Edinburgh marathon this year in honor of him and to help raise money for the British Heart Foundation. For those of you who knew my dad, you'll know he was quite the character and I'm sure many of you remember him fondly.

The British Heart Foundation was founded in 1961 by a group of medical professionals and has been important in pioneering heart research in the UK with impact throughout the world. Their mission is to play a leading role in fighting disease of the heart and circulation such that it will no longer be a major cause of disability and premature death. This makes them an excellent organisation to support so please donate generously.

Jo