IT'S DONE!

Most importantly, I’ve raised over £3,000 which is entirely thanks to my wonderful family and friends.  If you have sponsored me I am so, so grateful.  It will really help out HFT and contribute to all the wonderful work that they do for those with learning disabilities and their families – thank you very, very much.  

According to my watch it took 4h 48 mins, a little slower than I’d hoped for but not too bad nonetheless.  Unfortunately my official time is 4h 56 which is due to the length of the queue for the loos at mile 14!  (Am most annoyed with the marathon organisers for not providing enough portaloos – 8 mins is definitely an unnecessarily long break considering at least 7 of them were spent standing on the pavement watching in frustration as everyone ran past us!)

After great fears about the predicted heat we were amazed to be drenched before the start in a massive downpour (it swiftly became a very Bad Hair day - see photos!) but luckily the sun came out for the run itself.  We started alongside a chap called Roy who was 80 and running his 51^st marathon, all of them completed since his 60^th birthday – just the first of so many awe-inspiring people who we encountered. We overtook Uncle Bulgaria and a couple of other Wombles, as well as a few Stormtroopers, Princess Leia (the boys were impressed by that), Elvis who was blasting out his tunes on a ghetto blaster – (we would rather like to have run with him), and the record breaking royal caterpillar.  However Batman & Robin overtook us several times as did all manner of strange creatures, people in bonkers costumes, and ordinary runners like us in every shape and size.  It all just goes to show that anyone could do it if they put their mind to it.  No doubt we were greatly assisted by the liberal sprinkling of holy water that we received from a couple of jolly vicars standing outside their churches in Blackheath dousing the runners!  The crowds of supporters were incredible – (if you ever go and watch the marathon do shout for everyone whose name you can read on their vests as it makes a huge difference).  It was quite overwhelming to see so many people and to be part of something so huge.  The biggest boost was seeing Mum, Dad and the kids at mile 12, and also my aunt Janie at mile 14.  By mile 19 I was getting pretty fed up with the endless Docklands roads and beginning to wonder if we were ever going to get out of there.  However Jenny, my wonderful running partner, forced yet more blinking jelly beans on me and made me keep going which was a jolly good thing, although I now don’t ever want to see a jelly bean again.  Poor Jenny would have knocked off several minutes if she’s run alone so it was most gallant of her to stayr with me for the course.  So it’s done, ticked off the list of things to do in life, and I’m certainly not planning to do it again – for now at least!

Thank you very very much again for all your support

Claire xxx

 

(original message below)

*** sorry - long message below, but do read! ***

When I was about 25 I had a place on the London Marathon, but I dropped out as I thought that I was too busy to train properly.  However I promised myself that I would do it before I was 40, which seemed ages away.  Now there are only 4 years left, and I  now understand that no matter how busy you think you are when you're in your 20s, it's nothing like how busy you are when you have children!  Training has been an interesting challenge, especially given the weather this year.  I don't think anything less than a marathon would have had me jogging up to my ankles in snow and the Yorkshire wind, let alone the altitude running I did last week in Val d'Isère - solid miles uphill with less oxygen than normal was NOT fun!  My finishing time will be anything but spectacular, but never mind - I am determined to plough on and finish the race regardless.

What is really keeping me going is the charity that I am running for - HFT, formerly known as the Home Farm Trust. (ww.hft.org.uk).  Many of you will have met my lovely aunt Lucinda Barber, who was born with learning disabilities.  Since 1964 she has been a resident of Frocester Manor, Gloucs - HFT's first residence.  She has had a wonderful life with them, always busy, doing things, visiting places, happy and tremendously well cared for by a remarkable set of staff who are very much a second family for Lu and her friends.  (See photos, left)

Over the years HFT has grown and now helps over 1,000 people through supported living, registered care homes, advocacy, supported employment and day services throughout the country. It also runs a Family Carer Support Service which provides support each year for 4,000 family carers of adults with learning disabilities.  HFT is a vital resource in a country where 1 in 40 people have some kind of learning disability, but where very many people with learning disabilities don’t have the choices in life we all enjoy – who to live with, what to have for dinner or what to do with their days. Hft enables adults with learning disabilities in England to make the choices they need to lead happy and fulfilling lives.

For the past 2 1/2 years Dad has been Chairman of HFT, and is due to hand over the reins and retire at last in October .  When he became Chairman, aged 66, he cycled from Lands End to John O'Groats, managing to raise more than £50k for HFT.  I  now feel that it's my turn to contribute to the charity that has helped my family so much.  If you can contribute in any way I would be terribly, terribly grateful.

Love to all

Claire xxx