28/04/09  Didn't sleep well the night before what a surprise! Got up at 6am staying in a hotel with 800 other runners. The hotel were doing a breakfast suitable for marathon runners, but luckily I had sampled it the morning before and the porridge was inedible. So luckily David works only 10 mins away so he had cooked me some there and brought it in for me wrapped in tin foil - it is very important to eat the right thing and not to change anything on the day from what you have done in training.

Charlotte then came with me on the coach that would take us to the start. David was going to find his own way onto the route to cheer me on. There was thousands of people gathering near the start which was identified by huge ballons in the sky. There were loads of people dressed up as all sorts of characters from Elvis to hippos, and there was the one legged soldier who had had his leg amputated just five weeks before!

After going to the loo loads I had to say goodbye to Charlotte and go into the starting pens. At 0945 the gun sounded and everyone started to move, it took just 6 minutes before I crossed the start line. This didn't affect my finishing time as you have a chip attached to your shoe which gives your actually times as you cross the start and finish mats and split times with mats on course. It was really great because Charlotte was able to get texts to say when I had gone over the mats which were at every 5k.

As we crossed the start line we started to run. It was very strange as it was so crowded and you had to concentrate on not getting tripped up. I felt good running and was keeping an eye on my pace so wouldn't go too fast. As I was hitting the mile markers I would look at my GPS to check on my speed and gradually noticed that the further we went I was actually running further distance. At the end my GPS told me that I had run 26.89 miles instead of the 26.2, I think this was because the route had been measured and marked with a blue line, but due to the crowds it was difficult to stay near it.

The crowds as we went along were amazing. They would shout your name which was on your running vest and really were great. All the pubs had bands outside, there were massive drums under one of the bypasses we went under which just made the hairs on my arms stand up. It was such an emotional run.

The weather was just so hot, it was too hot really to run a marathon in, it was about 18 deg all day and the sun was shining, with no respite from any clouds. The organisers had put up some showers on the course which you could run through which were a brief welcome respite in the heat.

Half way was going over Tower Bridge and the crowds again were just overwhelming. The charities were all out in force along the route, making you realise what an amazing act this is for very ordinary people who do this to raise money for a cause that is close to their hearts.

All was going well until I hit the 20 mile marker and I hit the infamous wall. Your legs don't want to go and your head is screaming at you to stop. I have never done anything so hard in my life as those last 6 miles. My legs were burning and I didn't know how I could keep running, but I did. It seemed to take forever and there were people walking all round me, men and women lying alongside the road being treated by the St Johns, people trying to stretch out screaming muscles, everyone just fighting with their own demons to try and finish. Everyone shouting your name willing you to keep going. Seeing David and Charlotte on course was a real boost.

Then I saw Big Ben in front of me and knew I was close, turning into the Mall was a bit of a blur, but then the finishing gantry was in front of me and I had made it. Finished in a time of 4hr 13 min 41 secs. As I walked along to have my chip removed and to receive my medal, my legs hardly worked, but I had done it. Everyone around me was feeling the same, everyone just felt overwhelmed by the sheer effort of the last few hours and how friendly Londoners and all the supporters were.

I was then met by my charity and whisked off for a reception where they treated us all as if we had just won the marathon ourselves.

That night I was exhausted and my legs have never ached as much, but it was all worth it and thanks to all my supporters I have raised nearly £3,500 for the Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre. So THANK YOU 

Tricia

3/04/09 Just back from my last long run before the big day. Ran 20 miles in 2hr 59 min so pleased with that - only another 6 miles.....A quiet day tomorrow, then a 50 mile endurance ride on Sunday!!

23/03/09 What a weekend! Managed to run 18 miles on Saturday in 2hrs 50min, then on Sunday we were up at 4am to drive over to the Major Oak endurance ride where I rode 40 miles. By the time we got back home at 7.30pm I was very tired!! Not long to go now to the big day - April 26th.

15/03/09  Well I did my half marathon today at Stafford. More hills than I thought there would be, but really pleased with a PB of 1hr 50 min, 7 min faster than the last one I did last Nov. Marathon training is obviously working for me!! Feel that I am now on target with my aim to try for a sub 4hr in London.

1/03/09 Bit of a busy weekend. Did our first ride of our endurance season yesterday at Hopwas Hop, only 32km but the horses were really keen!! Then today did my longest run so far - 18 miles in 3hr 10min. Must thank my husband David, who accompanies me on all my long runs on his bike, I couldn't do it without him. He never complains about how slow he must have to go, and carries my extra drinks in his pockets.

3/01/09 Had a bit of a disaster 12 days ago. Fell down the stairs and sprained my ankle!! Couldn't believe it - not even a running injury. Spent 5 days on crutches and then got an air splint that meant I could carry on cross training and even riding. I still have been working hard so not to lose any fitness. I have been pool running (gosh that is hard work) and doing interval training on a spinning bike. With the help of a very good sports physio I will be back running this week.

11/01/09 Really pleased with how my training is going at the moment. Did a steady 8 miles today and felt really good and did it in 1hr5min, past the 10k mark at 49 mins so pleased with my pace. Could have run further, if only all training days were like this!

21/12/08 Happy Christmas to you all, and thankyou to everyone who has donated, and a big please help me reach my target to those who haven't yet. It is starting to get hard work all this running. Did another 10k race today to help me increase my speed. Feel very disappointed as hoped to beat my PB of 50 min, but only managed 52min. My excuse was it was very windy and with 500 runners on a narrow track it did make it difficult. However, I suppose it will be much harder in London with 35,000 plus! So whilst you are all enjoying a peaceful and relaxing Christmas please think of me out in all weathers running in the wild welsh hills.

29/11/08 Just back home after a great weekend at the Endurance GB AGM and dinner dance. A BIG THANKYOU to all who sponsored me at the weekend to a grand total of £187, it is all really appreciated, every penny counts. Freezing cold today but will have to drag myself out of a warm house this afternoon to do a 4 mile easy run. However, tomorrow it is back to hard work in the gym because Sam, my fitness trainer at our gym, is going to have me on the treadmil for an hour to work out how much I sweat!!! So hopefully we can work out how much I should be drinking during the marathon!

24/11/08  First of all I must thank everyone who has donated to this fantastic charity, and ask those of you who are still thinking about it to please do so now, every little counts and is sooo appreciated. Also a big thank you to those endurance friends who donated their surplus tack. This made a grand total of £237.

Well training continues despite the weather! Out road running more now, had to do a bit of gym work after the Lancaster half marathon, as I had strained a muscle, as well as trips to the sports physio.  Also trying to fit in pilates as a way of improving my core fitness - hopefully this will help my riding as well. Not enough hours in the day now as trying to ride horses as well. Roll on the longer days!

9/11/08 Today as part of my build up to the London Marathon, I ran the Lancaster and Morecombe Half marathon. Was really pleased with my time of 1hr 57min despite gales and heavy hailstorms. Got extremely wet!! 

4/11/08 Well I have just returned from France where we were competing a horse in an endurance race. Despite the dreadful weather I still managed to squeeze in two training runs of 10 and 12 miles! So ready for next weekend where I will be running in my second ever half marathon - would like to be able to get under 2hrs, the first one I did was in 2hrs 3 mins.

Thanks for visiting my fundraising page.
I decided to run the London marathon, which will be my first attempt at this distance, to raise money for the Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre. Whilst I can ride 100 miles in a day, to run a marathon distance is going to be a real challenge.

My brother has Multiple Sclerosis and whilst I am still able to run and ride, he is not so fortunate. The MS Resource centre can make a real difference with providing those with this illness the information they need to cope with life.
Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: The Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

So please sponsor me now!

Many thanks

Tricia