April this year was a busy month:
April 2 Brighton Marathon:
For some reason I thought it would be a good idea to take on
Brighton Marathon with a Rockinghorse costume to publicise the fact that I was
running for Rockinghorse Children’s Charity. Many people know that Rockinghorse
is a charity very close to my families hearts, my eldest son was born needing
immediate surgery and was rushed to the Royal Alex Children’s Hospital in
Brighton and was undergoing his surgery at only 9 hours old. He was then in and
out of ICU and many more operations for the next 6 months. Throughout this time
and longer the team at Rockinghorse were always around to support and guide us
as new parents.
Amanda and her sister Sandra are a very artistic pair with
very different skills, Sandra is an amazing artist and can make a painting look
like a photo, whereas Amanda is the first to admit that she can not draw at all
but she has a great eye for crafts and making things, so between them getting a
2D image made into a 3D creation was great teamwork.
We did a quick interview in my lounge and then out on to the
road to record me running with Rocky, this proved a bit problematic as it was
quite windy and his legs flapped about a bit, so I had to think about how I
could strengthen them for race day.
Come the big day and I drove down to Brighton having found a
parking space not far from the finish, it was about a mile from the start but I
figured better to have a walk before the event than after, I did get some
strange looks along with a lot of good wishes as I wandered through the city to
get to the start at Preston Park.
When I entered the start pen I was conscious that I didn’t
want to get in peoples way so hung around at the back. When the wave started
things seemed to be ok and we were getting on quite well, the extra bits of
wood that I had added to Rocky’s legs were working, that is until about mile 1
when the first bit dropped off, never mind that wasn’t an important part so we
carried on, then at mile 2 his front legs parted company with his body, the
screws I had used had vibrated loose and fallen out. Now I was reaching over
the from of his body to hold his legs on whilst trying to run. At about mile 6
I found a Sainsbury’s and had some very strange looks walking round looking for
some string to try and put him back together. With the help of some spectators
we managed to tie his legs back on and I was off and running again.
Unfortunately the wind got up on the top road and his legs
were still flapping around, with the runners at about ankle level this was a
problem, so I was running holding on to the bits of wood attached to his front
legs, this did not do much for my shoulders which were absolute agony for most
of the race having to hold then in one place throughout.
Having stopped for a quick chat and photo at the Rockinghorse cheer station it was on to the far end of the course, coming back to the road out to the port which I was expecting to be a very short run up, turned into a longer section that I had been led to believe. Coming back on to the promenade I was disappointed that the ice cream van was not there so I couldn’t get my ice cream for the final couple of miles!
One draw back of having Rocky was that I couldn’t really
stop and look round the finishers area but just wanted to get back to the car
and deposit him off! Still will have to spend some time making up for it next
year.
April 8 South Downs Way 50
Then a mere 6 days later I was on the start line of SDW 50, minus
Rocky, that would have just been silly!
This would be the longest single run that I had ever taken
on, I did Race to the King a few years ago but that was 53 miles over 2 days. I
was quite nervous going into this, would I make it before the cutoff, I had
heard that as soon as the clock hits 13 hours they switch it off and anyone who
finishes after that is deemed DNF and no medal or T shirt.
My plan was just to take it easy and not try too much for any
kind of speed, as long as I hit the finish before the clock hit 13 hours, I
would be happy.
I started wearing compeed on both my heals as I had blisters from Brighton the week earlier and my feet were not in a good state so that was another concern. I met up with a couple of the Henfield Joggers at the start, there was supposed to be a whole bunch of us but over the weeks leading up to the event they dropped like flies!
I had all the aid stations listed with the distance between
them and the cut off time for each, yes not only did you have to finish within
13 hours but each check point had a cut off! This was a good way for me to break
it down, I was not looking at running 50 miles just the 10 miles or 7 miles etc
between the aid stations.
After setting off from an aid station it was time to tackle
Truleigh hill so plenty of walking! Part way up the track there were a group of
the Henfield Joggers out supporting which was a good lift to the spirits, even
if Mark did call me a rude name for taking SDW 50 on 6 days after Brighton!
I hit half way and was pleasantly surprised at how the time had passed, I was slower obviously than a normal marathon but the scenery, other runners, aid stations and rude club mates seemed to make the time fly.
Amanda had arranged to go to Alfriston to see me through as
it is close to her parents, so at one point I had a text to say that her and her
dad were in Alfriston waiting. I had to reply that was great but I may be some
time, I was just about to reach Southease Aid Station some 8 miles away from Alfrston.So
she took her dad home and then spent some time there before coming back.
As I came into Alfriston I was greeted by Dave, at which
point I asked him to remind me whose silly idea it was to take on SDW50, yes it
was his, he had talked me in to entering and then had to drop out, or pull a
Kingy as I call it!
A bit further on and Amanda was waiting with Jennie, which
was another lift that I needed, my legs and feet were really beginning to hurt.
After leaving Alfriston there was a mere 8 miles to go to
get to the finish in Eastbourne, but there were some nasty hills to contend with and the infamous gully of doom, before hitting the street of Eastbourne.
Coming out of the gulley I saw an arrow on the opposite side of the road
pointing left so duly set off, then after a while thought I hadn’t seen any
other arrows, fortunately it wasn’t far and I went back, crossed the road to
the arrow I had seen and found another one taking me off right!
Amanda had met up with one of her friends who actually lives
in a house that backs onto the route so she got to spend some time with her
before both of them went to the finish to wait for me. I believe that at one
point Amanda’s mum text to see how I was getting on, Amanda replied that I was
at the DGH (Hospital that the course passes) Lorna pointed out that she may
want to expand on that rather than her mum think I was actually in the Hospital!
A lap of the track and that was it I had finished in 11 hours 48 and achieved my medal and T shirt!
April 23 London Marathon
After 2 weeks rest, doing nothing but the club Naked 5K on
the Wednesday before the marathon I was in London again with Rocky, traveling
up by train seemed to be a bad idea given the number of people who would be
cramming onto the trains and the size of Rocky, fortunately George was able to
drive me, Rocky and Dave up to Blackheath where the roads closed and drop us
off to walk a short way up to the start area. Whilst waiting to start I had a lovely message from a friend and also a mention on Facebook, she always used to be out on the course but has since moved out of London and was working so couldn't be there but it was great to know she was supporting from afar, thanks Coral.
I must have put down a very slow time as I was in the last
but one wave to start, hanging around the start wearing a big yellow
Rockinghorse definitely got a few looks, including the guy with the microphone
telling us all where we needed to be and interviewing random runners in
between, so I had a few words and got on the big screen in the start pens.
Then it finally came my time to enter the pen, meeting a few
runners who wanted a photo and chatting to a few other runners whilst we waited
to actually start, then the time came and we were off!
The first few miles ticked over quite well and not that much
slower than my usual runs, at Cutty Sark I heard a shout of “Andy” now normally
in marathons this is not unusual as I have my name across my vest, however for this
one no one could actually see this, so it must have been someone I knew. It was
Jeremy my Brother-in-law’s Cousin who was running his first marathon. We had a
quick chat and then as usual I lost track of him although apparently we were
running at the same place throughout the run.
At one of the Water stations some Henfield Joggers were
helping out and I managed to grab a quick chat with Pugs from the club who told
me that Dave was only a couple of minutes in front of me, I was never going to
catch him as I was getting slower by the step, my shoulders were starting to
seize up from holding my arms in the same place for the entire run, something
that Jeremy commented on after the event, he is an osteopath so really noticed
that I was struggling with my upper back.
I checked my phone at one point and a friend had posted a
video taken from the BBC coverage of me crossing Tower Bridge so that was quite
cool.
I knew that the second half of the run would be hard so I
had saved up a few episodes of Runpod to listen to so that it would take my
mind off the pain. The first episode was with Kirsty Gallacher who was running
for Royal Marsden, a really moving episode and also quite a surprise when Jenni
brought up the subject of people running in fancy dress and specifically
mentioned my Rockinghorse costume. Now I wont lie I had a bad week leading up
to the Marathon thinking was I good enough should I call myself a runner had I
raised enough money for my charity and a host of other thoughts, so when Jenni
mentioned me on her podcast I almost broke down in tears, it was just a really
emotional moment for some random reason, but it also gave me a massive lift to
get on and finish the run.
As I mentioned my shoulders were becoming really painful so
I was in a bit of a pain haze for the last few miles when again I heard someone
shout Andy at me, I was so confused but it was Laura from the RunPod Run Club
Facebook page who was out supporting and the fact that she was there gave me
another boost even if it may not have looked like it at the time.
Coming down the Mall
towards the line was an amazing experience, I have completed the London Marathon
8 times now but only once dressed as a Rockinghorse, then to top it off as soon
as I crossed the line I was accosted by the legend who is Big Fletch a big man
hug and then he demanded my phone, no he wasn’t robbing me just making sure I
had a photo, something that I usually miss getting on my runs, so big thanks
Fletch really appreciate it, even if you did give me grief for not smiling!
Anyway now I have a couple of weeks rest before I get the bike out for NC500 a 500 mile cycle ride around Scotland, at least I get to sit down for that one!
