Time not given
This was my 6th London and possibly the worst! My training was a source of
constant interruptions due to pressure of work and family. By raceday I just
hadn't put in enough miles and my longest run had only been an 18, so by the
time I reached 19 in the race I was rapidly running out of knees. Limping
home with failure not an option.
In pain and getting cold, the final insult
came with a torrential downpour just as I crossed the finish line . When I
retrieved my kitbag it had been stored outside and rain had leaked over my
'warm dry kit'. Having limited options I had to wear it, my body temperature
continued to drop and I started to feel unwell.
My priority was to get back to
my family, waiting for me with the car. By the time I reached Charing Cross
my eyesight was dimming; I could now not read the train information. I asked
a rail employee what train to take back to Blackheath. I had 15 mins to wait
but knowing I had only a short train ride to safety and dry clothing I decided
to carry on. This was a mistake that could have proved fatal, he had
directed me to the wrong train.
I managed to get off at Mottingham but was
deteriorating fast and didn't have the energy to get across the platforms to
go back and being a Sunday the station was deserted of staff. Eventually I
managed to get there by crawling up and over the stairs finding yet another
wait of 20 minutes for the return.
By the time I got back to Lewisham I was
uncontrollably shivering, luckily I manage to attract the attention of a
Cabbie and was able to back to Blackheath. Still shivering when I got back
home and checked my temperature it had dropped nearly 1 degree and I was in
the early stages of hypothermia.
After a very quick reheat I started to
return to some form of normality and today I am almost recovered apart from
the sore legs & joints.
The moral of this story is:
1. Store your dry kit inside another waterproof bag inside your kitbag.
2. If you are feeling unwell, seek assistance before it becomes serious.
3. Don't ever listen to a rail employee, it could cost you your life!!!!!
