My Forum

Like most people I really want to run London this year and never more so than now.
My friend secured a place under GFA having been pulled around the qualifying event by myself. Being slightly older I was not in the same league of GFA to qualify myself.
We have run everywhere together and having completed 6 local marathons already and 10-11 halfs I know this is no easy task.
My friend is not planning on running this again and to not run with her this time would be really sad having not shared that experience and enjoyment.
We are already in full training in hope that something will come up. Perhaps a so called celeb might drop out !!
I was unlucky in the ballot as per a number of previous years and looking at the charity places not sure I can raise the £1500 required by most, let alone secure a place.
Has anyone got any ideas how they can help, I don't mind trying to get £750 - £900 but I am a bit limited on who I can call on to help raise this. Alternatively as many people start to drop out through injury does anyone have a place that they would negotiate with me on rather than see it go to waste. It's amazing how many places fall by the wayside once it's known what this race entails and is a shame.
To compete this year would be an amazing life changing event and a great story in the making.
PLEASE HELP !

A bit late but I can't stop smiling.

My 6th Marathon and ran with a shirt of "Paul" on the front and "Run Forrest Run" on the back.
Settled into the start line and met a guy from Bracknell (John) who said he was running about a 3.20 ish. Me aiming for anything better than a 3.27, so we ran in synch.
The original plan was to run at between 7.50 or 7.40 at a push !
After a few miles it felt a nice comfortable run and amazed Garmin was pinging at 7.35 to 7.40. Didn't have too much of a plan on the gels as didn't use them in training, so planned for water at each stop and a gel around every hour and stick to that. The race went well and with good support hit half in 1.42 a little slower than thought but the pacing felt good. A top up of lucozade sport at 14 allowed for a bigger drink and then off for lap two. I still felt strong and our two man team began picking of people (Un-intentionally). Great Marshall support and made a point of thanking as many as I could. At 19 miles I was feeling amazing and felt strong. By them I wanted home and kicked in. At 21 I looked back and started to see John drop and despite giving a shout was told to carry on. By 22 miles I felt I was flying. Never had this energy before at this stage and told the group on supporters at the lane turn "I'm going home !!" I came across more people and they slowly slipped away behind. At this stage I can only put it down to repeating "Stronger, Stronger" in my head from 18 miles. I hit the river stretch my pace had increased I'm now doing 7.30m/m at 23 miles !!!??? out into the centre and pass 24 feeling in good shape but with heavy legs. Under the subway and took the slope easy coing out and knew I was gunna be on for a good time. More water (Just in case at 24.5 and then on to the bend at 25 miles. At the entrance me support team caught up on their bikes (Where had they been?? ). Entered the park and was flying nothing was going to stop me now. Saw the mud and puddles at the back and depsite thinking I didn't want to get my trainers dirty, ran straight through and up to the stadium.
I entered the track and caught another person up, he looked at me and said "Don't you make me race you, I'm happy with my pending PB" ..."Yeah.. right come on join me!!". 200m to go and reflected on how this time last year I was in big trouble here. Breezed past congratulating myself and whooping !! Come to the last 100m and the annoucer calls my number and name and I turn to show him my t-shirt back, He reads it out and laughs, I pass the point where I went down last year grinning big time now and shaking fists in the air I cross the line feeling absolutely fantastic. I look at the time and it's 3.22 the official ends up 3.21.59. 5 minutes better than my PB and no crashing out. An amazing run.

I waited to thank John as he came in at 3.26. His initial drive meant my best ever run. Thank you.

Marshalls - Quality ...thank you for the support and the seemless crossings

Mick n Phil - Legend. At 20 miles you shouted "you're enjoying the pain, you love it !" ....and actually I was ...Thank you for your two lap encouragement.

Fetch - Amazing water station I felt you all knew me !

Tip - Wearing my name on my t-shirt meant so many people called my name I felt awesome !! (see above three sections at least). Try it !! unless you get bored of saying Thank you

Another great race and well done Abingdon for your support and organisation.

Barry B - Just caught up with forum. Thank you yes that was me !! The words of "encouragement" were about right. Learning curve that day. Cliff Shock blocs do not work for me as they require too much disolving and when that slows down so did I.I also read either use Lucozade drink or gels. Using both can slow up the carbs filtering through your stomach and despite having loaded up, you struggle to use it. In fact training runs I have used no gels and just squash and that has worked well. I will be taking gels just in case.

Damp (not raining) and overcast here today, no wind, so in all pretty good conditions. Forecast is raining in teh morning easing around 9 and then coming back about 1pm. If so that will be just perfect !

Now just need to keep away from all these bugs people have in the office and with a few hours of work left have become a bit OCD with the hand gel

Good luck everyone and as a customer said yesterday "Have a rewarding day" which also transpires to all of you...."Have a rewarding race ! "   Bring it on !!!

I'm jumping back on here.... OMG 4 days and counting.

The course is looking good, the signs are going up and the weather is reasonable, sunny but windy. No major route concerns apart from Sutton Courtney (Coming out of Milton Park (Industrial estate)) the village has gas main road works down the middle of the road with temporary traffic lights (Well last week it did)

As always there will be plenty of support around the town and Milton Park with Fetch's water station about 11 and 20, which is awesome.Stadium finish is great....if it goes to plan... unlike my legs collapsing with just 20 yards to go last year. Managed to get back up with the help of marshalls and medics (They are all fab) to still finish in 3.27 (Demons need to be put to bed this year on that one). Lucozade sport is normally about 14 miles and 23 miles (Think there was mars bars last year !!)

And remember to thank a Marshall/ Medic along the way, as without them we all wouldn't be able to run this crazy race safely !!

187       MG15                Black vest,shorts and socks          2:50
844       TickTock           Orange vest/grey shorts                2:57
???        Postie                Navy vest, blue/grey shorts         3:00
141       Chillies FB         Red/Black vest                           3:30
810       Joe Peacook      white & blue caerleon vest          3:58
107       SR3                   yellow stragglers vest                 3:58
389       EckyThump        CRAC vest                                  4:30
294       WarrenK78       Black vest yellow/red hoops        2:59
359       Aching Calves   Red Braintree AC vest,Black shorts 3.20
994       Dart More          White/purple/blue Erme Valley vest 2.50
306       Possum              Orange cap/black beanie?          3:59
846       Barry B              White vest, black shorts              3:15
462       MeeMeep          wargrave top/vest