A good spot for spectators is the Tilehurst Road Castle Street Junction as they can see you at around mile 8 and then again at 10.5 by just walking 100 meters up the road-it is also very easy to find people at the end as the stadium is easy to navigate with block numbers etc and only two sides are open so nice and simple. Baggage can be a little hectic depending on your finish time so if you have the option leave it with your family/friends.
I am pushing Dominic in this one-aiming for sub 1.40 maybe 1.35 weather allowing. Looking forward to it, the first 3 miles up to the university I find tough as pushing a wheelchair to the top of those couple of sharp hills is a little testing but once at the top we can really enjoy our race. Good luck to all running and please say hello on the route-will be wearing a Make A Wish shirt for this one as Dominic had a wish holiday last year.
Dominic is always very detailed in his pre-race instructions, I have all his favourite snacks on board and take on a duel runner trolley dolly role during runs-this doesn't work both ways as he will often withould gels and water from me if I am not going fast enough. He is feeling very proud of finishing today-he wore his medal to school but I was under strict instructions to make sure his teacher didn't see until show and tell on Friday. Running with him is such a great relief from the stress and reality of his illness which is life limiting and he is a real competitor-hence his stone face during our runs. Great to meet so many of you yesterday.
I ran yesterday with my disabled son in his wheelchair-we usually run half marathons and I was looking for the right race for Dominic and I to go long-Andy and Chris were brilliant from the moment I got in touch and asked if we could run and we had an absolute ball yesterday. Great organisation, a beautiful course which although testing in places (especially when pushing a chair) was a joy to run. We had a great race and finished in just over 4 hours, we could of gone under 4 but Dominic decided that daddy was getting a little sweaty and not able to talk to him at 35km so we slowed down relaxed and enjoyed the ride for the final stretch. Loved the lemming like worms, although I was told off for running a few over (sorry) and the village green football match-we saw a goal on the way past! We will be back again next year.
Put my chip on in college green-double bagged it as wel! it pays to be safe..Hindsight is a wonderful thing and at the time I thought that the tape didn't seem particularly sticky.
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Paul Chandler 4
