Flora London marathon Sunday, 22nd April 2007

Scenery: 10 - London Bridge, Kristy and Pete.

PB potential: 5 - (except Carmel)

Atmosphere: 10 + incredible

Organization: 8 - only because they ran out of water mile 8, 9&10

Value: 10 - (goody bag brill and T-shirt ace but massive)

Beginner Friendly: 10 - my sister and brother in law loved every min of it. First timers

Do it again: Tough, but I enjoyed it. We will see.

Well what can I say; it was a day for the ‘good’, the ‘bad’ and the ‘ugly’. A ‘good’ day for Carmel PB time of 3hrs 32 mins; 32 mins off her best time and I’m really pleased for her. The ‘bad’ was my hip going at 14 miles when I was well on course for sub 3:30.This is when I could have done with Ron McAndrew to have measured the course. The ‘ugly’ was the look on my face. No comment Julie!

The day started at 5:30am and I was actually feeling quite hungry, so breakfast was less of a challenge than I thought it would be. The coach picked us up at 7am and off we went out of London to the start. When we arrived the atmosphere was fantastic. Every one was buzzing. I got into the first available toilet and then sat there for 40mins with my paper; it wasn't really a problem though. I was busy getting myself ready with blister plasters, Vaseline etc. During that time, I was really glad that Carmel was there. (Not in the toilet with me!) We just ended up talking nonsense for an hour which completely took away any nerves that we may have had. Then I went into the runners-only area to drop my bag off and thought I saw Kath and was going to say, “Hi” but it was not her; she does not have red hair. Only kidding Kath x.

At 4 miles Carmel ran past me and asked, “Are you ok?” “Yes fine. Keep going,” I said, which I was – then! At the13 mile mark was Tower Bridge - what a sight; it looked brilliant .The crowds were absolutely fantastic and to hear them calling out your name with encouragement really spurred me on. It definitely paid to have your name on your shirt. It was also incredible I even heard Pete Waywell shout, “Come on Mick”. God can he shout bless him. Great to see a friend in the crowd.

Then at 14 miles my hip went. The pain was awful and I had 12 miles to go. At this point I saw a lad with two false legs and he was fantastic and with big smile on his face he was enjoying every min of the day. Bless him, he asked if I was OK and encouraged me to carry on. I thought to myself, “I am the lucky one. Just get on with it.”

I started struggling even more at about mile 18, but saw a couple more friends there and managed to keep running to about mile 20 where I had to stop and have a walk. I decided I'd walk one minute at each mile marker from there, though I’m not sure I managed much more than 30 seconds before the crowd forced me to go on again. At this point I was ‘proposed to’ by a very excited female. I am sure it was Paris Hilton. “Mick,” she shouted, “I love you I will marry you.” Hey, I’ve still got it lads, but it did not last long. As I smiled to my self I heard her shout, “Steve I love you I want to marry you.” I have never been dump so quick in my life.

By this time Carmel had finished in 3hrs 32 mins a PB and automatic place for next year. Carmel informs me she found it hard with one mile to go and had to stop and start but she informs me she sprinted at the end as a carrot was catching her up, but I think it was for the TV cameras.

The relief when I saw the 600m marker was unbelievable and running up the Mall was quite amazing. I don't really remember the crowds there; I was in my own little world, just focusing on putting one foot in front of the other to get to the Promised Land - the finish line!! At this point I saw a runner who saw his daughter, (age about 7), and lifted her over the barrier and ran in with her to the finish. That is what I call ‘priceless’. As I turned into the Mall, the charity I was running for, (Children with leukemia), was on the corner and one lady leaned over and shouted, “You have done brilliant Mick you have saved a child’s life today.” Well that was it, I promptly burst into tears! All the effort and ups and downs of the last few months, plus the immense feeling of satisfaction and pride all came flooding out. Luckily they don’t show it on the photos.

When I had crossed the finish line there was my little friend Carmel. She had waited for me - hey, I was not that long, and she didn’t look tired at all. I was so pleased for her.

Funniest moment? Was when a spectator at mile 23 shouted, “Come on Mick your looking bloody great.” In fact I looked more like Quasimodo running to his bells. It did bring a smile to my face.

I think everyone deserves a huge pat on the back, especially all the wonderful spectators who cheer you round every step of the way - you were amazing. I'd like to mention one other thing that often gets forgotten, which is the zone after the finish. Everyone is so fantastic, it is like clockwork. The atmosphere feels so caring and so safe and friendly, and that is just what you need to contemplate what you have done.

Thank you to everyone who came to make our day special.

An ode to the race

T'was an April day in London,
The skies were very clear,
When at the start the announcer said,
“T'will be hot today I fear!”

36,000 runners massed,
All nervous and with banter,
But by the two mile mark,
We'd barely reached a canter.

We then arrived at Tower Bridge,
The crowds they did a roar,
And I went through the halfway mark,
In one hour thirty four.

But by the time of mile 14,
My struggle had begun to tell,
When on the other side of the road,
Came past a flying Martin Lel.

At 16 miles my hip and head said, “Stop!”
My heart it said to run,
But with the smiling sun shining,
My head easily won.

To run and walk, to run and walk,
This was now the plan,
And the crowd they did cheer me,
As off I went and ran.

The support it was magnificent,
On the Embankment and The Mall,
And when I crossed the finish line,
I felt ten foot tall.

(PS. And well done to all!)

See our marathon in the Picture Gallery – Click here.

Written by: Mick Edge

Submitted: 29^th April 2007

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor

Flora London marathon 22 April 2007

Scenery: 10 London Bridge, Kristy and Pete

PB potential: 5 (except Carmel)

Atmosphere: 10 + incredible

Organization: 8 – only because they ran out of water mile 8, 9&10

Value: 10 (goody bag brill and t shirt ace but massive)

Beginner Friendly: 10 – my sister and brother in law loved every min of it. 1^st timers

Do it again: ? - Tough, but I enjoyed it. We will see

Well what can I say; it was a day for the good, the bad and the ugly, good day for Carmel PB time of 3hrs 32 mins, 32 mins off her best time really pleased for her.

The bad was my hip going at 14 miles when I was well on course for sub 3:30 this is when I could of done with Ron McAndrew to have measured the course.

The ugly were the look on my face. No comment Julie. Day started at 5:30am and I was actually feeling quite hungry, so breakfast was less of a challenge than I thought it would be. The coach picked us up at 7am and off we went out of London to the start. When we arrived the atmosphere was fantastic. Every one was buzzing. I got into the first available toilet and then sat there for 40mins with my paper it wasn't really a problem though, I was busy getting myself ready with blister plasters, Vaseline etc. During that time, I was really glad that Carmel was there. (Not in the toilet with me) We just ended up talking nonsense for an hour which completely took away any nerves that we may have had. Then I went into the runners-only area to drop my bag off and thought I saw Kath and was going to say hi but it was not her she does not have red hair. Only kidding Kath x

At 4 miles Carmel ran past me and asked “are you ok “ yes fine keep going I said which I was then. At 13 mile mark, Tower Bridge what a sight it looked brilliant .The crowds were absolutely fantastic and to hear them calling out your name with encouragement really spurred me on. It definitely paid to have your name on your shirt. It was also incredible I even heard Pete Waywell shout “come on Mick” god can he shout bless him. Great to see a friend in the crowd.

Then at 14 miles my hip went, the pain was awful and I had 12 miles to go. At this point I saw a lad with 2 false legs and he was fantastic, big smile on his face he was enjoying every min of the day and bless him he asked if I was ok and encouraged me to carry on. I thought to myself I am the lucky one just get on with it.

I started struggling even more at about mile 18, but saw a couple more friends there and managed to keep running to about mile 20 where I had to stop and have a walk. I decided I'd walk one minute at each mile marker from there, though not sure I managed much more than 30 seconds before the crowd forced me to go on again.

At this point I was proposed to by a very excited female am sure it was Paris Hilton, Mick she shouted” I love you I will marry you” hey I still got it lads, but it did not last long.

As I smiled to my self I heard her shout “Steve I love you I want to marry you” I have never been dump so quick in my life.

Bye this time Carmel had finished in 3hrs 32 mins a PB and automatic place for next year. Carmel informs me she found it hard with 1 mile to go and had to stop and start but she informs me she sprinted at the end as a carrot was catching her up but I think it was for the tv cameras.

The relief when I saw the 600m marker was unbelievable and running up the Mall was quite amazing. I don't really remember the crowds there I was in my own little world, just focusing on putting one foot in front of the other to get to the promised land - the finish line!! At this point I saw a runner, who saw his daughter (age about 7) and lifted her over the barrier and ran in with her to the finish, that is what I call priceless As I turned into the mall the charity I was running for (children with leukemia) was on the corner and one lady leaned over and shouted “you have done brilliant Mick you have saved a child’s life today” well that was it I promptly burst into tears! All the effort and ups and downs of the last few months, plus the immense feeling of satisfaction and pride all came flooding out luckily they don’t show it on the photos.

When I had crossed the finish line there was my little friend Carmel she had waited for me, hey I was not that long. And she didn’t look tired at all. I was so pleased for her.

Funniest moment? Was when a spectator at mile 23 shouted “come on Mick your looking bloody great” in fact I looked more like Quasimodo running to his bells. It did bring a smile to my face.

I think everyone deserves a huge pat on the back especially all the wonderful spectators who cheer you round every step of the way - you were amazing. I'd like to mention one other thing that often gets forgotten, which is the zone after the finish. Everyone is so fantastic, it is like clockwork. The atmosphere feels so caring and so safe and friendly, and that is just what you need to contemplate what you have done. Thank you to everyone who comes to make our days special.

An ode to the race

T'was an April day in London
The skies were very clear
When at the start the announcer said
T'will be hot today I fear

36,000 runners massed
All nervous and with banter
But by the two mile mark
We'd barely reached a canter

We then arrived at Tower Bridge
The crowds they did a roar
And I went through the halfway mark
In one hour thirty four

But by the time of mile 14
My struggle had begun to tell
When on the other side of the road
came past a flying Martin Le

At 16 miles my hip and head said stop
My heart it said to run
But with the smiling sun shining
My head easily won

To run and walk to run and walk
This was now the plan
And the crowd they did cheer me
As off I went and ran

The support it was magnificent
On the Embankment and The Mall
And when I crossed the finish line
I felt ten foot tall (PS And well done to all!)