Tierney getting ready for battle or as we call it - a bath.	As you can see Tierney is investigating new forms of treatment. Click on the image for the full story	JOB DONE	click on the image to enlarge

London Marathon 2004 - How it went

“Its really easy to run a marathon. You just loose 23lbs, train for 650 miles, give up alcohol and make sure your in bed by 10:30 so you can get up and go running at a quarter past six in the morning. Well it’s like that for the final 14 weeks anyway.”

Well that was how it was described to me last September when I said I was going to do the Flora London Marathon again after a 3 year layoff and the onset of a medical condition which I do not know the name of but it causes your body to retain ice cream, chocolate and pork pies. Well now it is a week after the event and I have to say I feel fantastic.

In the last couple of weeks before the event I was troubled by a bad foot and had to get a new pair of shoes and wear them in which took a short while but I was ready on the day and as anyone who saw me in the last couple of days will agree I was champing at the bit and ready to go. I had planned my training and was happy with how it had gone. On the Wednesday before the event I went to the Excel centre and registered to run. Collected my number and bought a few bits from the stalls in the exhibition.

A short run on the Thursday and Friday mornings just kept my muscles moving and by the time I got up to run 3 miles on Saturday I felt wonderful. It was sunny, warm and real joy to feel the ground flowing under me. Saturday afternoon was spent quietly and I had an early night, the taxi was booked to take me to the station and my alarm was set.

I slept a little but did not want to sleep through the alarm and I guess I was exited so when the alarm started to ring I was up and at it. As soon as I looked out the window I knew that nature had no sense of fair play, all through my training I had been able to rearrange my runs if it had been raining, because I hate running in the rain, but here was the only day where I could not change my schedule and it was pouring.

As I travelled to the start at Greenwich the rain continued to fall and with each stop more runners joined the train, there was only one topic of conversation, how do you stop chaffing and rubbing when your clothes get wet and how much Vaseline will be needed to stop your nipples being rubbed right off.

At Greenwich I changed out of my track suit into my T-shirt and running top which I covered with a black plastic bag. Around my chest I had my heart rate monitor and on my wrist the monitor was saying 170, I was excited. Now into the holding pens and wait to be called forward to the start. At 9.45 we moved forward and as one we pulled off the plastic bags and they were passed to the side and handed to the spectators. It took 4 minutes to get through the start gate and about another 2 before we were running.

I had planned to run at 145 heart beats per minute which equates to 9 minutes per minute, this would get me to the end in 4 hours but I knew that I would slow down at some point and estimated my finishing time to be between 4 hours and 10 minutes and 4 hours and 20 minutes. At the start I was passed by a stream of runners and it took a lot of discipline to not chase after them, I knew I would pass many of them later in the day and I hoped I would not look as bad as they did. 200 yards from the start I stopped for a pee, along with about 500 others who had been pouring in the fluids for a couple of hours prior to the start, all your can hear is voices calling “good colour” a comment on how hydrated you body is. Back on the road and we headed off towards the 3 mile mark where the red start from Greenwich park (that’s me) and the blue start, from the common, join at the bottom of a hill. There is lots of friendly shouting and hooting at that point, your in a river of people all going one way and all wondering how they will be feeling in 3,4,5 or 6 hours.

Somewhere around there I was channelled into the side of the road and ran through a long puddle which left me with 2 wet feet and 23 miles to go. Well on we go and the next high spot is the Cutty Sark which is always a welcome sight and the crowds are deep, loud and enthusiastic. From there it is along the south side of the river and you can see Docklands just to the north but almost 13 miles further along our route.

At 9 miles I was 2 minutes ahead of my plan but feeling good and running steady. I had taken a few sachets of “power goo” a concentrated carbohydrate used by us marathon runners and took one as I went through each hour. It tastes like wall paper paste and you need to drink a lot but it keeps your energy up. Just after the 12 mile mark you swing right and there’s Tower Bridge, it is a surprisingly steep climb up onto the bridge but when you round that corner all you can think is “what a beauty”.

Once you’re on the north side it is only a short way to the 13 mile and half way point. I went under the arch as the clock said 2 hours and 2 minutes. I was feeling good strong and looking out for Andy and Nigel who I knew would be near the 14 mile marker. I saw them before they saw me and then it is off along Wapping Highway and into the dreaded Docklands.

This is where it has all fallen apart for so many runners and for on at two occasions I have gone in at 16 miles feeling good and come out at 21 miles wondering what the hell happened and by the way who am I and why am I here. This year was going to be different I had been keeping to my 145 bpm and apart from the driving rain I was feeling great and I had something to look forward to because I knew Liesl and the kids would be at 20.5 miles and I wanted to get there looking good. All I had to do was tick off the next four miles and then smile at the family when I got to Narrow Street. The ASDA store was giving out segments of orange which was very refreshing and at each drink station I was taking a bottle, drinking what I want and tossing rest into the crowd.

My progress slowed but now I am passing more than are passing me and I still feel strong. At 3 hours and 15 minutes I passed Liesl and the kids. They said I was looking good, it gave me a real lift to see them and to know that it was only 6 miles to the end, that’s not even my normal morning run and it’s through some of the most interesting bits of London. Back onto the Highway and it was good to see there are still runners going the other way, there at 14 miles and have a long way to go, and the weather is getting worse.

I ran past the Tower hotel and then walked the 200 yards across the cobbles as they were so slippery and I did not want to turn my ankle, this was when I felt that my heels were rubbing and sore, wet socks for the last 20 miles had taken effect and I thought about stopping for first aid from one of the St Johns volunteers but if those shoes had come off they would never have gone back on.

At 23 miles, just as you go back onto Lower Thames St. I started to run again and the next landmark is Blackfriers underpass. Everyone stops for a pee. Once your out of the underpass you can see big Ben and all you have to do is run past Temple tube, the Savoy Hotel and up to the Houses of Parliament. At the light turn right into Parliament Square and go straight up Birdcage walk, ease round to the right and the most beautiful thing I have seen all year is the finish line 200 yards down the Mall. Ok lets sprint to the finish, my arms were pumping, my legs muscles screamed and my heart beat got up to 175, I did not go any faster as I just had no more to give and went under the finish gantry at 4 hours and 22 minutes. 2 minutes outside my planned time but with the weather as it was I am more than happy with that.

Once I had reclaimed my bag and changed into dry socks and shoes I met up with Liesl and the kids and we went to the reception which Great Ormond street where hosting for their runners, the kids enjoyed the food and sweets, I needed the massage. The photo of Tierney and me with my medal, is a great momento of the day and it reminds me that she is the reason I took part in the 2004 Flora London Marathon.

Sponsorship. At the time I started the run I had pledges to the value of £3,050.00, that has been increased since I finished and I now expect to collect £3,240.00. I have already sent to Great Ormond Street Children’s Charity (GOSHCC) more than £750 and over the next few weeks I expect to collect the rest.

If you sponsored me and I have not yet asked for your money, please forward me a cheque made payable to GOSHCC and I will send it in and tick you off my list.

What now, well I am running again and intend to take part in a triathlon in the early summer, another marathon in August and finally the Snowdonia marathon in October. All of these are just for fun and I won't be asking for more sponsorship as so many of you have been so generous I could not come back again and expect you to repeat it.

Great Ormond Street Hospital treats 10,000 children each year, they gave us back Tierney when we were sure we would loose her. I can not look at the scar on her without remembering what a debt I owe to the fantastic staff at the hospital and I hope that by my running in this years marathon and your outstanding support I will in some way have given back a little of what I owe to them. It will never be enough but I will never stop giving.

Finally I know that if Tierney could talk she would like to thank each and every one of you for your support and rest assured she will grow up knowing what a wonderful generous group of friends she has.

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