1 down 3 to go!

Thank you for all the good wishes and encouragement you gave me, ahead of and in some cases during the London Marathon on Sunday! I thoroughly enjoyed the first 18 miles and I was on for about 3hrs 15mins but the mile times gradually slowed as I neared the end. The legs got heavy but I knew if I kept going I would achieve my goal of going under 3 hrs 30mins. Not only that but I have taken a pint from Nick by beating the challenge he set me by 28 seconds!! That pint will taste very sweet!

Unfortunately not everything else went quite to plan! After leaving the Wirral at 3.15pm on Friday we eventually arrived at our accommodation at 11.45pm. After a number of toilet stops, break for a McDonald's tea and a not so leisurely 2 hour drive down countless one way streets in central London we finally found our flat, kindly arranged by my sister. It was a great flat apart from the very claustrophobic car lift down to the underground car park. (More about that later!!)

Saturday was a chance to relax, take it easy and prepare for the challenge ahead. Well, that's the theory, and doesn't take into account the 4 desperately excited children, not to mention that poor Toby was on antibiotics for a double ear infection and that his number 2's were, shall we say, less than solid!! After registering it was off to regents Park for a Picnic and games. Unbelievably and for only the second time since my proper training started i developed a blister on my heel which I noticed at about 4pm! By the time we got back to our flat all the local shops were shut( We were in the business district) and all I could get were some pretty rubbish plasters! After a pasta meal, a bath and Match of the day it was to bed!

Sunday began with a bowl of porridge and after a wonderful send off from Julie, Hannah, Helen and the Kids it was off to meet Phil at London Bridge. He arrived with his customary sunglasses and a life saver named Sarah who was also running and he had met on his walk to the station. She turned out to be a life saver, giving me some Compeed to cover my blister in place of the fairly rubbish plasters.

The race started and I felt good, consistently clocking under 7mins 30 for a mile. After a very worrying 10th mile when I thought my knee was going to give way, the pain subsided and I crossed Tower Bridge where the gang, now including mum, dad, Becky, Ruth, Guy and Isaac as well as the aforementioned posse were cheering me on! Julie was doing her Zebedee impression and the smile on her face gave me the determination to complete the next half. The next time i saw them was about 24.5 miles and they provided the spur I needed to get through to the end! The Mall is a great sight and I finished in 3 hrs 27mins 11 seconds! The BBC commentary said London is the World's greatest Marathon and I could not argue with that. The support from the crowds is unbelievable and the atmosphere is second to none!

A nice picnic followed in St Jame's Park with all mentioned above plus an unexpected but very welcome appearance of Franko and Vicky! After an Ice cream and a play in the park it was back to the flat to pack up, give the kids tea and leave for home, sounds simple enough! But no, a flat battery in the underground car park requiring RAC assistance, a baby that has almost run out of nappies and a youngest daughter who threw up mid journey and meant an unscheduled stop on the hard shoulder of the M6 meant that we finally arrived home at about 2.15am!

So it is with apologies i end this blog for the time it has taken to update but i am sure you understand! Thanks again for your support and a special thanks to Julie who has done so much to help me with raising the money, looking after the kids and other such things which has allowed me to train and now complete the first part of my challenge. I love you.

I now hope my legs and particularly my knee recover in time for Sunday week and the Harlech Tri which i am really looking forward to, and if you haven't sponsored me yet it is only a mouse click away!!

Thanks again, Matt