After 15 years (first marathon 2007) I have completed my A-Z in memory of my brother Ian who died in 2006, I finished in Zagreb. I was emotional at the end

Me at the start a few hours before the run. It was due to be on Sunday morning but due to a cycle event, the marathon was moved to Saturday at 3 in the afternoon. First time for Jo & I (Jo is doing the half which sets off at the same time) to set off late afternoon.

                                                  

Working out what to eat was a challenge, I decided on a seafood risotto, which was massive (I had eaten half when photo was taken), the meal was really tasty.  

                                                    

Jo and I at the start, our apartment was so close to the start, we took this photo then went back to the apartment to drop off the phone. We were able to run the first half together Jo said she felt really good, I think I felt worse than Jo, then she finished and I had to do another lap or 13.1 miles to be precise. Jo ran 1h51min, it was a real pleasure running the first half with Jo, since having children going for a run together is something that does not happen very often.

That is me, Jo saw me (she was able to go back to or apartment for a shower) but I did not see her at this point, it was getting dark as you can see, it was a different experience finishing in the early evening.

At the finish, I finished in 3h 46min I was chuffed to bits, I got a bit emotional at 18/19 miles as I was tired but I was thinking about Ian and how finishing this challenge has been about raising money in his memory, Ian would have been 48 years old and I miss not been able to ask for advice from my older brother

A-Z complete 

 

Final marathon Zagreb

 WOW I have finally got there I am booked to do the Zagreb marathon, annoyingly the marthon has been moved from Sunday morning, to Saturday 1st October at 3pm, a late afternoon marathon that is a first for my final marthon 🙂

Letter J finally completed YEAH

 My letter J marathon has been one I thought I might never do. originally it was going to be Jersey but that is when I had a slipped disc and at one point I thought I would never run again. So J marathon was put on hold but I wanted to finish on Z so I needed to run my letter J, I decided on Jurassic coast marathon, it is a very hard 3 day event with a marathon each day along the Jurassic coast  from Charmouth to Shell Bay Swanage. You can run all three days or just do one. I decided to do day 2 Portland ferry Road to lulworth cove. I trained then covid stopped the event, then it was planned again so I trained and covid stopped the event again so I trained again and this time it went ahead on 24th July. I was very nervous, the training had not gone well, plus I live in a very flat area. on the day it could not have gone any better, it started out very grey and a bit wet but ended out being very hot. I ended up running most of the way with an amazing lady called Shelley. It was self navigating and on Portland we kept taking wrong turns, we had trackers so people could log on and see where we were, her husband kept ringing her phone when we took a wrong turn, at one point she said over the phone with a smile 'can you just let us get lost' Below are some photos taken on the day.

I did mot manage to get a photo at the end, It was such a lovely run I was very lucky with the weather as it got out hot I had not taken any sun tan lotion at one point I ran past a lady who was giving out sun lotion to her family, I asked if I could have some and then put my hand under the bottle and got some much needed sun lotion, Shelley who I was running with said 'She did not want to give you any did she' we both smiled as we ran away. We finished in 7 hours which I was really chuffed with. Now only Z left, most likely Zagreb in 2022

X Marathon completed

I was amazed to find an x marathon in Reading very near where I live. The only issue was a family wedding on the same day, which meant I had to run a 3:30 marathon and get changed quickly to make it in time for the marriage of my cousin. I ran the first half quickly as I was worried about time, and managed to hang on, slowing down but managed to finish in just over 3:30,  get changed and make the wedding. It was a lovely wedding. I now have 2 marathons left. Nearly there 🏃‍♂️🙂

August 2019 update

As you can see from above I completed my Ironman challenge. It was defiantly  an experience, I was particularly pleased with my marathon time. The bike course was tough with 9000FT of climbing with technical descents. Just to get around the course is an achievement. It is defiantly a one off experience.

My next marathon is my X it has been a challenge to find an event that I can afford, South China,  Florida, and Australia all had X marathons but out of my price range. There is an X-Ray marathon in Germany but it is a small event and I was struggling to enter event, I was beginning to think I was not going to be able to do X one last search and I found an X Run in Reading about 4 miles from my front door, it is a lap run I will need to do 8 laps to complete marathon distance but I will take that so all being well I will have completed 24 marathons by Oct this year

Q marathon completed YEAH

23rd Marathon completed the Queen Elizabeth Park marathon near Portsmouth. I have been training really hard partly as I have an iron-man triathlon on 14th July, hence I ran a time I am really chuffed with 4 hours and 3 minutes for a hilly marathon total climb equivalent of climbing Snowdon.

The marathon was really well organised and I was very lucky with the weather. My parents came to support, they said that went to the country park when I was younger, when we lived in Southampton where I was born, we moved to Yorkshire when I was three so I do not remember visiting the park. My parents took the photos below

At 16 miles 

Finish YEAH

Me and my Mum I am wearing my medal but it is hard to make out

I can not believe I have run 23 marathons. while running I sometimes do simple maths and I worked out while running that 26.2 miles x 4 is 104.8 miles so I really wanted to get to 5 miles so that I was under 100 miles to go on my A-Z challenge. 3 more marathons to go.

V marathon completed

My Mum and Dad travelled to Birchington on Sea to see me set off at 7am for the Viking Trail marathon

 

The run was flat along the coast, hot and 6 mile loops

My dad and I at the finish

As you can probably see it was a hot day, when I arrived home I felt terrible and am sure I had heat stroke. I finished in  just under 4 1/2 hours. The final lap of 6 miles I used as recovery I could have kept pushing but would have finished and felt terrible and probably not been able to walk and been in all sorts of pain. It was a mentally hard run. beautiful scenery but running out to a gate and turning round and running back 4 times was very tough, but I finished YEAH marathon 22, 4 more to do. 

My U marathon run YEAH

I went to Utrecht in Holland for my U marathon, it was very cold -1 most of the way round but felt even colder when running into the wind. I found it hard especially as I have not been able to do as much training as I would like due to life been busy.

The marathon started and finished at a science park just out off Utrecht. So I stayed at a near by hostel for one night, it was so cold it was not the weather to do sightseeing but I was lucky that the run went around most of the sights of Utrecht, although I saw them twice as it was a 2 lap course, particularity on the second lap I was not in the mood for sightseeing, I just wanted to see the next Kilometre sign to know for definite that I was getting nearer the end of the run. I ran most of the way with the 3:45 pacer but I could not keep up and eventually had to go at my own pace to limp home in just under 3:55 which I am chuffed with.

The weather in the UK was worse and I thought I might get stranded in Schiphol  airport and as I was the last flight to Heathrow I was worried but the flight was delayed by about an hour which meant catching the last bus 12:15 back to Reading and a cycle in cold weather with icy roads home (about 4 miles) for just before 2am, then both our boys decided to wake up and not re-settle, so 4 in a bed it was, how can small people take up so much room. Then work on the Monday morning.

The hostel where I stayed

I walked this way to the start and I also ran along this road

A view of the science park from my walk to the start

I tried to get a selfie at the start but it was so cold I did not want my gloves of for long and I am using an old phone due to me losing my mobile phone which is not very user friendly

So I managed to get someone to take a photo of me at the start

Finished and in the warm YEAH

My first run since my Y marathon

Best intentions

I have found it really hard getting the motivation to go running, I have all the excuses dark nights, cold and wet but it comes down to just getting on with it, once out I am ok, I went out for a run yesterday when it was raining and cold, I felt surprisingly good but I only went because panic set in. March 18th is not long away. I signed up to a 20 mile run on 11th February in panic mode. I think I will find it hard to do my own 20 mile route. I have certainly not documented my training I am an advert  for how not to train for a marathon.


I was saying to my wife Jo how I shout at my self to push harder, pump my arms more and to move my legs quicker, then I think if I have the energy to shout at myself then I am ok, so I berate myself for using up precious energy.


Jo is incredible her support is massively appreciated it was Jo who told me about the 20 mile run. Jo is also a runner and a very good runner. We have twin boys Harry & Alfie and both work part-time so do not have much spare time so have to support each other in our running. It makes the motivation for running harder as we can not run when we feel like it, we have to go running when we have time but we might not feel like running then. Jo and I used to run together a lot before having children now we are rarely able to run together. We would not change anything and feel very lucky to have Alfie and Harry who will be 2 1/2 in February.

I have entered my U marathon

I have entered the Utrecht marathon on March 18th 2018. 2018 seems a long way away but it will come round quickly.


I am starting to feel back to normal again after the Yorkshire marathon. I was blown away by peoples generosity and I managed to raise £510, a massive thank you to everyone that donated.


My plan is to keep up my running but start marathon training proper in the new year. I am also contemplating documenting my training by putting videos on YouTube. I have a You Tube channel, which you can find by putting 'alphabetmarathons' into You Tube or by clicking on the photo of Jo and I at the Meon Plod on the right hand side of this blog.

Yorkshire Marathon 2017

As post title suggests I have run my Y the Yorkshire Marathon in York on 8th October 2017. It is a fantastic marathon.
I found it very hard. I went with the 3:30 pacer who was actually running 3:24 pace so I did a 1:42 half which I would have been pleased with on its own but I had to run another half, I stuck with pacer till 15 miles but then fell away I had 10 miles to go and I was in all sorts of pain I told myself I can run 1 mile so I did then I did the same again 10 times at the finish i thought I had finished at 26 miles but I had 0.2 miles to go. I was very pleased with my finish time of 3:38

I really enjoyed the event and York is a great place to visit

Me at the start and below trying to keep warm

Wayne the 3:30 pacer at the start, who actually ran 3:24 pace

Me at the finish with my medal, the finish is where the pain really starts

Below is a video of me finishing I took the phone out as I thought I was finishing but I was actually at 26 miles so the video is longer than I first intended

Beautiful training run

We were on a weekend away in Brean on the Somerset coast and I was lucky to be able to fit a long run in, I ran for 1 1/2 hours so I think it was about 10 miles. I ran along the beach then up Brean down along the top, then back down to the beach and then back along the beach. I was lucky with the weather as well. Pictures of the top of Brean down and the beach below.

20 mile run: COME ON YEAH

Ran 20 miles as the title says. My legs are feeling it. I work at a library and met one of the regulars at 15 miles I said hello but I could not stop my legs were already hurting and if I stopped I would not have been able to get going again. Plus like me he loves a chat.

I have been running around the local area now for a while but not been taking any pictures. I am very lucky to be able to run around  a few beautiful places setting off from my front door. Below are  some of the places I am lucky enough to be able run around.

Ashenbury park

Dinton-pastures-country

Dinton-pastures-country

South lake

Stepping up training

I have started to step up my training. I went out on a very hot day at 12 o'clock 'mad dogs and English men go out in the mid day sun' came to mind. I did 17 miles which i was very happy with. I did take a stumble near the start which was not the best start. I am fairly happy with my training, you always feel you should run more, but with looking after our amazing boys and working I could not have done much more.

On fundraising side I manage to put a post on the council intranet site where I work and 3 people who I do not know have very generously donated £20 each which I am blown away by, it does make the training more fun and gives it a real purpose when people donate money. My Mum and Dad have also donated £100, which is really appreciated.

October 8th when my first marathon in 2 years takes place, is coming round very quickly

Long over due update

I am rubbish at updating. I am all booked in for Yorkshire marathon on 8th October. I have started training I am up to 7 miles. It is very different this time round. It is my first marathon for 2 years plus and my first since have back operation, and my Wife and I having twin boys.


I am finding it much harder this time round one reason  is that I have been very luck in the past to be able to do all my training with people, this time I am having to run on my own which I find very hard, I also have to run when I have time not when I feel like running. It is a very different experience one I am enjoying but finding hard. My life has changed so much since I started this journey. My brother Ian never met my wife and never got to meet my two amazing boys he would have been a fantastic Uncle to them. we are in touch with his wife Angela and she is a brilliant Auntie to Harry and Alfie although we are all busy and she has qualified as a nurse and works in A&E, my brother would be so proud of how she has done and what she has achieved. it means a lot to me that we are still in touch.


I am not sure how long this challenge will take now but I am determined to complete my A-Z in memory of my brilliant Brother Ian  and raise as much money and awareness of the brain tumour charity as possible.

Viking trail marathon a no go

The viking trail marathon organisers failed to get permission for the run. the council changed their policy about notification from 30 to 90 days and organising committee as a result were a week late, the run was moved to a park but I really did not fancy running 14 laps around a park. 

So I had to rethink  I found a  Marathon in York called the Yorkshire marathon  on the 8th October which falls on my weekend off so have entered. Longer to train plus a weekend in Margate to enjoy.

Attempting to restart the challange

As title says I am attempting at restarting the challenge. I am trying to find cheaper marathons to do, hence my first one I will attempt is Viking trail in Kent. If completed that will be V done and Kent is slightly cheaper than Vienna. I am not sure how body will hold up and training and it is harder with twin boys to look after. It will only be the one marathon this year. If completed I will have run 20 marathons. Just the six more to run.

I have started training I am up to to 7 miles. Fingers crossed

Looks like I will have to stop running marathons, with 7 left to run :-( one bad reason one, happy reason :-)

I had an operation for my slipped disc, which went well, but after starting back running it became clear that I am not going to be able to run 26.2 miles again, I am gutted. I had already booked to go to Vienna with Jo so Jo and I went just to enjoy Vienna.

On a happier note another reason why it will also be hard to finish this challenge is that Jo is pregnant with twins. Jo and I are both very happy. It turned out that a trip too Vienna would be good for both of us, before we have twins to look after.

 This is me pretending to look upset when we went to look at where the marathon would finish.

 We went to A grave yard which has more residents then Vienna.

 Jo at one of the Palaces

 Me at a statue at one of the palaces

 Jo again taken at one of the Palaces

 Jo and I stumbled into a bike event, which was really great fun.

  Me at the marathon pasta party, we had paid for the pasta and pancakes before I knew I was not running.

I feel terrible about not being able to complete this challenge, but at the moment I can not run at all, so 26.2 miles is out of the question. never say never I might come back to the challenge in the future but it will be in the long distance future. Jo and I are both looking forward to being parents but realise it will be a lot of work especially with twins. I thank everyone that has sponsored me on my 19 marathons, it has meant  a lot  to me and my family. It would have been Ian's 41st birthday on the 15th April while I am sad about not completing the challenge I set my self, I am immensely proud that I have raised money for a great charity in memory of my brother, I am sure Ian would be A great Uncle.

Injury update

As you can see from the above picture I have not recovered and am now walking with a stick. I find it strange because I do not get injuries but when I do they are serious. I volunteered in the Gambia nearly 15 years ago and everyone was getting bites from mosquitoes, I was bitten once but this got infected and ballooned up to the size of a golf ball and I still have a small mark on my leg from this bite.   

My only other injury was just before the London 2010 marathon, I was on the running form of my life, the week before the marathon I was working supervising young people building a fence at a city farm in Bristol. We had to walk through a field with 2 randy Rams in it, to get to the field where we were building the fence. The young people thought it was funny winding up the  Rams until the Rams started charging at them. I had to stand in between the Rams and young people, this meant that I was being rammed in my thighs by the Rams and it hurt, I strapped up my thighs for the Marathon, I got to 9 miles but I was in pain, so I walked and ran for 17 miles, I still managed 3 hours 23 mins.

My injury this time is very serious, I am trying to stay positive. I do find it ironic, that I have been a pain in the bum to my Mum, and Dad, Teachers, and Managers through the years and now due to my back I have a constant pain in my bum.

I am booked into see a specialist but it is likely that I will need an operation. My next marathon is in Vienna  in April, I had already entered it, it is looking unlikely that I will be able to run 26.2 miles by then but it is something to aim for.

I do realise that having a constant pain and not be able to stand straight is not terminal, and that there are people who are dealing  with much worse situations, such as my brother dealt with, he unfortunately died 8 years ago last Monday. So I am thinking positive and hopefully I will be able to run Marathons again and finish this challenge, in my Brothers memory while raising funds for a fantastic charity.