Standing in a huge crowd of muesli munching,

energy drink sucking, muscle limbering runners awaiting the big bang. There I stood looking for the yellow balloons which marked a 5 hour pacemaker, feeling a little more than self conscious in my skin tight running shirt, designed to let me sweat and stay cool, but also reveal my comfort eating induced flab rolls. I felt like I was wrapped in Clingfilm!

Back in April it all seemed such a wonderful idea. Go to Venice and run a marathon. In the process I would lose a lot of weight and get fit. I’d no doubt feel good about the whole challenge too. Jos and I began to run in the Vondelpark every Thursday and he jogged along lightly whilst I plundered along constantly asking how far we had run. By May I was pretty into the whole idea and we’d decided to run for Morijo Loita. Our target was to help build a classroom and provide the means for 30 Masai  children to receive education. So now I had a duty to keep me running into June and July. Slowly increasing the distances and feeling quite pleased with me.

So the big bang came and nothing appeared to happen for a couple of minutes… I reminded myself once again to watch out for the man with the hammer at 30km and then suddenly a bobbing of hundreds of heads and my careful soft shoe shuffle turned into a limbering walk and finally a jog as I had made the start line… hundreds of digital bleeps…. We were off…. Aaaagh…. But first…. I needed to pee real bad! I spotted others in the same predicament, who had found a beautiful stone wall to redecorate and I had to struggle with my stretchy running shorts to get the “old chap” out and be relieved. I did laugh at myself…. I had spent at least an hour dressing myself, concealing energy bars, glucose tablets, and a gooey energy biscuit bar only to undo all the careful design to pee!

5km came and went and the balloon was steadily about 50m in front of me yet somewhere around 8km it had vanished as we were running through the beautiful and picturesque countryside. Bands were playing, people lined the streets and I was being passed, seemingly all the time!

10km in just over an hour! I was beginning to realise that this was not a jog in the park or a jaunt along the Amstel. I was puffing well and running with and being over taken by very old men and women. The professionals and seriously fit and youthful were long gone, and the drink spots were ravaged. Empty water cups and bottles were to be dodged, as you passed the cheering villages who offered you wine as they shouted “Bravo”!

So, I walked for about 500m and told myself I could quit if I wanted to, but at least get to a withdrawal station where someone who could speak English might be able to get me back to Venice where I could be consoled by my Wife and baby to be. I started to run again and got to the 15km mark. Because I missed the Dam to Dam race I decided I would do one more km in order to reach that distance and found I could keep going with a bit of running and walking combined. Then I heard a digital bleep and I had crossed a blue mat signalling 20km. I had been over taken again by the 86 year old man and I inflicted my revenge on him just as I went across the half way point at 21.1km. I had run a half marathon in 2 hours 47 minutes, I felt knackered and as I celebrated the land mark the old man passed me again! Just what was he on?

I could no longer feel my legs as foot, ankles, shins, knees, and thighs!

It was more like tree stumps that my hips were dragging along. I ran, I walked,

I ran, I walked and the more I thought of Daphne at the finish line wondering

if I was going to make it, I became emotional. I had to really try hard to keep control as I felt my whole body reacting to the mental impression of my

pregnant wife worrying about her fool hardy husband and his silly idea to

run a marathon. The last big hammer came as we ran through some town

at the 28km mark.

We had to run along a large avenue with those in front of us running back along the other side. There was a turnaround place that just didn’t want to come….

It felt like an endless road and like a very very bad joke which was on me!

I was really going to stop at 30km… absolutely, definitely going to stop

33km and approaching the long stretch which via the motorway would take us into Venice… Only 9km left to go. I was even saying that! ONLY 9km!!!! My feet were about to explode, my neck was even joining the pain gang and yet my brain was beginning to use the ‘ONLY’ word! There was absolutely no way I was going to stop now and in fact I thought it easier to get back to Venice by running (run, walk, run, walk) rather than waiting for an ambulance to take me to a runners centre to wait for buses and boats to get me back!

Running gently down hill we approached the first bridge and there was my good old friend ‘Mr 86 year old’… I’d forgotten about him ages ago. I even felt bad as I went past him although my ego was gently relieved. I was beginning to catch up with some amazing people!

I actually enjoyed the last 3km or so. I was even running more and was past caring about the pain.

I couldn’t believe it! I had defeated something inside myself. I gave myself full permission to fail and yet chose to go on till the end. An amazing feeling. Not one of a finely tuned athlete I must admit, but nether the less only one person from the 5500 or so competitors could win the actual race. All of us others ran for ourselves, for one reason or another.

Those who I ran with are my heroes, especially Mr 86 year old and Ms. Napa Valley!

Now the pain will go eventually. I can hardly wa

lk and even sleeping is painful! I finished in 5143rd position and in 5 hours 50minutes and 44 seconds. As I stood at the end with Daphne, we watched those few others find the finish line… The Slovenian lady in full costume (at least 70yrs) Mr 86 year old, and a chap running with a plastic lower leg. 

So now I send you this with my grateful thanks for your support and for those who have donated money to our wonderful cause. It was an incentive to me to know that the further I ran, the more I could raise and it now looks as if we can even achieve the schools completion.