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Geography Great runs London Marathon!
Posted: 6th October 2020
‘Do as I say, not as I do’
The above phrase certainly rang true, as on Sunday 4th October, I set off along the Thames Path on a 26.2 mile journey to Newbridge, just outside of Standlake.
I began my London Marathon adventure this time last year, when I was accepted by the JDRF charity (Junior Diabetic Research Foundation). Looking forward to running the packed London streets in the late April sunshine kept me going training through the dark days of winter. However, COVID – 19 put pay to that dream as the marathon date was put forward to Sunday.
You could ask any of my GCSE Geographers, what persistent heavy rain does to rivers when it falls on saturated ground. Surface Run Off they will respond as one (hopefully!), leading to flooding. Still, what can go wrong I thought? After four miles of wading between shin and waist deep in flood water, with Tilly the Dog swimming most of it I wished I had listened to my own lessons!
Still as the Thames got wider, deeper and more established the flooding gave way to open countryside and the sort of peace and quiet that true social isolation beings – I was almost beginning to enjoy the experience! Almost …..
I am sure in summer the Thames Path is a magical place, however in the drizzle, cold and mud, some of its magic eluded me.
Met by my support crew (family), at bridges – which coincidentally seemed to have a pub on where they could drink hot chocolate, the miles were ticked off.
At last, and just over 4 and ½ hours later the finish line (virtual of course), hove into view! It was a remarkable experience, made by the knowledge that some 45000 people were running the same distance all over the world.
The aches and pains are all worth it (I also have a place for October next year – hopefully around the London streets!), when looked at in context of the money I have raised for such a worthwhile charity. I was diagnosed as a Type One Diabetic some 30 years ago. The one conversation I remember with a nurse at the time was that there would undoubtedly be a cure in my life time – 30 years later and it seems we are no closer. This is where the JDRF charity step up. Thank you for those of you who have sponsored me – if you would like to, then there is a link to my just giving page below!
