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Posted on April 27th, 2009 by kevin.
Categories: RunningDads.com, News, Racing, Comment, Kevin.
Blimey. That was hard work. 5hrs 13mins 03secs.
That was harder than last time.
That said I only put in about SEVEN training runs since October last year, none of which were longer than 14miles.
I didn’t stop, I walked an increasing amount after 22miles, but got to that point with a reasonably constant jog.
For the last 6 miles I couldn’t feel my feet, and my calf muscles were just upset with me.
The final mile saw me spurred on by the fact that I was overtaken by a Rhino (Dude in fancy dress - NOT a real one! 
); I ran and ran and ran. As I came to actually see the finish line I was getting a little dizzy, and having to talk to myself to push the final few hundred yards.
What did prove to be more of a challenge than anticipated was the emotional challenge:
When AdyP and I completed our first marathon in 2007 we were learning. We knew we wanted to run for the memory of Abbie and raise awareness and funds for Neuroblastoma. Which we did.
As you will appreciate from the lack of training runs recorded, I wasn’t doing the marathon this time for me to improve upon my running time, but to raise more cash and awareness for the charity.
To this end each and every t-shirt that said, “in memory of…” made me think of why I was running. I even saw someone with an “AbbiesFund” t-shirt on. Each and every shirt made me well up.
Add to that the fact that Claire and my two gorgeous lads kept phoning me to cheer me along made me think about them and if I had to go through that pain with either of them. Yes, I was the muppet in a white cap with tears running down his chops.
Today is the day after. I walked from the end of the marathon to London Victoria to catch a (packed) train home, and to stretch my sore legs. Today I am at work. Legs are tired. A couple of small blisters on my right foot, and I’m NOT limping.
Strange that given that I had run a marathon before, I was more intimidated by this one. I seriously wasn’t sure that I was able to complete.
Thank you to all that did sponsor me, it was worth it, it is important, and as one of my mates said after I’d finished, “Crying reminds you you’re alive”.
Cheers,
KevB.
Posted on January 20th, 2009 by kevin.
Categories: RunningDads.com, Training, Kevin.
Blimey… more than a week later I’m still not happy to run on my blistered foot. Took four days to stop limping about like a lemon on it. Hopefully going to get a run in later this week!!!
Posted on January 13th, 2009 by kevin.
Categories: RunningDads.com, Training, Comment, Kevin.
Whilst I’m not running as much as I was in 2007 training, I did managed an 11 mile run on Sunday.
Took it nice and gently, but still came back with two massive blisters - one on each foot. Unfortunately the blister on my right foot had “peeled back” during the run, and two days later I am still limping - having got home from work last night and found some lovely blood in my shoe.
Hmm….
Posted on January 10th, 2009 by kevin.
Categories: RunningDads.com, News, Comment, Kevin.
Well….. it appears that Xmas has taken it’s toll.
Ady is in pain - more skiing injuries - you’d think he’d realise he was crap at getting on and off ski lifts and take a lesson..!?!
Kev has stuffed his face and is looking a lot more roly-poly than hot-to-trot.
That said we are both set to run FLM 2009!!!
More news will follow up here as and when it comes!
Posted on January 31st, 2008 by adrian.
Categories: RunningDads.com.
Hi All
As the title of the post suggests Kevin and I have decided to do it all again in 2008. Late last year The Neuroblastoma Society said they had 2 places available for us. We thought about the pain of running 26.2 miles, the seemingly endless training hours plodding the roads in wet and cold weather, the hours spent fundraising……….and said YES!!
So here we are again. The main difference this year is that we know much more about the training process and the day itself - which actually makes it even more scary. Also Kevin has gone and got himself a “proper” job so will have to shoe horn his training in and around work and family life. My aim is to run with 2 operational arms this time…..I’m not wearing a sling again….no way!!
That said I did managed to partially dislocate my shoulder again a few weeks ago - technically it was a “subluxation” - so it’s a bit sore, though nowhere near as bad as last year. I’m looking at getting a brace for it to stop it popping out if I fall.
I kept the running ticking over during the summer so am starting the training with a much bigger “mileage base”. I’ve still had some sore shins but there again nowhere near as bad as last time out. The long runs have been creeping up to 15 miles steadily and I’ve been doing 35 miles or so a week since the new year.
So that’s it, here we go. Please look at www.runningdads.com, read Abbie’s story, and sponsor us. And of course wish us luck.
Ade
Posted on April 27th, 2007 by adrian.
Categories: RunningDads.com.
Hi All
Well, against all the odds the RunningDads team of Kevin Brooker and Adrian Potter made it around the 26.2 miles of the Flora London Marathon 2007. I can’t tell you how delighted and proud I am to be able to type those words – it’s the culmination of a tremendous amount of effort from us, and patience from our families.
Sunday 22nd April started around 5 am for both of us, and I for one didn’t sleep too well the night before – big match nerves I think. I stuffed 3 weetabix and a banana down my throat along with a litre of Lucozade before Kevin knocked on the door at 6 am. We’d wangled a lift up to London with a group of runners from Handcross and were meeting at the Royal Oak at 06:30. It was a beautiful morning – the mist was clinging to the hedgerows as we sauntered slowly up the lane from Warninglid to be there 10 minutes early. Then I realised I’d forgotten my mobile phone so we executed a not so leisurely return to pick it up – waking up my Mrs and the kids in the process – sorry!!
Pleasant journey up, it was nice to talk to some fellow runners. We dropped off at Waterloo and boarded a crammed train to Greenwich. By pure coincidence we bumped into Jon from Kingston who we’d met at the Expo earlier in the week – spooky! It was a mile or so to get to Greenwich Park for the red start where we started our pre race faff! Get changed, sun cream on, ipod, sat nav, race number, get the sling on, drinks etc etc – oh and have a pee! We lined up in pen 4 with about 15 minutes to go. At 09:45 we were off.
Surprisingly we were through the start in 2 minutes or so and jogging along at 9 ½ minutes per mile. It was rather a surreal experience, after all the effort here we were actually running the London Marathon. It all went well, the crowds were noisily cheering us on and the atmosphere was fantastic. Cutty Sark was boarded up unfortunately, but almost before we new it we were heading north over Tower Bridge with over 12 miles behind us. I’d thought that the number of runners would start thinning out by half way but it was absolutely packed still with our pace pretty much being dictated by those around us. We were through half way in 2:07 – not bad at all in the heat – we’d decided early on that aiming for 4hrs was unrealistic given how warm it was and that we were both “crocked”. My Sister and Mum called on the mobile to say they were waiting at mile 23 by the Tower of London and it began to dawn on me how far we had to go around Docklands before we’d see them. By 15 miles I was starting to feel very weary. Running with my arm in a sling was clearly taking more energy than I thought.
It was here that Kevin was a real mate, sticking with me when I know he could have gone faster himself – a selfless act for which I’ll always be grateful. I can’t deny I found from 15 miles to 20 miles really hard work. At one point I had to just put The Stranglers on my ipod and think “by the time this album is finished that will be another 4 miles done”. It seemed so warm around Canary Wharf – fortunately there were a number of “run through” showers set up to help cool down. My mate Clive called to say he and a few others were at mile 18 but we managed to miss them unfortunately. Then, at mile 20, we had a celebratory energy gel and realised that we were finally heading west again with “only” 6 miles to go – whey hey!
Seeing my family at mile 23 was great, and an excuse for a short stop for a photo – we now only had 3 and bit miles to go along the embankment but by now we were both starting to feel the pain. I can liken it to being at the dentist, it hurts but you know that soon the pain will be over. I tried to equate the distance to go with short runs I did in training. We both felt the need to have a few “mini walks” of 50 metres or so before carrying on running. There were lots of runners in a lot of trouble along the Embankment and we were in good shape by comparison but we both felt absolutely drained nevertheless. We both admitted afterwards to thinking about Abbie at this stage which helped put our “woes” into context – it’s why we were her after all. Soon we were through Parliament Square and trotting down Birdcage Walk with a big sign saying “600 metres to go” in front of us. Our pace quickened and we were through the finish holding hands in 4 hours 29 minutes and a few seconds – what a relief!! I thought to myself “never again”! 20 minutes later I was thinking “Yes, again again again!”
We had a photo taken, got our medals and goody bags, retrieved our bags, then hobbled around to St James Park where we flopped under a tree not really saying very much, but trying to take it all in. It’s amazing how the body recovers after such a feat – fresh T shirt, clean socks, quick pack of our stuff and we headed up to Trafalgar Square and to a pub nearby with the Readers, my Mum, Sister, my nephew Matthew, and Adrian a friend of Kevs. Best pint of lager I’ve ever had! We actually walked back along the Mall to Victoria Station to watch some of the later runners coming in before boarding the 18:04 to Horsham, complete with huge burgers and chips – smashing!
All in all it was the most amazing experience and a fantastic day.
Ade
Posted on April 23rd, 2007 by kevin.
Categories: RunningDads.com, Comment, Kevin.
Just a short note, while we compose our thoughts:
We did it! 4hrs29mins25secs.
We’re alive!
More to follow……
Posted on April 21st, 2007 by adrian.
Categories: RunningDads.com, Adrian.
It’s the night before the big day and I must have done 26.2 miles faffing around the house trying to get my gear together! Kevin and I went up to the FLM expo on Thursday to register and collect our numbers. I’m 42817 and Kev is 42816.
My shoulder is much much better thanks to some excellent physiotherapy at the Bartholomew way Clinic in Horsham - it’s healing quicker than expected but I still must be very careful not to overdo it, so I’ve been ordered to wear the sling for the marathon. Unfortunately the weather forcast is for warm weather, so wearing a neoprene “straightjacket” is not ideal! Ah well, I think the the world record is safe for this year.
We had been hoping to get around in under 4 hours but with the heat and the injuries we need to be realistic and just enjoy the day - we can win next year!
Following a “last push” email campaign the sponsorship money has been flooding into “the pot” with lots of activity on our “justgiving” site in the last few days. Thank you very much to all who have supported us, it makes all the effort worthwhile.
Naturally, as you’d expect from RunningDads, we’ve managed to wangle a free ride up to Greenwich for the start with a bunch of fellow runners from Hancross - we depart the from the Royal Oak Pub at 06:30.
Right - last minute packing then an early night - oh and few calls to organise the venue for the post race ice cold beer!!
Posted on April 15th, 2007 by adrian.
Categories: RunningDads.com, Adrian.
Well, it was all going too well!
The long runs gave been steadily building up with Kev and I trying to out do each other by the odd 1/2 mile every weekend. In consecutive weeks I managed 16, 20.5, and 22.5 miles. After the 22.5 mile run I felt good and was very tempted to go the extra 4 miles to complete marathon distance - fortunately it started to sleet so I stopped!!
My shin problems have all but disappeared thanks to some sensible training, effective icing, and some great “treatment” from Alan Dean - dealer in pain….”now this may hurt a little Adrian….!!!”
Unfortunately I suffered a great deal more pain 2 weeks ago in a ski tumble in the French Alps. Now I’ve been “trying” to hurt myself skiing for 30 years without success, and I’d like to say that my injury was caused by some radical off piste or just failing to complete the 3rd loop - but I can’t. Exiting a chair lift 3 of us got muddled up so I decided a “tactical” fall over to the left would be a good idea……..but…..bang!….I landed awkwardly and felt a searing pain in my left shoulder. 5 mins later on the side of the piste the pain had eased somewhat so I thought the grand tour we had planned for the day might still be on. I then tried to roll my shoulder to ease it off….nothing moved and the pain returned. I then slipped my right hand inside my jacket for a feel…..oh dear…..my left arm no longer joined where it should and felt like it was down across my chest. A ski patroller who’d been called by the lift operator confirmed a dislocated shoulder - bugger, bugger, bugger!!! All I could think of then was the marathon and how bad the timing was!
The medical man asked about insurance - I had it (phew!) then summoned a helicopter. We were right at the top at 2500m and he said disclocations benefit greatly from a swift resetting. 30 or so minutes later, after an Xray, I was dosed up with vallium and the arm was put back where it should be. A CT scan the following day revealed no major damage to the area.
“So Doc, I’m doing the London Marathon in 3 weeks time - what do you reckon?” .
“Shouldn’t be a problem Monsieur - but you’ll have to wear a sling”
“Phew, double phew, and triple phew!”
So after a couple of days rest I started gently jogging with my arm in a neoprene orthapaedic sling. It’s was a bit odd initially but I’m getting used to it. The bottom line is I’ll be there next Sunday on the start line - I’ll just be a bit slower than originally planned.
London Marathon - easy - I’m going to do it with one arm strapped across my front!!
ps - the game below is like “pin the tail on the donkey”. Where do think my arm should go?!!
