Huge congratulations to Helen, one of our fabulous volunteers who set herself a real challenge.....
London Marathon October 2021 – are you mad???
I decided to set myself a challenge 2 years ago – complete the Couch to 5 k. Since moving to Norfolk I’d done precious little for my physical well-being – lack of time being my main challenge but now I was able to prioritise myself. With Michael Jordan encouraging me on I puffed round the lanes of Docking, started Park Runs, joined Kings Lynn Ladybirds then lockdown!! I teamed up with a friend in the village and together we set ourselves various challenges, Virtual Great North Run, Samarathon, virtual Park runs, all of which I loved and gave me a great feeling of well-being, confidence and self-belief that I could run. Then all of a sudden in April I had an email to say I had ‘won’ a ballot place in this year’s London Marathon. Massive panic, elation, fear and doubt followed.
You can show your support here
BUT I DID IT!
It took me several days not to have to clutch the stair bannister going up and down!! I had the most wonderful day, I really didn't expect to 'enjoy' the day as much as I did but the whole experience was just amazing. The crowds were brilliant, it was very well organised, everyone was loving the day and each other after such a torrid 18 months. My daughters - Meg came down from Manchester and Jen Sheffield, and son John and Beth from Reading which was just amazing to have their support. They split into teams and with Andrew popped up 10 times around the course cheering me on, wearing Team Helen T Shirts - with 'most improved runner 2021' on the front- feeding me chocolate at 18 miles when I needed the boost and generally giving me pep talks (Jen borrowed a drum and deafened everyone around her) and were there at the end to mop up tears, help me change out of my shoes and steer me to a pub for wine, burger and chips!!
I completed the race in 5 hours 49 mins - my personal best for a marathon ( ) didn't hit the infamous 'wall', ran through sunshine, horizontal rain and wind and will savour every moment as I'm never doing another marathon (I'm leaving that to my cousin Cliff who just ran Manchester in 2.30 !!)
Thank you so much for your sponsorship. I was running for two local charities, King’s Lynn Samaritans and Norfolk and Waveney Headway. Headway is a charity which has been invaluable in supporting my family following Andrew’s (my husband) collision when out on a cycle ride which resulted in traumatic brain injury and they have supported the changes in our lives.
I was aiming for £500 but have raised £2600 so far, that's £100 per marathon mile, so a brilliant spin-off from my ballot place. I will always treasure the whole experience and if you ever get the chance grab it with both hands - I would never have dreamt I could run 26.2 miles but I did so if I can then you can too.
I know we all donate in many ways to our branch but if you do feel able to contribute to my marathon here's the link ....
