As the dust settles, there are a number of people who I need to thank. This edition of the blog is therefore a big list of thank-yous. Another, more reflective, blog is currently being composed and will appear in a few days’ time.
Without these people, the task would have been impossible:
Kevin. Thanks for helping to make this happen. I’m not yet sure about you, but I thoroughly enjoyed it (in the end) and am still buzzing now. Thanks also for putting up with no one else but me for 32 hours over those 218.3 miles. There aren’t many others who would have chosen to do that (maybe it was because you didn’t know me that well beforehand).
Cath. Words cannot begin to describe how instrumental you have been in this task. When Kevin and I first thought about this challenge, we contemplated the fact that we may not have any support. And as other supporters fell by the wayside, you stepped up to the mark and exceeded all of our expectations – before, during and after the event. Unfortunately, you now know that if I were to ever consider anything like this again, you will be the first person I ask. What’s more, you successfully kept all of my worrying supporters free from worry – not many can do that.
Without these people, the task would have been significantly more difficult:
Mum, Dad, Marc, Deborah. Thank you all for your continued support. Summer, autumn and winter 2010 was a difficult time for all of us, but we pulled through. You all completely understood my reasons for this and stood by me the whole way (despite calling me “bonkers” in the national press, mum). Marc and Deborah, the efforts you made and the enjoyment you gained out of being there will forever mean more to me than you can imagine.
Helen. By far and away, my biggest supporter. Thanks for understanding my reasons for undertaking this challenge – and always believing I could do it. Helping me left, right and centre with publicity. Supporting me before, at the beginning, the (end of the) middle, at the very end and after. You always took an interest, despite preparing for the biggest challenge you have ever undertaken, yourself.
Georgina. My second biggest supporter. You always took a genuine interest in what I was doing – and I was truly delighted to receive your support at the end, when your own dreams were being shattered (albeit, temporarily). Next year, you will be stronger and I promise I will do whatever I can to help you.
Pete. For getting me through my injury eight weeks beforehand, and giving me the confidence that I could overcome it and achieve this. For printing our kit (via Winning Ways). And for allowing Cath to join us for the crucial days in France.
Kevin’s family. Thank you for allowing me to borrow Kevin for a bit. I hope he is able to continue running in the future and, consequently, doesn’t burden you with complaints of yearning to run (and wishing he had never done this).
Jeremy. Thank you for enduring many a stressed conversation on training runs. When you had stresses of your own, not once did you complain about my own complaining. And for always offering solutions to my problems.
Stuart (and Mrs B). For providing our first aid kit. That nappy rash stuff was amazing.
Ryston Runners. Thank you all for understanding my predicament, for supporting me in my decisions at the club without questioning them. And for the encouragement and motivation you have all provided throughout my training. I could not imagine ever wanting to run for any other running club.
All friends, supporters and sponsors. The training for this challenge was as difficult as the event itself. The support, generous donations and kind words all helped me overcome these hurdles. Furthermore, it made the challenge so much more worthwhile. Taking the time to read the blogs, comment on them, and in the guestbook added to this.
Adidas. Thank you for providing the kit in which we ran. I now have enough trainers to last me almost 5000 miles. And no, don’t even suggest it…
Google. For providing some excellent map software that allowed us to plan a route that avoided most of the main roads (although it did cause us to run through a fishing lake in Dieppe).
These people helped to make the task more enjoyable:
Tom Williams. Thank you for being genuinely interested in what we were doing, for interviewing us (twice) and for podcasting to thousands of listeners via www.marathontalk.com. Also, for taking time to talk to us at the Expo, and for giving us a big shout out with only 7 miles to go.
The Lynn News. For giving me half of the back page and for keeping me on the homepage of the website for a week (http://tinyurl.com/6cpjxdh).
The Jewish Chronicle. For interviewing me and telling the nation that my mum thinks I am “completely bonkers” (http://tinyurl.com/6lea8dk). And again here (http://tinyurl.com/6l6kcer). That will show you, mum, although I am not sure this will change your opinion.
Jackie Newton. For interviewing me, for putting my story on the RunBritain website (http://www.runbritain.com/little-runbritain/88/) and for the podcast (http://ipad.io/Ytl).
Archant. For putting our story in the EDP (http://tinyurl.com/42ffhxt), the Evening News (http://tinyurl.com/62dj6yr) and the Advertiser (http://tinyurl.com/3w3nvbb).
Steve Bradley. For interviewing Kevin for broadcast on Norwich 99.9FM, twice.
Chris Goreham. For interviewing me for broadcast on Radio Norfolk.
The British Heart Foundation. For understanding my reasons, offering advice and helping me to publicise (http://www.bhf.org.uk/default.aspx?page=13073).
Whizz Kidz. For supporting me (as well as Kevin), as we ran through London, and publicising our story (http://tinyurl.com/3oqsktg).
Sprowston Manor. For providing us with use of the facilities to aid our recovery.
Anyone else who was remotely interested (especially if you have read this far), or who believed I could do this (or suspected I couldn’t).
You are very welcome. Its a tremendous achievement – particularly the time in London too. I cannot even start to comprehend how tough it was but am really proud to have witnessed the event.
Until the next time then……..
We have never met, Simon, although I feel sure you will know that I am a founder member of Ryston Runners an association of which I am very proud. I have watched the progress of the club under your chairmanship with interest and not a little pleasure. Your personal achievement in the run you have just completed will rank highly both within the club and in the wider running fraternity. Many congratulations!
Like Jeremy, I would say “you are very welcome”. It was a terrific experience and one I’m glad to have shared. It taught me alot about myself too, and filled a void I hadn’t realised existed since I left teaching, of being of specific use to someone! (This is not a slight on my husband, who just happens to be a very capable and apparently un-needy sort of chap, even if he doesn’t know where we keep the mop for the kitchen floor and did manage to oversee the collapse of our whole hot water and heating system at home while I wasn’t there). He will also be very pleased by your kind comments about his input.
I think what you’ve done has been not only great for those taking part but for the club as a whole. But the main thing is that you have achieved what you intended and can now reflect on a job well done.
I still don’t really know what to say in response to that, despite thinking it over for 24 hours now!!! Thank you, but I don’t think I have done anything more than any supportive friend wouldn’t also have done. To be honest, I think it was helpful for me to have a distraction from the task in hand and it was great to be able to share similar anxieties with you when we were going through them at the same time. And pasta. It was good to share the pasta too.
I never doubted that you could and would do this, I think you are the most determined person I know. The fact that you did it all in good spirits and with a sense of humour is testament to the strength of your character.
Now this is over, does it mean that I can go back to eating my tea in peace!?
Keep bouncing for a long time yet.
XX