Thank you for sponsoring me in my attempt to run the London Marathon for the National Autistic Society.
Here’s a progress report and some milestones as we go into the final week.
1st January 1999 – first run since cross country (compulsory) in school, 25 years ago. Made it to the Traffic Lights without stopping (400 yds.). Limped home from top of High Street in 19 minutes, thinking it can only get better. Immediately bought a bike because it’s easier than running.
January – Runs of about 2 miles most days. – Bought some shoes and they gave me blisters. Traffic lights now no problem, can even get to the top of the High Street, – if only I could get back. It doesn’t get any better!
End of January – Ran seven miles continuous, that’s just over ¼ distance. Ended up in Hospital with Kidney problems as a result of dehydration, Who said running was healthy ? Had to rest for a week after that.
February – Runs of about 4 miles ever other day. Longer on Sundays – up to 10miles. Still got the blisters but the pains in my muscles means that I don’t notice them so much. It still doesn’t get any better.
End of February / Early March – Ten weeks into it and running Reading ½ Marathon, (13.1 miles) in 2hrs 15mins which I’m told is quite respectable! Following week, just as I started to feel my legs again ran the Fleet ½ Marathon in 2 Hrs 16mins. Now got blisters, aches, knees the size of footballs and nine toenails. Good news, at least I can run half way; Bad news I find I’m officially considered a veteran!
Mid March – Injured (Running speak for knack…d?). Then went on overseas business trips involving long hours then got a cold – not half as much running as I would have liked. – Feeling desperate about lack of training but there just has not been the opportunity. – Running only 10 miles per week. Plus a bit of biking. Having an extremely large crisis of confidence.
Easter – Holiday in Bath but keeping up a training routine of 5 miles before breakfast – at least it gets it out of the way. It still doesn’t get any better. – Now blisters gone, toenail grown back and can get back into long trousers, but I still feel shattered, and am still considered a veteran.
Start April – Ran the “Docklands Loop” of about ten miles, Blisters better, retained toenail, knees worse, muscles ache – now quite nervous. I know it’s going to hurt. And it still doesn’t seem any better than January.
This Week – No going back now, just eating lots of pasta, and looking forward to my old lifestyle of fried breakfasts at weekends and some serious social sessions planned. As I HAVEN’T HAD A DRINK since January. I can always use the bike to get down the pub and no chance of getting dehydrated again! Despite this however, I do have the Great North Run ½ marathon entry form for October in my briefcase, I’ve lost a stone and feel a lot fitter for it. Maybe it does just get better.
Anyway Sunday 18th’s the day when I will line up, minus the bike, at Greenwich with an assortment of runners, fancy dress chickens, rhinos, fairies and other veterans for a 9.30 start. According to the form books we should see Tower Bridge at about 11.45, (That’s just about when the winner will finish) Then out on the Docklands loop, through the Wall, ( I can’t find that on the map) back to Tower Bridge for 1.45 and finish at about 2.45. I’m wearing a white singlet bearing the National Autistic Society Logo with black shorts and my race number is 42670. Look out for me on the tele. I’ll be somewhere behind the chicken.
I’ll be contacting you as soon as I can walk again, Wish me Luck and Thanks Again, together we should raise over £1000 for NAS. That’s better
Steve Wilks
Please Return Sponsorship To: Steve Wilks – 3 Edgcumbe Park Drive, Crowthorne, Berks, RG45 6HB (01344-772010)
0r 84, Eccleston Square, London, SW1V 1PX (0171-245-8372) or (0802-203139 M)
And I did it ! – 5hr 18 minutes by my watch, and 3 days to walk again ! Thanks to Andy Cooksey, who appears in some of these photos for his support and sage words of advice on marathon running, which in truth I ignored completely !
