Run Day 1 - Twickenham to Dartford

Hard Times and Strong Minds

It was not a sight I’d ever wanted to see when Dan and Rob finished their first marathon this afternoon around 2.50 pm. They’d walked down the hill from Bexley Heath on Watling Street to the waiting Volvo support car not out of breath or having hit ‘the wall’ but because their legs, so accustomed to the particular requirements of cycling 110 miles a day, just couldn’t cope with the very different pressures of running  and especially running down hill.

The start of the day at 10.20 am from Twickenham Stadium had been quite different. Both guys were stiff and sore from their journey and prepared for some pain but intending to take the first day very steadily, were feeling confident. It was a cloudy but bright morning with a light breeze, good for running and they set off at a steady 8 minute mile pace heading up the A316 and on to Putney High Street and towards Wandsworth. A collection was being made for Leukaemia Research at the Tesco Southwark store and Rob and Dan were going to call in as they began their run along the Old Kent Road. Sandra and I were going ahead with the Volvo whilst Stephen with his Saab newly bedecked with triathlon signage and England flag was providing close support and water to the runners.

Nearing the Elephant and Castle, Rob and Dan lost their support vehicle and arrived at the Tesco store ahead of Stephen. A quick hallo, drink and energy bar and they were off again leaving the Saab to catch up. Sandra and I stayed and talked to George and Gavin from the LRF Head Office team who were collecting and then carried on towards Shooters Hill and the 26.2 mile mark.

Dan said afterwards that it was during the run towards Blackheath that the real pain began to set in; shooting pains down both legs and periods of numbness and the runners slowed their pace. The long, gradual climb of Shooters Hill with its ever increasing gradient and steep finish was no problem to the boys but the steep slope of the descent brought tears to their eyes and they had to walk down towards Welling. The last few miles were all about willpower and determination. After all that they finished in a respectable 4 hours 24 minutes.

After they’d finished, taken in some liquid and food and stretched their aching legs, it was home as quickly as the South Circular would allow. Both guys had cold baths followed by hot soaks to increase the blood supply to their legs and then I took Dan over to see James Blackley for a massage. Afterwards, he was walking almost normally – we’ll see in the morning how much good it has done.

Tomorrow, another 26.2 miles is scheduled from our stopping point to Faversham in the Garden of England. It promises to be another gruelling day – fortunately James will be with us for more treatment on those legs.