OT: Kevs Marathon Weekend!

Hi folks!

You may remember that I posted recently regarding a (possible) pre-marathon PU on 12th April? I know the PU didn't happen, but having only recently arrived home, this is the first chance I've had to get online and fill you in on my marathon progress.

Hopefully you'll be pleased to hear that I made it to London - and made it 'round the course!! I've been working away from home, and didn't find out for certain I would be able to go until the Saturday morning. Once I got the OK It was a case of throwing some stuff in a rucksack, and getting a lift to the local station. Just an hour or so later and I was working my way through London along with thousands of other runners arriving to register at the Arena.

I'll cut my story short here - but will post a full review on my website once I've settled down. Suffice to say I had an absolute ball of a time. Shame not to see any of the London-based UKMGers, but I shall look forward to next year and a better planned PU! :o)

I met loads of lovely people, had a swift solitary PU of my own on the Saturday night (raising a glass in UKMGs direction). Stayed in a 4* Hotel in Mayfair for £50! And generally soaked up the weekend - absolutely great stuff all in all (and the marathon was good too :o)

I finished *way* wide of my planned sub-4hr time (finally finishing in 04:48:59). But I wasn't disappointed. The last couple of months have been crazy and I was glad just to make it there and have some fun. I'm filled with enthusiasm for future marathons, and am already looking to compete in the Blackpool Marathon on 22 June.

Anyway, my reason for posting a Follow-Up here is to publically thank three stalwart UKMGers for kindly sponsoring me through my website <http://www.thats-my-boy.co.uk>.

Dave, Iain and Andrew, I was warmed by your kind-hearted donations, and can only offer you my sincere thanks. I *WILL* make it to this year's National PU, and *WILL* be getting the drinks in - please accept a virtual pint from me for now.

My thanks also go to those of you who sent supportive emails and offers of sofas at short notice - the strength of UKMG never ceases to bring a smile to my face!

Though I will continue to seek endurance challenges, I wont be pestering people for sponsorship in future. I feel at London I accomplished what I needed to, and gave my grief the send-off it needed. I will still support charities in future, but will alter my focus - the content at thats-my-boy will change to reflect this.

All the very best for now. Sorry for the OT post - I wanted my thanks to be public. Once I've rescheduled the fund-raising gig I had planned I reckon I'll have collected close to £1000 for Athony Nolan in total - and that aint bad at all.

Cheers friends

<snip>

Kev,

Many, many congratulations on doing this - more than I could manage, thats for certain!

Hope to see you again at a PU soon,

Kev, well done ! you made it. I think the story that needs told most is how you could get a 4* hotel on Mayfair for £50............ I can feel a re-location ofthe National at these rates <grin>

Now get yerself a pass-out for the 14/15/16 November and I'll accept that pint !

cheers

Well done, Kev!

Congratulations Kev - way to go !!

Hi Andrew :o)

Before I left home I had a mooch through lastminute.com and found a few hotels that looked nice (and within my price range). I didn't bother booking as my attendance was very much uncertain.

On the Saturday I spent the day humming and haahing about whether to book somewhere or not. Part of me saw the sense in a decent rest, and the other part wanted to stay up over-night and give the 1000mile challengers some support through their final miles. I walked for a while with Rory Coleman and his wife - he even invited me out to accompany him on some of the late-night miles!

In the end, I'd had a busy week - and a good walk around London with a heavy rucksack all day - I decided to take the sensible option and book in somewhere.

LastMinute.com's telephone booking service was laughably frustrating, but I'd written down the details of a few hotels - it was just a question of getting their numbers and ringing 'round.

I phoned Flemings of Mayfair <http://www.flemings-mayfair.co.uk> and they offered me a room for £80 - I told them I'd be gone by 06:30 and didn't want to blow £80 on a bed - so they offered me a room for £50. Only when I got there did I realise the standard of the hotel - normal room price £169 +VAT!!

A lovely place - and a great way to round off my Saturday and prepare properly for the morning. It was £50 well spent too - seeing as I'd been sleeping on a camp bed for much of the previous week! :o)

Personally I'd say it'd make a lovely place for a future National PU - I'm not sure how many of W1's residents would appreciate it however :o)

Next chance I get to visit London, I'll be targetting the Ritz or the Hilton!!

My weekend pass is assured mate - I'll stay with folks near Wigan, but will attend as much of the weekend as possible - Clive's Cornford is proving an irresistable draw!

All the very best