Sunday October 3 sees the return of the London Marathon to the English capital after a pandemic hiatus. For us, having made it down there and moored our narrowboat in the city for the first time, it will be a momentous, nail-biting day.
Steve will leave the boat on that Sunday morning to run 26.2 miles for the first time in the London Marathon. Last year he also ran the marathon from the boat but it was the virtual event due to Covid, and he was on familiar streets around Leicestershire, supported by fantastic friends and family. Particular thanks for last year have to go to Ali, Jo, Jack and Freya who paced alongside him for the event. This year is a very different story, in many, many ways.
Firstly, we’ve taken from August to bring the boat down to London to moor in the capital for the event. It’s been a journey down of 153 miles, 7 furlongs and 145 locks. Without lockdowns it has meant we have been able to see friends and family en route which has been lovely, but it has meant that training has been incredibly hard for Steve.
Secondly, for all previous marathons, and for last year, he was training in familiar places, on routes he knew, and crucially at least once a week he was able to train with others, which as every runner knows, enables you to increase speed and stamina whilst supported by those around. This year virtually every training session for him has been in unknown territory – he’s had no idea what the underfoot surface is like even if he can see gradients, distances etc. from the web. Sometimes he’s found himself on towpaths which are paved or compacted. Other times he’s encountered thick mud impossible to run on so then it’s been roads – often with no pavements. His trainers have taken a pounding along with his legs!
Rarely has he had people to run with him. I am only just returning to running, and so of no use. The dog is too old. So hour after hour he’s been running on his own in areas he doesn’t know, sometimes coming back covered in scratches from brambles, having done detours where routes were blocked or lengthy loops just to get back to the boat.
Thirdly add to that – he’s had Covid which has affected his speed and stamina. He’s returned from training runs gasping for breath and dejected at his pace which has been much slower than his previous marathon training pace at this stage. He has had to accept that he is now aiming to walk part of the 26.2 miles in order to conserve his energies to finish the event.
But despite all these struggles and setbacks – he keeps going, battling on, putting one foot in front of the other, lacing up his trainers to head out into the unknown after moving the boat during the day, creeping from the boat early on Sunday mornings to head out for miles and miles. The trainers he’s worn out in training are all recycled – and put to good use!
All this because he’s made a commitment to a small national charity which does amazing work and which depends on every penny Steve and the other #TeamVicta runners can raise. Victa supports children and young adults from 0-29 who are blind and partially sighted to live life to the full. Crucially the charity also supports their families too.
Like many small charities, those who have encountered Victa’s work recognise how essential it is. If you’ve never experienced blindness or partial sight, then it is hard to comprehend how limiting it may feel, for the individual and also for their family. Victa builds confidence, independence and enable access to the activities and experiences many sighted people take for granted. Those receiving their support say it is life-changing in the most positive way.
It is for Victa that Steve is running the marathon. It is for them he has been training for nearly 2 years now. He began training in January 2020 to run the marathon for them in London in April 2020, but as we know that was cancelled. He carried on training, with a hope that there would be a marathon in London in October 2020. Eventually he ran the Virtual London Marathon for them in October 2020. Now he will run the London Marathon 2021 for them in London at last on 3 October. It’s not his first marathon, actually his fourth, but for him it is hugely significant.
Getting over that finish line has meant 22 months and hundreds of training miles – and now Covid has dashed his hopes of completing what he says will be his last marathon in a time he wanted. There’s nothing any of us can do to make that happen for him. But something we can do though is get him to his fundraising target. Thank you so much to everyone who has sponsored him, and generously donated to Victa’s vital work in the process.
When you sit back in comfort and put on the TV to watch 50,000 runners putting in the miles from Greenwich to The Mall on Sunday 3 October they will be joined by 50,000 runners running the same distance in all sorts of locations across the world on the day taking part in a Virtual London Marathon. Together they will be fundraising for thousands of charities and raising the profile of running for physical and mental health. Steve will be proudly wearing Victa’s rainbow colours again,. This year his number if you’d like to follow him on the app is 45606.
I’m in awe of all those running, but I am in particular awe of my amazing husband who says he wants to celebrate his 65th birthday later this month knowing he’s completed the London Marathon in London and raised vital funds for Victa’s work.
My amazing husband’s journey from fat to fit is one which is nothing short of inspirational – he’ll probably kill me for saying it or even showing it, but I am so proud of what he has done. I hope his efforts inspire others to achieve physique and fitness they would never have dreamed of by hard work, training and determination. He has been q quietly inspirational role model to me, and to many who have had the good fortune to meet him. The difference he has achieved and maintained from 7 years ago is remarkable – as you can see.
If you haven’t sponsored anyone in the London Marathon – please consider sponsoring Steve. He’s so nearly (97% at the time of writing) at his target of raising £1700 for Victa now. If he could get to the start line knowing that he’s raised his target or even bettered it, it will be an amazing psychological boost. You can be the one to push him along those long 26.2 miles to the finish in The Mall. Just click on this link to add your support – it doesn’t have to be a big donation – every penny counts.
This event which supports so many people is just like life – a marathon, not a sprint – something to train for, develop ourselves for, and it’s necessary to remind ourselves to enjoy it on the way with the support of those around us, family, friends, and strangers.
Thank you for your support. If I’m honest – I just want to see him safely at the end of this one, and I want to believe his pledge that this REALLY is his last.full.length.marathon!
Pickingupducks 