The day after...

Ouch!

My legs are a bit stiff and I've a couple of blisters, but other than that I am in fine fettle and feeling very proud to have made it round!

Thank you to all of you who sent me text messages of support the day before and on the morning of the race, it really gave me encouragment and of course, a huge thank you for all of of your sponsorship, I think its got up to £800 now which I am so chuffed about!

I have to say I enjoyed it, in a perverse sort of way. The weather was pretty horrible, heavy rain and driving wind in the unsheltered parts of the course. I got to my start area in reasonable time, and met Paul & Emma from work who were also taking part and we all joined in the mass warmup led by some Mr Motivator-type guy. There was a lot of excitment, everyone was up for it and we all fed off the atmosphere. Just before the start, the rain stopped as well but not, as it turned out, for long.

My wave didnt get started until 11.15 (by which time the elite runners like Paula Radcliffe were already half way round!) but luckily there weren't too many walkers to get in my way so i was able to start off at a steady jogging pace.

The first couple of miles were really good, we went off from Southsea heading west, past Gunwharf Quays and into the Historic Dockyard. I really enjoyed this bit, it was cobbled and HMS Victory looked fantastic. Then we came round towards the city centre, and it started bucketing down again - nice.

I was still going fine by the 5 mile mark, by now I had walked a couple of short stretches before continuing jogging. It was around the 6 mile mark I started really feeling it, when we were coming along the north side of Southsea Common I could see people who had already finished and were making their way home with their foil sheets and medals! I saw Lisa & Erin at this point, we were waving and calling to each other, and Erin was shouting "Run Daddy, Run!" which really spurred me on.

Around 7 miles we were in & around the side streets of Fratton (I think) and the people were brilliant along this stretch. Some of them had marquees and gazebos up and seemed to be having street parties, and they kept cheering us on.

At 8 miles my legs started to give up on me, and I began walking a lot. My head and lungs were telling me to keep running, but my legs just wouldn't obey! I knew I was most of the way round and listened to a few good tunes on my iPod to push me on.

I have to say, I met some really good people on the way round. Some of us who seemed to be around the same sort of pace fell in around each other, and we had a few chats and willed each other on when one of us was flagging a bit - and we shared out the lucozade tablets!

Turning for home, we headed west again for the last mile and a half back towards Southsea Esplanade - right into the wind and driving rain! Knowing I was on the home stretch, I got running again and towards the finish line I saw Lisa & Erin again and jogged it home as best I could.

Over the finish line - phew! I was so proud to have completed it, my legs were knacked but it didnt matter, foil blanket, quick change and home. My time was 2 hours 22 minutes but to be honest I don't really care. My aim was the challenge of doing 10 miles and raising sponsorship for Diabetes UK, which I have done and thats what matters to me. Plus, i beat Lisa's time from 2005!! :-) sorry darling!

I think Lisa took some pictures, as soon as I get some sorted I'll post them up on the blog. It was good to see a few familiar faces in the crowds on the way round as well. the crowds were brilliant, they kept cheering and encouraging us - it really does give you a lift!

I intend to keep the running up, I know I could have done better with more than 3 months' training but its fun to get out for a couple of miles' jog. As for next year - there's plenty of time to think about that!

I will keep this blog going for a bit, and keep my justgiving fundraising going for another week, in case anyone else still wants to donate.

Thanks for your support,

Neil

Final Push!

Today marks the start of my final push towards Sunday, both in fundraising and training.

I went for a light run this morning, and now its about saving my legs for Sunday, eating & drinking properly. I'm looking forward to the run with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. I'm hoping the weather wont be too bad, though at this stage the long range forecast isn't great!

I had a really good day gathering sponsorship in work yesterday, I raised another £65 so I'm almost at my target of £600, which I'm really pleased about. Again, thanks to all of you who have sponsored me, I wont let you down. If you haven't got round to it yet, please visit www.justgiving.com/neilbowles, you know you want to!

I received a call from our staff newspaper and was interviewed by them for a piece they're writing about all the NATS staff who are doing the Great South Run this year, it turns out there are loads so I should see a few familiar faces amongst the other runners.

Well, at the time of writing I have only 4 more sleeps before the big day, I'll try and get another blog in before then. Cheers!

Not long now!

At the time of writing, I have only 10 more sleeps til the run! Went for a run this morning, did 4 miles and the legs are hurting again. Up until about 10 days ago the training was going really well, then I got a chest infection, followed by going to Slovenia for 4 days to watch Northern Ireland play (see pic of me and Colin supporting Our Wee Country), followed by a 2 day residential work training course - all of which meant my routine has been blown out of the water. 

But this morning's run felt ok, though the legs are burning now! I'm going to get a few longer runs in early next week, then a shorter one next Thursday, to rest for my legs for Sunday week.

I knew I'd never be able to run 10 miles without stopping, so the plan is still the same - run as far as I can then walk a bit, run a bit all the way home!

Thank you again for all your sponsorship, it keeps coming in so which is brilliant. If you haven't yet been able to, please have a look at my justgiving site and donate if you can, I am nearly at my total!

More soon blogfans!