Thanks for Supporting such a Great Cause!

25 Oct 10 12:49 PM
posted by Jeff Fenton

Well my time has come and I embark on a quest to raise money by running my first FULL Marathon. My charity is Sparks, the reason is simple.
Approximately 1 in 30 babies in the UK are born with a health condition what will affect them and their families for the rest of their lives.
I am going to run 26 miles for this cause, for me this is probably the most painful thing I will ever do, all I ask is please give me as much encouragement as possible, believe me I will need a lot and donate what you can for this great charity.
Help me to help them help children

Sparks Brighton Marathon Team 2011 for Sparks Charity

Registered Charity Number 1003825

Sparks funds research into new treatments and cures for ALL conditions that affect babies and young children. Every day 70 babies are born in the UK with a condition that will affect them and their families for life. Please help us to change this, and give every child the start in life they deserve – a healthy one.

Today is Sunday 28th November

Last night the temperature dropped to minus four degrees, cold.

Today is a beautiful bright sunny dry but cold day perfect for a stroll in the park after Sunday lunch but instead I went out running, thought first I would check the temperature on the car, 2 degrees, I ask, is that too cold to run?

First mile was bloody freezing, ever found yourself standing in a hotel walk in freezer, well kit it out with one of those fancy running machines you find at expensive gyms and there you go, my first mile.

My hands have gone red, not sure if this is a good sign or not however they hurt like hell, why do I not put gloves on, just like the other runners, who incidentally always look better at running then me.

I think my lungs have frozen, every breath I take gets harder, even my feet feel cold, how come those other runners don’t even look cold, they pass and smile, what are they smiling about or are they hiding a laugh, I wonder.

My hands have gone kind of blue now which to be honest is not such a bad thing because I can’t feel them, blue is good, I think black is bad.

3 miles and you know what, I think I am going to die, I feel my body shutting down at least me legs are still going, still can’t feel my hands, every cloud has a silver lining.

4 miles, got to stop as I feel sick, had to sit down on a park bench, to be honest I do not think the three pints and Sunday roast at the pub earlier has helped, glad I brought my sig’s with me, the other runners are still going