Bead Barmy

Steve Smith completed the London Marathon 2010 and raised a fantastic sum for Diabetes UK. Steve’s final post leaves us breathless once again!

As regular readers will be aware, we have been keeping a beady eye on dedicated marathon runner and Bead Barmy follower Steve Smith (see Making A Run For It). We supported Steve in the 2010 London Marathon, where he ran in aid of Diabetes UK. Steve has taken the weight off his trainers, for the time being, to send us his last update:

Legal highs and perfect skies

After over 18 weeks and nearly 800 miles of training it’s all over. The weather forecast running up to Sunday was not looking good – warm and sunny. So it was good to wake at 5am on the day of the race and see that it was raining.
My running vest, with number attached, and shoes with the all-important timing chip were laid out the night before. After a breakfast of porridge with honey, toast and jam all washed down with coffee, our transport arrived. Apart from long runs I don’t drink coffee, so the caffeine has a greater stimulant effect on me – a legal performance enhancing drug! Heather and I travelled down with my training partner Pauline and her husband Brian. We were dropped off at Charing Cross station at 7.15am for the special trains which take us to Blackheath. With 2 hours before the start there was plenty of time to go to the toilet and to keep hydrated. At registration every runner is issued with a sack into which all their belongings can go. The lorries taking these sacks to the finish leave promptly 20 mins before the race starts. So at 9am I started to get ready; take off the outer layers, put on my running shoes, Vaseline those parts that can chafe etc.

A cracking start

By the time of the start the rain had just about stopped. The start was prompt at 9.45am and 4 mins 35 secs. later I crossed the starting line. The first mile or so is very slow (just as well, as the adrenaline at this stage is pumping and you are tempted to go too quickly). You just get into a steady pace then you come to a halt as runners from one of the other starts merge and the road narrows. After that point you can start to get into some sort of a rhythm.
The weather was pretty good for running. Mainly overcast, although at times it did feel a bit humid. Overall the course is pretty flat, but the first few miles are generally downhill. Every mile (apart from mile 26) is marked with an arch of balloons and a timing clock.

Big Ben is watching you

After parking the car Heather and Brian had plenty of time to get to their first ‘cheering point’ just after the Cutty Sark. After seeing us there, they spent the rest of the day rushing to different points on the course to cheer us on – at miles 15, 18 and 25, although I managed to run past them at mile 25. I also had support at miles 13 and 22 and at Big Ben from the Diabetes UK support teams. There were estimated to be around 250,000 spectators.
There are also plenty of landmarks to look out for en-route, the most spectacular for the runner being the crossing of Tower Bridge where the crowd noise is very loud and the most welcome sight being Buckingham Palace, The Mall and the finish!

On a personal note

My personal race? With so many runners, it was difficult to run an even pace. Still, by the time I reached halfway I was on a good schedule. I had a bit of a rough patch at 20 miles, but I thought about all the training, all the sponsorship and most importantly, my Mum in whose memory I was running and I pulled through it.
I was still running strongly as I turned into Parliament Square, but as I ran onto Birdcage Walk, about 1,000 metres from the end I ran out of energy and slowed to a walk (a slightly unsteady one at that). From that point onwards the support I received from the crowd lining the road, and also from many runners, was quite overwhelming and helped carry me to the finish.
When I turned the final bend and saw the finish, I couldn’t help but start running again. My time was 4 hrs 26 mins 23 secs. – not as fast as in my dreams, but not a bad effort.

And so to bed

After crossing the line your finishers’ medal is put around your neck, the timing chip is removed from your shoe and you are handed a goody bag. The organisation is slick. During the race the bags have been sorted, so as you approach the baggage lorries ‘spotters’ shout out your running number and your bag of belongings is ready for you to collect. Then it is on to the family and friends repatriation area.
I met up with Brian & Pauline, but Heather was still at mile 25 waiting for me to pass and starting to get concerned – thank goodness for mobile phones.
Whilst pleased with my time, I can also bask in the reflected glory of Pauline’s time of 3 hrs 57 min 42 secs. – she was 9th in her age category!
Today, after a good night’s sleep I’m feeling pretty good. My legs are a bit stiff even after a good massage. It’s uncomfortable going downstairs, yet not so bad coming back up them (the same can be said for sitting down and getting up from the toilet!).

Bead fan hits the target

I have to say a big Thank You to all those who have sponsored me and offered me encouragement. I didn’t set out with a specific target, although in my mind I thought that £1,000 would be a nice round figure to aim for. I’m delighted to say that, at present, I have raised just over £1,200 and then there is the taxman’s donation (Gift Aid) of around £230 to add on to that.  Finally there is also Beads Unlimited’s (The Brighton Bead Shop) April Charity Day donation – they have been wonderful and really generous.
My Mum would have been amazed by everyone’s generosity, and proud of my achievement. Thank you.

Stop Press

Due to a technical hitch, Beads Unlimited’s charity day did not take place on the 24th April.
The event will now be held on Saturday 26th June 2010.

The unstoppable Steve!

If you would like to, you can still make a donation on Steve’s web page

The Diabetes UK registered charity number is 215199.

Posted by: BeadsUnlimited