Day 14 - Marathon 14 - 5th April 2013

Day 14 5th April 2013, The Nottingham City Hospital to Leicester Royal Infirmary

Up at 6am after a late night doing the washing! Legs stiff and tired with my left knee as my main problem. Gentle stretch, Joel work out, shower and down to breakfast by 7:15. Porridge and toast plus a bowl of grapefruit consumed and back to the room. All packed up, checked out and van loaded by 9am, a new record! Very nice friendly staff and enjoyable stay at the Eastwood Hall Hotel, thank you and also another thank you to Essential Hotels. 20 minute drive back to the Nottingham City Hospital, met Donna unfortunately we still could not get on the ward, their work comes first. Also unfortunately the newspaper photographer did not show or was at the wrong entrance! Delayed us a bit but photos taken with my robin hood hat on, looked proper silly! Then off to our planned start point. Arrived, argued about route, back in the van and drove about 8 miles west to avoid motorway and A road inter junctions! Now at Swaley and half an hour late! Very overcast and again a biting wind. Another day 14 start video taken and eventually off on the Tamworth Rd, now with the hump due to late start, change of route and was not looking forward to another day of head wind! The first few kilometres on nice B roads with legs feeling surprisingly good but very cold. All best plans! We then hit the A50 which is a big duel carriageway and intersection with the M1! Fought hard against a head wind and the traffic for a few miles then back on B roads after negotiating a large roundabout on Jct 24 of the M1. Dad finally calmed down and enjoyed the rest of the run through very nice very small and very quiet country lanes. Great views, no headwind but loads of muck spreading! All good, 10k in 45 mins, I think due to panicking trying to follow dad. Then slowed but still kept a fair pace. With dad saying how much better this was, I had to remind him the distance was still the same for me! Long one short, I completed a very nice but still painful 42.23k with legs wasted in the last 10k, in 3'20"46 (243m elevation gain, 219m elevation loss) just before we reached the Leicester Royal Infirmary. Dads best drive ever he thought! Met Kristina from BBC Radio Leicester, quick interview apparently going out on the week running up to the London Marathon, all good to help with donations! Then inside the Windsor Building Reception to meet Donna Young, Teenage Cancer Trust regional fundraiser, who has looked after us so well over the last couple of days, Rachel Boardman ward sister, Hannah Mc Caffrey nurse, and Sian Caulton Youth support coordinator. Dad in his element telling them how hard it is driving and how tough I am on him! Quick few photos taken, and good chat about the importance of Teenage Cancer Trust, all good and all so positive. We then were taken up to the Teenage Cancer Trust Ward and again we were blown away by the unit and the staff. The thought that goes into the layouts of the group areas and high level of medical support. We had the pleasure of meeting a couple of lads in their late teens watching a movie in the lounge area. They were being treated at the unit and had nothing but great things to say about it. It is not like being in hospital! As I have said before Teenage Cancer Trust gives these young people the best time possible at the worst possible time. Another reminder of what this is all about over, quick few photos in the unit and dad and I left feeling good. Thanks for giving me your valuable time. Little walk to where dad abandoned the van, in heater on, quick change and off to Hinckley Island, our bed for the night. Quick shower, food in the Buffet Carvery and now icing. Left knee and now right mid calf are my main concerns. Special thanks to our very good friends Graham and Heather Beckley and Kube ID for sponsoring today's shirt and their very much appreciated donation. I certainly hope to have Graham join me at some point for a few miles and also run for Framework Foundation in the Watford 10k on May the 6th. Anyway, another day done, 14 complete 16 to go, nearly half way! Jason is back tomorrow to help dad navigate his way into Birmingham! Hope you all have a good Friday night and your week has treated you well.