Sunday 15th April MARATHON 93

15th April - Day 93. Good nights sleep again, up with alarm at 6:30 aching all over! No early run this morning, Andy on his way to do pre run massage! Great breakfast, staff in the restaurant were great, very helpful and when they were told about why I wanted two bowls of my own porridge, they were very encouraging and wished me all the luck, so thank you to all at Premier Inn at St Leonard's. Met Andy, his dad Jim and Jamie as I left from breakfast, perfect timing. Up to the room, everyone settled down to watch the Chinese Grand Prix, I laid on the end of the bed and got Chinese Torture! Painful but good, hamstrings very tight and painful, right thigh insecure! All packed up and left in convoy to meet Lawrence at Pevensey Roundabout, the start point. Quick video and we set off at just gone 11:10. Lawrence on his bike and me running with the traffic for the first time. Great to have someone with me, we talked and within no time 10k had been clocked up! Weather ok, broken cloud and sunshine but a touch too windy! Strict instructions given, we run on the A259 to Brighton! I turned left towards the sea front, left the A259 and lost dad! No drama, quick call and dad caught up along the front at Eastbourne. Beachy Head! Quite a hill, we ran up and out of Eastbourne, back on the A259, first test of the thigh! All ok, I did not push too hard and at the top the road levelled for a while before descending into East Dean. The scenery was as good as any we had seen so far, stunning but unfortunately my knees took a bashing! Unfortunately the wind seemed to be head on which ever direction we ran! It was good to have a proper long distance runner, sub 3, with me, although on his bike due to injury, that will also keep him out of his, would be, tenth consecutive London Marathon! We talked constantly and the time passed. Jamie and dad in the van, quite enjoying themselves and occasionally taking the odd photo, video and passing the odd jelly! All good we approached Brighton on the 259 but got diverted due to the marathon! We finished off the 93rd marathon on day 93, on the A27 duel carriageway, in a layby, in a time of 3'44"05, very pleased to be back under 4 hours but right thigh and groin tightened up a lot in the last 5k! All done, video taken, oranges all round, bike in the van and off to brighton and our complimentary Premier Inn! Brighton was buzzing, loads of people limping with medals round their necks looking very pleased with themselves. I am so disappointed that the powers that be would not let me run it! It was much better having Lawrence with me today but I think it would be great to run with so many other people that are all out to achieve personal goals and raise charity cash! Anyway, parked up, booked in and we all went to Browns to have a late lunch. I was, as I always seem to be, starving! Roast Beef dinner and Fruit Crumble solved that, we sat and chatted to other people that had completed the marathon and most for the first time! They all had big smiles and on a high, however bad their legs felt! This was great for me to see in other people and share thoughts of how some will definitely do it again and some never! When we said that I had just completed 93 marathons in 93 days and had 7 more to do, the comment "what, you are doing another marathon tomorrow when you feel like this", yes. Lovely few hours spent but now time for them all to go and me to have a bath! Lawrence, and his bike, jumped in with Andy and the family and set off to get his car at Pevensey, Dad and I walked to the hotel and to the room. On the way we met a running legend, 78 and just completed the Brighton marathon, his 400th marathon of his life! We were getting out of the lift so too rushed to get his name! Well done though. Everywhere you looked there were people, now dressed to go out for the evening, stretching, limping and telling their tales of the day. Very envious! Still if I can get through another 6 marathons in the next 6 days I hope to be doing the same this time next Sunday! Back to today, thanks to Wates Living Space our shirt sponsor today. Thanks for your great support as a company and as individuals. Bath now, then down to eat again! Very enjoyable day.