Month: April 2009

Lovely Londoners!

Yes, I did it. In 5:38:36 mins. The weather was superb, beautiful sunshine, lots of lovely Londoners lining the route encouraging us all. Ran past Katie Price and Peter Andre somewhere in Deptford. Met a couple in bridal gear in Commercial Street E14 who told me they were going to get married at mile 24. All kinds of weird and wonderful runners, including two rhinos, Tigger, Buzz Lightyear, a Pink Lady apple, some policeman and a criminal. Slightly miffed that I was overtaken by a two-humped camel at the end, but my left leg seized, so I had to walk the last four miles.

The atmosphere was fantastic. Just goes to show that people can be nice to each other and that we don’t have to focus on base materialism and consumerism all the time.

A huge thank you to my running partners over the past few months: Brer Andy and querida Mia, James, Anne-Marie (Soerensen) and last, but not least Hannah Miller who encouraged me to run through the pain to cross the finishing line. Please visit her fundraising page by clicking her name.

And here’s me and Stephen in Kensington Gardens on the way home to a fabulous party, deliciously catered by Chef Saskia.

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Thank You!
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On your marks, get set, …

Went down to the London Marathon Expo in docklands yesterday afternoon to get my race number. Got quite a buzz, as I realised that this is really it!

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You can track my progress by texting RUN to 83040* and Adidas will send you a link to the mobile tracking service. Simply enter my Race Number 33925 to find me.

You can also track me online at www.adidas.com/running

And for those who didn’t know, Adidas stands for: “All Day I Dream About Sex”, as a five-year old once told my sister!

If you would like to sponsor me, please visit my Justgiving page here.

A big THANK YOU to everyone who has supported me already!

Six miles round Hampstead Heath

A good solid 6 miles @ 5.5 mph around the Heath with Andy and Mia this morning. Ian and Anne and Zoe were over from Paris; Ian joined us for the first few miles, which was very encouraging as he has only recently recovered from a major hip injury. Beautiful weather, lovely fresh spring in the trees; magnolias blossoming and a sycamore with young reddish leaves back lit by the sun. Perhaps one more run midweek before the big day next Sunday! Delicious bean soup and assorted cheese then rhubarb and ice cream for lunch. Planning my post marathon supper party.

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Bruxelles la belle printanière

Saturday midday I ran two commemorative laps around the Parc du Cinquantainaire and then packed up and left the apartment on Avenue des Nerviens that I sold to friends on Friday. The end of an era. Fin de ma deuxième période bruxelloise. The park was lovely with lots of blossom and bulbs and the promis of Spring in the air.

Went to the Vendome cinema in Matongé in the afternoon to see Katanga Business about the copper belt in the Congo. Big Belgian story, very interesting, if not very well edited and a bit long.

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And today, Anne-Marie and I ran 8 miles in the Forêt de Soignies. Bumped into Claudine from the European Economic and Social Committee. Left leg ache, but Anne-Marie told me that in my marathon taper I should expect all kinds of psychosomatic aches and pains. She has run nine marathons in the last 20 years, including London, Brussels et le marathon du Médoc, so she knows what she’s talking about. Crisp, sunny weather, perfect for running.

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