My Story - London Marathon (October 2021)

The entire journey was life changing. 

Through the time I pressed apply all the way until I crossed the finishing line on the 3rd of October 2021, many suns had risen and fallen, many days passed, many trainers worn thin and many things had changed in my life.

What changed? I hear you ask - A lot, but here is a list of the few.

I finished my A-Levels, I moved foster home, I moved to University and COVID happened. Most importantly I changed mentally and physically.

I applied to run and raise money for Team NSPCC during form time in my final year of school (A-Levels) a rather impulsive decision but I don't regret it. A couple of months had passed and I had an emailing saying I had been successful in my application and that I would have to raise a minimum of £2,200 for the NSPCC which for me was a major turning point.

I had grown up in the care system and for several of those years I was abused badly, therefore, having this opportunity to raise money to help children in similar situations to that I grew up in was the least I could do. Whenever I was doing my training and came to a mental block I thought about the children I would be helping. I thought back to my younger self, how thankful she would have been to have been taken away and saved from the abuse. There was one sentence that went round my head like a vinyl 'the pain you are feeling now is nothing in comparison to the pain you felt as a child.' I wish I had a childhood full of happy memories, the only way I can describe how I felt during that time is fear. Scared for my life. Being starved and beaten is no way for anyone to live. That is why I not only wanted to run for the NSPCC but it was my duty as a child abuse survivor to help and give to those who need it the most. The future of the world.

My training was tough, I am not going to sugar coat it I struggled and I struggled a lot. 

I was meant to run the London Marathon April 2020, but I actually ran it October 2021. During that time a pandemic struck our world, everything seemed to be spiralling out of control, a world like never before, a dystopian world.

I made the most of the one exercise a day rule and went out running and walking in one go to get fresh air and keep on top of my training. Weirdly or not so weirdly I was the fittest I have ever been during lockdown, in all honestly I didn't have too much else to do at the time.

Therefore, when life gradually began getting normal again I struggled to keep on top of training.

University was keeping me busy, I had a job and I was starting to see my friends and family again. But, I had to continue to train.

By the August of 2021 I was running my long runs which were 15-20 miles which was really good going for me. I was very happy with the fact I was able to run this far but I have another several miles to go to complete a marathon. I had determination that on the day nothing was going to stop me cross the line.

The day before race day - I got up very early, 5 o'clock early to get on the train to head down to London to drop off my goodie/post-race bag. I think it was only done this way because Covid was still creeping about. The train took hours and it was packed, it seemed to be everyone running the marathon all mashed together in a one massive locomotive. Once I had arrived the queue to the drop off area was visible, once you were about to turn a corner you would think 'I am nearly there!' Oh was I wrong, I queued for an estimate of 2 hours to drop my bag off. I can hear you wondering why did you need to drop the bag off? Well, when you drop your bag off, you pick up your finishers t-shirt and medal and put it in the bag ready for when you cross the line. So if you don't drop your bag off you don't have your t-shirt or medal.... very sneaky.

Anyway, I then heading back to the hotel with my partner after a very long day of traveling. The hotel room was tiny and had NO WINDOWS! I booked the hotel well in advance (Premier Inn Hub) to ensure that I had a place to stay the night before and the night of the race. The prices were through the roof. When you pay an arm and a leg for a hotel room you think there might be a window.

That night, my partner and I headed to Bella Italia, it was vital I stocked up on my carbs before race day. You wouldn't believe it but there was a queue, yes a queue with people who have pre-booked tables.  As if we hadn't done enough queue, once we got in I ordered the largest bowl of pasta I had ever seen and I ate it all. We then heading back to our cramped and window-less hotel room and went to sleep, ready for the big day tomorrow.

Okay, the big day has arrived and I am very ready but nervous. London was a sea of charity vests and race numbers. It was incredible.

Before I knew it I was in the holding pen waiting to be given the green light to go go go. When I was in the enclosed area I met two lovely women, we just looked at one another and I walked over and then we all got chatting. We ran together until about mile 24 where we all were running at different paces. Some wanted to walk, others want to continue at the current pace but one thing we were all going to definitely do is cross the finishing line. That we did.

I was in a crazy amount of pain by the time I reached the line. My legs were cramped, sore and tight. But, I ran a bloody marathon. The NSPCC were holding an event after but I just needed to get back to the window-less hotel eat and sleep.

Overall, my experience running and fundraising for the London Marathon and the NSPCC was incredible. I raised money through selling ALOT of clothes, books and DVD/CVs, running around my town in different costumes (superhero) and holding bake sales.

The majority of the money came in once I had done the marathon which is interesting.

I have not only bettered myself but I hopefully bettered the lives of children going through abuse and neglect.

Until next time.