Wolverhampton Marathon
3rd September 2000

Well they say you learn through experience - but when it comes to my preparation plans sadly, it doesn't happen!

I forgot my sun block, got drunk up a couple of days before (due to the taking part in the sponsored cricket game), and finally made the fatal mistake of eating some on my mum's home made run fast pasta dishes (?!). "It's especially formulated for runners" she said. Hmm... well all I can say is that it did make me run, but not around the course!

The final, final straw came as for all the sweat blood and tears I raised a grand total of £3.47 for all my efforts! That works out at 13.2 pence a mile!! This pitiful amount was due a posse raising funds for 'Help the Aged' in all their outfits and large buckets. I could hardly complete against that, with just my small rattle tin and horse voice. By the time I finally got in front of them all, most of the spectators had gone home as most runners were only doing the half marathon!

Finishing time 3hrs 42mins. Well after that I'm putting up my running shoes for this year… but I've got my application for next years London Marathon.

Lessons learnt: not much obviously!



Guy Bashford