www.stradbroke.org.uk
£1 where sold
May 2012 No.380
Running for Stradbroke – A day to remember! Don Darling recounts the big day in London, raising money for the Stradbroke Charitable Trust “Getting to the start was an event in itself. All runners have a free pass on London Transport so you’d think it would be easy. Tube to Charing X, main line to Greenwich, walk to the start! By the time I got to Baker Street the tube was full of large red bags – no it wasn’t recycling day, these were runners with their official Virgin entrance bags to put belongings in before the race. By the time we hit Charing X it was much worse - the thought of being a sardine now was positively pleasurable. We regurgitated from the train and walked to Greenwich park to get ready for ‘the off’. 50,000 of us, including large oversize teddy-bears, human bee-ings, robots and other assorted characters, mingled behind the starting line, all 300 yards of it, waiting for the Klaxon to go. As we crossed the starting line there was the usual rush, not forwards as you might think, but sideways into the bushes. The nervous energy was just too much for some! The tour round Greenwich was actually pleasant with thousands of heads bobbing up and down in unison to the multicultural musical entertainment - Jamaican Kettle drums, Brass Bands, Jazz sessions and giant Indian Drums beating their hypnotic rhythms. Suddenly I felt water being thrown at me from behind. I turned round in surprise, certainly not expecting to see a priest sprinkling holy water over the passing runners and giving them his blessing! This, for me, summed up the day. Carol and team had planned their strategy for meeting me on route. Elli & Tori came from Stradbroke, Adeline from Cambridge, whilst Carol was in St John’s Wood. The plan was to meet at the Cutty Sark in Greenwich to see me at the 7m marker – I think there was a better chance of me winning the lottery and I didn’t even have a ticket. Well they met up all right which was surprising in itself, and I was there on schedule, but they hadn’t planned for the fact that they couldn’t cross the road, and 10,000 spectators and 500 runners were in the way! By the time we reached the docks the elite runners were coming back into the home straight. We waved as they passed! With another 15 miles still to go, it was demoralising to see them virtually sprinting while us plebs could only manage little more than a hobble! The crowd now became more important. Among them the thousands of children with pride of place at the front – it was great to see them put their hands out and even better to see their faces as they “high-fived” with the contestants. Carol and the team made 2 more appearance at 18m and 23m. Despite the roar of the crowd and Pink Floyd blaring on my IPod, I heard unmistakeable sounds from a far corner of the crowd shouting “Dad! Dad! – as if I was the only one there! But, there they were, waving and screaming their support, I couldn’t have done it without them. The last leg along the embankment and up the Mall was tough. Limbs had become like puppet’s legs, with a will of their own - and very wooden! Muscles ached, and my mind started playing tricks with me – “go on just walk a while, others have given up”. But the crowds were fantastic, willing us on, even though the only screams I could hear were from my legs. The great thing about supporters is that they give their encouragement to everyone, whether they know them or not. They must be the main reason that so many manage to finish. The last 800 yds down the Mall takes forever, but you know it’s all over now and can look forward to that welcoming beer you’ve promised yourself. In hindsight an amazing experience.... but not one to be repeated! Thank you to all those readers who have sponsored my efforts. The current tally is over £800 with more still coming in. Monies raised will be given to the Stradbroke Charitable Trust for the benefit of the youth of the village. If you forgot to sponsor me but would still like to, just give me a call or drop it into the Spar Shop” Don Darling
Official finishing time – 3:46:21