I am full of admiration for our heroic 3 G Kili climbers. I’ve always known they’ve got physical and mental determination, demonstrated by Jae’s salsa dancing and netball playing while working full time with 3 young sons, Oscar’s fab footie skills, and Sheila’s sea swimming and cycling. My boys Ben and Alex have really fond memories of cycling with Sheila along the Crab and Winkle Way from Canterbury to Whitstable to stay in Sheila’s Seasalter caravan.
My own relationship with exercise has always been shakier. Memories of being the last to be picked for PE teams at school die hard. But inspired by a Guardian article about people getting hooked on running at the age of 40+, I bought my first proper running shoes at the age of 40 ¾ . Purchase achieved, they lived in their box under my bed until I was 41 ¾ ! Then my fabulous friend Sid talked me into entering the Royal Parks Half Marathon with her. Application form sent off, sponsorship money pledged for the charity Action Village India, there was no turning back. Over the summer of 2012, while following the fearless efforts of the Olympians and Paralympians, Sid’s unwavering encouragement helped me build up from a 10 minute jog to running 3, 5, 7 …. and finally 11 miles on our practice runs.
At the starting line of the Royal Parks Half Marathon in Hyde Park in October 2012, I had no idea where I was going to get the stamina to run the full 13 miles, 2 miles longer than I’d ever done before. Sid assured me it was simply “mind over matter” and that we’d do it. With jelly beans for energy stuffed in my bra (no pockets in my running bottoms!), buoyed up by the cheering crowds, blue sky and autumn leaves, the first five miles felt wonderful as we passed the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament. The next four miles felt unspeakably hard. The only things that kept me going were Sid’s amazing and constant support, the jelly beans and, weirdly, the soundtrack of ‘Chariots of Fire’ playing over and over in my head. That, and seeing the energy and determination of other runners of all ages, shapes and sizes, none of whom seemed to be giving up!! I reached a weird state of euphoria at the 9 mile mark which carried me through the next 4 miles and over the finishing line, shortly after the unexpected delight of seeing my sister Charlotte cheering us on at the Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens.
I’m casting back to 2012 because it’s the only half marathon and the hardest exercise I’ve ever done. But Sid and I still run every Sunday and are planning to enter another race one of these days! I don’t think the wonderful Kili 3 need tips from me about keeping going when the going gets tough, but here goes anyway: Dig deep, think of all the money you’re raising for Catching Lives and Tanzanian charities, feel carried and galvanized by the collective effort of everyone else around you, keep some jelly beans handy and have an inner soundtrack of inspiring music to urge you on as you climb. I’m really enjoying your blogs and following your adventure and feel very proud of you all.