Episode IV: No Hope

These Violent Delights Have 26.2 Mile Ends

Chapter IV: No Hope

After seven rejections over ten years, the last thing that I expected last week was a pack from Virgin telling me that I was 'In' to run the 2019 Virgin London Marathon. After becoming used to the rejection due to  the great mathematical improbability of getting selected through the ballot, last week's sight of confirmation that in six months time I'd be running further than I'd ever run before wasn't the warm and fuzzy feeling I'd hoped for.

This is probably a good time to tell you that this blog will reflect how i'm actually feeling, if I'm having a shit day I will talk about it but when there are good days, I'll speak about those as well. Also probably a good time to mention that there might be the odd bit of swearing so it'll come with a 15 rating.

The immediate reaction quite honestly drained the warmth from my body and then a surreal feeling began to seep it's way into my vision. Then the questions of doubt begin to circle: How the fuck am I going to do this?, "What if it takes me seven hours?" "What if my nipples fall off after seventeen miles?" It took me a few hours of thinking about the consequences of my decision to enter the ballot to come up with the answer to all three question: I simply get on with it.


     The day before the shocking announcement was spent at a family christening where my cousin and I had been chatting about the marathon; him having finished a half-marathon that morning. He was in the London Marathon Ballot for the eleventh time and unfortunately he was unsuccessful. After my Mum and girlfriend, the first person I messaged was him and he immediately called me back. I answered the phone expecting to hear some encouragement and reassurance that everything was going to be ok and I could get through it, what do I get? "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA YOU'RE GOING TO SUFFER HAHAHAHAHAHA"
  Not the reaction I was hoping for, Ian - thanks mate. After he finally managed to stop laughing he did have some good advice for me and some good places to look for information and advice albeit for about thirty seconds before the laughter began again. (The call lasted for nearly nine minutes)

So where is my fitness level? I hear you cry. It's not at zero but it's not much higher so it is a mountain to climb and I understand that. My cricket team mates will tell you that I'm a great slip catcher but I'm not that fussed on running threes when batting (they may mention my bitching about it as well). My affinity for a couple of pints won't help matters either, the very first thing I found when researching into suggested diets was 'Avoid alcohol', why did I want to do this again?

I haven't actually mentioned why I want to do this. Firstly I love proving myself to people who don't believe in me. Most importantly, I want to do this because it's such a vast undertaking, a chance to knuckle down and focus on a goal that takes physical endurance and mental strength to overcome. I'm quite realistic in that I won't be nipping around the course in three and a half hours but maybe I can try and break five hours. I'll build more on reasons for wanting to do this in future updates.

The main point of this blog is to say that if I can do this, so can anyone. Hopefully through sharing everything in a very honest way  it will both encourage people that they can achieve great challenges, but also warn people of the nastier side of training and preparing for these things. Fear cuts deeper than the knife and I hope to show people that this is the case by applying myself to this task.

I will at some point announce that I am running for a cause, I'm not sure which cause just yet but keep your eyes peeled for that.

Finally, thank you for every piece of encouragement I've received so far, please keep them up for the coming month.

                                                 
Current feeling : Bemusement 


                                                                    Simon