Winner

So 26.2 miles and 4 hours and 25 minutes after starting out from a drizzly Blackheath Mr G, my very own Flash Gordon, crossed the finish line of the 2010 Virgin London Marathon. For months James has been training, running in all weathers, for hours at a time. It wasn't even his idea!
I am so proud of him and his massive achievement.
As we waited near mile 7 to catch our first glimpse of him I started to clock watch. As the minutes neared I started running through all that could go wrong. He could fall over, or get cramp, or his knee might give way. I started to feel very nervous. The 9 minute milers ran past - he should be in there I thought. Then the 10. Then I started to think I had missed him. Suddenly Steve saw him and shouted. My heart leapt as I saw him smiling and running with Andy and Bren. We moved slowly onto Mile 17 at Mudchute DLR. The train was packed with marathon watchers and a great atmosphere. Sandwiches, cake and coffee followed courtesy of the in-laws - brilliant! He was easier to spot this time - fewer crowds on both sides of the fence!
A long DLR journey and a loo stop took us to about mile 24. PC Flash looked tired by this point but still running (he later admitted walking just after he'd seen us.)
A bus ride and a walk took us to Horse Guard's Parade to meet the amazing runners. Somehow in amongst the crowds I spotted him looking tired, sweaty but triumphant.
I have to admit I welled up on seeing him.
What a star.
And thanks to  you amazing guys and your generosity he has now exceeded his fundraising target.
By running the marathon James has done something amazing but even more than that we have gained some amazing new friends and our community has grown.
Thank you to the Heaths - Tris and Caz for their advice, humour, training runs, marathon watching schedules, lifts and fruit salad, Bren - for running too!, and George for being a brilliant spectating buddy!
Thank you to the Kings - Andy for running too, for being so welcoming and Abby for an amazing pasta party!
Thank you to Max - its been great getting to know you in homegroup and at various runs across the South of England.
Thanks to the Squires (the Yummys!) You guys are like my extended family
Thank you to Alice - for being a source of advice,encouragement and watching support (oh and for helping me draft the application all those months ago!!)
Thanks to The Gordons - Marion and James for food and admiration of your crazy son, Doug for spotting him at mile 24 and for letting him be better than you at this, Helen for being a brilliant pussy galore and generally being a great big sis, Nat (well you are nearly a Gordon) for putting up with being a twin wife.
Thanks to my rents - for their support and admiration of my hubbie.
And to anyone who saw James' feet on Sunday night - thanks for not vomitting! He has been to the chirpodist now!
So that's that chellenge over.....
What Next?

www.justgiving.com/pcflash

www.justgiving.com/pcflash 

About this time last year I started thinking that James could run the London Marathon. He had run a few 10k events easily and said he enjoyed running. Through my volunteering with Alice's former charity I had been to the London marathon a few times. I had always been struck by the commitment and sheer guts of the runners - but their stories, their determination and the amounts of money they raise for amazing causes usually reduced me to tears.
James was fairly agreeable to the idea as long as I did the admin and got him a place. We applied to the ballot but I also thought about which charities I could apply to. There are so many 'good causes' and many which we have a link to or a reason to support.The one which I chose is not a trendy charity, dealing with a high profile issue. It is a charity that deals with a socially unacceptable issue, one which is rarely spoken of in public. It is an issue that causes 2 women a week to die. It is an issue that my husband, through his work, deals with on a daily basis. It is something that should not happen, but does, behind closed doors and causes women and children great pain, suffering and self doubt. On average a woman will experience it 35 times before she calls the Police. I applied to Refuge, the UK charity that helps women and children out of Domestic Violence, and they gave James a place. I am lucky that my marriage is strong and stable, and I come from a stable family. I have never had to experience the horror of domestic violence, but I have heard stories from James who responds to 999 calls, and my dad through his work and volunteering.
Refuge need James, and all their runners, to raise at least £1800 each to make their place worthwhile. As of writing James has raised 68% of that so over 2/3rds. There are 2 weeks and 2 days to go. It would be great if James could cross the finish line on 25th April knowing that his fundraising was done. If you've been thinking about donating but haven't yet here are some facts about James' training:
He has run over 300 miles in training.
He has trained for over 40 hours.
He has been out in all weathers - snow, wind and rain - lots and lots of rain.
He has eaten more pasta than an average Italian grandmother.
He has completed 3 half marathons in under 1 hour 55 minutes.
He has dressed up as Q from James Bond.
He has reduced his alcohol intake significantly.
He has lost one toenail, and two more are black and ready to fall off.
He wants to run in under 4 and a half hours.
He has made some great new friends: Caz, Tris, Bren, Andy, Max and Mr Yummy.
His nipples have bled.
He has found new uses for Vaseline.
And finally,
He is excited but anxious and never wants to run a marathon again (but we'll see;-))
So click here: www.justgiving.com/pcflash and give what you can.
Thank you