It’s been quite a day since I wrote “We’re on the train” this morning. I wasn’t kidding about the amount of physical and mental effort required to retrieve a running number! By the look of that massive smile on my face you would be forgiven for thinking I had actually crossed the finish line. Well, that’s what it felt like.
Thing is: read the instructions carefully! When it says (and I paraphrase slightly here) “ExCel London is directly connected to the Central Line at Bank….” read to the end of the paragraph which says “…via the DLR”.
Now “via the DLR” sounds simple but you have to understand the DLR is a whole different game if you’ve never used it before with its own rules and,…. it’s vast. After getting off the tube at Bank, realising the journey was far from over and then finding a DLR station, navigating the network to find ExCel was like the Crystal Maze.
After a journey time of 5 hours I am afraid that the Marathon Expo wasn’t my cup of tea at all. Collecting the number and chip (from different desks) was a joy, but then entering an IKEA-like labyrinth was not. I was glad to say hello to Ross (formerly of Up and Running, Wakefield) at the TomTom stand and the team at BHF (who kindly gave Helen a red supporters T-shirt) but even more glad to find the exit.
Fortunately we are in a very nice Hotel near Marble Arch and we are able to chill. My lessons for the day are firstly, get here the day before and make the Expo an exiting day out and not a chore, and secondly, read the directions CAREFULLY. Needless to say I have been reading the “how to get to the start” very VERY carefully.
In other news, due to the amazing generosity of my friends, donations have continued today and as I write the total being raised for the BHF is now £665! To everyone who has donated a massive thank you!
So that’s it for preparation, it’s all over; the only thing remaining is to get up in the morning and do this thing!
“‘Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it.” Proverbs 8:32-33 NIVUK
Marathon Mann 