Running Champions 2007 

For those considering running a marathon, look no further.  FSID's 2007 marathon team tell it how it was and give advice for those considering doing it in the future.

We interviewed five of our 2007 runners who all had very different experiences of the day. Here's what they said.


INTERVIEW WITH TRACY COTTON

1. Why did you run the marathon?
I ran for two reasons. The first and main reason was in memory of my sister Samantha who would have celebrated her 25th birthday on 27th August this year - sadly she died aged 13 weeks. The second reason was to prove to myself that I COULD and WOULD do it!

2. Why did you choose FSID?
For Samantha, and as a continued thank you and promotion for a fantastic charity who have provided so much support since she died.

3. How did you fundraise the money?
Lots of letters! Friends and family were brilliant and there are so many local businesses who pledged money too. I stood in the school office, where I'm a teacher, after receiving a £100 cheque from a well-known hardware store, with tears just streaming down my face. Then I did it again a week later when a cheque came from the school photographers. The children at school were brilliant and helped me with the fundraising around Christmas. It's the generosity from those that you do not know that really makes it worthwhile.

4. How did the training go?
It was hard work and at times I thought I'd never make it out after a day at work.  A friend from work offered to run with me on the cold, dark nights - and there were many! I've also discovered how uplifting it is to run in the rain. I gradually built up the mileage and added a couple of 'races' to keep me on track.

5. How did the day itself go?
I was a bag of nerves even though I'd done all I could in training and felt that I'd get to the end. When the gun went off and we walked through the start past the 'The Trap', by Ron Goodwin, the emotions really took hold. Running-wise it was far too hot for me, but I was ok until around mile 15 when the carbo-gel didn't like my stomach and I walked for a few miles. Seeing my brother on Tower Bridge and other family in Canary Wharf gave me a boost, and although quite stiff, my legs wanted to go again..... and stop..... and go... until the finish.

6. How did you feel crossing the finish line?
I was carrying 25 yellow gerberas from mile 25, and I was determined to run the rest. The last 1000m were the longest ever. I could hear people shouting my name and commenting on the flowers, yet I felt as though I was dreaming. Turning the corner into the Mall, I was so proud of what I'd achieved that I forgot to look at Buckingham Palace. I could see my parents with cameras at the ready and gave them a big wave. I managed to run to the end, ecstatic that I'd made it. I strangely didn't feel tired - the endorphins were working overtime!

7. Would you do it again?
What a silly question- of course I would - and will!

8. If you could give one piece of advice to someone considering doing the marathon, what would it be?
Start training as early as you can. Do it - you'll not regret it. Have you ever heard anyone say they didn't enjoy it?!

INTERVIEW WITH MARK HAINES

1. Why did you run the marathon?
For the personal challenge, to try to beat the time of an overly competitive brother-in-law, but most importantly to raise money for FSID to further the support and research for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, to which family friends unfortunately lost their son.

2. Why did you choose FSID?
They ticked every box in terms of support and research, and also in a fantastic track record, which is a massive help when trying to raise money.

3. How did you fundraise the money?
Contacted friends and families and wrote to those friends of theirs that might be of interest.

4. How did the training go?
A bit of a rollercoaster ride, but looking back, particularly on the longer runs, I was achieving something I had never done before on a weekly basis - a great motivating factor for me. In hindsight I enjoyed every run I did!

5. How did the day itself go?
Not to plan - the first half was much slower and more tiring than I had expected. I hadn't factored in running in such a crowd, so the second half was about keeping going and not slowing. But the experience of the crowds and support (particularily from the FSID team at mile 17 - much needed and very appreciated) was great.

6. How did you feel crossing the finish line?
Relieved, but no-one warned me how sore your legs became when you actually stop, so it was short-lived!

7. Would you do it again?
Yes, definitely, but not yet. Other commitments such as getting unfit and fat are definitely higher on the priority list. I expect that when my wife has had enough (hopefully of me becoming unfit and fat and not just me in general) she will challenge me to beat my time.

8. If you could give one piece of advice to someone considering doing the marathon, what would it be? 
It is about what you want it to be - your own personal fitness, the time you want to run / walk it in, the money you raise or the memory of someone - or all of these. At the end of the day you are doing something which relatively few people have done and it is a fantastic achievement. Enjoy it for what it means to you, and not what others think it means (especially to those that haven't run one!).

INTERVIEW WITH ASHLEY WIGGINS

1. Why did you run the marathon?
I wanted to challenge myself and raise money for FSID.

2. Why did you choose FSID?
I chose FSID as my brother died of cot death before I was born and I wanted to raise money to help prevent this in the future for other families.

3. How did you fundraise the money?
I fundraised the money with my sister as she ran the marathon with me. The standard and online sponsor forms were used and we also organised a fundraising event at a pub.

4. How did the training go?
Training went really well;  it was tough giving up beer and curry but I managed to do it (only for three weeks before the big day though!)

5. How did the day itself go?
The day was amazing. It was the hardest thing I have ever done (physically and mentally) but the crowd was so supportive.

6. How did you feel crossing the finish line?
Very relieved that I had finished. It was also very emotional as I crossed the line with my sister and it meant so much to us.

7. Would you do it again?
I would do it again, but not for a couple of years. It was a lot of strain on my knees and ankles, and I don't think my body is suited for long distance running.

8. If you could give one piece of advice to someone considering doing the marathon, what would it be?
Train a lot! I trained properly for eight months and I was already pretty fit, but it still wasn't enough because I ran many five to 10-mile sessions but I needed to do more 20-mile training sessions to get my body use to it.

INTERVIEW WITH CHRIS LOYNES

1. Why did you run the marathon?
I ran the marathon as it was something I wanted to do. I had always wanted to be able to say I had done it.

2. Why did you choose FSID?
I chose FSID as one of my good friends lost their son to cot death and at the funeral they requested that any donations go to FSID. I stated to her that, as I had a marathon place and had not chosen a charity, I would run for Jack.

3. How did you fundraise the money?
I raised approximately £1000. I ran on my own place so I did not have to raise a minimum amount of sponsorship.

4. How did the training go?
The training did not go to plan. I suffered from shin splints which basically halted my training for the last couple of months but I still got through the day

5. How did the day itself go?
The day was brilliant. The crowd spur you on at every corner and particularly every pub, and of course the FSID stand itself definitely helped. 

6. How did you feel crossing the finish line?
Crossing the line is just a huge sense of: "I have done it, I have completed a marathon."

7. Would you do it again?
I plan on doing it again this year and this time I want to knock an hour off my time.  A tall feat but it is a challenge I intend to take head on.

8. If you could give one piece of advice to someone considering doing the marathon, what would it be?
I would say train and train early. Build it up slowly and you will get there. I pushed too hard and that caused the injuries, but take the training progressively and it will be fine.




INTERVIEW WITH DEREK PRATT

1. Why did you run the marathon?
I ran the FLM this year because I had a guaranteed place through achieving a qualifying time in a previous year.

2. Why did you choose FSID?
I chose to raise funds for FSID because both friends of my family and a work colleague had lost children to sudden infant death.

3. How did you fundraise the money?
This time around my work colleagues and family assisted me with much of the fundraising efforts.

4. How did the training go?
Exactly to schedule apart from picking up a thigh strain just three weeks before race day, which obviously brought all of my training to an earlier than anticipated finish.

5. How did the day itself go?
A complete nightmare! My coach from home to London arrived almost an hour late because of heavy traffic. This threw my preparation routine completely out of the window. It was rush, rush, rush once I finally got off the coach. Eventually I composed myself for the start, but the freakish weather was exceptionally warm. I set off at the pace I needed to maintain for the 3:10 time I was hoping for, and at the 11 mile mark I was still on schedule. During the 12th mile I blistered on my right foot (obviously not enough vaseline duing the rushed preparation). I changed my running action slightly to accommodate the discomfort, then blistered on the left foot too. Consequently, I was eventually forced to slow down.

6. How did you feel crossing the finish line?
Mixed emotions. I was relieved it was over; I don’t think my feet could have taken too much more punishment.

7. Would you do it again?
Of course, but maybe not in 2008 as I’ve now lost my automatic qualifying entry because of my slower time.

8. If you could give one piece of advice to someone considering doing the marathon, what would it be?
Be sure to follow a properly structured training programme to meet whatever target(s) you may have for your race. Okay, things weren’t great for me this year because of the heat, but following a training schedule had given me four consecutive marathon personal best times before this event.



FSID would like to thank all of its 2007 marathon team for their months of hard work and dedication to our cause.