The End

A massive thank you to everyone who has sponsored and supported me. Whilst I may be well on the way to raising over £2000 for a charity that means a hell of a lot to us this whole experience has been a most amazing thing and something I will never forget. To look back at some of the first posts on here and how much it took to get myself in such a position to be able to finish the marathon I have amazed myself.

The legs still ache and i dont yet see a point in the future when they wont, but they better had soon or else I wont be ready for next year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Day After

Simply the hardest thing I have ever done, the feeling when I crossed the line wasnt one of elation just pure pain, but that soon turned to a pure high in what I had just done (some point after the vomit came up). I am still on a high 24 hours later. Whilst it was the worst pain in the world, to know that I have done it and nobody can take that off me is an amazing feeling.

I can hardly remember most of the race it just went so quick. I do remember seeing my better half twice around the course, and I certainly remember the surreal sight of about a thousand folk doing the YMCA at 13 miles.

The pain really started to hit at about 24 miles and by 25 it was murder, the last mile did take me about 11 mins with a little walk in the middle I am afraid to say but I knew I could do that and stiil beat the 4 hours so I had too, 3hrs 58mins 04secs to be exact. I think it then took me about 30 mins just to get my bag back due to stoppong every 10 yards, followed by a bit of a mazy delirious walk through the finish area followed by a walk to the NDCS reception were some very very brave young lady kindly gave me a massage. Pure relief.

Whilst it isnt everybodies cup of tea I would honestly recommend it to all, the feeling during is awful, at least the last few miles, but once you come arround afterwards it is just immense.

1st Song on Tannoy - Deeply Dippy ???????

No of Runners Seen - 35,000

Feet Check - Very Sore - but no blisters

wii Fit BMI - 24.95 - It takes a 26 mile run in the heat to finally get me down to IDEAL - Overweight when I started and Ideal when I finished. At least 8lbs lighter.

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara - £1700 collected cas so far with another £300 ish still to come. Thankyou all so very much.

The Day

Nerves

Excitement

Enjoyment

Pain

More Pain like never before

Sick

Pain

Elation

Elation

Stiffness

Tiredness - Bloody knackerdness

1 Day to Go

Oh well too late to do anything about it now I guess I will just have to go and run the bloody thing tomorrow then.

Nerves are getting a bit more fraught now, I may have said it once or twice this week but I am really looking forward to it and very excited. Them Kenyans & Ethiopians better watch out, I'd like to see them run 12 miles after a skin full in Edinburgh the night before (Thanks Dids for reminding me) thats how good I am.

2 mile stretch of the legs done today - the most gingerly and pathetic 2 miles I have ever done. It took me so long due to watching everywhere I was putting my feet for risk of falling over.

1st song on Ipod - -----------------------

No of Runners Seen - 1

Feet Check - Raring to go

wii Fit BMI - 25.65 - we'll see what its like monday when I get back and i have wrung out every ounce of fluid out of my body tomorrow.

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara - thankyou so much for all the donations I am ammazed at how much has been given and how much people have individually pledged - again thank you all so much.

2 Days to Go

All set, bags are packed, gear is all sorted, just got the nerves to contend with.

How you can be excited about running 26.2miles I dont know but I am.

Going to do a 2 mile run in the morning to stretch the legs then thats it.

Feeling rested and ready.

3 Days to Go

A nice day of rest. Getting really excited now just 3 more sleeps.

Doing boring stuff now like sorting gear out and bags. Helping the better half plan where she is going to spot me from.

My number is 47694, so you can all look out for the big skin head in purple & white.

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara

4 Days to Go

Thats it the training is over, the last 4 miles done this morning. I am as fit as I'm going to get. The 2 miles on saturday are not going to be classed as training more just as a stretch of the legs.

I feel good and ready and just cant wait, everything has been done and in a sad sort of way just want it to be here and be stood on the start line raring to go. Quite excited now.

Total run in training - 547miles - 20 marathons, 1 half marathon and 10 more for good measure

Total time spent training - 81hrs 09mins - oh my god - 3 days 9 hrs 9 mins solid

Most played song - Jesus Jones - What would you know? - 6 times

Total Calories Burned - 95108 - 339 Mars bars - or 2 pieces of Jo's brothers fudge

Total Hills Climbed - 51458 feet - 1 Mount Everest, 1 Kilamanjaro and the best part of Ben Nevis

how sad am I that I have a watch that tells me all this, (Swav has one as well) and today..........

1st Song on Ipod - ---------------------

No of Runners Seen - None

Feet Check - Fine & Dandy

Wii Fit BMI - 25.83 - Havent quite reached my goal of being IDEAL so will be running as a fat overweight bloke.

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara

5 Days to Go

The excitement is reaching breaking point here, the new socks have been bought ready for sunday. Lovely and white. Unfortunately the matching headband couldnt be found.

I think I am more excited about tomorrow being my last early morning training run, a massive 4 miles at an easy pace. I will be taking it easy and making sure I dont do anything stupid.

5 miles done today which went ok and about 3/4hr spent this evening in the jacuzzi and sauna easing the aching muscles. No Miss Bikinis this week just some granny in a saggy swimming costume - really nice.

1st Song on Ipod - ------------------------

No of runners seen - None - A village of lardarses

Feet check - Bob on

wii Fit BMI - 25.65 - the ideal mark of 25.00 seems a million miles away - I will have to run at "overweight"

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara

6 Days to Go

No run today, the legs have been rested before I tackle my last couple of runs this week.

5 miles tomorrow and the 4 on wednesday and that is it.

7 Days to Go

This time next week it will all be over and my next challenge of putting the 2 stone I have lost back on will begin in earnest. I hope my better half packs all my easter eggs for the Sunday night.

A good 12 miles run today, felt very good during and after it, I suppose if I am not ready now I am not ever going to be. Really excited about next week and am so looking forward to it.

There will be no smart comments about running around Ponty Racecourse today and seeing some "horses" even though the races weren't actually on. At least these "horses" were out training rather than being sat in their stables grazing, though it did look like many of them had done a fair bit of grazing in the past.

1st Song on Ipod - ---------------------

No of Runners Seen - About 30

Feet Check - Great - Cant believe I have had only 1 blister during the whole of this

wii Fit BMI - 25.35 - technically still overweight ???????????? My goal was to be ideal by race day, dont think that is now going to happen, at least not before anyway probably will be by the time I finish though.

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara

8 Days to Go

This time next week I will be in the big smoke, and will be really crapping my pants.

A nice and easy 5 miles this morning, the most uneventful run ever which I am more than happy with at this point.

My last run of any substance is planned for tomorrow, 12miles, which is going to be around Ponty Racecourse.

1st song on Ipod - it has flatlined and is in Ipod heaven

No of runners seen - None

Feet Check - Ok

wii Fit BMI - 25.75 - pure healthy athlete

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara

9 Days to Go

Oh well we are down to single figures, when the hell did we get this close.

5 miles done today, felt ok, a good stretch of the legs.

After over a 100 days of training and over 500 miles of running I finally got a face full of dirt. A bit of a high speed collision between foot and rock and the rock won. A few cuts & scrapes and a bit of blood but no lasting damage.

1st Song on Ipod - -----------------

No of Runners Seen - None

Feet Check - Stubbed toe

wii Fit BMI - 25.87

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara
www.ndcschallenges.org.uk

10 Days to Go

No run today, just a big lie in until 5.30am. Believe me that does feel like a big lie in.
5 miles to do tomorrow and a swim lesson for Evan so a nice sit in the sauna and jacuzzi planned for then.

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara
www.ndcschallenges.org.uk

11 Days to Go

A nice easy 5 miles this morning, it feels good to say an easy 5 miles. I guess now is just about keeping the legs stretched and not over doing it or doing anything stupid. I am definately ready for the marathon. Its been a long journey and I am about ready to have a bit of a rest. It does feel like I am constantly tired or recovering from runs so it will be good to stay in bed that little longer.

No run tomorrow it is now of Friday but is only a fast 3 mile with 1 mile warm up / cool down. So this again should be fairly straightforward

1st Song on Ipod - Was something good but cant now remember

No of runners seen - None

Feet Check - A bit tired

wii Fit BMI - 26.03 - steadied out finally

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara

12 Days to Go

Probably the last proper tough session today, 'Hills' x 12 - basically sprinting up an hill for 2 mins and then jogging back down for 3 mins, and doing it 12 times. Gets pretty tough towards the end. Was also worried that the gypsys had moved in to the top of the hill and might not have taken too kindly to some numpty running up to the caravans at 5.00am. Felt very good afterwards considering the long run the other day. We have also just booked the train tickets for next week and it is making it seem so close now.

1st Song on Ipod - Dont know

No of runners seen - None

Feet Check - Fine

Got what a dull day I wish the gypsys had chased me away might have livened things up a bit.

wii Fit BMI - 26.14 - 6 lbs in weight put back on since Sunday evening. Doesnt look like I will reach my goal of having an IDEAL BMI before the race. I imagine with all the fluid being lost I will have one the day after though.

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara

13 Days to Go

My 100th post, I am so boring.

No run today just a big roast dinner at the in-laws. The 5lbs lost yesterday have almost all been put back on through spuds, yorkshire pud and turkey, and some more turkey, and yet more turkey.

Even though I have 13 days to go I only have 8 training sessions to go, get in.

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara - get your hands in your pockets

14 Days to Go

2 weeks today and it will all be over, I cant wait. I will be sat in my hotel room eating all the easter eggs I havent even been allowed to look at. The pain of having all that chocolate in the house and not even allowed a drop.

Did a 'slow' 18 miles this morning, was over at the folks for a nice Sunday dinner so decided to go the opposite way round to the couple of runs I have done there recently. After 14 weeks of training I think I am allowed to blow my own trumpet just the once. For all those who know the Wigan area you will probably be aware of Bank Brow near Roby Mill, a pretty steep hill at the best of times, well a hell of a steep hill after 16 miles. I did get mistaken for someone else, I think it was the red underpants on the outside and the big S on my shirt that threw a few folk. Unlike the mild mannered reporter I didnt leap it in a single bound but merely ran all the way up it without stopping once and preceded then to run the final 2 miles under 9 min mile pace. Super fit as opposed to Superman, then again!!!!!!!!!!!

I also completed my 500th mile of my training today, I have nearly done as many miles this year so far as I did in the whole of last year. 500 ??????????????? I honestly didnt believe I would run that many, not quite sure what I thought I would do but not that many.

Today was my last long run, next weeks sunday run is a 'steady' 12 miles, which is about my half marathon ish sort of pace.

A bit nervous about the run, info has come through the post and one statistic was that St Johns Ambulance treated 5000 runners last year. I think as long as I am steady and keep to the pace I know I can run at, I will be fine. I keep telling myself I have got runs of over 20 miles under my belt on a lot more challenging routes than London will be. Probably just dont need the atmosphere to get me too pumped up too early so that I dont go off like a bullet.

Today was a tough run, with the sun starting to shine pretty hard with about 3 miles to go, completed it well under my scheduled time by about 4 mins though and I think the fact that I have lost 5lbs in weight (including a mums sunday dinner) from last night to tonight also proves it was a tough one. A lot of hills along the route. A great song which means a hell of a lot to me, Wires by Athlete, if you hear it you will understand why, especially those that know us and what we went through with Evan, came on right at the end and if ever there was something that picks you up and drags you that last bit it is that song and no matter how crap I felt I get a hell of an energy boost from hearing it. I guess sometimes fate of the random ipod shuffle works spot on.

A word of advice for the guys of Wigan, get you bare chests out as much as you can, due to miscalculating my run by about 1/2 mile and having to walk it, after 18 miles I had done enough and was happy to walk, I had sweated that much I had to get my vest off to prevent getting cold, so I walked the 1/2 mile bare chested and the amount of looks I got was unbelievable. I am of the opinion that these folk, majority women of course, just couldnt believe the amazing physique they were seeing before them. It had nothing to do with the hairy, sweaty, stinky guy weaving his weary legs home at 11.00am on Easter Sunday morn looking a bloody mess.

Supposed to do 4 miles tomorrow, do you know what I cant be arsed. Will be getting up early with my boys and will be spending all day with them without a pair of running shorts anywhere in sight.

1st Song on Ipod - No idea and will never know

No of Runners Seen - 6 - including 1 woman who unfortunately forgot to spray some anti perspirant under her chest and came bounding down the road towards me with two rather fetching sweat patches 'up front' - nice.

Feet check - Could do with a massage, dont think the wife loves me that much. No blisters but I dont think a career in foot modeling is imminent.

wii fit BMI - 25.35 - still technically classed as overweight, the 'ill' comment from my sister obviously means she disagrees with the wii fit. 3lbs to loose to become 'normal' or whatever they term it.

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara - a bit more sponsorship over the last few days, some from some really unexpected sources so thank you very much it has given my total a nice little boost. Just waiting on some of the more expected sources to get their names down. My sisters havent even coughed the cash up yet. I have no doubt they will be doing very shortly.

15 Days to Go

No run today, the better half let me have a lie in and I made the most of it. A lounge around the pool as well and a play in the garden so have had a relaxing day before my last big run tomorrow of 18miles. Two weeks today will be in London paping my pants - oh my god.

16 Days to Go

10 'Fast' miles done today, I felt good, legs felt good. Completed the run just outside of the times I was supposed to.

Couldnt decide where to run so I just went down every public footpath I came across. All was going well, some good runs, different places, until I got lost in an industrial park. I looked so good running amoungst all the wagons in my little vest plus running back the way I had just come due to dead ends.

Time is ticking, I am getting a little nervous every time I think about the marathon, I believe I am ready for it. I should be I've done enough bloody miles.

1st Song on Ipod - Zzzzzzzzzzz

No of Runners Seen - 2

Feet Check - Ok

wii Fit BMI - 26.09 - Happy with that.

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara

17 Days to Go

4 miles easy run this morning, legs felt well and body feels ok overall. Got a fast 10 miles to do tomorrow so should be a good test of how I have recovered after last weeks exertions. Got my last big run of 18 miles this weekend, then again its only 2 weeks to go so its not like I am going to have a host of weekends off.

So looking forward to it now and cant wait - ok there is a small issue of running 26.2 miles but I think the whole thing is going to be amazing.

1st Song on Ipod - ?????????????????? Its knackered and the small one is too much hassle to sort out

No of Runners Seen - 1

Feet Check - Ok

wii Fit BMI - 26.21

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara

18 Days to Go

No run today due to meeting, it has also given my leg a bit more time to recover and it feels a lot better. A 6 mile run now due for tomorrow so we shall be easing our way around it.

2 quick questions, should speedos be banned on anyone over 20 stone because the bloke in them at the gym last night looked great, well I think he had speedos on because I couldnt quite see them. Also why do some women decide to wear skimpy bikinis to a gym in the middle of Leeds, not exactly the sunny mediterranean is it. Though it was funny watching Mr Speedo giving Miss Bikini the eye and a couple of winning one liners.

19 Days to Go

5 mile run this morning made up of 1/2 mile sprints with 100m rests, it was a pretty tough run. The backs of my legs are giving me some grief so I have been and sat in the jacuzzi etc etc for about an hour. The effects of sunday are still lingering about, but I am not running tomorrow due to a meeting in Stoke so hopefully a days rest will ease the legs.

The final results are in for Sunday and I finished 145 out of 994 so really pleased with that.

1st Song on Ipod - Using the wifes little ipod shuffle from now so wont be as random as before. Actually I cant find what was the first song so i guess it ends here.

No of Runners Seen - None

Feet check - good

wii fit BMI - 26.04 - not bad will hopefully be under 26 soon - permanently

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara

20 Days to Go

No run today. Recovering from yesterday, still really pleased with the run and cant quite believe how well it went.

Results arent out yet but here are some photos.

21 Days to Go

Absolutely belting run today, totally made up with how it went. Finished in 1hr 39mins 04secs. (7min 32sec / mile on average) which is exactly what I wanted to do. Smashed my best by almost 7mins. I felt really good and had lots of energy all the way round. Did my fastest mile between miles 12 & 13 which is unheard of for me its usually the slowest, and the 2nd half was only about 30secs slower than the first half of the race which again is unbelievable, as I am usually far too knackered to keep the pace up.

A big well done to Ste Unsworth who ran today, lets just keep it to that he finished, though my dad was worried he might miss the Everton v Wigan kickoff (at 3.00pm) if Ste hadnt hurried up. (We started at 9.00am) He acted as a very good pace maker for the first 3 miles but the slightly red face did tell a few truths and I left him alone at that point, its probably the fact that 15 bottles of Corona 2 days earlier isnt good preparation, I drank 5 diet cokes at the same wedding and 2 pints of shandy.

The official results arent out yet so dont know my final position yet.

I am knackered now so I will post some photos tomorrow and also mention how I yet again beat the small chap (dwarf) who I have now beat over the last few races. He did however stretch his legs a bit and beat Ste.

1st Song on Ipod - Race etiquette no Ipod

Feet Check - Suprisingly Good

No of Runners Seen - 2000 ish I think

wii Fit BMI - 26.11

www.justgiving/davidmcnamara

22 Days to Go

An 'easy' 5 miles this morning in preparation for the race tomorrow. I'm quite looking forward to it, probably because it is the first race I ever did so it will be good to see how I have progressed, and also because I have some support so we will see just how fit Ste Unsworth really is.

Feeling good and ready, a tiny bit tired though probably due to a late night last night and a bloody early morning today. Did manage to spend 1/2hr in the jacuzzi/sauna & steam room whilst my big lad was an absolute angel at his swimming lesson, so my muscles have had an extra relaxing time as well.

1st Song on Ipod - It managed to play part of Kula Shaker, will now need to start using the wifes little ipod shuffle so my choice of a good few thousand songs is now going to be reduced to a couple of hundred.

No of Runners Seen - 3

Feet Check - ok

wii Fit BMI - 26.14

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara

23 Days to Go

No run scheduled for today so guess what no run done today. Legs feel a load better so I will definately go out tomorrow for a 5 mile run to just stretch my legs before the half marathon on sunday.

Feel free to come over to Blackpool to watch us run, you can even go on the Pleasure Beach if you want.

24 Days to Go

No run today, legs are starting to feel a bit more normal. Will probably do a shortish run tomorrow followed by a jacuzzi etc on Saturday so should feel ok for sundays half marathon in lovely Blackpool.

25 Days to Go

An 'easy' 7 miles done this morning. The legs are feeling pretty tired though and I am weighing up whether to not go out tomorrow and have an extra day off instead. I have got the half marathon on sunday and I would like to feel fresh for that. I am not sure what I will gain from doing an extra 6 miles in the morning except from keeping the legs tired.

Total miles run to date - 441 miles to date

Most played songs to date - A mind blowing 3 times each for a list as long as my arm.

The Ballad Of John And Yoko 1969 The Beatles
That Girl And The Slow Train An Emotional Fish
Little Green Bag 1970 George Baker
Brother Can You Spare A Dime 1999 George Michael
Long Road 1992 Gun
Been Phaidin Hothouse Flowers
What Would You Know? 1989 Jesus Jones
Final Hour 1998 Lauryn Hill
Pipe Dreams 2001 Travis
Salomé 1992 U2

1st Song on Ipod - The Verve - Sonnett

No of Runners Seen - None

Feet Check - Still sore

Wii Fit BMI - 26.34

www.justgiving.com/davidmcnamara