Broseley Jogger Andy Hudson takes on London Marathon
We asked Broseley Jogger Andy Hudson why he decided to take on the mammoth distance that is the marathon, and in our capital city no less. The following are his words…
Why I entered the London Marathon
Why????
It’s a good question….why did I decide to undertake a marathon….I don’t really know …
Perhaps the fact that it’s the one length of running events I hadn’t taken on previously, perhaps a desire just to see if I could do it…..Thats what I’ve been telling myself on the multiple times I’ve entered the London Marathon ballot (and there have a few occasions I’ve done that) but looking back on the last few months I’d probably say something very different now.
It was August 2nd last year, when I started my day as normal, but within a few hours it all turned on it’s head when I was sent home from work having been advised by my supervisor I was having a panic attack. The following day I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression and given some medication, which the following few weeks meant I gained weight and became withdrawn.
I was aware that I needed to do something, and, having failed (again!) to gain a London place, I started to explore the possibility of a charity place, having run for Get Kids Going! at a previous event.
Whilst settling on that idea gave me some incentive to get back out the house, the idea of actually doing so, still didn’t go dreadfully well. The runs I did undertake were very sporadic and slow, but I managed a few.
In Mid-December I returned to work, and within 6 weeks had my shifts changed 3 times, the very essence of my work role amended as well. Slowly I increased my runs, but was still well down on where I should have been.
Finally, event day (London Marathon) dawned, I knew I could do no more to improve my chances of completing the distance.
I wrote a poem (of sorts) about the experience too.
23,376 seconds
Greenwich – the start of the dreams’ realisation,
The anticipation of all that may lie ahead,
Combined with the fear of potential failure, of giving up.
Preparations? They were few and far between
Life itself saw to that,
A run here, a walk there and too many missed opportunities.
But no amount of looking back can help with the next few hours,
Now it’s me, and 26.2 miles of open road, and
53,000 others feeling the same way.
Pounding the tarmac for the first few miles
And then, with ¼ of the journey done, the short nightdress, a tea carrying vessel
Is there, and we circumnavigate it’s form.
There’s more, much more, to see, hear, feel,
As this road goes ever on….and on….and on
Towards the Tower, Bridge and River.
The pace slows, the body starts to hurt
The enormity of what I’m attempting becomes just a little clearer
The minutes fly by, whilst I don’t
We turn a corner, the bridge at last is there,
And the well travelled flowers are handed over, but only
To drop to the water to remember the man I never knew
I cross, water rushes unseen below,
The crowds rush by, seen and definitely heard
The cameras go wild recording your every step.
Another turn, another 1000 steps, and there it is,
The point at which the end is nearer than the start,
The hope of finishing rises again.
A third of the journey explores the docklands,
Once the busiest global port,
Now a sea of people flows through streets.
The noise, ever-present around the route, One moment it encourages,
The next it becomes overwhelming, and
The tears are not so very far away.
The legs feel so heavy, the speed slows to a seeming crawl,
Then the Get Kids Going staff and volunteers spot me,
I stop – to chat, to cry. Then move on once again.
We’ve doubled back to Tower Bridge, and continue on alongside
The one-time lifeblood that is the river, towards the seat of power,
And the end is drawing near.
Continue down by St James Park, and the signs countdown
800 metres, 600 metres, 400 metres left to go,
And there ahead beckoning, enticing, the finish line
So close now, no chance of not completing,
Yet still time for one more surprise,
Finally the face of a friend, there to yell their support.
The final 200 metres, the end is there, the people
A constant stream of walkers, runners, champions
And the dream is over – now realised.
I did indeed complete it, and although slower than I’d originally planned I was happy to have got round. There were times when the noise of the spectators, the distance involved, the limited training all played their part in bringing me close to tears but 6 hours, 29 minutes, 36 seconds after crossing the start line, I had a zinc medal handed to me, and at last, the dream of taking on London was realized.
Andy ran for Get Kids Going!, a national charity that supports children and young people in getting mobile and involved in sports. It’s not too late to make a donation! To support Andy and his excellent cause, you can donate via his Just Giving page.