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Manchester!!! - Mental
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Stu Ball Offline
#1 Posted : 03 April 2017 11:34:38(UTC)
Stu Ball

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Cool

Well what can I say?
What an amazing team of guide runners I had yesterday.
I was truly humbled by the support I received.

John Payne ran the first 11 miles with me and then joined me for the last 3 too.
Carried lots of junk around for me too.

David ran the last 15 with me.
Drove up from Cardiff at 3am and then drove back the same day.

John Martin ran the last 10 with me and carried lots of crap for me too.

However, they were running back and forth getting water and gels for me, clearing fatigued runners that were walking, out of my way. So they would have done way more than their allotted milage.

Massive thanks to John Payne, John Martin and David McDonald for their unwavering support and assistance yesterday.
They all went way beyond being selfless,kind and helpful.
These 3 men are true giants and I am in their debt.

I really could not have crossed the finish line without them by my side.

That last six miles was total hell and when I say total hell believe me, it WAS TOTAL HELL.
There were numerous times when I just wanted to walk but they stopped me from giving up.
I discovered dark places in my mind yesterday during those last 6 miles.
At one point I thought how nice it would be to be ran over by one of the cars going passed.
I was slapping my own face, punching my legs and holding my own head upright at one point.
They put up with me being the most negative, grumpy, agressive I have ever been in my entire life.
There were also times when they were keeping me in a straightline too because my balance had gone and I could not run straight.
Fatigue does not even come close.

For me personally, yesterday's Marathon was a huge journey, both mentally and physically.
In some ways it is all a bit of a dream now but I am very glad that it is a dream that came true.

My support team are the only reason I finished without walking.

It is essential to remember that I could not have done any of the training or running without them.

I would also like to thank them all for laughing at me when I could not walk anywhere or pick things up or do anything for myself at all. Anyone would have thought that I was 150!
The extremely kind Jenny even opened my minging protein bar and helped me to sit on a wall. That is how screwed I was.
What an adventure!

As for the walk to the pub afterwards. That was another marathon all over again LOL.
Needless to say that I came last in that race. :)

This is one of those times in life when we all need to take a time out and appreciate the people around us. Who are supporting us in all that we do and all that we achieve.

Let our thoughts be with John Payne, David and John Martin for the next few days.
What priceless assets they are to our Club.

Thank you also for everyone's kind words on FaceBook and for all the lovely texts that I received.

I will never forget Manchester.
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 26 users liked this post.
Jenny Martin on 03/04/2017(UTC), Andrew Sedgmond on 03/04/2017(UTC), Aine Kenny on 03/04/2017(UTC), Ben Farag on 03/04/2017(UTC), Paul Chapman on 03/04/2017(UTC), jeffrey cox on 03/04/2017(UTC), Tracey Newman on 03/04/2017(UTC), Alan S Mason on 03/04/2017(UTC), Eve Gallop-Evans on 03/04/2017(UTC), jamesthebruce on 03/04/2017(UTC), amanda thompson on 03/04/2017(UTC), Mick McGeoch on 03/04/2017(UTC), alan mann on 03/04/2017(UTC), Short Circuit (Howard Kent) on 03/04/2017(UTC), julie scholey on 03/04/2017(UTC), paul morris on 04/04/2017(UTC), Claire Bruce on 04/04/2017(UTC), Ali Whittaker on 05/04/2017(UTC), dave james on 05/04/2017(UTC), Michael Cranwell on 06/04/2017(UTC), Phil Cook on 06/04/2017(UTC), Graham Webster on 07/04/2017(UTC), Kirsty McGowan on 08/04/2017(UTC), Carol Rees on 09/04/2017(UTC), Lyndon Tudor Maisey on 09/04/2017(UTC), Donna Hamer on 10/04/2017(UTC)
amanda thompson Offline
#2 Posted : 03 April 2017 12:03:47(UTC)
amanda thompson

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Well done Stuart, and you're right, it's the last 6 miles that kills us. I hope you frame your finisher's certificate and medal.

There are some good 20 mile races you could target for next spring BigGrin
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Stu Ball on 03/04/2017(UTC)
Jenny Martin Offline
#3 Posted : 03 April 2017 12:26:12(UTC)
Jenny Martin

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Once again Stuart, a massive congratulations., you did brilliantly! The last 6 miles of a marathon can be a very hard place, so well done for getting through it.

Oh, and Jon says thanks for the kind comments about your support team, but you're the one who's done all the hard work.

I think all four of you were absolutely fantastic, hope you're enjoying a day of well-earned rest today!
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Stu Ball on 03/04/2017(UTC)
Tracey Newman Offline
#4 Posted : 03 April 2017 17:44:24(UTC)
Tracey Newman

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Well done Stu. London marathon ballet will be soon or you could give the Barry 40 marahon distance a go! Or if you fancy a real challenge there is Snowndon! Anyway well done again! And well done everyone who help you achevice your dream. Enjoy your rest.
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Stu Ball on 03/04/2017(UTC)
john payne Offline
#5 Posted : 03 April 2017 18:06:25(UTC)
john payne

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Brilliant experience running with you yesterday-even the 5.20AM taxi ride to the start!
You've kept me entertained on all our early morning training runs and reminded me of how much fun running can be.
Same time,same place next Saturday for 26.3 miler?
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Stu Ball on 03/04/2017(UTC), Karen Chadwell on 05/04/2017(UTC)
Alan S Mason Offline
#6 Posted : 03 April 2017 18:17:43(UTC)
Alan S Mason

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Inspiring stuff!
Well done to all of you.
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Stu Ball on 03/04/2017(UTC)
Eve Gallop-Evans Offline
#7 Posted : 03 April 2017 18:44:14(UTC)
Eve Gallop-Evans

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You looked amazing and certainly nowhere near to collapse on the line with your cheeky little jig! Well done Team Stu.
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Stu Ball on 03/04/2017(UTC)
Mick McGeoch Offline
#8 Posted : 03 April 2017 20:09:04(UTC)
Mick McGeoch

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Stu, I love reading your stuff. Such an inspiration.
The marathon is such a fascinating event. You can be euphoric or in the depths of despair - or sometimes experience both extremes one after the other. We may hate them at the time, but that's part of the attraction.
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Stu Ball on 04/04/2017(UTC)
mike rossiter Offline
#9 Posted : 04 April 2017 12:59:38(UTC)
mike rossiter

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Tracy. I'd love to see Stu in a ballet. He has the legs for a tutu :)
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Stu Ball on 07/04/2017(UTC), Tracey Newman on 07/04/2017(UTC)
Karen Chadwell Offline
#10 Posted : 05 April 2017 21:07:00(UTC)
Karen Chadwell

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Stu, you are awesome! An incredible achievement.

For anyone running a marathon, the training is incredibly demanding. You have the added challenge of nothing being able to do it alone. I am full of admiration for you, in the way that you organised your long runs , and support for those long runs, to tether into Saturday morning parkruns, juggled guide runners, took heed of training advice offered, and plugged away at the long long miles on cold wet mornings. Sunday may well have been hellish, but I doubt very much it's a one-off!
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Stu Ball on 07/04/2017(UTC)
Tracey Newman Offline
#11 Posted : 07 April 2017 20:13:51(UTC)
Tracey Newman

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I join him I always wanted to be a ballet dancer!
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Stu Ball on 09/04/2017(UTC)
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