Caroline Sharp shares her experience of the London Marathon

My son Jamie was born in 1990 with right-sided hemiplegia and Hemihelp has been a real support to us, even now that he is about to go to university.

Ten years ago I joined a gym and took up running, feeling thrilled when I managed 10 minutes on the treadmill! Well, now at the age of 50 I have completed the London marathon, fulfilling a real mid-life challenge and raising money for a charity that we have belonged to since its inception – an inspiring combination.

And inspiring it needed to be - the training was gruelling at times. I have run four half marathons in the last 3 years but doubling the mileage did at times feel like trebling the effort! I remember my husband dropping me off at different points in the Somerset countryside with the temperature reading minus five – luckily my iPod kept me company through the slippery miles ahead. I followed the training guide sent by Hemihelp which built up the mileage realistically. I also interspersed my running with rowing and cycling at the gym and swimming too. Anything to take the constant pressure off my knees. In February I felt a slight twinge in one knee which luckily went away – and as my husband told me “What can you expect...?” A huge motivation boost came when people started sponsoring me – Justgiving allows for inspiring little messages that make you feel rather special.

So ... The Day….. I did it!!  Four hours nine minutes!! I honestly enjoyed it – apart from the last 3 miles - I remember eying enviously a chap horizontal on a stretcher at mile 24. But I kept running and managed a sprint at the finish to come in under 4.10. The support was great – I politely thanked people who called my name for the first few miles– though funny how the shouting began to irritate by the end – did I really look ‘fab’ at mile 25? I liked the peace of running under the Embankment underpass by then. The weather was hot so lots of water but that was all, unlike some runners who seemed to have whole picnics on their backs! Crossing the line was unbelievable – had I really done it?? (I did pay for my sprint by losing my morning porridge in the Thames a little later!)

For two days my legs were dead weights – amazingly by Wednesday I was up the stairs two at a time, no hands - the body is an amazing thing!

Finally – what helped? Running with music/friend. Varying your training. Running an organised half marathon before to get used to the whole protocol of the event. Telling everybody that I was running led to donations by people I’ve never met before. Running the London Marathon is a real confidence booster – this is your one time to do something amazing that most people would not attempt, so relish the attention!! And never forget why you’re doing it – who are you running for? Yourself obviously, as this is a real personal challenge but sometimes I had tears in my eyes as I ran thinking of Jamie and all the challenges he has faced. One day it may be him crossing that line – he refuses to be beaten by his disability and can actually outrun the whole family!

I am not a serial marathon runner – once was enough but I’m so looking forward to watching next year’s marathon with my feet firmly up thinking ‘I did it!’