On Sunday 23rd April 2017, Alan Roddis from Team EITB ran the Virgin 2017 London Marathon to raise money for Victa - a charity dedicated to help improve the lives of blind and partially blind children, including support and equipment.
Alan Roddis talks about the challenge;
"The dark, cold winter months from December to March 2017 were far from ideal for marathon training. After pulling a calf muscle in February, two weeks before the race I got a bad head cold which messed up my customary last minute "push" - hence training didn't go well.
So, still feeling ill, on Saturday 22nd April I checked in and got my Race Pack (running number, timing tag and kitbag) at the ExCel Exhibition Centre, in London. Then I walked around the exhibition hall browsing the running clothes, nutrition bars and gels trying to merge in with all the elite runners to get my head in shape as my body wasn't ready.
As my trainers had seen better days I took the spontaneous decision to purchase a new pair and run 26.2 miles in them ... although it seemed a good idea at the time, I ended up with a million huge, ginormous blisters!
After a night in a London hotel near Paddington Station, I was up at 6am, breakfasted and caught the London underground tube to the start point with my trusted running partner - T-Rex.
My strategy was to let T-Rex do all the work .. the problem was that I didn't realise how slow dinosaurs were ! ... I wish I'd selected an Emu or Horse instead ... something which could run fast !
Around 9am we assembled at the Red zone start point. I felt like a "sprung-coil" ready to explode into a phenomenal pace. After a mile, that vision changed to a steady plod and I gave dinosaur 'high-fives' to all the kids supporting in the crowds that lined the streets.
As the sun beat down, mile after mile I lost count how many shouted out - it's "dragon man"! ha ha
At the 13 mile point I crossed the Tower Bridge feeling very tired and lactic acid in both legs didn't help.
I finished the course in 5.5 hours, which was far from my best time but all things considered, I was very grateful to have got around without any major problems.
The 2017 London Marathon challenge raised £1,350 for Victa.
The 2006 London Marathon Challenge raised £2,500 for Victa.
Thank you for everyone who donated for this very worthy cause.
