Through the finish line!

Marathon day; what a great day, fantastic weather, fantastic runners, fantastic organisers, fantastic crowds offering fantastic support to all the runners, and of course all the fantastic charities, that will need our continuing help as the years pass on.

Well our day started at five in the morning, Larraine and I got up and out of bed. We were both already exhausted, Larraine had only slept for two hours and I'd only slept for one, it was excitement and fear at the same time. At 6.30 we were picked up by a friend called Paul Murphy and taken to Staines council offices, where we transferred to a mini bus, which took us to Greenwich. We arrived there safely and then had to find the park and bandstand, where we were to meet my guide Jon Medcraft and some other members of the Sense team. They spotted us from quite a distance away, I don't know if it’s because we are an extremely attractive couple or because our white canes gave us away, any how they found us. We were then taken off to do a brief interview with Jonathan Edwards on BBC Grandstand, which was quite nerve wracking when you’re not used to cameras and interviewers. They must have thought we were attractive too, they didn't have to apply any make up on us.

With moments to spare we were led off to the start line. There were so many people in front of us it looked like the queue outside the Staines Job Centre! Then we were off to a very slow start, but once we got to the start line itself people spread out and we could get a spurt on. It had always been our plan to try and power walk the Marathon in under seven hours, this meant that we had to maintain an average speed of four miles an hour. As I have longer legs than Larraine I walk a little faster, so I crept ahead of her a bit. The crowds started to call out my name to spur me on, I found this very strange and I became quite embarrassed, but then once I got my nerves in control, I started to wave back and thank them all for their support. Some children shook my hand as I passed them and one young lady shouted out, “I love you Clive”. I don't know who she was, but it stroked my ego a treat! I know I'm an old fart, but I can still be vain and fickle!

I started to feel the strain on my body at about nine miles, the heat was getting to me a bit and I hadn't got over a cold that started the week before the Marathon, I was still on my antibiotics. I pushed on with Jon to the half way mark, by which time I was hurting really bad. I thought I'd never make the next thirteen miles, but the constant cheering of the crowds and the strong spirit of my guide Jon kept me going. It was brave of him to put up with a whinging old bugger like me, I'm good at moaning I've had years of practice. Larraine said to me, if moaning was an Olympic sport, I'd come home with a gold medal.

Jon and I pushed on to the last mile and what a long, long, long mile that was; every step inflicted crucifying pain, even young Jon was suffering, he had blisters in his ears from listening to me moaning for 26 miles. I do promise to pay for any private counselling services he may need after spending eight hours with me! Maybe a few hours in the company of normal people will relieve the tension for him!

He got me over the finish line in 6 hours 37 minutes and then someone placed a medal over my neck and Jon’s as well. I really couldn't believe I’d made it. I very nearly cried, but I managed to hold it in. I've never had an honour or a distinction or a medal in all my life. This little medal means so much to me and for once I am so proud of me!

My thanks go to the Sense charity for allowing me and Larraine the opportunity to do the Marathon for them! To Sense staff, such as Ed Charles, Marianne Beggs, Lydia Turner and definitely not forgetting Jon Medcraft!

I would also like to thank Sylvia Carr who was Larraine’s guide for taking such good care of her and getting her over the finish line. They have been friends for years and without her, Larraine would not have got through the Marathon or some of the difficult times over the years.

I must not forget Larraine, who also passed the finish line in seven hours two minutes. What an amazing woman she is; she's deaf and blind, but has the courage and strength of a lion and her spirit is beyond belief. And that is really what Sense are all about, they are there to help deafblind adults and children reach their full potential and more, then there will be more people with the strength of Larraine Reed.

So please support Sense as much as you can for as long as you can, if we could all be as inspired as Larraine Reed it would be a wonderful world!

God Bless
And Thank you
For your Support
Clive x