December 2022 Marathons

Friday 09.12.22 - Phoenix Running Christmas Jumper Friday Marathon

A chilly day by the Thames at Walton-on-Thames, so the chance to give our Santa jackets from Lanzarote another outing. 

Saturday 10.12.22 - Saturn Running and Band of Runners Pantomime Dame Marathon 

Another chilly run along the Thames, this time from Staines. It was cold, but a nice sunny day, plus every runner got a Saturn giant bobble bobble hat, which was nice and toasty warm. It was fun seeing them all bobbing up and down the towpath as we all ran along. There was some good fancy dress outfits.

Sunday 11.12.22 - Phoenix Running Christmas Jumper Marathon

Today was my official 250th marathon, which I would like to dedicate in memory of my beautiful, brave, and dear friend Hannah. 

It didn't feel like a day to celebrate anything, or even be running, but sometimes I guess you just have to put one foot in front of the other and get something done.

The weather was so cold that the water jugs on the aid station had ice in, and everyone's hair froze, which made for some fabulous hair styles.  

Saturday 17.12.22 - SVN Usual Suspects Marathon

A Christmas holiday weekend in Dover for an SVN double, starting on Saturday for the Usual Suspects, where all the runners names are on the medal. This is the first, and let's face it, probably the only, time that my name is seen on a medal.

It was good to be back at Samphire Hoe, a tranquil little oasis away from all the world and worries. It was a nice sunny day running by the sea, followed by the Christmas Party of the Fenix Four in the Walmer Fish and Chip shop, which surely must be the best fish and chip shop in the land!

Sunday 18.12.22 - SVN Bobble Hobble Marathon 

After a night in the Purple Palace of Dover, watching a cruise ship and marvelling at how many lights it had, and also why a cruise ship would stay in Dover for two days, it was time for round two of the Samphire Marathons. It started off nice with an amazing sunrise, but the weather didn't turn out so nice today, and we spent the laps dodging the waves splashing over the sea wall, which added an extra element of excitement to the proceedings. By the last lap, when it had started raining as well, Sarah and I lost our sense of hummus/ humerus whilst rounding the cone of doom for the final time (whilst being splashed by a wave, and hit in the face with some hail-rain), and were quite content to have finished when we did.

Today I completed my 100 marathons in 100 weeks challenge (I took 87 weeks to do it, and the 100 was made up of 67 marathons and 33 ultra marathons including 8 x 100 milers).

Wednesday 28.12.22 - Phoenix Running Year End Marathon

There was a slight hiccup trying to get to the start, due to the train strikes making the trains start late, and then the actual train that was meant to be running turning out to be faulty. But no worries! I enjoyed spending an hour at Waterloo, I did. I bought my ticket, visited the loos just for something to do, did a lap or two of the station, went to Starbucks, sat in Starbucks, sat on the train, found it was faulty, sat there a bit longer, found it was cancelled, walked all the way back down the platform, found the next train, sat on that for a bit. I was quite sad to leave when we finally set off. Due to these hiccups, we arrived a bit later than planned at the start, but it all turned out fine. The towpath was nice and muddy, and it was nice to be out and about.

Friday 30.12.22 - Phoenix Running Zico-thon Marathon

Today, Sarah and I were treated to 8 Lovelock laps! What a great day on the towpath, and the rain and gloomy weather didn't matter when there were smiles and laughing and catching up to be done. 

Me and medal Zico are now at Gatwick.

Thank you Phoenix, Saturn, and SVN teams for some top events! And thank you Sarah for putting up with me for 7 marathons!

Wishing a very Happy New Year to you all! 💖