SHINE London 2012

I don't know if it was nerves or excitement that woke me at dawn on Saturday, or the hacking cough which has followed an untimely heavy cold this week.  Whatever the reason, there was no going back to sleep and when the brilliant sunshine streamed across the room, I was able to admire my shining sparkling nails, specially painted for the SHINE London 2012 Marathon night time walk around London, in aid of Cancer Research UK. 

Plenty of mozzi repellent in the form of Avon Dry Oil Body Spray (yes, it really does work and no nasty smell, it's a pleasure to use), as we were walking along the Thames for much of the route.

Clothes, accessories, plasters, drinks and snacks were all packed up and a supply of several layers of warmth as the forecast promised a clear night, which was good for no rain, but meant a fairly chilly night.  We felt quite privileged to have the brilliant light of a full moon to guide us around London.

The last couple of hours before leaving were the most difficult, we knew we should be resting but nervous energy was keeping us occupied with last minute fiddling about so it was good to be finally on our way at 5pm.  Only to sit in a massive traffic jam for the next half hour, when the Darlings decided to eat their supper, just like a couple of kids!

Battersea Power Station is a vast and spooky building and as the entrants gathered in the open area below the chimneys, dusk fell and lasers lit up this iconic landmark, making us all look so tiny and insignificant.  However that was not true, we were all geared up to show how committed we were to raising loads of money to further the work of Cancer Research UK.

Not quite the comfortable conditions which we had enjoyed last year at the O2, here we were out in the elements on a cold and windy evening, so we joined the very friendly queue for the only hot drink stand to get a warm drink inside us before setting off.

I had signed up for the half marathon and was due to leave at 7.30pm, although this is never actually the leaving time as it has to be staggered for safety reasons. The Darlings had to push me to go and join the leaving crowd.  I suddenly felt terribly emotional and it was a role reversal of their first day at school, especially when I came running back to them five seconds later saying that I didn't think I could do it!  Deep breaths all round and I walked off and didn't look back.  We all admitted later that a few tears had been shed at that point.

 As the evening light faded, the industrial buildings took on a soft glow and with the people dressed in the craziest outfits all determined to have a good time and raise awareness of the charity, this turned into quite a bizarre scene.

                                               

We had a much more interesting route this year, setting off through Battersea Park and over the beautiful Albert Bridge to head back along the Victoria Embankment, then over Lambeth Bridge and down to Bermondsey.  

                                                   

The first pit-stop was in the grounds of the Imperial War Museum with energetic volunteers offering sports drinks, water and energy bars and a chance to pack away my gloves and scarf, having worked up quiet a heat.

Further on down the road we had pockets of bemused people starring at the sight of brightly lit walkers, briskly marching down the street, the drunks were lovely and offering the greatest encouragement!  The Shard was partially visible, emerging from the surrounding buildings and this is also a beautiful sight to turn the corner and see.

I will always associate Tower Bridge with bananas now, as this was the snack I chose from the pitstop, and a very welcome nibble.  Along the Southbank was the busiest part of the route, with tourists trying to understand whether this was a normal Saturday night in London and the audience from the Globe Theatre spilled out in front of us, from one magical story into another surreal situation.

Under one of the footbridges a young lad was strumming a guitar and wailing very badly, but he suddenly started ‘singing’ ‘keep on walking, keep on going, keep on shining all you brave people’!  At that moment, to my ears he sounded just FAB.

                                  

With the London Eye behind us, I emerged from the tunnel under Waterloo Bridge at the exact second that Big Ben started chiming 11pm, that was magical and I had to stop and take in the moment!  I think the out of focus photo had something to do with tiredness at this stage!

The final stage from Vauxhall Bridge, along Wandsworth Road was not the most scenic part of town and I made sure I stayed with a group of people around me as it felt very quiet and lonely.  It was at this stage I felt my legs were getting quite tired, but when we turned off towards Queenstown Road I realised we had been walking up quite a steep hill!

Finally we had crossed the road and the Power Station was in sight, after less than 4 hours mile 13 was ahead, slightly out of focus!  The volunteers were all around the pathways to lift spirits for the final few steps, into the tunnel of stars and a warm welcome and medal to cherish.  

As I made my way off to find The Chief, I spoke to The Darlings who were near Buckingham Palace, halfway through their 26 miles and were on their way up to Notting Hill, Regents Park, Holborn, over to St. Paul's then down to the Embankment and all the way back along the river to Chelsea Bridge and then over to Battersea.   I felt so guilty heading off home to shower and sleep for an hour or so before we returned to greet our exhausted, but proud girls who had finished in 61/2 hours !

We all felt that it was much more manageable this year, perhaps because it was a more interesting route, perhaps because we had done more training than we thought as my pedometer appears to under record the miles!  I actually felt that I could have carried on at 13 miles, perhaps they should start a ¾ marathon!And, I am very pleased to report that the idea of spraying our feet with John Frieda anti-frizz serum worked, absolutely no blisters or sores!

Yet again, it has been a wonderful experience and we are just so happy to have been part of such a big fund raising event for a charity which has touched so many lives.  We have so many generous supporters who encouraged us through the pain and have helped us raise over £1,000 for Cancer Research UK, and still counting.