JILL TAKING ON THE LONDON MARATHON
My name is Jill Boorman and work at Vanguard Self Storage London East and I am taking on the mammoth challenge of completing my first London Marathon on Sunday 24th April.
After months of training runs, I will be among the expected 38,000 nervous and excited runners congregating on Blackheath for the start of this year’s London Marathon, I personally will be extremely nervous.
I have decided to use my place to raise funds for JDRF UK (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), a charity very close to my heart as I am a Type 1 Diabetic. JDRF UK need funds to continue their potentially life changing research into Type 1 (Insulin-Dependent) Diabetes.
As a Type 1 Diabetic training for the London Marathon, the long distance runs involved have proved to be a challenge all of their own at times!
If you would like to sponsor me and thank you very much if you do 🙂 here’s the link; http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/jill-boorman-VMLM2016-43178 Please also leave a good luck message if you do sponsor me!
The marathon route will pass directly in front of Vanguard East London’s site at 188 Westferry Road and I will try and give it a nod as I pass by but I suspect that as this is just after the 16 mile mark of the run, I may be otherwise too pre-occupied/exhausted!
Runners must complete the full 26 miles, 385 yards before they run over the finish line at The Mall in Central London and finally lay their hands on their well deserved finisher’s medal.
The First London Marathon
The London Marathon was created after Chris Brasher, a former Olympic Champion, returned home from completing the New York Marathon. He was so moved by the sight of over one million people unified by one major challenge and this made him feel that London had to have its own marathon.
After studying other big city marathons, Chris Brasher established the London Marathon’s charity status. His dream was realised on 29th March 1981 with the first London Marathon and it proved to be an instant success.
If you feel your own legs aren’t up to actually running a marathon but you’d still like to be part of the day and show your support, join the crowds to shout encouragement instead. Crowds of spectators line the whole 26.2 mile route but great viewing points can be found at Greenwich, the Isle of Dogs, The Highway, Tower Bridge, Embankment, Westminster and of course, the emotional finish of the Marathon on the Mall in front of Buckingham Palace.