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July 4th may well be a famous independence day in some part of the world but it will forever be Philip's Indepence day over his old self the day he stood up and lay the demons his greatest day ever.
Yes we have a confession we had a big seceret we were never running a half marathon in the Gold coast we entered the full one we had till Friday to change it back to the half and as Philip toe was becoming more of a problem we thought that is what we would do at one stage in the week we werent sure we manage anything! This idiotic plan was only dreamt up about three weeks ago. the day we ran 13miles in sydney we decided the week after to up it 17 then 22 then 26 on race day. we failed at 17miles it was the day philip threw up in circular quay! so Philip thought best call it off but then we went thou the problems that day eating too soon before run losing locker key and thought we give it another go the week after we managed 21 miles that was day 62 just 12 days ago! the same day we went to the libary in circular quay and read a book called running for dummies. it suggested no big runs at least three weeks prior and trainning for a marathon for at least year! so maybe we can write a new book marathons for complete morons or running for the mentally challanged.
So we kept this masterplan pretty much to ourselfs
"Marathoning is just another form of insanity." John J. Kelly, winner of the 1952 Boston Marathon
we can do insanity Philip thought. so we went off well a cold morning in the gold coast as philip made good progress everyone tells you not to go off to fast but we were making good progress. Nail this in under 5 hours easily marathon running pah.. at the half way stage the run we should of done philip passes thru at 2:31 people line the street shouting support hi fiving you shouting Go bobby and bobby your a legend, Philip has the name of his inspiration on his shirt. as we appoarch 20 miles the spilts are slowing but its all good, a quick loo break wouldnt go a miss wash the face put of some more aqua glide to stop the chaffing and a leisurely six mile jog home easy....
"Marathoning is like cutting yourself unexpectedly. You dip into the pain so gradually that the damage is done before you are aware of it. Unfortunately, when awareness comes, it is excruciating."-John Farrington, Australian marathoner
There in a portaloo things go horrible wrong philip realises he cant get out his legs wouldnt work to turn round he is wedged in he may have overdosed on gels as he also has an upset tummy a glance in the mirror makes him relise he is horribly sunburnt, it may of been cold to start but the australian sun soon comes a calling. Philip had shaved his head for the day reveling some alopecia these balds spots were now burnt to a crisp. his nipples were bleeding horrible(huge respect to breast feeding mothers!) but he is stuck for nearly 5 mins in a blind panic and in the end falls out of the loo backward into the street. where a kindly local helps him up and gives him a ballon!
"To describe the agony of a marathon to someone who's never run it is like trying to explain color to someone who was born blind." Jerome Drayton
Philip now has to use his left hand to push his left thight just to get it moving . At this stage who ever design this marathon came up with a really cruel twist at the 20 mile stage you run past the finish going the other way while all the finishers are on the other side of the road to cheering and hollowering finishing and you thing you could just crawl over there get your bag go home and no one would know the difference you done the 13 miles who knows.
“Anyone can run 20 miles. It's the next six that count.”-Bary Magee
miles 20-25 are the most horrific and pain ful thing philip has every done the crowd thins out there are not many shouts of support he find a young brazilan lad in a world of pain and talks football for a couple of miles as we slow to little more than a crawl , the course takes you pass the caravan site Philips bed he could just go to bed.
"I've learned that finishing a marathon isn't just an athletic achievement. It's a state of mind; a state of mind that says anything is possible." john Hanc, running writer
Then at 25 miles you realise you can do this the crowds are back people are cheering you dont need the mp3 anymore you crying as people stand at the side shouting you home your going to do it your actually going to finish a marathon as you run in to the near empty arena to philip the roar is louder the wembley although that is just him screaming and jumping like a manic. with bobbys picture in his left hand he falls over the line in six hours.
"I have met my hero, and he is me."-George Sheehan
Philip is still three stone over weight to drag this bulk(17.5stone) round for six hours in the australian sun well we wouldnt advise it after three months trainning its well just bonkers...
The people of Queensland were amazing strangers who then helped Philip home people stop cars to offer you lifts old ladys help you across the road as Philip is emotional and physically exhaused and while were worried about being so far from home and knowing no one suddenly it feels that everyone in Queensland is our friend.
Philip awakes from a deep sleep at ten past three in the morning just in time to ring Bobby before bed who ask if we finish first no second or third? No we finished 4304 out of 5000 bobby. Never mind Philip maybe next year and despite Bobby being the one who inspired all this ..This time I think Philip will be ignoring him
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