I left Ellie & Benji asleep at the hotel to travel to Imphal Barracks to collect the RV.
A short, practically traffic free journey to the racecourse meant that we were set up in very quick time and waiting for the media frenzy that was planned for Andy starting at 7.30am right through to race start at 10.00hrs.
Sky News (able to continue after their camera and tripod fell over!), BBC & ITV were all there wanting a piece of the man, with numerous radio interviews and journalists filling the gaps in between. Nikki certainly had her hands full coordinating these pre race activities!!
Andy & Sky News
The Lord mayor and Brigadier Greville Bibby fronting an impressive crowd of runners.
A cake to start the celebration of Andy's 50th Birthday
Andy was then invited by the Brigadier to address the runners and explain the reason for him carrying the baton around today's marathon. Pretty stirring stuff!
Andy addressing an attentive audience
Andy was joined for the first lap by 200 soldiers from 2 Signal Regiment and the complete pack of almost 300 runners made an impressive site as it travelled down the first straight of the course - only 30 more miles to go to the end of this fantastic journey!!
A sunny start to this final Marathon!!
Moving en masse down the back straight
The day gradually settled down into a now fairly predictable routine with Andy requiring very little attention other than feeding and watering and in the main, the team were pretty much left to their own devices until the final lap.
A little uncertainty about the finishing route (not for Andy, I hasten to add) but then all was resolved and we all moved to the official racecourse finishing post to witness the culmination of 18 months planning and 66 days of grueling, energy sapping, mentally and physically challenging marathon running!
Andy ran the last 200m alone to cross the finishing line in 6hrs 15mins and from then on, he was to subsequently tell me, everything was a blur!!!
Press interviews, a multitude of photographs and much back slapping and congratulations followed - that's all!!
Suggestions are welcomed for an appropriate caption for this snap!!!
(Suggestions in blog comments please)
A little uncertainty about the finishing route (not for Andy, I hasten to add) but then all was resolved and we all moved to the official racecourse finishing post to witness the culmination of 18 months planning and 66 days of grueling, energy sapping, mentally and physically challenging marathon running!
Andy ran the last 200m alone to cross the finishing line in 6hrs 15mins and from then on, he was to subsequently tell me, everything was a blur!!!
Press interviews, a multitude of photographs and much back slapping and congratulations followed - that's all!!
Team66 - now where's Jim?
Job done - it's time to return things to normal!!
So that's it then - the end of our Adventure. Onward to Barry's and clearing the RV.
I have to say that despite some teething problems and certain idiosyncrasies, the battle bus has served us well. It has provided us with a presence wherever we went and has been home from home for at least 2 of us on a fairly regular basis.
It's a monster, it drinks fuel at an alarming rate and it handles like a sack of potatoes! Yet - as I locked it up for the last time ready for the valeting company, I felt a certain sadness - I just had to pat it goodbye . . . . . I really think I'm gonna miss it!!
I have to say that despite some teething problems and certain idiosyncrasies, the battle bus has served us well. It has provided us with a presence wherever we went and has been home from home for at least 2 of us on a fairly regular basis.
It's a monster, it drinks fuel at an alarming rate and it handles like a sack of potatoes! Yet - as I locked it up for the last time ready for the valeting company, I felt a certain sadness - I just had to pat it goodbye . . . . . I really think I'm gonna miss it!!
So what has Challenge66 meant to me? . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . you'll have to wait until the final post to find out!!! lol.
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