Back in August, we announced the winner of our Early Bird competition. It was for all those Virgin Money London Marathon runners that set up their fundraising pages early and Paul Lott was the deserved winner. The prize was a trip to New York City to watch the New York City Marathon with an overnight stay and £500 spending money – something to get you motivated ready for the Virgin Money London Marathon 2015!
Paul recently went on his trip and kindly gave us a write up of how it went:
My wife and I were delighted and very surprised to discover that we had won the Virgin Money Giving prize for raising some money early for the Virgin Money London Marathon 2015 of an all-expenses paid trip to see the New York Marathon at the start of November.
Highlights included seeing the sun setting from the top of the Empire State Building and the lights of Manhattan coming on to highlight both the 1930s art deco architecture and the modern skyscrapers. My wife particularly enjoyed the shopping in 5th Avenue! Walking around Ground Zero and seeing the memorials and rebuilding work was moving and meaningful.
On the day of the marathon our hotel leant us a couple of bikes and it was great fun cycling around Central Park to cheer on the runners. Seeing the leaders coming through mile 24 in a faster pace than my normal training run was inspirational and motivating. Shouting on the runners and in particular the Brits felt like I was giving something back for the support I know I will receive in April when I run in London. Then up in Harlem about mile 22, we positioned ourselves next to a James Brown style band who were bashing out the hits to encourage the runners who like myself were the 4 – 4 ½ hour finishers, who showed a lot more pain and gritted determination on their faces.
Seeing the New York Marathon has encouraged me to train harder so that I can complete the 26 miles without walking and enjoy it at the same time. I have always wanted to run the London Marathon and I am delighted to be running as a charity place for Barnardo’s the children’s charity. I run for them as my Father was raised in various Barnardo’s homes in London in the 1930s and 40s from the age of a few weeks to 16 yrs old. He in turn was a Social Worker so that he could give something back for the upbringing he had received through Barnardo’s. Although this charity does not run children’s’ homes anymore they still do fantastic work to support vulnerable children and young people so I am delighted to have the opportunity to do what I can to support them.
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