Marathon runners aid Asthma UK
14 April 2008

Asthma UK’s 317-strong team ran through the rain to raise much-needed funds for the charity at the 2008 Flora London Marathon.

Cheered on by Asthma UK staff and volunteers at cheer stations throughout the course, the team was part of 35,044 taking part in the third biggest London Marathon to date.

The first Asthma UK runner to cross the finish line was Clive Baker in 2:52:46. He was followed by Simon Tarplee in 2:59:35. The first woman to finish for Asthma UK was Zoe Coates in 3:28:20, followed by Nicolette Overy in 3:37:07

After the race, Asthma UK team members were invited to a post-race reception, where they were reunited with family and friends and given a well-deserved massage.

Francine Heggie, Asthma UK’s Events Officer, said: ‘Thank you to all our Gold Bond and ballot place runners who chose to support Asthma UK this year! We really enjoyed meeting the team in the lead up to the race and were so proud to see them on the route wearing our bright green vests – or in some cases, a Spiderman costume and clown suit!

‘Despite the rain lots of family and friends joined our cheer stations on the route and everyone was in high spirits at the reception, so we hope that all our runners and supporters on the day enjoyed their marathon experience.’

How was it for you?

Were you part of Asthma UK’s team at the London Marathon – either as a runner, supporter or race-day volunteer? If so, please email us to tell us how it was for you. Your stories will be added to the bottom of this page.*

*Please note that messages may be edited before posting.    

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Dan Plummer
I am absolutely delighted to have been given the opportunity to take part in the prestigious event and for a such a great cause, and will always have extremeley fond memories of how the Asthma UK team cheered me on and inspired me to finish in what for me was a pleasing time of 4 hours 42 minutes - despite getting to 20 miles in 3 hours 2!

 
Being in my last year at university, as you can imagine trying to juggle time between training, working and also the usual student activity was extremeley difficult. Similarly trying to raise money from students with not much money was also not easy, but I'm closing in on the £2,000 mark and am still trying to do as well as I can for such a great team. This was my first marathon but will certainly not be my last, hopefully raising alot more money for Asthma UK in the future.

Emma Weisblatt
Having decided to take part in January I had only about 10 weeks of 'marathon-specific' training (interrupted by the inevitable minor injuries to boot), so I was thrilled to get round my first marathon in just over 4hrs 28 minutes with only a couple of blisters and slightly trashed leg muscles. It was an amazing total experience -  sunshine, hail, highs and lows, and truly fantastic support from the crowds and especially the Asthma UK cheering points - they even managed to make me smile at 24 miles or so which really was an achievement! Raising money for Asthma UK made it all really mean something as well as being a personal 'first', and the organisation and support throughout has been absolutely brilliant - thanks to everyone on the AUK team. It most definitely will not be my last marathon!

Nicola Shaw
I successfully completed the long and often rainy/windy Marathon course. It was a first for me and, only having decided to be part of the craziness in mid-January, I had about 12 weeks of training!  I am pretty proud to say that I finished in a leisurely five and half hours. The thighs feel like lead, armpits are chapped - although thankfully without blisters - but I’d be happy to do it all again next year if I'm allowed!

Carolyn
I'm delighted to say that despite blisters popping at 15 and 18 miles I manage to cross the line after 6:45:42. Special thanks to the few Asthma UK T-shirted folk just before the finish line who managed to entice out of me my last of energy making me jump about with excitement! I really loved it, but will I do it again? Simple answer is "no, never!" I will leave it as a once in a life time memory!

Kate Farrow
I would like to congratulate all the runners that ran for Asthma UK! I was one of the lucky people to give them a massage after and they were in such high spirit! They each had different stories to tell; some had completed 15 marathons previously and still getting the buzz after, and for others it was their first marathon! All of them said how the crowds of support had helped them through the tougher miles and they were all very keen to convince me to do a marathon myself, which I am having a good think about!

Pete Teevan
Thanks to all the team at Asthma UK for such a special, unforgettable day. The support around the course was truly phenomenal and really helped me get to the finish. Thanks also to the masseuses from the University of Hertfordshire who repaired me after the race! Right the way through the event, from when I entered to the day itself, the organisation has been really fantastic. I hope to raise about £3,000 in total and the money is still coming in.