Well I’ve entered now so there’s no backing out of it, or so I thought when I applied to enter the Stratford-Upon-Avon Night Day Double Marathon in November 2008. I had decided to build on the previous season’s achievement of completing the Double Ironman Challenge in 2008 by entering a Double Marathon and returning to the Double Ironman Challenge on 1 – 2 August 2009. All of my efforts this year will raise money, through sponsorship for Help for Heroes (H4H) and Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA).
My first priority was to get into training for the Night Day Double Marathon which was due to be held on 10 and 11 April 2009. I knew that I needed to complete the race in a maximum time of
20 hours. This was achievable I thought, even though it was off road and required a bit of navigation. So, off I set on my training plan for miles and miles…
On Sunday 8 March 2009 as part of my training schedule, I completed the Duchy of Cornwall Marathon in a time of 4hrs 34mins and 16 secs with some fuel left in the tank, I came 169th out of 200. This was a good run, after which I felt ready to take on the Night Day Double Marathon. The plan was to start at 6pm on the Friday night, carrying my map, compass, food, whistle, sleeping bag, etc with just one water stop at the midway point. After a sleep, all the participants were to run back round in the opposite direction on the Saturday at 6am, following the same guidelines; the race cut-off time was 2pm.
With only days go, I found out on Tuesday 7 April 2009 that the Night Day Double Marathon had been cancelled due to the ‘economic conditions’. Disaster! I was mortified! Well there was a chance to back out of it if ever there was one. At this point I was stuck; the original race was in three days time! I had collected, and had money pledged, but there was no race! What to do? After discussing the situation with my fund raisers, I made the decision that I would run a double marathon anyway.
I had been let down, but I wasn’t going to let down my chosen charities. No way! So I hatched a plan, I was going to be in Coventry at my mum’s house, pre and post race, so I decided to mark out an off-road half marathon route through the River Sowe valley and run it four times following the same rules as the original race. I would carry the same kit, use the same timings and have the same minimal support. I measured out the route using a running website which came to a total distance of 52.9 miles, more than enough, and as I didn’t know the majority of the area I was running through, my navigation skills would be tested.
Well, the day came… and I had cajoled my best mate (Deano) into being my support crew for the duration of the challenge. I had my photo taken with the H4H and SSAFA banners and headed off out at 6pm. The first marathon took me 5hrs 43mins with only a couple of navigation errors, I almost fell into a canal when I was running in the pitch black with my head torch on! After just four hours sleep, I was up and running the second marathon, with the sun coming up and the birds singing I wasn’t feeling too bad.
However, like the night before, my second half marathon was slower than the first (I managed not to lose my way this time, but I was shattered). I finished again in 5hrs 43mins - talk about consistency! I crossed the finish line with my old Air Training Corps Sqn – 8F (1st City of Coventry) holding out the H4H and SSAFA banners for a photograph at the finish line. No medal, no t-shirt, no goodie bag and I didn’t break any records, but I had completed both marathons in under 18 hours and I felt a massive sense of achievement. Not only had I run two marathons that I had organised myself at short notice, but I completed them all on my own without a soul to talk to or support me on my way round (apart from the long-suffering Deano). All in all I think that I’ve earned the donations for this event and I can now look forward to the Double Ironman in August. Would I do it again? Yeah, but next time I’ll take more jelly babies with me!
If anyone would like to support me please check out my just giving web pages:
my efforts this year will raise money, through sponsorship for Help for Heroes (H4H) and Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA). 
4hrs 34mins and 16 secs with some fuel left in the tank, I came 169th out of 200. This was a good run, after which I felt ready to take on the Night Day Double Marathon. The plan was to start at 6pm on the Friday night, carrying my map, compass, food, whistle, sleeping bag, etc with just one water stop at the midway point. After a sleep, all the participants were to run back round in the opposite direction on the Saturday at 6am, following the same guidelines; the race cut-off time was 2pm. 
I had been let down, but I wasn’t going to let down my chosen charities. No way! So I hatched a plan, I was going to be in Coventry at my mum’s house, pre and post race, so I decided to mark out an off-road half marathon route through the River Sowe valley and run it four times following the same rules as the original race. I would carry the same kit, use the same timings and have the same minimal support. I measured out the route using a running website which came to a total distance of 52.9 miles, more than enough, and as I didn’t know the majority of the area I was running through, my navigation skills would be tested.
took me 5hrs 43mins with only a couple of navigation errors, I almost fell into a canal when I was running in the pitch black with my head torch on! After just four hours sleep, I was up and running the second marathon, with the sun coming up and the birds singing I wasn’t feeling too bad. 
completed them all on my own without a soul to talk to or support me on my way round (apart from the long-suffering Deano). All in all I think that I’ve earned the donations for this event and I can now look forward to the Double Ironman in August. Would I do it again? Yeah, but next time I’ll take more jelly babies with me!