Our London Marathon story…

After months of training and fund raising the time came for us to board our first train for our first marathon of the year.

An early start in the highlands. We left our wee highland home at 6.00am and boarded our train for Inverness at 6.30 am. Before we knew it we were on the London Train and settled down as we made the journey from Inverness to London Kings Cross, we had to wave goodbye to my daughter as she left us in Edinburgh and boarded her train heading for a fun few days with her Nan and Grumps in Liverpool.

Ten hours later we had arrived, London was looking mighty fine in the glorious sunshine.

We headed to our Travelodge and settled into our room which would be Home for the next four days. We were in the perfect spot, a stones throw from the Tower of London and practically next door to the DLR, perfect to get us to Excel the following day.

Well Saturday morning arrived and after our porridge we made our way to Excel for registration. This is the time that it hits you that soon you would be taking part in one of the most famous marathons in the world.

The sun was shining and it was a beautiful morning to be out and about.
At Excel we registered and got our precious numbers and kit bags, we then made our way around the exhibition, always an exciting morning as the mixture of excitement and nerves fills the air. We met some great people there, some of whom had taken part in the Moonwalks and some who were so interested in our 7 Marathon challenge in 2014.

All hugely supportive about the fact that we were power walking and not running. We had a great morning in Excel and decided to spend the rest of the day relaxing down by the river, which did involve a wee gentle stroll. The sun continued to shine and London was just buzzing.

Back at the Travel lodge it was time to get the bum bags packed, kit out ready, numbers and safety pins, micro chip on shoe and of course to make sure the Bras had survived the journey from the highlands and then off to bed. How well do you really sleep the night before a marathon.

Before we knew it it was time to get up make the porridge, pin our numbers on one final check and make our way to the DLR and head to Greenwich… it was a beautiful day and we felt so lucky and privileged to be on this amazing journey.

We made our way to our area and took it all in. We met Ali and Lucy who were also walking for Walk the Walk and chatted about various walks that we had all been on. Several toilet trips later we made out way to the start. The time had come we were standing at the start of The Virgin London Marathon surrounded by people in costumes and folk running or walking for so many different charities and reason. The atmosphere was already building. This was it, it was time to get walking.

The crowds were cheering from the word go. The atmosphere was out of this world and in 26.2 miles there was never a gap in the crowd. London was incredible that day. The crowds were out of this world and the cheers we were getting as we took step after step was unbelievable. At one point there were about 20 people chanting our names in unison.. amazing. Some great cheers for my husband Jim as men cheered him on in his bra. The support team for Walk the Walk was just fabulous and we thank you for you fabulous cheering, waves and smiles. You guys are just stars.

The sun just kept shining and mile by mile we tried to take it all in and absorb it. We felt so proud to be walking for Walk the Walk. The sights and sounds of that day will be with us forever it really was an unbelievable day.

A big thank you to London city and all the people that stood and cheered.

As we passed the spectacular sites of London we were soon at Buckingham Palace. There it was the finish line. Our marathon was nearly over and already we were re living so many magical moments.

Six hours and seventeen minutes later we had completed the 26.2 miles and finished The Virgin London marathon 2014 hand in hand and grinning from ear to ear.. and yes we want to do it again.

To be part of the Walk the Walk team was an Honour.

A few days later we were making the 10 hour journey back up to the Scottish highlands with smiles on our faces and a great big medal in our bags and wonderful memories all round.

Soon we will be donning our bras for The London Moonwalk, The Edinburgh Moonwalk and our grand finale The New York Marathon.

Walking for Walk the Walk is wonderful and gives us so much pleasure whilst raising money for a wonderful course.

We look forward to walking many more miles and decorating many more bras on the way…

Gill and Jim