The marathon (my first ever) was great…an early, beautiful but brisk start to Sunday 09 October. I caught up with my old school friends, the two of us who were running made our way to York University on bikes (about 2 miles) and after dropping off bags we made our way to the start line.

We found the 4hr pacer runner and for about 20 miles managed to stay a comfortable distance ahead of him. Several times between 21-23 miles cramp kicked in, but thankfully with some gritted determination and the thought of my 2 friends who suffered with heart issues, I managed to run through it. At 23 miles my friend started to struggle with cramp and the pace, so we agreed that I would continue on at my own pace. I was desperate to break 4 hrs and with the pacer breathing down my neck I tried to speed up. My legs didn’t respond at first, but for the last mile or so I was able to pull away and finished in 3hrs 55mins so I was over the moon.

The route took us through York city centre, past the Cathedral, out into surrounding villages and eventually back to the university where the finishing line was. The support along the route was amazing and the emotion at the end was exhilarating albeit a poignant moment for me knowing that one friend would have been watching me from above (on what would have been his 41st birthday) and my other friend would have been starting his Medtronics Global Heros Marathon in Minnesota after suffering a major cardiac arrest just over 3 years ago. I have managed to raise just under £2,400 before gift aid, an amount which genuinely blew me away.. All in all an amazing day.

Matt Wilson