The Friends of Mick'n'Phil Half Marathon

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We would like to thank the following for their support, without which the race would not have taken place. If we've missed anyone, please let us know.

  • Severn Trent Water, in particular the Draycote Water rangers and the staff at the Visitor Centre: Leanne, Roger, Simon and Jane.
  • Runner's World Magazine for covering the costs of online registration.
  • UK Athletics for accepting our application for a licence and helping us to understand what made a good race - in particular Mike Doyle from the Midlands region and Steve Crane from Bedford Harriers.
  • Coventry Building Society for printing high quality flyers and race packs.
  • Science In Sport for a superb value goody bag and their sports drinks for the water stations.
  • MedEvent (Coventry) for the first aid cover.
  • Sussex Sports Photography for donating the entire profit from their photographs of the event. If you haven't bought a picture yet please do.
  • Dick Hughes for donating his services and announcing all day, free of charge.
  • Sportsmark by Signam www.sportsmark.co.uk for the race signage.
  • Bedford Harriers and Northbrook AC for loan of essential equipment
  • To the marshals, car parkers, waterers, timekeepers, bagstorers and all other helpers - thank you for making the day such a success. And to the runners - it wouldn't have happened if you hadn't all turned up.

Thanks
The Friends Of Mick'n'Phil Half Marathon Team

Words From Mick

Mick N Phil's super weekend

Our weekend started on Saturday morning at the Long Marston raceway 10k - it was good - about 300 ish ran it, it was along the old airfield - 2 laps or sort of - and it was great as we could see the runners who were leading and the runners behind us - just fantastic- we didn't race it at all - we clocked a happy and comfortable 52:30 -

Then came the BIG ONE - Friend of Mick n Phil - Half Marathon

I really will NEVER ever be able to thank you all enough - MR fetch Himself- JJ Flash - Johnny Blaze- Mr Mrs Nightjar - Jason 1969 - SmilieGirlie- Katie B - I just cannot think of all the names- but YOU all know who you are Elbee - Velciperator - Ian M

Trying to remember- Bridget - Rabbit - McNewbie - so many of you - I'm just lost
What a proud day you gave us, a day to remember - ( I suppose I should have know we were that popular ) but you see- we just see what we do as what we do -

I had no worries of doing a HM around the lake in those conditions- we've done 3 previous marathons there- in far worse conditions - so this would be a gale force bloody fun run really

I was very emotional - I spent a lot of the next 24 hours in tears - it was just fabulas seeing you all - meeting friends old and new , I was a little nervous at first , but soon settled -

Vaselining my bit's - The nice lead up to the start - clinically and methodically ready as usual - wanted to announce a 5 lapper - but I thought better not - Silson Joggers and their cheque really started me off emotionally - then off we went, just straight forward lap - with friends , quite a lot of humour - laughter nearly all the way
I kept thinking all the time- ALL this for us - we must inspire them - do we?? - BUT, they inspire us as well
The marshalls and drink stations including those children where so polite and helpful were just fantastic, but the gale and eventual rain had no chance of stopping us- none at all

So the Grand Masters were on route ( LOL ) - on their 177thHM - I felt in seventh Heaven - surrounded by friends- but by now I was emotional - I couldn't believe that this was happeneing - felt great going through the finish area and Dicky boy commentating - I've know Dick for years

Even the public where saying " How the hell do you do that " I replied " Many thanks "

The time and laps went very quickly overall despite the wind forcing us back on occasions - we approached the finish to that huge roar and cheer- something I shall never ever forget as long as I live- I couldn't help keep thinking- they've done this for us - to keep us on the road running- people have travelled for miles to support us-
But were just two ordinary people who simply love doing what we do - HM's which we see as fun runs week in week out-

Then we got changed and went inside - and that really is where I cried and cried - it was just great- all those people around us -
Meeting so many of you was just fantastic- so good you'll never ever know - I'd cried that much with joy and disbelief my head hurt and my chest pounded

ALL OF YOU - have done us so proud, and yourselves proud as well - you have All given us many many happy hours - in running- on the forums - and in a spiritual way as well

You have ALL given us back our lives- we shall always be eternally grateful to you all - you all made my wife feel human again- she managed to keep herself together on the day - like I said - if it where not for my wife - Phillip would have passed on years ago - she's now almost crippled though it-

I'm lucky with my fitness and physiological and mental power of strength -
I just hope this blog does you all the justice that you have done us - and I am sorry if any of you feel that I have not named you- please forgive me

thank you all for your kind support and money donations which I know is your hard earned money

I assure all of you, that none of the money will be wasted -

The running for me really is the EASY bit -

I hope you all feel my blog is suitable-

Thank you each and everyone of you - Bless u all

Mick - Dawn & Phil xxxxxxxxx