Monday 15th April 20024

From us to you 🥰 

From David ❤️…. ‘Well I came to Boston to do one thing and to ensure I crossed the iconic Boston finishing line regardless of time.

I feel so privileged to have been able to qualify for this event and to participate. A once in a lifetime opportunity and one I had to grasp as I may never get a qualifying time again.

I set off and my mind was to go at my marathon pace that I had been doing before I got my niggle. I felt good and pushed through. For the first time ever during a marathon I had to make a splash and dash pitstop before approaching mile 9. I regrouped and got back onto my pace.

The temperature increased throughout and was hot. Not like temperatures I had been training in recently. So many runners suffered with the heat today. The second half was hard and I witnessed so many runners walking. My pace significantly was decreasing. I got to the top of Heartbreak Hill. The final mile I tried to push hard and put in a sprint with the crowd willing me on which was amazing. I turned the final corner and cruised down Boylston street to the finishing line that was in sight.

I did it! I completed the Boston Marathon 🇺🇲 in a time of 3hrs 10 minutes 18secs which is still a great time to achieve ⭐️⭐️

I’m so happy to have been a part of this whole experience and to come to America. It was a whole new learning experience for me in running in a different country.  The Boston marathon was awesome and a challenge. The crowd support was just incredible for every single runner with a cut off time to complete the marathon in 6 hrs’.

…………

And from Tinks 🧚🏻 …. Everyone has their own dreams, goals and ambitions.  For me, running the Boston Marathon has been THE one dream I’ve held close to my heart for almost eleven years.

I started running in 2012, after gaining a sought after place in the London Marathon through Virgin Atlantic 👠 I had lost my dad a few years previously (24.04.2006) to a heart attack 💔 and after kicking a 20 year smoking habit into oblivion I needed a challenge, a healthy goal, something where I could give something back to others and at the same time improve my health🙌

After months of novice training (I’d never ran a mile in my life), and lots of advice from others, I got to the start line in London’s Blackheath in April 2013, just two weeks after the Boston Marathon bombing 😢 

Standing in Greenwich with heightened security, 40,000 runners wore a black ribbon 🖤 and as we took a two minute silence – you could hear a pin drop, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.  We all felt incredibly angry, angry as to why anyone would want to bomb the finish line of a marathon.   

After finishing the London marathon I was thrown into the world of Hailsham Harriers and I’ve never looked back 🖤❤️ It was through joining that I heard about the 6 star journey, six iconic world marathon majors.  For me who travelled around the world at the time – I was in!!!🌍 

Flying as crew for Virgin ✈️ I’d been to Boston a hundred times, it was my first flight when I graduated with my wings 🪽, and I’d even cycled on a charity challenge from Boston to New York (265 miles) …. another epic moment, making friends and memories for life.

Every Boston trip I then went on, I would stand on the finish line 💙💛 (painted in the road – it never moves) I would take a moment, breath, say a prayer and imagine myself running down Boyleston Street.  

It’s a hard marathon to qualify for, I came within 8 seconds of my BQ time in New York 2016, I thought I was in – Nope! That year I needed to have come within 3 minutes, to qualify – for this year 2024 … almost 6 minutes 😮 

Marathon day this year was a toughie with record temperatures 🥵 plus the long wait in the toilet, bus and start queues.  Everything was expertly organised though with the small touches like sun cream making you feel like an elite athlete.  The crowds were epic and the folk of Boston the nicest, friendliest people on this planet.  

Amongst the runners, an air of immense excitement, friendliness and support for each other.  With the forecast for the day ahead there was one overriding sense – it wasn’t a day for records, just enjoy the journey, feel grateful for the opportunity and get to the finish line in one piece.  David and I did just that 💙🦄💛 To stand on the same start line as many legendary Harriers have done before, it truly was a pinch me moment 🖤❤️

Ultimately though, this one was for my mum and dad – they have always said ‘whatever you want to do and whoever you want to be, go and achieve your dreams.  You only get one life – live it’.

And to everyone reading this ‘don’t be afraid to chase those dreams, when the stars align they will undoubtedly come true’. 

With love from two Boston Marathon finishers 🦄 David 3:10:13💙 and Tinks 3:44:14💛 

🖤❤️