Toby Anstis' Blog

What a Sport Relief!

Oh my God, my legs have never ached so much, and my lungs never been so stretched since I had to piggy back David Gest through the jungle to the camp 18 months ago!

Just run 3 miles for Sport Relief on The Embankment. Without stopping once I hasten to add which surprised me as much as it did my running partner Steph. Ran the whole way. And it was great to see so many other people out there in the rain and wind, really enjoying the event, and raising money for such a worthwhile cause.

Started with an aerobic warm up at the start line for us lot in the 2.15pm "wave" of runners. I had the honour of being up on the platform at the start to say good luck to the mass of people all jumping up and down to keep warm. But then had to leg it down to the start line to get going at 2.15 on the dot.

We all counted the clock down, and off we went, and me almost getting knocked over by those twins from Big Brother, Sam Mand or whatever they're called. There was a real sprint off the line, and I didn't quite keep up with it!  Got going in the end, and round the course. Loads of support along the way. Really had that London Marathon feel to it, with bands along the way, pumping music, empty water bottles cluttering the pavements, people cheering us on from the Jubilee Bridge and along the river. Great stuff!

Got to the finish line, and I felt like I had run a marathon! Then realised it would have been another 8 of the same, and then some if it had been! Blimey, how do people run 26 and a half miles? But i was really chuffed to have done it.

Nice jogging round with Dom from Dick 'n' Dom fame. Saw an old friend of mine Bev Turner whose hubbie James Cracknell just completed that incredible triathalon, which included the swim across the Straits Of Gibraltor with David Walliams. And he still looked fresh-faced and up for another run. I guess thats what separates us from them Olympic athlete types!

The highlight though for me was when i was on the final straight, absolutely exhausted, and some chap shouted " Hey Tobe, what year is it on the Time Tunnel tomorrow!" Fantastic!  

I know it was only three miles, but for me and a lot of others there's that real sense of achievement of doing it, and raising money at the same time. You should try it if you haven't already.

Toby

Posted by Toby Anstis on March 17, 2008 at 09:12AM

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