A couple from Teddington ran the London Marathon on Sunday (27 April) to raise money for local children's charity, Momentum.
In an exclusive interview with Kingston Nub News, husband-and-wife duo, Claire and Nick, said that they chose to raise money for Momentum because it has supported three of their friends' families and their children who have been "extremely ill".
Momentum supports families across South West London (including Kingston), Surrey, and Sussex whose children are facing cancer or a life-challenging condition.
Nick said: Momentum helped support three families we know in various ways. With one of the families, they provided an I robot when their son couldn't attend school.
"The robot could attend instead of him, which is amazing.
"He was having to go into Great Ormond Street every week for a year, so when he was feeling rotten, he could still participate in class, which is just incredible.
"They put a school tie around the robot and called it the boy's name so that he felt that he was in class when he wasn't there and interacted with them."
Claire added: "He could change the colour of it as well. So if he was feeling unable to participate, he could change the colour to show that he couldn't participate.
"And the boy's friends would take the robot to lunch, so he really felt part of it still and especially in a transition year – he had just started Year 7."
Speaking about why they chose to run the London Marathon, Nick said: "I think for both of us, it's one of those things that we've always watched on TV.
"And you look at the supporters, look at the runners, look at the volunteers that actually make it happen, and you can't help but have awe for them.
"And since Claire and I've been together, we've always entered the ballot., but most years we didn't make it."
However, the couple did get a place to run the Marathon last year.
Claire got a ballot place, and Nick got a charity place.
Nick said: "So, we ran our first Marathon and then went home and literally the first thing we did was enter the ballot for this year's Marathon with the same deal that if one of us gets a ballot place, the other person has to get a charity place."
This year, Nick got a ballot place, and Claire got a charity place.
Claire said: "We chose Momentum because they're local and obviously they helped our friends.
"It was the right thing to do."
Speaking about the Marathon itself, Nick said: "It was hot.
"Last year, we ran together, and we finished together. The weather wasn't too bad, and it was quite a nice experience.
"But this year, it was so hot that by about mile ten I said to Claire that she should go ahead.
She was running quicker, and I was in a really bad place at that point, so I said, 'you go and carry on because it's not fair, you're waiting for me'.
"And then I sort of walked and jogged the rest of it – still finishing at a good time.
"But it was hard, and the temperature was brutal. But kudos to the London Marathon team."
Claire explained that the Marathon team used hoses to spray mist over the participants at "various points".
She said that they also handed out water bottles throughout the course.
Claire added: "As we saw last year and this year, the support from the people on the side of the course was absolutely amazing.
"And we had our names and numbers on our bibs so a number of people were shouting 'Go on Nick, go on Claire, you got this'.
"It was amazing. They really carry you through"
However, Claire explained, "Sadly this year more than last year because of the temperature, lots of people by the side of the course were being attended to by St John's Ambulance or other New Balance medics or whoever it was".
She said: "But again, the volunteers and the support was absolutely unbelievable.
"And even as we finished and were at Waterloo Station coming home, still wearing our medals and our running bibs, people were saying 'well done'."
Nick added:" But the support and the fact of raising money for charity really helped - they really carry you through. And we're stubborn."
The couple explained that they saw people running with rhino costumes on their backs and a man going for a world record on crutches.
Claire said: "So you see those people and you just think, 'Oh my goodness'.
"You know, we're lucky that we've only got our running vest on and a pair of shorts, and there's all these incredible people wearing more.
"I saw a fire person who was carrying a big tank on his back.
"So, it does put things into perspective." So, when you're feeling perhaps that you can't go on or you're going to struggle, you just sort of look around and lift your head up and think, 'gosh, well, I need to do this, look at all these other incredible people who are wearing something that covers them from head to toe'."
Nick added: "As Claire said, when you're very emotional, and there are a couple of times where it really gets you when you're running, and people are cheering and you're in pain and you see someone running in a chicken egg or a rhino costume and you think, 'actually, you know what, Things aren't that bad right now'."
He explained that there were young children handing out Jelly Babies to the participants as they ran. While Claire has always been a runner, Nick did not start running until he met his wife.
He says that he was a cyclist before he met Claire.
"I used to do the 100-mile Centurion races on my bike. So, to me, the idea of a marathon was a really bad idea," he said.
"And then we met, and, because of where we live and because Bushy Park and Richmond Park are so close, it's so easy to just chuck your shorts and your trainers on and go for a run, whereas you're faffing around for ages getting your bike ready in the mornings. Running just became the norm."
The couple have two dogs which they take on shorter runs with them.
Nick said: "So running has become a way of life and having done two marathons, I'd definitely say I'm a runner now. Personally, I find it quite therapeutic."
The couple have raised £2,489 so far – just £11 away from their target of £2,500.
You can donate to their JustGiving page here.
