All's Well That Ends Well!

In April 1999, Matt Kelleher, a former volunteer at HVP Dang, competed in the annual London Marathon in order to raise funds for HVP. Matt's recount of the experience:

After 4 months, and many long wet nights training, I managed to drag myself around the London landmarks to complete the 1999 London Marathon.

It all started on a bit of a whim really. We all had a fantastic time at the social get-together at Forest Hill, London in August 1998, whilst Mr. Bhola Yogi's was visiting the UK. Whenever I see Bhola Yogi, the Shresthas, Christine and all the people that do so much for HVP, it is motivation itself to get your own act together.

Dr Shrestha challenged me to the run, after I was telling him about the previous time I had done it, and, as is my wont, I accepted. I did rise to the challenge on the condition that I was accepted in the ballot. Only about 1 in 3 applications are accepted, so I was quietly confident that I would not have to put either my limbs or my growing girth through it!

About December time the bolt came through - I was in the run, one of the 'lucky' 33,000 who get in. I was injured at the time as a result of other extra-curricular exertions that I pursue. Light running was not only a good way of getting fit again, but it was a good way of kicking off a 4 month training schedule.

Training is quite a drag. Six weeks before the run you are expected to be doing about 40-50 miles a week. All in all you probably run about 500 miles to prepare for a marathon. One's diet and metabolism go up the spout too, as bowls and bowls of Pasta and Isostar get consumed with never ending monotony. Nevertheless, my injury was nursed back to 100%, and I was as ready as I knew I could be. My sponsorship depended really on my finishing time, because I had already completed the run in 3hrs 40mins in 1997. The pressure was on, because I knew we would get next to nothing if I did not beat four hours. Marathon day goes in a flash. I have always stayed with Mum the night previous, to keep me away from bad influences, and also get me somewhere near the start on time! Up at 6.30am on a Sunday morning, I was very nervous, because this time I knew what lay ahead! The first half of the marathon is tremendously well supported, with brass bands, steel bands, radio stations and fanatical youth Londoners lining the route. I had 'Matt' written in pen on my back, and everyone shouts, 'Come on Matt' when they see the name. This had stopped by Tower Bridge, and I realized that this was because it had literally been sweated off!

Going out into the Docklands, to run in Canary Wharf's shadow can be quite a lonely experience. Support along the way is thin, people are suffering cramp, and hitting the dreaded 'Wall'. Determination overrides pain on so many people's faces. On the return to the Tower, the crowds fill up and it begins to get exciting again. Four miles remain, and pass. Friends are hanging off Cleopatra's Needle; they fire me up further. It is only at this point that I know that I am going to finish in under 4 hours, I allow myself to really enjoy it. Turning into the Mall, in the shadow of Buckingham Palace, the finish line comes towards you slowly, very slowly indeed.

The medal is around the neck, and the sandwich is already being devoured. 3 hours 58 minutes on the clock, although it took me 7 minutes to get across the start line! Satisfied, I knew that we had done it, we had raised almost £1500, my 'target' figure.

Thanks to everyone at HVP who wished me luck and supported this event. I hope that the year 2000 will take me back to Nepal to see how things are progressing at the schools.