TRINITY High School teacher Tom Bristowe didn’t ask for sponsorship money when he took on the challenge of running the London Marathon.
Instead the big hearted PE teacher asked for food donations for the Batchley Support Group’s Community Pantry helping those in need.
Students had a ‘bingo card’ in their tutor groups of foodstuffs to get and they gave an overwhelming response, donating more than 400 items of food.
And on the big day, Sunday, October 3, Tom joined more than 40,000 other runners to tackle the 26.2 mile route from Greenwich to Buckingham Palace.
“It sounds so simple when you put it like that, but the sight of me staggering up and down stairs at school on Monday morning told a very different story!” he said.
The event was the much delayed London Marathon from April 2020 and after waiting the best part of 18 months through cancellations and lockdowns it didn’t disappoint for the thousands who took part.
“After a terrible day of wind and rain on Saturday luckily the weather gods produced a clear and fine morning for running and at 9.30am off we all went,” said Tom.
“The first 23 miles just flew by, incredible atmosphere around the Cutty Sark, over Tower Bridge, along the Thames, seeing the elites running back past the other way, rows and rows of spectators and loads of ludicrous fancy dress – is being beaten by someone in wellies a bad thing?
“However the less said about the last 3.2 miles the better, the wheels slowly ground to a near halt and safe to say there was zero energy left in the tank at the end.
“To anyone who is considering a marathon or even taking up running, I’d say just go for it, you certainly wont regret the journey.”
As for helping the team at Batchley, he said: “Thanks to everyone who donated food items for Batchley Support Group, these much needed items will be very gratefully received.”
