Haverfordwest taxi man Kevin Haldane was footsore but triumphant after completing the London Marathon in 6 hours 9 minutes and 31 seconds and in doing so raising £3,000 for the ‘Go For It’ children’s charity.
He suffered from blisters and a sore knee in the last six miles which slowed him to power walking pace but he was determined to finish his first marathon after losing four stone and completing his aim to mark his 50th birthday with something special by breaking away from the ‘couch potato’ style of life that owning a taxi inevitably brings.
Marriage proposals galore!
“I even had five proposals of marriage en route,” said Kevin with a typical chuckle, “but I don’t think that my wife Sharon would have been too happy with that!
The crowd was amazing, especially at places like the Cutty Sark and Tower Bridge. But Buckingham Palace was definitely the best because I knew there was only 385 yards left to the finish from there!”
Kevin, who originally hails from Falkirk, travelled up to London on the Friday with Sharon and elder daughter Vicky and registered the following day before chilling out as much as he could. He arrived early at the start of the marathon on the Sunday at Greenwich Park, where the security was understandably tight after the Boston Marathon bombing.
Amazing experience – and a sleepy runner afterwards!
“It was 50 minutes after the starting hooter that I finally got over the start line and it was an amazing time as everyone around was sharing the experience. There were brass bands, West Indian steel bands, Scottish and Irish dancers. The fire stations were giving people a light hosing to keep them cool en route and dishing out soft drinks, sweets, oranges and bananas – it was amazing!”
“Afterwards we went back to the hotel, with me clutching my medal, and I had a glass of wine and my first pizza for seven months – but I fell asleep before I could finish it!
“There were 32,600 runners finished in front of me but I managed to get to the finish before 2,091 who were behind me so I am chuffed with that fact – and it is definitely the taking part that counts in the London Marathon.”
One-off occasion
Ask Kevin about his next marathon and the answer is immediate:
“Not a chance – but I recommend that anyone who thinks about taking part should give it a go. It got me much fitter that I have been for many years and I aim to continue that as part of my life-style, but running 26 miles and 385 yards on one occasion was enough for me!”