the final assault

Duncan and I completed over 1.1million steps and 140miles over 5 and half days and arrived in Soho Square at just before 11am this morning. It was done with a passion to raise awareness about the reality of human trafficking. People should not be bought and sold.

That said, i have taken off my running shoes and promised my battered feet never to get in those particular trainers again! some semblance of revenge for my feet, I suppose.

overall, I will remember this run not for the euphoric highs of completing each day - even though they were some of the sweetest moments of my life! I will remember this adventure for what it has taught me about pain and its benefits. Pain strips away your pretences. Pain pulls courage out of you. Pain forces you to rely on others. Pain helps you identify with the suffering of others. Most importantly, pain extinguishes the numbness of life and helps you cherish the good things.

I will also remember the sparks of kindness and generosity that we were shown along the way. I don't particulalry need my faith in humanity revived but there was plenty of evidence on offer as we ran. From Vince the masseur who gave up 2 hours of his time today to rescue our legs to the east london mini cooper driver who kept driving past us and shouting 'you can do it', we saw people at their best during this run.

a really big thank you to everyone who has supported Duncan and I in small ways and big!

hello london!

i have never been so excited to see the cars rumbling slowly down the M25! 120 miles of pounding runs had brought us to this first glorious glimpse of London. We danced and sang under the bridge like school boys.

today was super-fun (also painful). the day started in BBC Radio Essex. when we were done, we had two support cars in front and behind and Duncan and I ran every step together - literally pushing each other through. We had planned to run 24miles but Duncan was so excited to get to London that we stuck on a couple more to reach a full marathon.

the sun was out and our spirits were high. we knew this was the last big push. I struggled for the first hour or two but slowly the body started coming to terms with running again and found the groove.

the support cars with big banners and the radio interview meant that drivers were honking their horns and pedestrians were cheering as we went by. People took a double take when they realised the two guys had run from Amsterdam!

Lots have people have said we are crazy to be doing this. But running through the daily commute made us think; what's crazy is letting life slip past and not trying to make the world a better place!

marathon montage

payoff run

today, i cashed in my chips for getting through three really tough runs. For the last three days, I have run like Quasimodo - shoulders hunched and dragging my painful leg behind me.

today, i warmed up and the leg felt stronger. As I started to run, the most amazing thing happened - there was no pain! I kept my head down and got into a groove. For the first time on this adventure, I wasn't holding people up - this time, I was out in front and wanted to stay there!

Duncan on the other hand was entering a different place. Every step sent shooting pains up his legs. He made it in the end but was in bits. I held him at the end as the whole frame of his body heaved with pain. I looked at him and pure courage looked back!

the support from so many people has been humbling. yesterday, two of Duncan's friends drove 2 hours each way to give us a massage. Phil Lane is anohter hero. He has cycled behind me for most of the route from Amsterdam - encouraging me, pusing me on. Today, he inspired me with a story of a woman he knew in Brussels. She had been trafficked to Brussels and Phil said that today, she was likely to be raped 5 times by 'clients'. That made me angry! Phil told us to put our pain in perspective and get out there!

the day ended in a doctor's surgery. His advice; stop running! Not likely...

I learnt a lesson today; there is a reward when you don't give up when the pain starts.

www.justgiving.com/markdrowland

tear jerker

what a great night! duncs had got us an upgrade on the overnight ferry from Holland so we went delux class! the mini bar was free but we had to refrain from turning to heavy drinking at that juncture...

we decided to dedicate the day to a two year old girl, Babou. Her mother gave birth to her unaccompanied on the roof of a train station in Mumbai after the hospital turned her away. not able to make ends meet, Babou's mother was sold to a trafficker, aged just two. she hasnt been seen since. it was all the motivation we needed to run another 25 miles today.

As we set off, I felt emotion welling up - part empathy for the reasons we were running and part in apprehension for the run ahead. Nearly six hours later, the emotions burst out again - this time in pure relief. Duncs blubbed too - so i knew it wasn't just me going soft!!

no snow today but was harder in some ways on the concrete roads. the body was in open revolt: knees, achillies and calves led the attempted coup. i had to hold the line - obedience was a non-negotiable!!

tomorrow's run includes a six mile hill - so sure the revolutionary body parts will plot another uprising. more tears likely.

www.twitter.com/stopthetraffik
www.justgiving.com/markdrowland

running in ice blocks

you have to back to 1901 to find a december that was as cold as the one we ran in Holland today! duncan and i raunthrough snow for almost 5 hours and slipped and slidded our way to the Hook of Holland.

It was a mamouth experience! it started in such great pain as our legs started working after the 30miles of yesterday. Profanities spilled from my mouth as I tried to come to terms with running on a dodgy knee. i whinced with pain every time it bent - which isn't great when you have 20 miles to go. Duncan was dealing with his own private hell and we got through singing various hits from Simon and Garfunkel.

the snow started to fall and the wind blew. Icicles formed on our hats and scarves. but it was going to take more than a blizzard to stop us! I got passed by a cyclist who wanted to know where i was running. I told him. 10mins later he returned pushing 35euros in my pocket. Amazing!

Duncan had to go faster than my shuffling pace and I lost sight of him after about two hours. From there it was just about taking every half hour. i didn't think the end would come but the euphoria when i finally saw the ferry was incredible.

the day was finished with an all you can eat chinese and the most amazing armed military policeman who was a sports masseur! he spent half an hour giving duncan and i a massage in the ferry terminal. I didn't even realise that Angels carried guns!

message for cohen

cohen - i wanted to post a video so you could see us running but it won't load up. here is a pic of us instead.

when you run long distances, you get weak and you realise afresh the things you most value. and for me, its you!

hope you are doing ok

epic day 1

incredible first day - am sitting with both knees iced up after Duncan I ran 30miles from Amsterdam. It took us 6 hours of running in sub zero conditions. it was beautiful but FREEZING running along flat Dutch countryside.

We were joined by Dutch media to set us off which was great. Tried to make sense to the reporters but only really got as far as saying we run because small steps get us along way - and it will be the same in combatting trafficking!

A fool hardy band of three other runners who made it most of the way.

Tomorrow will be equally cold as we try to get another 20miles under our belt. My knee is protesting LOUDLY - we will see who wins the battle of wills!