Locksmith Matt's 3rd Marathon

Matthew, From Locksmith Department, After The Race

London Marathon 2007

It was unseasonably hot - 24 degrees - on Sunday 22 April 2007.

While most of us were basking in the wonderful sunshine, Matthew Higgs from Christie Intruder Alarm’s Retail Shop decided to give it a go and run his third London Marathon.

It was his most difficult one yet. After months of gruelling training and with just ten weeks to go before the race, Matt damaged his knee and wasn’t able to train for seven weeks. He wasn’t even sure until the last moment whether to run or not.

Apart from his knee problems, he started to suffer from dehydration – light-headedness, cramp, muscle spasms, etc - seventeen miles in. He says he was “running all over the place” and it took him two days re-hydrate and a further week for the muscles to stop hurting.

What with his knee and the heat, it is not surprising that Matt took an hour longer than last year. But he still achieved a very respectable 5 hours 11 minutes, which is probably a great deal faster than most of us could manage, even without the injury! He said, “The reason I put myself through all the pain is in memory of my Nan who died of cancer a few years ago. My Nan would always do what she could to help others, so I thought I would do what I could for Cancer Research in her memory”. As you can see from the photo taken after the race, it was all worth it but he also said he thinks he will give the Marathon a rest now for the next year or two.

Colin Langdown, CIA’s General Manager, said “We are all very proud of Matt. Not many people have the discipline to train for months like he did, and many of those who do would have given up at the first sign of an injury. Matt is a committed and determined person, and these qualities helped him to carry on through the heat, the pain and the infamous 'wall’.

“He certainly earned his third medal. He has shown true strength of character that inspires us all, as well as raising £1500 over the years for his chosen charity”.

Although Matt didn’t pursue sponsorship this year because he wasn’t sure if he would be running, he nonetheless raised £450 for Cancer Research. If you would like to make a post-Marathon donation, please contact him on matth@ciaalarms.co.uk or on 023 9424 2449.