Greg Billingham

2007 Flora London Marathon

Marathon starts Sunday 22nd April 2007

This site will be updated most days, keep coming back, I may have a few suprises.

That's me top right, I have not got a clue who the others are in the other photo, but they look like jolly nice people.

Charity starts at home then spreads throughout the world.

Slow motion Marathon run and a suprise protest

Hello and welcome to my Marathon homepage. This year I will be 'running' the entire London Marathon in slow motion. That's 10 hours a day for at least 8 days, with a finish time of 80+ hours or more, ( I may have to slow for the hills). I will finish about noon on Sunday 29th April.

Is it easy?

Try it, but be careful you don't fall over. In the style of a runner  each step takes about 5 seconds, then carry on for 10 hours. It is very demanding both physically and mentally, and people look at you in a rather funny way, but then they always have with me.

Why slow motion?

Why not, it's a challenge and I'm going to do it. If you need a reason how's this. If ever you become ill or injured mentally or physically, your life will slow down. That happens to thousands of people every year in Britain, millions throughout the world. So know how lucky you are, I do.

Why support Children with Leukaemia?

Well it appears I have no reason, I don't know anyone with Leukaemia. So that is my reason, why wait until something happens before you need to raise money to help a cause, just do it. Money raised helps research new and better treatments and in time these treatments go on to help children throughout the world, so the saying is true, Charity does start at home.

Oh, something else

When I arrive in London, I have nowhere to stay, eat, sleep etc.. so keep coming back to this site to see what happens, it will be updated daily.

and

While you are here feel free to donate and if you know someone famous, wealthy and generous send them here, infact email everyone you know and send them here. I need to raise money, after all I don't want to look stupid, do I.

Now the protest

I want to save all of you, the charities, business, even Her Majesty the Queen money. I am protesting at the high price of gas, which should have been reduced over 6 months ago. I am running at the speed the power companies move at to pass reductions to you. I am also protesting at OFGEM for being weak and slow to protect the consumer from artificially high gas prices. While in London I will complain to as many MP's as possible. I don't expect them to listen, so I need you all to complain as well.

And don't forget to donate, if you know any of the big league footballers, point them to this website.

Daily Blog

22/04/2007

Ok, I made it to London, and as I said I was going to sleep rough, but thanks to DOREEN and BRIAN they are putting me up for the week, now I am eating up all their food.

Had a sad start to the day as one of Brians fish died this morning, could not flush it down the loo as it was the size of a whale, so we dug a big hole, which was later dug up by a cat, or a tiger, it was big whatever it was.

Well the race started well. everyone shot off in the distance, even the cones went and I was nearly run over by a bus, so I moved onto the path. I was later overtaken by 101 year old Hilary, first time she has done that in years.

OK, my muscles ache, but I have to say that all the people I met were what I can only describe as the nicest ever, so I look forward to tomorrow, well not really, look forward to Sunday really, only 7 days to go.

23/04/07

Good news, no dead fish this morning, so a good start to the day.  I started with only a few aches and pains, which was also another good start, so it was looking like a perfect day. Had a call from Radio London for a quick interview, I must have said the right things, because a lot of people beeped their horns at me and cheered me on. I was nearly run over by an old lady in a wheelchair, she was doing at least 60mph as she shot past me. As for the rest of the day, it hurt a lot, a lot lot, but I got past the Cutty Sark and have now clocked up 20 hours so far.

Brian made a curry for me tonight so tomorrow should be very interesting. Thats it for now, must get some sleep, cheers for now

24 and 25/0/07

Two entries in one because I got back late on Tuesday. Ok a lot has happened, I ache a lot, but the cheers keep me going, BBC filmed me on Tuesday for the News, and a Japanese film cew asked me a load of questions, I could not understand a word so I nodded my head a lot and pointed at things, theys seemed impressed.

Did an inteview with a local paper while on the move and did not fall over, really impressed with that, did an interview with BBC Radio London, stumbled a bit but I don't think he noticed, phewww.

I am now past half way and at 14 miles, not bad for 40 hours, my best marathon ever.

Glad to report no dead fish or incidents with old ladies in high speed wheel things.

On Tower Bridge I had a million photos taken, can still see the flashes now.

Thats it for now, ready to flake out. Bye for now

26/04/07

Wow what a day, lots and lots of pain, a bit of rain, and I saw a train. I'm in an area called Isle of dogs, and saw a cat, so I don't know why it's called Isle of dogs. Plenty of cheering and horn blowing to keep me going, did 3 radio interviews during my run, one from Holland, And without tripping over at all.

Now I have just done a live interview on Austrailian radio, so Hollywood here I come, a block buster slow motion movie about a week long, imagine the popcorn you would eat to see that.

Tomorrow I hit Canary Wharf, the weather is going to get warmer and I am set to finish on Sunday at 12 noon, oh so much on my mind, good job I have plenty of time to think about it.

Oh yes just remembered, I signed my first autograph today, nearly forgot my name, but did a nice looking squiggle.

Thats it for now, cheers for now.

27/04/07

It was a chilly start today, but when I arrived at Canary Wharf, the support from the people was great. I really enjoyed the day, thanks to all of you for that, it made me feel really good. As for the money collected, a very big thanks to you all, 20 tonnes in all, well felt like it. I hope I made you all smile.

As for the news front, been on radio in New Zealand, Ireland and the planet Pluto, not bad eh, plus a lot of the London stations. Well I will finish on Sunday at 12:00 on the Mall, Doreen tells me her mate the Queen will be on the balcony to wave me on. Hope some of you can make it to the finish, would be nice to see some of you.

I just want to say once again, all you people in London are just great, I will of course be passing this on to the rest of the world. Thats it for now, cheers.

PS, Brian just ate a whole loaf a bread in about 2 minutes, wrapper and all.

PS again - Have not finished the race yet but the marathon people have presented me with my winners medal, now that must be a first.

28/04/07

What a hard day, I did 14 hours today so that I could make the finish line for 12 noon, my ankles are swelling, I have blisters on my feet and I am really tired, but still the people of London keep cheering me on, now that makes everything ok, so the day was also good.

I was also overtaken today by a beetle type bug.

29/04/07

Yipee, I can see the finish line, but it takes me an hour to get there, Lots of people to cheer me on, and as I make that slow motion leap for the line, I feel great, It was worth every second just to see all the smiles and to meet all you lovely people.

Many thanks for the online donations, don't worry if it looks low, there are a lot of payments in cash, and collections made in other parts of the country that are being collected in, looks like a lot so very pleased.

30/04/07

Ohhhhhhhh it feels good to have a long sleep..

02/05/07

I just found something out about slo-mo running for eight days, it makes your feet bigger. My feet will not fit in my shoes, so will have to wait a few days for them to shrink back to normal size.

Want to drop me a line -- gregsmiling@hotmail.com