Run paris

On Sunday 5th April I completed my first full marathon, running the 26 miles in Paris in just under 4hrs 30mins. 40,000 runners started off on the Champs-Élysées, pounding the streets of the French capital and taking in the many landmarks along the way. The French put on a great show, with bands, water showers and tonnes of fruit to keep us going. I declined the wine and cider that was being handed out after the 35km mark, but plenty around me didn't - you've got to love the French way of doing things!

People have been amazingly generous towards my fundraising effort, and I've so far managed to raise over £1,500 for our family charity - supplying funding for drugs at a health clinic for older people in southern Ethiopia. They've got the clinic built and the voluntary staff ready... now all they need is the drugs. If anyone wants to know more, please drop me an email to tom.burnett@specialistuk.com