Over the Easter holidays eight teachers from Sevenoaks School took part in the 35th Paris Marathon on 10th April. The gruelling 26.2 miles through the streets of Paris was, however, just the tip of the iceberg after the long hard slog of training through the cold, dark winter months. Some of you may have seen us pounding the pavements of Sevenoaks with our head-torches and ever-so-fashionable fluorescent jackets.

The team on the day consisted of David Vaccaro and Christopher Cockerill (Maths), Philip de May (Classics), James Emmett (P.E.), Martin Dalibard (French), Alex Smith (Economics) and Sam and Jo Gladstone (Music and Biology). The original squad was much larger, but there was a time when it appeared as if the whole enterprise was jinxed as several teachers had to pull out due to injury; most spectacularly Rory Malone (History) broke his leg skiing and had to spend the next three months on crutches. Almost nobody escaped unscathed, and it has been a veritable boom-time for local physiotherapists and masseurs. Other teachers started to avoid us at lunch-time to avoid any more stories of thigh strains and shin-splints, dodgy knees and blisters.

All the preparations finally paid off, and we eventually made it to the start line under the shadows of the Arc de Triomphe. The rest of the route seemed to pack in every iconic sight of the French capital, and with an estimated million supporters out to cheer us on the adrenaline kept us going, even as our energy started to flag in the afternoon heat. Temperatures soared to 27°- the hottest April 10th in Paris since records began, and although this was glorious for the many Sevenoaks teachers, who had come to Paris to cheer us on, it was not what we were used to. How we longed for the cool drizzle of Knole Park!

In spite of the tough conditions, we all made it to the finish, and while not all of us could stomach the wine and cheese offered at the 40km marker, we all enjoyed the best meal in our entire lives in the evening, nursing blisters, and sore muscles but filled with a huge sense of satisfaction and pride.

Beyond the sense of achievement at completing a Marathon- we have also been delighted with the generosity of our sponsors, many of them from the school, who have helped us raise £4500 for Hospice in the Weald. We have been extremely grateful for all the support and encouragement we have received. For those who would still like to contribute to our fund-raising then it is not too late to visit our JustGiving page at http://www.justgiving.com/TeamSevenoaks.

One of the psychological tricks marathons play is the way in which the memories of discomfort and exhaustion soon fade. “Never again!” we all said as we sat on the Eurostar home, but ever so slowly discussions have started: London next year, or Amsterdam, or New York? Who knows what the future may bring?

David Vaccaro