Jamie Dicks is enjoying a well-earned rest to recover from a manic week in which he won promotion after playing extra-time days on from running the London Marathon.
The midfielder, 30, committed to the gruelling 26.2 mile course around the capital before he knew his club Aveley were going to make the Isthmian Premier League play-offs. Running for the British Heart Foundation, there was no way he was going to call it off.
Dicks not only finished in a time of four hours 24 minutes, he then went on to feature for the full 120 minutes in the Millers’ semi-final clash with Canvey Island just 72 hours later, which they ultimately won on penalties.
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And if that didn’t beggar belief as is, he also worked night shifts in-between the feats, including one on the same day as the marathon. He completed a three-mile inspection walk as part of his role as a railway engineer for Network Rail.
All the hard work turned out to be worth it, as Aveley triumphed in the play-off final against Hornchurch on Monday (May 1) and will be playing in the National League South next season, the highest level in their 96-year history.
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(Image: Twitter/@AveleyFC)
Reflecting on the mammoth effort, Dicks told the Southend Echo: “It’s been a hell of a week for myself. I had the marathon on Sunday and I did everything I could to recover for the semi-final of the play-offs on Wednesday after that.
“I had sport massages and went to cryotherapy too so I spent a few quid to be ready. It certainly wasn’t exactly ideal going to extra-time but it is what it is and luckily enough we’ve done it now.
(Image: BBC Sport)
“It means the world and to finish it off like we have is unreal. It’s the icing on the cake of the week I’ve had.”
Should you wish to donate to or share Jamie’s fundraiser, you can do so by clicking here.
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