Story
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<p style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px;"><span>The Challenge and Aftermath…</span></p>
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<p style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px;">I achieved the full 26.2 miles, plus a bit more mileage - including the additional 0.4 miles to start line for those in the Green Coral. Naturally, I beat my own personal best time… Although I may not have been as fast as the Kenyan runners, I was well ahead of the Ironman and Moonwalker!</p>
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<p style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px;">Once the challenge was completed… I did enjoy a nice glass or two of champagne. The last few miles was all about tasting the bubbles!</p>
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<p style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px;">Monday, I really struggled to put one foot in front of the other because my legs were so sore, and at times I felt winded because of soreness in my back. As a treat, I spent the afternoon in a Jacuzzi and enjoyed a full body massage. </p>
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<p style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px;">Looking at my feet and the enormous blisters on the inside of my big toes, I am not sure I will be wearing anything other than Havaianas!</p>
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<p style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px;"><span>A few thank yous…</span></p>
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<p style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px;">Thank you to all those great friends, who helped me in the months leading up to the Marathon. First, Jason Anderton and the Horsham (Young) Rotary[i] crew for some how getting me to say yes. I’d also like to thank:</p>
<p style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px;">· Chris Keeler for getting me on the right ‘running’ road last year – I’m sure keeping back with me was hard. </p>
<p style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px;">· Tracey Greening for general encouragement and helping me spend my money!</p>
<p style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px;">· Louise Edwards for the early morning sessions getting me marathon-fit. I am not sure I was your easiest client esp. with my not-so-great balance and ‘love’ of burpees.</p>
<p style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px;">· Sarah Dover-Mccarthy for great treatment and support, not forgetting the blue foam roller and new ornament for my lounge (nearly eaten by Flynn the puppy the day before the Marathon!)</p>
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<p style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px;">Thank you also to all those people who came down to Brighton on Sunday to cheer and hand out Jelly babies! It was great encouragement. Particular thanks to Mum who came over from France for the occasion, Graeme and Flynn! </p>
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<p style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px;">I have to say that on the day I would struggled without support from a great friend, who really did keep me going during miles 15-18 (despite the opportunity to ‘high-five’ the Queen). All I could see was a very long and seemingly endless road in front of me, made harder knowing that when we finally reached the end, we had to turn round and run back the same way! Thank you, Jo Brewster.</p>
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<p style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px;">And finally, thank you to everyone who showed support through sponsoring me. As much as I was running the Marathon for me and for Sussex Central YMCA[ii], I was also running for each of you and the faith you showed you had in me completing the 26.2 distance. </p>
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<p style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px;"><span>Sponsorship</span></p>
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<p style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px;">There is nothing more to be done, if you sponsored online via justgiving. </p>
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<p style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px;">For those of you who sponsored me personally (verbally or using paper sponsorship form), <strong>I would appreciate if you could let me have your sponsorship donations in the next few days</strong>. Please find attached a copy of my e-sponsorship form. Please let me know if “Gift Aid” can be applied to your donation.</p>
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<p style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px;">If we are unlikely to see each other in the next few days, please feel free to use the justgiving web link below or to send me a cheque. (Send me an email and I will send you my address).</p>
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<p style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px;">Any final donations to this great local charity, Sussex Central YMCA, supporting young people would be grateful received. Please visit: http://www.justgiving.com/CLARE-EBELEWICZ.</p>
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<p style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px;">Many thanks for you kind support.</p>
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