Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. I ran the New York Marathon on my 40th birthday!!!!!!!! I did this for an excellent cause the Spinal Injuries Association - please help me raise as much money as possible whilst making my 40th a day to remember for all the right reasons..........
I did it!!!!!!!!!!! in 5 hours and 17 minutes, not quite as fast as I would have liked but with all the various injuries I've had this year, I was really pleased just to be able to finish it, at one point before the big day I thought I wouldn't be able to line up on the start line.
It was the most amazing and emotional experience and I am ecstatic that I did it. From the start on the Verrazano bridge with ", " blaring out to the finish in with "Hungry like the Wolf" playing to the crowds, it was an unbelievable experience. The crowds were amazing, approximately 2 million people lined the streets to cheer, shout and wave their banners and they really do spur you on in moments of weakness and pain. My favourite sign held up by someone read "Pain is only temporary, the disappointment of not finishing lasts forever", that quote really spurred me on although my groin, knees, ankles and feet were all sore.
I got to the start line at 5.40am, in the dark, for a 10.20am start, so had long wait in the cold and rain, which did nothing for the nerves, but time passed quickly thanks to Shannon from and it was time to line up at the start. After running the first 2 miles in silence over the bridge I got to and the crowds started, along with the bands, the views and the fun. The first few miles were fairly uneventful and I just concentrated on taking it all in and enjoying it. I saw Kenny and my Dad at mile 11 for a quick hug and then I was on my way again. I never had any doubts that I wouldn't finish, quite simply I was enjoying it too much to even think about stopping. Although the Queensborough bridge at mile 15 was really hard as there are no people, other than runners, on the bridge and the sound of thousands of footsteps is quite strange. That all soon changed at mile 17 when I hit and a wall of sound, the crowds were 10 deep. When I passed runners who had no arms and no legs it was a very emotional time for me, and I felt that my pain must have been nothing compared to theirs.
On to and the rolling hills were tough and the miles seemed to take forever although as a fellow runner pointed out, "they're all the same length". Soon the 26 mile marker was in sight and I could see the finish line just beyond it and just blocked out everything to make it to the end. I crossed the finish line to get my medal placed round my neck and a huge sense of joy, achievement and elation.
Photos of my journey are available at www.brightroom.com/estf.asp?EVENTID=47685&PWD=&BIB=48936
Afterwards I went out to celebrate my birthday (with the medal round my neck) with Kenny, my Dad, Shannon and the CityIS crew (Kenny’s bosses and American colleagues) and finally fell into bed at 2am, having been awake for 22 hours.
I need to give a big thank you to Kenny, my Dad and the girls for supporting me through this amazing journey. I know I said I would only ever do one marathon but I think I have the bug and I can only promise that I will not be doing another marathon any time soon.
So please help them by supporting me with your donation for the Spinal Injuries Association, all money raised is going straight to the charity as I'm paying all my expenses for New York myself. If you'd rather not give through the website, please contact me, Kenny or my Dad and we will gladly take your pennies or pounds from you. We have paper sponsor forms so there is no excuse. No amount is too big or too small, every penny counts towards this great charity
So please dig deep and donate now.
Thanks once again
Claire x
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