Lets do a doubler! Mary-Clare's Blackmores Running Festival Sydney Marathon and Auckland Marathon page
Mary-Clare O'Boyle is raising money for The Brain Tumour Charity
In memory of Peggy Cuffe
Story
I have bit the bullet and decided to run Blackmores Running Festival Sydney Marathon. This September, I’m going to be sweating it out and doing my best to complete a gruelling course over the Harbour Bridge, around Sydney's CBD and finishing at the Opera House steps.
I started running just under two years ago and completed my first half marathon in Oct 2012. Since then I have completed three more ( last one June 8 2014). I am not a natural runner so when I signed up to my first half it was very daunting. Now i have signed up to a full marathon and I am doubly scared. in preparation I will be training heaps and running three races, one in the blue mountains, Sydney's City2Surf http://www.city2surf.com.au ( a 14 k race with a hill that is called Heartbreak Hill - the name says it all). However I will need to train hard to increase my distance from a half to a full marathon so this will not be an easy task.
If you had asked my just over two years ago would I have run a half marathon I would have said you were crazy. I had zero desire to run until I decided to raise money for a charity which is very important to me. Since then I have grown to love running but I am no natural thats for sure! I am particularly clumsy falling over many times whilst running. For years I said I would never do one and that all marathon runners are crazy!
So why run one?
I now love running and want to set myself a new challenge. I want to increase my speed at short distance and run longer distance. I also want to raise money for two important charites in UK and OZ.
In UK I will be raising money for The Brain Tumour Charity http://www.thebraintumourcharity.org via Just Giving http://www.justgiving.com/MaryClareOBoyle
The Brain Tumour Charity is the UK’s largest dedicated brain tumour charity, committed to fighting brain tumours on all fronts. We fund scientific and clinical research into brain tumours and offer support and information to those affected, whilst raising awareness and influencing policy.
Their aim is to improve understanding, diagnosis and treatment of brain tumours
Recently, a family member suffered for a year and half with a severe brain tumour that sadly took her life. I want to raise money to provide support for others in the same situation and to fund research into preventative care and cures.
In Australia I will be running for The Black Dog Institute http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au
The Black Dog Institute is a world leader in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder. Many people face depression in their lives and at times can take over their entire world. The Black Dog Institute also provides support to sufferers of eating disorders.
I will be raising money for The Black Dog Institute with my training group East Side Cew http://eastsidecrew.com.au in Bronte, Australia.
If possible I would be grateful if you could support my chosen UK or Australian charity, every penny matters so I am grateful for any donations, from a few pennies to many many pounds - are there any lottery winners out there?
Sydney Marathon is not like London Marathon, it doesn't attract record breaking crowds and the support is quite minimal, there are hardly any fancy dress costumes or Richard Branston to keep you amused. It can be quite hilly and there is a very high possibility of temperatures on the day to be between 25 and 30 degrees so I will find this tough. I will need all possible support on that day from my Aussies friends as most of my family and friends are in UK. It will be tough but worth it if I can raise some money for charity and improve my fitness.
Thank you for all your support - see you on the other side... (hopefully)
Thank you
Mary-Clare xxx
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity