MARATHON EXPERIENCE

 

A lovely city, friendly folk; now to achieve our aim.

A little problem then occurred - had no-one mentioned pain?

We trotted on 'neath Irish sun - the first half wasn't bad.

Who came up with this idea? I must have been quite mad.

 

Some sirened off by ambulance, some groaning on the ground.

We were okay, a steady pace, just trying to get round.

Overtaking Superman should have been a thrill,

But Dublin's not completely flat, he'd slowed down up a hill.

 

With names upon our t-shirts to spur the watching crowd

We were cheered on, and how it helped to hear them called out loud.

"Come on Rick! and - can't read it, you as well!" they said.

Others fancied Rick in pink, enjoyed his blushes red.

 

Run two miles, a minute's walk, that had been the plan.

Mile seventeen, and muscles tight; then the slog began.

Five hours something we had hoped, but with our goal adjusted,

Less than six would do we said, still as keen as mustard *

                                                                                                         (*not that keen, really, but it rhymes ...)

 

Like the little mermaid, although she had no voice;

Each step on knives, mile twenty on, because we had no choice.

No option but to do it, almost two thousand raised,

Couldn't go home if we failed, couldn't show our face.

 

Hand in hand, with "Aaaw"s from watchers, hanky to my tears,

We stumbled on. "Let's run this bit!" Rick whispered in my ear.

 "Just up here, see that line? We're almost at the finish!"

With t-shirts, medals, photographs (- and don't forget the Guinnesh.)

 

So did we do the Marathon?  Did we get to the end?

You bet your sponsor cash we did, thanks to you, our friends.

With encouragement from daughter Beth and the family Gunn

Placed nine thousandth plus we were - and we felt like we'd won.

 

(5 hours 51 minutes)

 

 

THE FIRST MARATHON POME WOT I ROTE (and updated, though not fit to quote)

 

Ironic - my first ever run was a Race for Life 5k

C got my mum and grandma; then it came to me one day.

A christmas diagnosis and a January scar

led to a year of paint-on brows and scarves in place of hair.

 

I ran some more, 10k, 10 miles, it made my husband happy;

I hated it, I got quite cross and really rather snappy.

Stockport Harriers were too fast, but Maureen kindly said,

"You can do it, just don't stop", which echoes in my head.

 

You'll see me grimly training, in my bright pink jigsaw vest.

So if I do this horrid task, would you please do the rest?

Many women are affected - now my riding pal;

I'm doing this for all of us, including you, too, Val.

 

Dublin, I'll look forward to; running miles, I'll not;

Give me motivation as on and on I trot!

I need support, by which I don't mean just a sturdy bra,

(though boobs, one bouncy and one not, need that when running far).

 

It's a funny thing to want, "to have done a marathon":-

please sponsor me to reach this goal:- it'll be the only one.

I've set a silly target, but will never ask again.

Let's all raise lots of money for the Breast Cancer Campaign.

 

P.S: - we've reached a thousand!  But so that you don't stop

donating money for this cause - there's £500 on top.

Can we make fifteen hundred?  Thanks for the grand already

and like the tortoise in the tale, we'll get round slow and steady.

 

PPS:- look how much we've got!  Dare I ask for more?

If I set the target higher, will we see donations soar?

We're nearly at the dreaded date, on our way to Dublin

And the greatest thing is this, how kind you all have bin.

 

 

 

 

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Breast Cancer Campaign gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.