Born To Run
Isabel Maciver is raising money for Spinal Injuries Scotland
Story
23rd April 2007
Well I made it! It was extremely hot and very tough. I had to dig deep to complete the course. People were dropping like flies all around me. The St Johns' Ambulance guys and a busy day and the first aid tents were packed with runners on drips and others being treated for a variety of injuries.
I didn't make my time and ran the course in 5hrs 30 mins. But I did cross the finish line with a smile on my face and I didn't collapse. The elation of rounding Buckingham Palace with the finish line in sight, finding a final burst of speed and crossing the finish line was a fantastic experience.
And the damage? One blister and one blackened toe nail. I was obviously born to run!
A huge thank you to everyone who supported me and sponsored me. It really did help as I pounded the miles.
Chaser MacIver
February 2007
Not totally sure how I got here but I do know I must be off my head. I’m in pain and I’m singularly responsible for it. I’m putting myself through agony - already five blackened toes and counting - to run the London marathon on 22nd April. That's 26 miles and 385 yards. But before the race there’s months of hard training. Running in the cold dark winter mornings and the dark rainy winter evenings, when most of you are running into pubs I’m running past them. It’s the world of toenail and weight loss versus miles and muscle gain.
I’ve got a great running partner – Lana our dalmatian. In fact she’s the reason I started running in the first place. Fuelled with my new found love of running I applied for a ballot place in the London Marathon. Why did I do it? Bravado? Not quite, nobody gets accepted first time do they? Well I did get accepted! What followed were moments of sheer joy, amazment I'd got a place….then reality hit me. I tried very hard not to panic. How can I do this? Aarrgghh I HAVE to run the marathon. For a moment squeezing myself into a barrel and going over Niagara Falls was an easier prospect than running 26 miles, not forgetting the 385 yards.
I run most days with Lana and weekly with Mornington Chasers running club. My sis was right - I was born to run!
I’m supporting a Scottish charity Spinal Injuries Scotland, SIS. My Big wee cuz Andy had a spinal injury 14 years ago and he helps run the charity. Apart from being a fantastic drinking buddy and Scotland’s answer to Oz Clark, he’s a dead ringer for David Walliams, and master of the wit and charm offensive! He is a wonderful, inspirational human being but it’s good to know that he can still be a grumpy old fart!
One of the core aims of SIS is to encourage people into an active and fulfilling a life as possible post spinal injury. Through their outreach work, peer support work bringing in positive role models to meet with newly injured patients and their relatives, SIS shows them that people can get on with their lives after the hugely damaging experience that they’ve had.
Society is very guilty of associating disability with inability and SIS works to dispel that.
I made a film for SIS and met so many inspirational and positive people including the SIS team, wheelchair marathon runner Kenny Herriot and ace GB squad wheelchair rugby player Michael Kerr. Spinal injury has changed their lives but it hasn’t stopped them or limited what they can do. Check out the film on www.sisonline.org.uk.
I hope to finish in 4hrs 30mins, but I’ll be happy to cross the finish line with a smile on my face and not collapse. Andy and Sharon have promised me a bottle of Bolly, although they’ve told me the bottle will be empty if I take longer….and I’ll have to walk back to the car…..
Okay, remember I said I was in pain? Surely that’s worth your doubloons/krugerands/fifty pound notes/lottery winnings? So let those moths fly free from your wallet and dig deep. I need your support and SIS deserves it.
Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Spinal Injuries Scotland will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.
Thanks to everyone who is supporting me.
Chaser MacIver
Well I made it! It was extremely hot and very tough. I had to dig deep to complete the course. People were dropping like flies all around me. The St Johns' Ambulance guys and a busy day and the first aid tents were packed with runners on drips and others being treated for a variety of injuries.
I didn't make my time and ran the course in 5hrs 30 mins. But I did cross the finish line with a smile on my face and I didn't collapse. The elation of rounding Buckingham Palace with the finish line in sight, finding a final burst of speed and crossing the finish line was a fantastic experience.
And the damage? One blister and one blackened toe nail. I was obviously born to run!
A huge thank you to everyone who supported me and sponsored me. It really did help as I pounded the miles.
Chaser MacIver
February 2007
Not totally sure how I got here but I do know I must be off my head. I’m in pain and I’m singularly responsible for it. I’m putting myself through agony - already five blackened toes and counting - to run the London marathon on 22nd April. That's 26 miles and 385 yards. But before the race there’s months of hard training. Running in the cold dark winter mornings and the dark rainy winter evenings, when most of you are running into pubs I’m running past them. It’s the world of toenail and weight loss versus miles and muscle gain.
I’ve got a great running partner – Lana our dalmatian. In fact she’s the reason I started running in the first place. Fuelled with my new found love of running I applied for a ballot place in the London Marathon. Why did I do it? Bravado? Not quite, nobody gets accepted first time do they? Well I did get accepted! What followed were moments of sheer joy, amazment I'd got a place….then reality hit me. I tried very hard not to panic. How can I do this? Aarrgghh I HAVE to run the marathon. For a moment squeezing myself into a barrel and going over Niagara Falls was an easier prospect than running 26 miles, not forgetting the 385 yards.
I run most days with Lana and weekly with Mornington Chasers running club. My sis was right - I was born to run!
I’m supporting a Scottish charity Spinal Injuries Scotland, SIS. My Big wee cuz Andy had a spinal injury 14 years ago and he helps run the charity. Apart from being a fantastic drinking buddy and Scotland’s answer to Oz Clark, he’s a dead ringer for David Walliams, and master of the wit and charm offensive! He is a wonderful, inspirational human being but it’s good to know that he can still be a grumpy old fart!
One of the core aims of SIS is to encourage people into an active and fulfilling a life as possible post spinal injury. Through their outreach work, peer support work bringing in positive role models to meet with newly injured patients and their relatives, SIS shows them that people can get on with their lives after the hugely damaging experience that they’ve had.
Society is very guilty of associating disability with inability and SIS works to dispel that.
I made a film for SIS and met so many inspirational and positive people including the SIS team, wheelchair marathon runner Kenny Herriot and ace GB squad wheelchair rugby player Michael Kerr. Spinal injury has changed their lives but it hasn’t stopped them or limited what they can do. Check out the film on www.sisonline.org.uk.
I hope to finish in 4hrs 30mins, but I’ll be happy to cross the finish line with a smile on my face and not collapse. Andy and Sharon have promised me a bottle of Bolly, although they’ve told me the bottle will be empty if I take longer….and I’ll have to walk back to the car…..
Okay, remember I said I was in pain? Surely that’s worth your doubloons/krugerands/fifty pound notes/lottery winnings? So let those moths fly free from your wallet and dig deep. I need your support and SIS deserves it.
Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Spinal Injuries Scotland will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.
Thanks to everyone who is supporting me.
Chaser MacIver