It’s easier to start with the why New York bit. I’d love to do the London Marathon but I am not in the good for age category so I would have to go in the ballot. Maybe now that I have done one marathon, a second marathon would be possible but I knew I was running out of time. In the last two years, my running speed has been going down steadily. Not dramatically, just a steady downward trend. So could I wait till I was the lucky one to get a place in the London ballot system? Yes, if that place was in 2020, probably not if it took me to 2025 to be the proud possessor of an entry into one of the most iconic Marathons in the world.
So where could I go? Instinctively I knew I had to aim for one of the big ones. I wanted to raise funds for a charity I helped found that helps separated parents stay in their children’s lives. Sadly, I suspect some of you reading will have experienced the tragedy of finding one day you are looking after your grandchild and the next, because your child’s relationship has broken up, you are not being allowed to even send a birthday present to your grandchild. It happens. It hurts. It damages the children emotionally and academically.
So I needed to capture people’s imagination and respect when I asked them to sponsor me, the name of the event had to resonate on their tongues … the New York Marathon … Wow!
And I discovered that if you are not American (different ball game if you are) when you try to register for the New York Marathon, if you are British, you automatically get transferred to Sports Tours International, a company based in Manchester. They take the strain out of everything, they organise your flight, your hotel, your entry (almost … you do have to fill in details and choose bag drop or not). Great company. I was very touched when one of the staff contacted me as soon as I had crossed the finish line to check I was OK.
Why a Marathon? Because I had never done one. Because it was a challenge. Because it would prove I could still do things … I don’t really know. I just wanted to do one.
Was it easy? That’s a silly question. Although actually the getting myself round the course was nowhere near as hard as running in February in the bitter east wind and the wild, whirling ice-laden rain that whipped me as I struggled to do a measly four miles. I cried that day as I ran. But I knew I had to keep training. I had to up the mileage gradually. It was nowhere near as bad as running doing my twelve miles along the Taff Trail in the heat of the summer. It didn’t matter whether I started early or late, I always ended up running in the heat of the day at some stage. It was my feet that got me. They were so hot. The paths were like red-hot coals and pushing yourself to keep going was so, so hard.
I discovered that my body simply wouldn’t let me do several sessions a week as I increased the distance. I nearly always managed Parkrun so there were nearly always two runs a week. I entered 10Ks, Treforest, Cardiff Bay, Magor, Swansea Bay.
I entered the Blade Runner race. Oh boy, that was an experience. Somehow or other I had the idea there would be a short uphill run and then I would be running on the flat from wind turbine to wind turbine. No. I would be running up a steady uphill for around a mile and a half, see a village ahead, think yes, I’m getting close to halfway and it will be downhill now only to enter the village, turn a corner and find an incredibly steep hill. Try it, you’ll see what I mean.
I did the Cardiff Summer series, 1 mile one month, 2 the next, 3 the next and 4 the final one and I got a medal for doing so. I came last in all but one of those races. I did the Bute Street One Mile. I did 2 of the Rose Inn 4 miles. I kept doing things.
The best was the Roman Run from Brecon to Merthyr. Literally just short of 16 miles it takes you up the Gap Road right beside Cribyn, with Penyfan to your right. Stunning scenery. Wonderful.
And in nearly all these events I made friends with the Tail Runner! Ah well. But they were all so supportive. It felt as if all the running community in South Wales wanted me to get round the New York Marathon. Incredible feeling of support and love from all the runners.
Did I have issues with my age? Of course I did. How can we not? Arthritis, issues with an almost non-existent pelvic floor… well it exists but there don’t seem to be any muscles there…talk about those another time.
But did I enjoy? In truth, it has been the most memorable year for many, many years. And yes, I’d do it again.
PS I made over £1000 for the charity Families Need Fathers Both Parents Matter Cymru
