Photo © WaterAid - Anna Morgan Photography
Yes Folks that day finally dawned. Yesterday was Thursday 22nd December 2011 when I turned 60 – and what a fantastic day it was. The start of my 60in60at60 Challenge and Marathon No.1 (only 59 to go). A huge thanks to everyone who ran with me and supported me during the day (too many to mention here but you know who you are) However, I have to name 5 who did the whole marathon with me – Steve Shuck, Michelle Carpenter, Helen Ryder, new member John Cole and Eugene (Winnie) Wingate who finished a few minutes after us after making a pit stop. All you guys and gals were incredible, encouraging me, pacing me, and sheltering me from the wind especially through Lilliput at about 20 miles when I really started to feel tired. To be honest I thought yesterday’s marathon was going to be relatively easy and I would finish well under 4 hours (how wrong I was) I think all the excitement, pressure, emotion and pure adrenalin just got to me and I felt physically drained after about 15 miles. Don’t get me wrong I loved every minute of it and wouldn’t have wanted it any other way, but I really needed you all out there with me so thanks again! Here are just some of the highlights of the day below…
1. The start of marathon No.1 – I think the picture says it all, enough said.
2. Those sexy Xmas girls – Heather, Kathy and Serena just kept popping up all over the place and kept this old codger’s spirits up.
3. Martin Yelling and little Ruby steaming past me after 5 miles – then his missus Liz and sister Hayley catching me up (well I had to slow down for them a bit) and running along the prom side by side chatting away for a few miles – thanks girls.
4. Eugene Wingate – breaking wind (let me rephrase that) sheltering me from the wind over Hengistbury Head, he’s as strong as an ox (and smelled like one too) cheers Winnie.
5. Debbie Dowsett and support crew – muled wine and mince pie stations, yes two of them at miles 3 and 11, warmed us all up.
6. Spectators on the prom – obviously had heard me on Fire Radio in the morning and had come out to see what it was all about and to take pictures.
7. The last 2 miles – the Littledown Harriers male and female choir taking turns in singing Happy Birthday to me, then all together for the last few hundred metres, don’t give up the day jobs guys.
8. The last 50 metres – hooking up with my beautiful wife Patsi and gorgeous Grandsons Henry and Thomas and crossing the line together.
I will cherish these and all the other memories for the rest of my life, In what other sport could I have experienced a day like yesterday? – I can’t think of any. It could only be the most basic and simplest sport of all, just one foot in front of the other – running! It gives us injuries and we suffer like hell, but the natural highs and emotions we get makes it all worth while – it really is the most beautiful sport of all.
Remember we could all be doing it again next year – I’m 61 on Saturday 22nd December 2012.
Happy Running, Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year
The Lights xxx
To check out all the info of my run at Garmin Connect just click on M1-Barry’s Birthday.
