I’ve wanted to run a marathon for at least the last 25 years. While I’ve run loads of other races, I’ve never made it to a marathon. It’s a dream that just won’t quite go away. And my joints aren’t getting any younger.

Something stops me from dipping my toe in the water. I know a marathon would really hurt, but then I’ve run plenty of other tough races that have hurt and I’ve lived to tell the tale. Somehow I hold marathons in a state of respectful awe. Something for other people braver than I.

Today though, I watched a few snippets of the London marathon – just to check how Victor Röthlin, the Swiss runner would do (11th – pretty impressive in my book!) and of course how the Brits would fare. I was thrilled to see Jo Pavey finish in 7th at the ripe old age of 37 or thereabouts in her first ever marathon.

What really struck me though, were the ordinary people. Running for charity mostly, in all shapes and sizes (and I really do mean all shapes and sizes), some dressed up (one couple as Prince William and Kate on their wedding day) and one even knitting as she went. And I felt so envious. Not that I would ever aspire to running any sort of spectacular time – the days for that are over – but just that they did it.

And it did make me think that if they can, why can’t I? I think I might send in some applications, just to test the water…London would be great, or Berlin, or probably best of all, New York. And if I got a start place, well then, I’d have to just go for it, wouldn’t I?

What do you think?

Helen

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 20th, 2011 at 8:00 am and is filed under Running. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.