Listen
to Jillian's story >>>
"I
managed about three steps and then I had to stop - everything
was hurting"
Jillian
is the News Editor for BBC Oxford 95.2FM. She ran the marathon
in aid of Macmillan Cancer Relief.
'I
chose this story because it was one of the toughest challenges I
have had to do in ages. I thought juggling three children, a husband,
a full time job and a house move was hard enough - so wanted some
light relief. I found it running 26 miles around New York".
__________________________________________________________
Sunday
the 7th Nov 2004. Race day.
The
three alarms go off at twenty past five although I wasn't really
asleep I was just too nervous. And after getting ready I get the
cab to the hotel where the other Macmillan runners are waiting.
I
am so not ready for this. I haven't even eaten breakfast
When
we get to Staten Island where the Marathon starts, the atmosphere
is great; the sun's out, the helicopters are overhead and hundreds
of excited people are all chomping at the bit to get started.
I
can't quite believe I'm here.
For
a few hours I become part of a community of people who all want
the same thing
The
crowds are fantastic- people hanging out of the buildings, lining
the route, screaming your name; they make you feel like an Olympic
Champion "Way to go Jill! Looking good Jill!"
I
know my husband Sim and our friend Ed will be at seven miles and
I spot them before they spot me. It's fantastic to see them. I
run over and they snap away, I smile broadly and I make sure I'm
running when I see them.
At
about eleven miles I catch the eye of a woman who looks likes
she's struggling and I'm sure she thinks the same thing about
me.
We
strike up a conversation. She's from Kansas City and within a
minute of talking she's assured me that we will both finish
Then
I looked in front of me and the road seemed to go one forever.
All I could see was road. Granted it was a lovely road but it
was long and at that point I thought I couldn't go on.
 |
| Go
Jill! |
So
we started making goals for ourselves - eighteen miles was the
next one. We had two stock phrases when it got so bad that you
couldn't speak. I would try to say "Every step is a step
closer to the end" and Lisa would reply - "It's all
about the medal."
When
we got to Harlem I started looking for Sim and Ed. They were holding
up huge signs saying "Go Jill!". By this stage we were
walking although Sim shot a little video and asked me to run.
I managed about three steps and then I had to stop - everything
was hurting.
Finally
we approached the top of Central park on Upper East-Side. We'd
always said when we got to this point we were home and dry. Well
that isn't exactly true - we still had three miles to go until
the end.
As
we walk into Central park I see a man with a medal around his
neck. I think about stealing it and running off, although of course
the fatal flaw in this plan is that I couldn't run if my life
depended on it.
Finally we turn a corner and I hear the P.A. The finish line must
be close and we said we'd run across it!
 |
| Jillian
with her medal |
Then
we can see it and we break into a jog.
I
finish in 6 hours 59 minutes and 46 seconds.
I
raise my hands aloft and scream "yes!" We did it!
I
phone Sim and as I speak to him the tears start coming. It's a
mixture of relief and amazement. I've got blisters and two of
my toe nails are coming off and every part of me hurts.
Next
to my wedding day and giving birth to my children it's the greatest
day of my life.
Bill
Heine's personal story >>>
Geraldine
Peer 's personal story >>
Danny
Cox 's personal story >>
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