It all started with a job move from London to the South Coast in Hampshire.
New schools, new friends and new opportunities.
My son, James made friends with Tom at school whose family sailed. Sailing was something I had done briefly in my early 20’s enjoying a course at Salcombe. We were invited to join Tom’s family at Hill Head Sailing Club where we ‘crewed’ in a Pico in turn. James immediately loved the feeling of the wind and the waves and wanted to learn. So we joined the club and both learnt in 2010. If you can’t beat them, join them. James seemed to have a natural flair for the sport & it quickly became ‘have Topper will travel’.
I became more involved in the club and ‘right place, right time’ was offered a part-time job at Rooster.
With most of the Rooster team being sailors, fitness, diet and hydration were popular topics in the office and Parkrun was an opportunity to get fit. What better way to spend a Saturday morning (apart from being on the water) than running alongside it at Lee-on-the-Solent. My 5km time became static so I decided to take things back to basics and joined RunVerity, a local running club, to do the beginners course. My next Parkrun after my first beginners’ session..……3 minutes off my time! What’s not to like? My running developed and I enjoyed taking part in 10km, half marathons and the Great South Run with enormous support from RV.
Running a Marathon was something I never really thought I was capable of but IF I was to do just one, I would want it to be London. I entered my name into the 2019 ballot along with around 400,000 other people but was not selected. Oh well never mind.
During 2018, Rooster became involved with The 1851 Trust based in Portsmouth by providing some dinghy sailing kit to help children, who may not ordinarily have the opportunity to get on the water, to experience sailing. It was during an exchange of emails at Christmas, The 1851 Trust mentioned that, due to their Royal Patronage, they had London Marathon places available and was anyone at Rooster interested in running for the Trust to help raise funds for them.
2018 had been a difficult year in my personal life and my outlook on life changed and I had already decided I would take every opportunity offered to me in the future. So after consulting the club coach (did she think I was capable) and family members (did they think I was mad) I accepted a place!
I won’t pretend the training has been easy. It has been the longest 16 weeks of my life with long runs, short runs, good runs, bad runs, wet runs, cold runs, dark runs…….but would not be where I am now without the support of my family, friends and work colleagues. I’ve clocked up 325 training miles.
The London Marathon is now only days away. Am I ready, am I nervous, am I excited?….yes, yes and YES! Bring on the 26.2 mile final lap.
Check out Christine’s epic training and miles on STRAVA: https://www.strava.com/athletes/24450066
Donate to Christine’s cause: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ChristineRuss1
