The 2009 City to Surf was run and won yesterday even before i crossed the start line.Being a novice to the event i started with the final group.There are 4 or 5 starting groups and the majority of the cure our kids team were in the final group.I was reunited with a lot of people and even some nurses that looked after Kallan participated in the event.It was a wonderful event with so many people participating for so many different reasons.My experience of the event was a mixture of pleasure and pain.There were plenty of well wishes along the way some very amusing and others that wouldn't have made it past lunchtime before passing out.The pain part came towards the end of the race and has stayed with me since.My feet are killing me and i had some trouble earlier in the week and probably didn't give them enough time to get better.I can tell you that along the way Kal was very much in my thoughts and everything he had to endure.I thought the pain i was feeling was nothing in comparison to what Kal and other precious kids felt throughout their respective treatments.My highlight was when i was half way up heartbreak hill and ran past former Roosters,NSW and Australian back rower Luke Ricketson.I'm sure he was taking it pretty easy but that doesn't matter I'll claim it anyway.
A huge thanks must go to my support group coordinator(that's a title she and mum came up with)Peta.She got me to the places i needed to be on time and did the same for mum and the kids.She took me into the city on the Saturday to pick up my timing tag and bib for the big race.I bought a new pair of shoes while i was there as i left my shoes at home(purposely despite what Peta and mum will tell you) as my old ones were making my feet hurt.As if I'd leave my shoes behind for an event like that.Kallan ,Shaylie and mum have said they all want to participate in next years event and anyone who has ever thought of doing the same should most definitely do so.
3 comments:
WOW - what a day. I have never seen so many people in one place in all my life, it was amazing. All agreed that it was a wonderful day, even the weather was all that you could wish for.
I would also like to give a HUGE thanks to our "Support Group Co-ordinator". Peta was just fantastic and just a great hostess to Darren on Saturday and Sunday and Kal, Shaylie and myself on Sunday. Thank you so much Peta, we really do appreciate everything you did for us all.
I have to say how proud I was of Darren on Sunday and so were the kids, but I think you should be really proud of yourself. You certainly did it tough towards the end of the day, but just carried on - well done. Our aim was to be at the finish line to see you cross, but with so many people around and traffic the way it was, that did not happen. Needless to say we were still with you in spirit. You forgot to let people know that you came third in your section - hence the bronze medal!!!
It was great to catch up with some of the old families from Westmead, some who have finished their treatment and others still undergoing treatment, but all of them there for the same reason. Even the staff were represented by way of nurses and staff from Ronald McDonald House.
Once again Darren, well done, you make me very proud.
Love always
Carol / Mum
P.S. I must say that the news of the new shoes seemed to get around pretty fast.... We all know that you would not have left them behind on purpose, you would take just as much good care of them as you do with car keys. ha ha
You are a dead set champ dash!!
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