Yesterday the Sydney Morning Herald Half Marathon was held, I was on the start line with all the other participants and what felt like hundreds of runners in orange running for Can Too and in particular my team from the South West.
Personally a touch of nostalgia for me as this was my first endurance event I ever participated in 10 years ago, back then not sure of what to expect. What I could not have foreseen on that day is how many endurance events I will then go on to complete or the fact that I would enjoy and love the sport so much that one day I would be coaching athletes for this same event.
Well the run was not about me. I have been inspired over the last 14weeks coaching my team as their enthusiasm and eagerness was infectious from the start and always present at every session. What makes the group special (and all Can Too groups) is that the majority of participants have never run a half marathon before, many of them were not even regular runners at the start, but more importantly each participant was driven on by a goal bigger than themselves in that they are all raising funds for Cancer research and this is their primary reason for being there. I think this is why the experience is all the more rewarding as the participants are firstly giving of themselves and the return satisfaction and fulfilment of completing the half marathon is all the more rewarding and personal
As I say the team is an inspiration to be apart of, everyone finished and ran strong the entire way around. Training for and running a half marathon is not an easy task and over the last 14 weeks we have been on highs and lows and persevered through the mental battle of endurance events, but with the support of the entire team everyone pulled through and is stronger for the experience. well done team, looking forward to the next round.
If you want to run in an event for Can Too please follow the link to Can Too
