I saw these two twice on the way round, With Mick in tears. Twice. I for my sins finished in 5 24 which was slow but had some serious nausea most of the way around (I had 5 dumps in that time). Any regulars on the UK race circuit across all distances will have seen & probably met & chatted to Mick and Phil. Hopefully Mick won't mind me putting his words out there for you to read. Sometimes when you think you’re strong and digging deep, someone else comes along and makes you realize just what being a real hero is all about….
Hi all, I'm Mick, DOB 1.6.58, I'm luckily a very healthy & fit man, i'm a highly experienced runner, i still consider myself to be a Serious Competative Athlete, though my days on my own are over, as far as i can see , never to return. luckily for me though, still emmensly physically and mentally strong... Young Phillip DOB 28.8.88, on the other hand, is a Chronically sick and disabled young man, suffering Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, and multiple problems, Including NO SPEECH, and doubly incontinent, he is completely dependant on Mum & DAD, though Mum's health is rapidly detioriating .... Mine and my wife's heart's and Souls died on us i'm afraid, when Phillip was diagnosed, never really recovered... We suffer mental health problems and deep depression to this day...Though Phillip is happy, as he know's no difference ... I've had many happy years running, albeit sporadically, as caring for Phillip has taken it's toll, Phillip's mobility is very poor, he has no self awareness, and has no co-ordination to self propell... So, Phillip's Mum, in early 2002 gave Dad an ultimatum, Take Phillip with you or pack in your running So, here we are, at present, 259 races, including 24 Full marathons , 154 HM's it's been so much fun sharing it all with Phillip has given me my life back, as much as possible, i really cannot find words to explain, what it has all done. my mental illness is not curable, but it is controlled by running, and you see, we are totally, completely obsessed with it all. All of you fellow runners make us laugh and happy, but the pain and anguish of nursing the SON, who i cherish and adore, sadly never eases Bless each and every one of you Mick n Phil Marathon Lads & So very proud of it !!Draycote Marathon Race Report:It just got worse and worse, completed lap two by around 1.57 ? - then set about lap 3 , i was beginning to feel in desperate agony, the pain seized my leg completely, i was hobbling along, at times little feeling in my whole leg,what do i do, - this was it, end of race, i considered withdrawing, as we were never far from the finish, i almost at one point took Phil's Number off him, i wobbled on, walking with a one legged limp, and then trying to jog, i stopped, i sulked, i carried on, this was time to refuel, we fed - then comes along Tracey G, , id already been giving myslef a bloddy good talking to, i examinded every pscyhological area of my stamina that i had, i knew i was desperate, i talked to tracey, i some how forgot my pain, i was approaching the end of lap 3 , though, hang on, i'm not ill, it's a super day, therre's only 2 to go, not 3 !!, it's so easy to call it a day ... NO, NO, NO - i'm not having it we completed lap 3 in about 3.20, if only i could make lap 4, i was in with a real chance, i walked, i jogged, i cried, i kept saying to my self, - come on Mick, this isn't us, were not here to show off, were not here to impress anyone, were not here as a team, were not here to win anything .. it's a super perfect day, we are here for us, i knew had i have been a novice, with or without phillip i stood absolutely NO chance, i had to dig deep into all my reserves - all my experience, all my skill, all my physical strength, all my mental satmina - there was to be NO submissions, no cowards, it was onwards, me and Tracey G, we plodded on, so to end of lap 4, it was 4.29 i could have just died there and then, i was in so much pain, I knew how much i wanted this marathon, etc, so, it was one lap to go , about 1 hour top go, i passed my car, i thought, NO, - onwards, my physcological strength and self belief ws paying dividends, i was happy, tearful .. NO regrets at all - it was onwards, just hobble, jogged and walked, up through the wooded area, oh the finish was smelling sweet, - i knew i had it, i 'd done it, against All the odds, i wasn't beaten after all , my leg was sore and paining from my calf up to my thigh we hit the long wall towrds the finish, i must have cried with emotional joy all the way, i spotted 25 miles, time did'nt matter, i was the champion, we were the masters, we Would NOT give in to pain, we would never surrender. we turned the corner to a 5.25 jubillant finish. i had no celebrtation left in me, only emotional tears - then Bless him, Roger Wilkes presented us with a gift, i don't know quite what he said exactly i was in pain, i was seventh heaven, i want to THANK all of you fellow Fetchies for everything. I've slept well, i 'm tired, i'm happy, it was a disasterour PW of 5.25, but it's made me strong. it has NOT depressed me or demorolised me , as a matter of fact it's done the opposite, it's left me feeling high.
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