Impressions from the Great South Run 

The Great South Run is a flat ten mile run through the picturesque town of Portsmouth. The run is not too tough, providing the weather stays good, but in 2006 this was not the case. The weather was wet and windy and runners were blown along the seafront.

This was a real challenge, but personal reasons for running kept our runners going, and all eight of them completed it successfully. Hear how they managed it in their own words.

 

Quotes from the Great South Run 2006


Through the eyes of Helen Pierpoint:

On the 7th January 1999 my son James died of SIDS aged 11 weeks six days. I wanted to run in memory of him and raise money for FSID.

It was fantastic to run with so many different people, many running for charity. We parked the car and I assembled in the orange wave wearing a black bin liner. I had my name on my yellow FSID vest and many spectators shouted “come on Helen”, which really kept me going.

At 6 miles I caught sight of three pink raincoats and realised they belonged to my three little girls standing in the pouring rain with my husband. The last two miles of the run were definitely the hardest as it was along the seafront where there were fewer spectators and the wind and rain was unrelenting.

It was fantastic to get nearer and nearer the finish and finally cross the line, knowing I could now stop running as I had completed the course. All the training had been worthwhile and I had raised money for FSID.



Through the eyes of Judith McKelvey, who ran with Joanne Wilson:

The fundraising was surprisingly easy: friends and family were so generous and our website (justgiving) made it hassle free.

Mile four was the hardest point because a lady tapped me on the shoulder and started talking about the charity. She said that her 11 week old daughter had died 18 years ago and that was all I needed to set me off: Jack had died two years ago that Sunday and I couldn't contain it all any more. Breathing through the tears was tough and I started to hyper-ventilate. Luckily Joanne was a fantastic support and we managed to get my regular breathing back without having to stop. If we had stopped it would have been all over.

The subsequent miles were much better as I found the extra determination I needed. We were faced with torrential wind and rain around the eight mile mark as the course opened out onto the sea front, but by then nothing could stop us!

I think I was smiling at the end this time, rather than my usual tears. Joanne and I crossed arm in arm in 1hr 36mins - a record for both of us.

To Joanne, I want to say this: "A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart, and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words."

 

 

 

 

 

 

FSID would like to say thank you to all those who took part in the Great South Run 2006.

Interested in running for FSID in the future? Click here to find out what we have on offer.

 

 

 

 

More Fundraising stories »