A much gentler marathon .......................

This week the children from our school Derryquay National school started their journey on their first every marathon.  3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th class (18 children in total) will be completing a marathon over a number of weeks to help us raise much needed funds.  On Friday we headed off to Derrymore beach where we walked/jogged a total of 4 miles,  the determination of each and everyone of the children was absolutely superb and it was also great to see some of the Parents taking part.  Each week we will be covering some of the distance and at the end of 6 weeks we will have a total of 26.2 miles covered.

WEEK 1

This week was taken up with trying to find accommodation in Donegal for the quadrathon in August.  I am finding it extremely difficult so if anyone has any contacts or knows of where I could find accommodation around the Culdaff/Buncranna areas, please let me know.

A huge congratulations to Bernie, Tina and Anna who ran as a relay team with me in the Limerick Marathon who finished first in the Lakes of Killarney Marathon on Saturday.  Well done girls.

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On the countdown ...........

Three marathons out of 12 done so I feel lithe countdown to Dublin is truly underway and the collection of medals is getting larger but more importantly the contributions to Cancer Research continues to increase which makes the running that bit easier.

This week has been a relatively easy week with just recovery runs.  I had hoped to go for a long run today but looking out at the weather I am not one bit tempted to head out .......... Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

There has been lots of planning this week for various events that we will be holding over the next few months to help with our fundraising, again a huge thank you to everyone that has donated, our running total is now at €9485.80, not far now to the €10,000 mark which will be brilliant when we achieve it.

I have 3 weeks of relative rest now, which feels like a long time and then I have 3 marathons Cork, Waterford and Killarney within a busy 6 week period.

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Marathon number 3 completed .............toughest yet

Today was marathon number 3 in Limerick. First of all I would like to thank 4 very special people who without them I would have struggled to finish.  Thank you to Michelle, Bernie, Anna and Tina.

Yesterday I learned that a friend of ours is having health problems. This was like being struck by a bolt of lightening.  I was suddenly taken back to 12 months ago when Pat was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer.  The chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, feeding tubes, struggling to eat.....  I really questioned doing the marathon this morning.

I met the girls in Adare and we headed into the city. As we got out of the car, a very nice gentleman came up and asked which one of us was Brenda. He congratulated me and said that he was following my progress on Facebook. We met him afterwards and both him and his friend kindly made a donation.  Can't believe we never actually asked him his name,  this is so not like the girls......

Tina ran the first leg with me, Michelle the second (Michelle missed her bus to her changeover point and had to get a Garda escort, complete with blue flashing lights), Anna the third and Bernie the fourth.

Today was a struggle, not physically, my legs were absolutely fine, but mentally I struggled constantly wondering why, why do people have to suffer.  My family didn't let me down they were there all the way but no matter how much support, there was no smiles as I ran the 26.2 miles.

My challenge is to run 12 marathons in 8 months, this is exactly what I am going to do,  3 done and only 9 to go.  People keep telling me that I am brilliant for what I am doing, I fail to agree,  I have the easy part and all that involves is a 4 hour run every few weeks.

This is about fundraising for cancer research. It won't help Pat, hopefully it will help others.

Four weeks to marathon number 4 which is in Cork,  I am looking forward to heading to Cork for something other than a hospital appointment with Pat.  The start of this week will be relatively easy and then back into training............

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7 days to marathon number 3.

Roll on Limerick (my home marathon) as Pat and I are both from West Limerick, I know that I will have huge support on Sunday.  It will also be my first marathon having support for the 26.2 miles as Bernie, Tina, Michelle and Anna are running as a relay team.  I know I am guaranteed a great day out as each of the four girls love to run and talk ......... I am sure that there will be lots of laughter along the route.

This week was a very mixed week as I still had a chest infection, I wanted to get out running but unfortunately I had to do with walks on the beach.  I am finally back to normal and enjoyed a nice easy run on Saturday and again today.  A nice easy week of short runs to look forward to this week.

Our fundraising total has now reached an amazing 8,670.80e,  I would love to raise 9,000 by Sunday so lets wait in hope...........................

One of the sponsors of the Great Limerick Run are Brooks,  and I would like to thank them for the sponsor of free entry to the marathon and also a pair of Brooks runners.  

Sunday will be a nice early start but before that I have Laura (my God Daughters) 21st on Saturday night.  Guess I will be the first to leave but we will celebrate on Sunday.

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Overwhelmed by the support

People have been so supportive in every way since I started this challenge and we are so appreciative.  Our reaction to this week's gesture is one of amazement.

Gavin and Colin our two boys go to a two teacher school with 40 pupils.  The kids decided that they would like to do something for Brenda's Mercy Marathon Challenge.  Sean and Aoife who are in 6th class organised a readathon in the school and  Marie (Sean's Mom) sponsored prizes.  Yesterday I was informed that a grand total of €610 was collected by the kids. We are delighted and would like to thank all the kids, parents and teachers for all the help. 

For me this week has been an easy week from a running point of view but unfortunately I am fighting a chest infection.  I am trying to avoid antibiotics so if anyone has a magic cure all suggestions are welcome..........

Marathon number 3 in 2 weeks........miles and miles to go.....

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The hills of Connemara - marathon number 2 ...........................

We travelled to Galway yesterday for number collection, I think by the time we got there so had all 3,000 other participants.  Once I had collected the number we met up with Ger, Maureen, Ali and Cori who had travelled from Limerick to support me and we headed out to the cottage that we had booked for the night.

I didn't sleep very well and Pat insisted that I get the participants bus at 8am from Galway Cathedral so that I would be there on time.  A guy from Dublin sat beside me on the 1 hour journey to the start line, I was absolutely shocked when he told me that he worked in a medical device company that make devices for Consultants who treat people who have problems with their OESOPHAGUS, I think that he got a bigger shock when I told him about Pat.

We arrived at the start line,  1 hr 30 mins before the start, it was absolutely freezing and there was no shelter.  10.30 we started and for the first 6 miles for the first time ever I struggled, my music couldn't even keep me happy.  I decided I had 20 miles to go I could either be miserable or get on with it as I had to finish.  I put my headphones back on and the Riptide Movement 

 came on, now I was more determined than ever keep going.  

For anyone that doesn't know the story behind this song, when Pat started Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy last June this song was played for three weeks by Phil Cawley on Today FM, it became our song and we know that we can get through it ..................

I was guaranteed hills in Connemara and that is exactly what we got, there was no point in being elated when I got up one hill because as soon as I got down, I was up another one.  Mile 22 - 24 was a hill/climb/mountain.  At the bottom most runners around me started to walk and I was determined that I was going to run, walking was not an option.  I was glad to get to the top (ran all the way) and was delighted to see Pat, Gavin, Colin and Ger there to cheer me on.  2 miles to go and it looked downhill.  At mile 25 Maureen, Ali and Cori were there, 1 mile to go and guess what another hill........

I crossed the finish line absolutely delighted in what I would definitely describe as the toughest marathon that I have ever done. The next 10 can only get easier ........................

We got the bus back to Galway and I had a dip in the sea to cool my muscles before the long journey back to Kerry.

A huge thank you to my support crew who travelled to Connemara, this journey would be very difficult without you.

Even though today was tough, what I am doing is easy, Pat had the difficult journey and this journey is all about raising funds for Cancer Research.  All donations are hugely welcome. Donate here

For now I am off to bed to test out Eamonn's theory of wearing my skins to bed for recovery.

Tomorrow I have a short run, physio with Una on Wednesday and then straight back into training for Limerick on May 3rd.

One week to marathon number 2 in Connemara .....................................

This has been an easy week with regard to training but a difficult week with regard to injury.  My legs are absolutely perfect and ready for the next 26.2 miles in Connemara but I have developed tendinitis in my wrist as a result of the way that I hold my hands when I am running (which happens to be the correct way)................. My physio Una has informed me that it is the first time she has had a runner develop a wrist injury :-)  To say that it is frustrating is an understatement.

Fundraising is going well and we have reached the 7,000 euro mark, my hope for this week is that we raise 7,500 before Sunday.  Need to feel we are making progress with fundraising to keep myself motivated.

Today I ran a 4 mile road race organised by Bernie in Ballyheigue with Tina, Susan, Majella and Eileen.  Eileen is Majella and Susan's Mom and it was her second race this weekend, she would motivate anyone to get up and run.  It was a fabulous morning and a great way to start Easter Sunday, it is what running is all about, great friends to run with, great scenery and a good laugh from start to finish.  The girls are well ready for their relays in the Limerick and Cork marathon.  

Plenty of short runs this week to keep my legs fresh for Sunday and plenty of ice on my wrist to get it someway back to normal or else it is going to be a long 26.2 miles next Sunday.

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