Guest Post: Was it just me ...by Pat Walsh

 * Was it just me *

Taking time to reflect properly on last weekends Cork Marathon I was struck by the friendliness and warmth of the occasion. Us runners are super anyway and good to encourage each other but last Sunday through the 3 events, Full, Half, 10K there was a little extra this year.

I think the energy, sense of celebration, acknowledgement of grief that the family and friends of Ellen Cassidy brought to the day just lifted each and every person there.

Greetings were more open, smiles were larger, encouragement was everywhere. I honestly lost count of the number of people who said some version of ‘ we should be grateful to be able to take part today ’.

Fair play to the organisers who went out of their way to accommodate the family and while the loss of a loved one can never be overcome, then hopefully last Sunday will provide some solace to them for the future. To Eamon Hayes and those in charge of Cork City Marathon I wish to say very well done.

There was some fantastic and quality running at the business end of the field and the local runners Ryan Creech 1.04.51 in the half and Niamh Allen 32.14 in the 10k would feature in any quality race anywhere.

As I watched at the finish, there were many who walked over the line at the end. They cheered, they celebrated, they finished the quest that they started. Where running was once an elite sport, it is now a mass participation event for people of all ages and fitness levels and that is to be applauded. 

I walked last year myself when I was recovering from injury and I like to think I took part the same as everyone else.

The crowds out supporting, the kids with jellies and water, the housing estate that turned it into a sea of yellow, Ellen’s friends in their yellow vests with tears of joy, the cheers on the new finish line on the Grand Parade. 

Was it just me the eternal optimist who felt it or did anyone else feel  that we witnessed and participated in a very unique occasion?

Does it take some tragic event to lift us or should we strive to make every day, every run, every event be a celebration of life and our good fortune to be able to take part. It doesn't take much to be nice, to say thanks, to be supportive.

Not everyone is so lucky. Make every day special. Have a lovely weekend and thanks for supporting my ramblings.

“Faeries, come take me out of this dull world,
For I would ride with you upon the wind,
Run on the top of the dishevelled tide,
And dance upon the mountains like a flame.” …Yeats.

#pwr #BeNice