Hi folks,

Thanks to all of you for sending your inspirational stories to help me through the marathon this morning – I certainly needed them and they came in very handy.

As I expected it was my legs more than anything else that caused me some concern from the 25km mark. With my training having been interrupted due to the operation the last 17kms or so were always going to be a challenge. I did make it which is what I planned to do – even though my time wasn’t very flattering, but in all honesty I don’t do these runs because of the time.

Please know that during that period I thought of each of you and your stories.

• Carolyn who had spent two full days fasting and meditating a couple of weeks ago and also reminded me that there are many people in our world who walk further than I ran this morning every day, just to collect dirty water to drink
• Hazel who shared that she had dropped two dress sizes and had inspired who partner to start walking with her, even on wet mornings!
• Steve who ran the Melbourne Marathon last year with just 4 weeks training!
• Hong who climbed Mt Oberon at Wilson’s Promontory and opened up a whole new world of hiking and outdoor adventure for herself
• Cheryl who ran the 8km event this year at the Mother’s Day Classic and who has now inspired a number of her colleagues to run a 10km event in Brisbane in August this year
• Pamela who is currently in the USA and who vowed to walk 10kms around New York today to be kindred spirits in exercise
• Heidi who has started a walking and running program with a friend

I would also like to thank everyone else who sent messages of encouragement, including some coming through as text messages this morning just before we started the race. The messages were very helpful – I really do believe that they can ‘send energy’ because it takes energy for you to send them, and if everything really is connected, then the energy is available to be used. That’s my theory and I’m sticking to it!

I was lucky enough to run with Andrew and Sue O’Brien for just over half of the race. An article appeared in today’s (Sunday 30th May) Herald Sun (and associated newspapers) in the Body & Soul section about Andrew and Sue and Partnerunning – check it out if you get a chance.

So, once again thank for your inspiring stories and messages of support. I’m not sure that I would have gotten around the 42.2km course today without them.

Thank you.