I’ll be running my heart out at the NYC Marathon for Croí, Heart and Stroke Charity because those with heart issues can crush their goals too!
My story is similar to many other men in their mid 40s. Years of being a dad to young kids, career commitments, millions of miles in the car, not much time for anything else, resulted in an impressive middle-aged spread and slumping on the sofa after a hard day was about as active as things got.
My family and the people around me deserved more from me and I knew I had more to give. But where to find the energy? Things had to change. And so I embarked on a journey which led to losing 20kgs and gaining, what felt like, 20 years! First, it was 5km Parkruns which lead to races! 5k, 10k, 10 miles, Half Marathons! Each was a target to aim for and a summit to be conquered. Now comes the ultimate for me, the marathon. And not just any old marathon, but the world’s greatest, the New York City Marathon.
I am really grateful that I am fit and healthy enough to take on these challenges but I know there are many who are not. I mentioned earlier that my chief motivation in getting fit again was to have the energy to contribute more to others. That hasn’t changed. Croí (the Gaelic Irish word for heart) is a wonderful local Galway charity which provides invaluable practical support to those affected by heart disease and stroke, and to their families also.
Croí came to Mairead’s aid when her teenage son, Tomás, suffered post-surgery strokes. You can watch her story here:
I’m hoping that by running the NYC Marathon, powered by a healthy heart, I might be able to contribute to the care, support, recovery, and well-being of those who are not as fortunate.
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