“Out of this world” – Sharon completes 26-mile London Marathon for charity
A massive congratulations to Sharon Burrell from our housekeeping team for completing the London Marathon on Sunday 22nd April 2018. Sharon has worked in our hotel for two years and not only completed the Marathon, but raised money for charity in the process. We caught up with Sharon to find out all about it. Sharon, over to you…
Watching the TV on the Marathon last year, I was incredibly inspired and just thought how amazing all the runners are. I couldn’t ever imagine being able to do it and had run a few short races, with 10k being the longest distance. However, it was something I really wanted to do, so I applied. I wasn’t successful in the ballot, but applied for a place through Get Kids Going charity, and got accepted. The charity helps disabled children get the equipment they need so that they can take part in sports and have the same opportunities as able bodied children, so an amazing charity to run and raise money for. These children and young people are our future, and are our up-and-coming World and Paralympic Champions. I started seriously training for the marathon in January, following a 20 week beginners plan, running between four and five times a week, mainly on Gorleston seafront, and gradually increasing the miles until I could run 23 miles. I love having some ‘me time’ outside, enjoying the fresh air with my music. Training was very hard physically and emotionally, and trying to keep motivated during the winter months was hard, as nobody wants to go out running for hours on end in the cold, wind and rain, but I stuck to the plan!
Thankfully I have a supportive family, including my son Keiran who works on reception at Potters, who put up with me moaning and groaning about the aches and pains, getting up at 6am to fit in a run, or sleeping all afternoon after running for three to four hours. Then came the day of the Marathon and it went as well as could be expected in that heat! I had an absolutely amazing day, and the atmosphere and spectators were out of this world – I’ve never experienced anything like it in my life. I had a good run and finished in five hours, six minutes and 46 seconds. I am happy with my time considering I trained in freezing temperatures and ran in 24 degrees, which was the hottest London marathon on record. Would I do it again? Definitely.
Get Kids Going is a national charity giving disabled children and young people the opportunity of participating in sport, providing them with specially built sports’ wheelchairs so they can do athletics, marathons, tennis, skiing, rugby, sailing, basketball, archery and many more sports. It inspires disabled youngsters to compete in sporting events, from start to Paralympic level, by giving sports grants and support to all the budding Paralympians. A massive congratulations to Sharon for raising over £1,900 for Get Kids Going.
Also many congratulations to Glen Brooks, who teaches on our Ceroc break, who ran the London Marathon for St Guys and St Thomas Kidney Association. Glen completed the Marathon in six hours – an incredible feat considering he hadn’t even run a mile six months before completing this epic Marathon! Potters Friends Foundation donated £100 to both Sharon and Glen’s chosen charities.