It’s the final countdown - I fly across the Atlantic today and ‘New York, New York’ awaits as the Archie team gets ready to line up for the 41st New York Marathon.
There were only 120 runners for the first one and less than half of them finished. It did not become a huge event until the sixth year when the route was altered to go through all five boroughs - Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. By 1978 there were 9000 competitors and it has kept growing from then to the point where last year 45,350 took part and two million spectators lined the route. At least we won’t be lonely.
After some hard walking in recent weeks, this last week has been all about easy walking, not overdoing it and ensuring I don’t pick up an injury which prevents me from getting to that start line at the Verrazano Narrows Bridge in Staten Island.
My personal goal, as I’ve emphasised from day one, is to walk at least 13 miles and cross the Pulaski Bridge, leaving Brooklyn and entering Queens, which is the halfway mark, and thus trigger £10,000 of personal sponsorship for the Archie Appeal, towards giving Raigmore Hospital - and the Highlands - a state-of-the art-children’s ward and treatment facility. I’m very pleased to have received personal donations from as far apart as London and Caithness.
I certainly hope to get further than 13 miles, but that’s when the cash is guaranteed. Mind you, in last year’s event the Olympic gold medallist Hailie Gebresillassie only managed halfway before a knee problem ended his challenge.
The rest of the Archie Highland team will raise £3000 each so if we all meet our race targets then we’ll rake in £25,000, which would be a marvellous boost to the Appeal coffers. Readers can still donate online at http://www.justgiving.com/oneheckofahikeforArchie right up to Sunday morning.
Lifescan have given me a huge pack of Johnson and Johnson athlete aids for our team including blister plasters, foot gel and the like and that’s a nice gesture.
The American Scottish Society have asked us to join them on Saturday night and we will be trying to spread the Archie message with a view to attracting some dollars.
Saturday is all about a quiet reconnoitre of the route, do a bit of easy walking to relieve any muscle knots caused by the transatlantic trip, get over any jet lag and just relax and gather ourselves for the big day. Fluid intake and energy storage is so vital for such a challenge, as is carbohydrate loading.
Inverness restaurant owner Catriona Cameron, a great enthusiast for Archie, is walking with me while we have much fitter folk who are running including Neil Cameron, Catriona’s husband. There is also Tony Anderson, of Northern Constabulary, Valerie Matheson of the Breast Care Clinic, my PA Laura Mackintosh and Lorna Mackenzie, a nurse in Ward 11, Raigmore Hospital. On behalf of the Archie Appeal, I’m enormously grateful to them all for taking the time and trouble to prepare and take part. They’re special people.
During my training regime I’ve learned more about things like tendons, achilles and muscles I didn’t know I had. As I drag my portly frame along the route, I hope they all hold up. I’d hate to blow a gasket!
I’d love to get to the finish line at Central Park but I know that’s six miles further than I’ve ever walked before so I’m not counting any chickens. I’ll settle for reaching halfway, ensuring my sponsorship kicks in, and then see how many muscles are screaming as I try to move on from there.
The myriad of letters and emails I’ve received wishing me well has been quite humbling. I’ll do my best and we’ll see how far that takes me in the city that never sleeps.I reckon I’ll have no bother sleeping on Sunday night!
* To find out how much the appeal has raised so far and what else people are doing to raise money, buy today's Inverness Courier.
