Official race photo
The race was history. It was time to relax.
My sincere appreciation goes to two people who helped me achieve my goal of finishing in under 4 hours:
Amy Blithe, our team coach and Greg Wilson, my running mentor from QVC, each inspired and motivated me by sharing plenty of insight from their experience and running with me to push me to better results.
Thanks for all of your support!
Sightseeing in Dublin – our trip to Ireland and escapades in Dublin
Pasta Dinner – International Breakfast Run, J.I.M. pasta dinner
The Marathon – running commentary of race day
Celebration and Recovery – more photos, more Guinness!
Celebrate and Dance at Post-Race Party
Party time!
I was ready to sample some fish ‘n’ chips and took a long walk with Sue, Duncan and Scott to eventually end up eating a post-race meal just across from the Gresham at Flannigan’s. Later, we headed for the 7:30 JIM Celebration Party at Zanzibar, a 70’s disco featuring 8 costumed dancers and some good finger food. The Guinness tasted pretty fine also! I knew I was OK after dancing with Sue and feeling no worse for wear. But that shouldn’t have surprised me. After all, I was an athlete!
Savoring the Victory
Back at the hotel, I packed and got a good night’s sleep. Team Delaware was the first to arrive, and we’d be the first to depart. We met in the lobby at 7am, too early for breakfast. It was another gray, rainy day. Our bus driver Jerry was less animated then he had been several days earlier, but he got us to the airport early enough to use the last of our Euros to buy some breakfast. Once we got through customs, we had the pleasure of waiting at the crowded gate for over an hour, along with a host of other runners and tourists headed back to America. Since we were in the basement, we got a taste of how the immigrants felt below decks on the Titanic. [OK, just a teeny little taste, but we were packed in like sardines.]
Speaking of packed in, the movie on the flight was “K-19, The Widowmaker”, a submarine flick. Anyway, it helped pass the time. I stood up a couple times to make sure my legs were still operational after hours of sitting. Leaving the plane, I laughed to myself that I was walking like an old man. That’s because I was walking like an old man. We got out of JFK pretty quickly and were now in the home stretch of our amazing journey.
It was raining when we got back to Delaware. For the first time on the trip, I openned my umbrella as I hopped off the mini-bus. Some quick goodbyes and before I knew it, I was at home in front of my computer, looking up my results at the website…
From an email sent by Coach Amy following our return:
Hi gang,
I first want to congratulate everyone who completed the Dublin marathon. You guys are awesome!!! The results were as follows:
Jill Heathcock – 5:56:51
Meghan Maguire – 7:39:39
Patty DeNardo – 6:05:16
Andrew Edmonds – 5:59:23
Scot Larrimore – 4:37:31
Jane Stover – 4:52:23
Ray Christensen – 3:49:57
I hope you are all recovering well. Also thank you to Ray and Andrew who came to practice last wed. night in the cold and dark weather. Note they came to practice 2 days after completing the marathon still on the high!!! Both with their Dublin Finisher Shirts on!!!
[l. to r.] Meghan, Patty, Sue, Andrew at the disco . . . . . . . Disco Dancers
Dancers . . . . . . . Sue and Ray . . . . . . . Meghan and her mom
Sue on the stairs . . . . . . . Party on!!!
Sue hits the dance floor – – – – – – – – – – – –
Patty and Duncan waiting at Dublin Airport
Ray was presented with this beautiful trophy by the Distribution Management Team at QVC.
Andrew and Ray pose with Coach Amy Blithe at Delcastle, 2 days after the marathon.
A few weeks later, Amy would complete the Philadelphia Marathon in 3 hrs. 15 mins. to qualify for the 2003 Boston Marathon. Go Amy!
