Only a few short years ago, to many, the thoughts of running around Belfast did not conjure up athletes in vests and shorts, but more harked back to the days of balaclavas, cars hijacked and set on fire, with the running being done by frightened citizens as Army Land Rovers raced from one violent outbreak to another, usually chased by youths practicing their field sports, such as rock throwing.
At least that is how the media portrayed it.
The truth of the matter was always different. The communities within the city went about their business, the vast majority law-abiding with desire in their hearts to have the same leisure pursuits as their counterparts in London or Dublin, New York or Sydney. And they did.....
It may suprise those from outside this island, that this year sees the 25th Running of the Belfast Marathon next Monday, and for the first time, I shall be lining up as the Gun goes off. It's not the first time I've entered it, but for one reason or another, it will be my first time running. The course has changed a lot since those early days, and the numbers running have increased dramatically as well. I'm looking forward to this race.......
Looking forward to the crowds on the streets cheering runners on, simply becasue they are runners. In a pair of shorts and a running vest there is no discrimination, there is simply graft from the runners, an admiration from the spectators, maybe questions of sanity in us running 26 miles, and maybe, just maybe, someone in the crowd will think about running the race themselves next year.
Belfast has come a long way in the last 25 years. Here's to the next 25, and who knows what the City will be like by then..... I hope I'm still running around to see it........
5 comments:
Well ... there WAS a live bomb on the course last year that could have killed a dozen people if it had gone off. (Not that I mean to scare you - LOL)
Thanks pal - And there's me trying to paint a nicer picture after all the troubles :).
As to that bomb last year, it wasn't heped when the Chief of Police announced on TV that he was going to be running the Race - without an armed escort or anything - Red Rag to a Bull springs top mind.....
Best of luck in the Belfast Marathon next week! I will eagerly await your race report. :) And yes - it is nice to finally be able to run again without sleeves.
I always tell people--the media doesn't have a political bias, it's biased toward the sensational. Good news just isn't news.
Good luck on Monday!
Liam the lure of the marathon for sure. Out of all the distances I run the marathon is the most fullfilling. Goodluck and remember whatever you do have fun doing it.
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