It`ll be Alright in the Long Run``

 

Holroyd High well represented in 2007 City to Surf

 

On the 12th of August, 2 Holroyd students, Lamin and Ibrahim Fofanah, and 3 teachers, Ms Naidoo, Mr Masawan and Mr McBurney, competed in the City to Surf footrace.

 

About 60,000 people from Sydney, around Australia and the rest of the world entered the race. The race starts at Hyde Park in the city and finishes after 14 kilometres at Bondi Beach.

 

The race starts in different groups. The fastest runners start first and some people who want to walk to the beach start at the back.

 

This year the weather was beautiful, but it was very warm, so everyone had to drink a lot.

 

All 5 entrants from Holroyd High did very well in this year’s race. The fastest was Ibrahim Fofanah, who finished the race in about 63 minutes. Mr McBurney finished in 70 minutes, Lamin Fofanah in 86 minutes and Ms Naidoo in 99 minutes. All of them have qualified to run in one of the fast groups in 2008. Ms Naidoo`s and Mr Masawan`s inspiring reports follow.

 

Congratulations to all of the Holroyd long runners!

P. McBurney

Miss Naidoo back at school

 

 

 

Ibrahim Fofanah, Lamin Fofanah and Mr McBurney

showing off their medals after the race.

City2Surf

 

Training for the City2Surf demanded many sacrifices with early morning and late afternoon runs. The end result was satisfying, with me finishing in 99 minutes. Hooray!!!

 

The 14 km course was challenging in many parts – like HEARTBREAK HILL. At this point in the race (with me huffing and puffing up the hill) there came Ibrahim Fofanah speeding past me up the hill. “What was I doing in this race?” I thought. However this challenge can be rewarding on completion.

 

Running the 90km Ultra Human Race (The Comrades Marathon) in South Africa with 24 000 people was different to a 14km race with 64 000 people. My experience with endurance running has taken me through 7 City2Surfs not without much pain – but satisfying my passion for running.                                      

                                                                                      Ms L. Naidoo

City to Surf Experience

 

I consider the City to Surf (C2S) to be the most remarkable run on the planet. Although I always loved to run, it was the C2S that gave me the start to being a dedicated runner; I've now completed every C2S run since 2001 finishing with times between 100minutes and 120 minutes depending on the mood of reliable legs.

Under a gorgeous blue sky with the music, the water stops, the First Aiders, the volunteers, the offers of support from the bystanders, the transport, the weather, the jelly beans and then at the end when you finish the elated feeling of a worthwhile achievement is simply awesome. This event is a reinvention of how to enjoy a wonderful day and to feel "that the world and most of the people in it are ok!

Good thing is over 66,000 friends of mine feel the same way, now that’s a crowd.

 

Unfortunately to experience this joy you need to be in it. So get your joggers and get moving.

I must caution all would be runners that I am not pretending that 14km, about 9 miles, was a piece of cake for me. As the cliché goes: no pain, no gain. In preparation for the event I start training a few months before the race. The secret to finishing the event on a high note is to maintain a consistent training schedule; this is most important.

 

The finish of the race at Bondi Beach looked more like a massive party than the end of a serious sporting event. There were people everywhere and food stands like you wouldn’t believe. I know I enjoyed some much-earned, guilt-free calories.
Crossing the finish line gave me a deep sense of pride because I had both finished the race and taken part in a uniquely Sydney event.

The next C2S is August 2008 and if you decide on changing your life why not launch yourself into a beaming new future and create a new healthy leisure for yourself. You deserve life’s best “GO FOR IT.”

 

B Masawan