She's ready for a marathon effort
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Marlborough Express chief reporter Sonia O'Regan not only leads by example at work at the hub of a busy, newsroom, but she is about to embark on a physical challenge which would test anyone.
She has entered the New World Marlborough Marathon event, scheduled for December 4 and plans to run the full 42.2km course from the start/finish line in Market Place.
O'Regan does not profess to be a sportswoman. She has dabbled in social netball and touch and is an occasional walker up the Wither Hills.
O'Regan has already taken her first tentative steps toward getting fit for her December 4 mission, but admits she went too hard too soon a few weeks ago and will now pursue a more conservative, gradual approach to what is a mammoth physical and mental challenge, especially for a virtual novice.
Every three weeks leading up to the New World Marlborough marathon, O'Regan will write her personal blog, charting her progress towards race day and here's her first one.
***This is John Alexander's fault.
When the newsroom's resident radio star sports writer asked me in an email to write about training for a marathon, my fingers immediately positioned themselves over the N and O on my keyboard.
But something in my consciousness reminded me that I spend my working day asking other people to comment or share their story, or at least asking reporters to ask them, so it would be churlish to decline.
And I could always learn from an elder sister who, as an intern years ago, added four heaped teaspoons of instant coffee into the mug in the knowledge she would never be asked again to make coffee for the boss.
If these columns become insufferably boring, do know it is all part of my master plan.
But if I do continue with them, it will be another reason to put off pulling on the trainers.
"Arh, sorry can't train tonight, have to write some words for John," I could legitimately say.
Which would be a better excuse if I was not making it in my own brain to my own self.
"I can see straight through your excuses," the side of me that enjoys running up the Taylor River screams at the side of me that would rather pour a glass of sauvignon blanc and settle down in front of the fire with a good book.
This internal dialogue might seem odd, but I am sure fellow runners will understand.
Not that I am really in their club yet.
I ran a few half marathons in my early 20s when living in Nelson and socialising with multi-sporters, whose multi-day endeavours put my jogs in perspective.
My most glorious sporting moment came in 1998, when I won the Maitai Half Marathon. We ran without watches and winning was determined by how close you came to the time you had guessed you would finish in. It was not a speedy achievement.
I won a trophy of mounted boar's tusks and a pork roast. My flatmates were very impressed.
For a long time after that when people asked if I participated in any sports, I would say I ran.
One day after six years of living overseas and partaking mostly of more social, and less healthy pastimes, I realised that the statement was historic.
But I left the "run a marathon" on my mental do-before-30 list anyhow.
I was reminded I had missed that deadline some time ago when I read John's article about Pete Halligan and Duncan MacKenzie's plan to host a marathon in Marlborough in December.
What the heck, I thought. I will give it a go.
- The Marlborough Express
