Running for Rainbows

Red, the colour of the flags announcing the 2009 St George Melbourne Marathon,

Yellow, the mixed feelings of nervousness and excitement as I tie my laces and make my way to the start line,

Pink, the smile that hits your face as countdown begins, the horn goes and you start your race,

Green, the fresh legs at the beginning of the race after 10 weeks of training and a week of tapering,

Orange, the middle of the race when your body falls into a rhythm left, right, left right, left, right,

Purple, the feeling as you start to tire and you have to dig into your reserves and remember your charity and keep on running,

Blue, the tranquil relief and pride you feel as you cross the line a winner.

Hello everyone,

Thank you so much for sponsoring me to run for Rosie’s Rainbow. I really am so happy that I have been able o raise almost 500 for the charity. I ran the Marathon in a great time, 3hr53 which is a new personal best for me!

Doing a marathon is an awesome experience, the pride you feel before the race, and again as you cross the finish line, is incredible. The muscles you feel the next day aren’t quite as pleasant……. But a well deserved massage soon sorts that out.

I have been very lucky to recover well from the race and am almost back to normal.

Running for Rosie helped me in the harder sections of the race, a marathon is physically draining but it is the mental battle between the good angel and the red devil sitting on either shoulder one telling you your mad, cut corners, stop running and the other reminding you why you are doing this and inspiring you to carry on.

Thank you Carolyn and Rosie for helping me make this possible; I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience Running for Rainbows.

Running for Rainbows

Hi, my name is Jessica. I studied the arts at Redroofs Theatre School, and can say without doubt that it is a fantastic place filled with happiness, inspiration and laughter. The school is run by one family of thespians who care a great deal about helping others even in their own times of personal suffering, and I want to thank them.

Why have I decided to run for Rosie?

Well to be honest I didn’t decide, Rosie did. I went out for a run on a Beautiful if somewhat cold Winters day with the task of picking a charity to run the marathon for as I find it is a good way to encourage people to dig deep as well as fantastic motivation when you hit the dreaded ‘wall’.

Along the beach I ran with clear blue skies above, at about 6 miles I turned to run along the river trail and as I did so the skies ahead changed and a mass of dark clouds rolled in, the heavens opened, I was drenched within about 2 minutes but looking up to the sky it wasn’t the clouds that caught my eye, but the most amazingly strong and defined rainbow I have ever seen. My decision about which charity to run the marathon for was easy.

When I heard in 2003 about Rosie becoming ill and passing away I was struck by the unfairness of childhood disease. Rosie to me is best remembered dressed as a mouse for the pantomime Cinderella of which I performed with her in 2001/2 not only was Rosie a confident and happy child, she was also a little mischievous and I remember many a time standing in the wings with the ensemble, Rosie amongst us trying to make each other laugh as we went on stage. For Rosie to be gone is terrible, but for Carolyn and her family to have created this Fund in her honour, will be a testament to her memory and the strength of her family.

I will be running on October the 11^th 2009 so please look out for a rainbow,

Jessica Clifford