Cactus Language Blog

New York Marathon raises £633 for the Suzanne Furstner Foundation

Posted by Sarah under Cactus TEFL, Language Courses New York, News

Friend of Cactus, Claire Dillon, runs the New York Marathon for the Suzanne Furstner Foundation

On 4th November 2007 Claire Dillon, a close friend of Cactus,  ran the New York marathon in a fantastic 5 hours and 17 mins, in support of the Suzanne Furstner Foundation. Suzanne was a much-loved friend and colleague at Cactus who we tragically lost in a road accident in Spain on 22nd May 2006. She was Head of Cactus TEFL and, outside work, a keen and talented runner herself.

Here are Claire’s reports before, and after, her marathon run…

Oct 2007 - Before the Marathon

In one month I will finally be running the New York marathon. It’s taken me two years, a slipped disc and a back operation to get here, and I have one month of pounding the pavement in all weathers before I attempt to challenge my boyfriend’s best time of 4 hours 20 seconds!

I hadn’t planned to do it for anyone other than myself…a burning need to run one marathon in my life and take the opportunity to do it in the amazing city that is New York…but last year a wonderful lady with my same passion for running and travelling was tragically killed while doing the things she loved…running and travelling.

Suze worked at Cactus Language in Brighton and in her memory they have created the Suzanne Furstner Foundation, which awards an annual scholarship of language lessons and travel each year. I know it’s not the traditional cause for fundraising, but it’s one that will make me finish every one of those 26 miles. One of Suze’s favourite memories was running in Central Park which is where the marathon finishes….I can’t wait to get there too.

January 2008 - After the Marathon

I can’t believe that two months have passed since I ran the marathon…

Thanks for the amazing support I received up to, during and after the race - from friends and family putting up with me having to miss social events because of training, to work having me tired on training days after seafront runs in the morning…to Daren who got the grumps from me and the tears when I hit the wall in one training session (when your body runs out of carbohydrate and relies solely on fat, which feels like running in mud with dizziness and disorientation - I think I rested on every doorstep from the seafront to my flat I was so tired!).

It was an amazing experience from start to finish. Daren dropped me off for the 7am Staten Island ferry, complete with bagel and tea, and I sat on the top deck outside watching the sun rise and Manhattan in the distance, then joined the 40,000 others at the start which was amazingly well organised with baggage trucks, energy drinks and the longest line of porta loos I’ve ever seen.

Paula Radcliffe set off at the start and crossed the bridge waving to the rest of us…it was amazing how you found running pals…I’d expected to find a carrot (a nice male bum) to follow, but for 14 miles it was like being in the Next sale, taking your life into your own hands every mile at the drinks stations.

The support from the crowds was brilliant…the noise never stopped…bands and music from front gardens in Brooklyn as people barbecued…loud, shouty stuff through the Bronx…and I really smiled when I got into Harlem and YMCA by the Village People was playing…despite being kn***ered of course I did the actions.

Daren, Mel and Kim were there to shout for me at miles 17 and 25…thanks guys - it meant so much that you were all there…then again at the end with Rich (MD of Cactus New York) and Peter to celebrate!

Tags:Cactus TEFL, Language Courses New York, marathon, New York, Rich Ambler, Suzanne Furstner Foundation