Emotions run high as Sharon finishes marathon mission.CROSSING the finish line of the Barcelona Marathon was an emotional moment for Guisborough hairdresser Sharon Thornton.Not only did she manage to raise more than pounds 1,500 for a charity close to her heart, but she also smashed her personal best to come in the top 20 women. Her elation elation /ela·tion/ (e-la´shun) emotional excitement marked by acceleration of mental and bodily activity, with extreme joy and an overly optimistic attitude. over the 26.2 miles was also tinged with sadness as she remembered her friend Ruth Wallace, a charismatic model and mum-of-one, who died of breast cancer at the tender age of 32. The money raised will go to the charity foundation set up by Ruth's family to help cancer sufferers on Teesside. Sharon said: "It was a brilliant atmosphere and the whole weekend was really good. "Running a marathon is an emotional thing anyway and I had a mixture of emotions because I was thinking about Ruth." Sharon completed the race in three hours, 14 minutes and 52 seconds, coming 20th out of 919 women and 1,340th out of 8,000 total runners. The 35-year-old freelance hairdresser who had known Ruth since school said: "I got loads of texts wishing me luck, including messages from Jean, Ruth's mum. Sharon said: "I spoke to Jean about how much I had raised and she said she and the whole family were really, really happy." Sharon managed to raise around pounds 500 of her total through an amazing response from Gazette readers, including a very generous pounds 100 donated by Teesside Athletic FC. She said: "I was really chuffed with the response; I asked everyone, and people contacted me who I knew but who I hadn't seen in years." The self-confessed fitness fanatic has been pounding the pavement for over 12 years, and running seriously for five. She is now training to take part in the Nottingham Marathon The Nottingham 'Robin Hood' Marathon, is a race in Nottingham, England held every year since 1981. The race today incorporates a half-marathon, and a fun-run, in addition to the full marathon, whilst many businesses and charities take part in the popular "Hoofers Marathon Relay", in September and is also targeting London and New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of . She said: "Because I did Barcelona in under three hours 15 minutes I get automatic entry into the London Marathon The London Marathon is a road marathon that has been held each year in London since 1981, usually in April. In addition to being one of the top five international marathons run over the traditional distance of 42. which is sometimes quite hard to get into. "I will be setting off with the elite runners, although I don't think I'll be at the front of the pack." |
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