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St Mary's Church Hitchin |
Contact us:
Church House, Churchyard, Hitchin Hertfordshire SG5 1HP
Tel: 01462 452758 Email: stmaryhitchin@yahoo.co.uk |
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News and Views Archive 2007
CHRISTMAS ATTENDANCES
First St Mary's girl chorister joins SCS
HY
Run for Home Do you have any idea how far 26.2 miles is ? Really ? Fancy walking it ? No ? How about running it ? You’d have to be mad wouldn’t you ? Well, meet the winner of these year’s Mr Mad competition because that is precisely what I intend to do on April 22nd. Yes, after several years of trying - I know, completely insane ! – I was finally successful in acquiring a place through the London Marathon ballot procedure. This is where 150,000 like minded lunatics apply for the “honour” of being one of the 30,000 competitors. When the notification of acceptance arrived in early December of last year I was shocked, briefly elated, and permanently terrified. I feel as if I have been walking on thin ice ever since, just waiting for the cracks to appear… In my defence, I am not a complete novice. I began running nearly three years ago after an ankle injury saw me put on weight at a rate that would alarm a turkey in the build up to Christmas. I began on a treadmill in the local gym but found this mind-numbingly boring. Then a friend suggested that, living in the country, I ought to take advantage of the lovely lanes and footpaths for my running. I haven’t looked back. As a great man once said, the longest journeys begin with the first step. Initially, I could run non-stop for about 10 minutes. So then I walked, recovered, and ran again. Gradually, I was able to run longer between walking. And then, excitingly, the walk breaks began to go. Soon I could run 45 minutes non-stop. Time to enter my first race. I ran the Standalone 10k in Letchworth in October 2004 in 55 minutes. Felt great/elated/knackered all at the same time. But the event itself spurred me on – it is hard to describe what it is like to set off with 1,000 other runners but it is tremendously exciting and inspiring. And here is a strange thing – not only did I not win the race (not even close), but I didn’t even mind. You see, in running, the only person you ever compete against is yourself. You set your own targets and get great satisfaction in beating them. In that sense then, everyone who finishes a race is a winner.
I have run Standalone three times now and I have
completed five 10 mile races and six half marathons (do you have any idea
how far 13.1 miles is ? Really ?) I love the race day atmosphere. The
pre-race nerves. The post-race highs – yes, running really does give you a
high. The camaraderie. The finishers’ t-shirts. And so on to my holy grail of running – time to do a marathon. I genuinely believed that I was ready for the challenge and that I hadn’t under-estimated what it would take. But let me tell you that ten weeks into a sixteen week training program I am full of admiration for anyone who has gone through this before. The commitment is almost overwhelming. I run 4 times a week. I am up to 40 miles a week. And my long run on a Sunday is up to 20 miles (do you have any idea how far 20 miles is ?). This means 4 to 5 hours a week devoted to running with all the impact on social and family life that it suggests. You need the support of family and friends. And of other runners, which is why I joined the North Herts Road Runners at Letchworth (meeting Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7.15pm at Letchworth Corner Sports Club, plug plug). It is great to run in numbers and eases the loneliness of training. The coaches and runners who have completed marathons are great sources of wisdom and advice. Still, we all need a hobby and at least it keeps me off the streets……oh no, wait a minute…… I decided that if I was going to put myself to this challenge then I should at least try to raise some sponsorship money for a worthy cause along the way. I have chosen the North Herts Sanctuary in Hitchin, a homeless shelter helping those living on the streets to have somewhere to sleep, eat, and clean up, as well as helping with drug and alcohol dependency. They do great, unheralded work but are desperately short of cash. If you can sponsor me in the London Marathon then we can help ease their financial burden a little and help them continue their essential work. You will find a sponsorship form at the back of St Mary’s church or you can donate on line at their website : www.northhertssancuary.org.uk Sadly, I currently even dream about running – this doesn’t count as training by the way. I know, I asked my coach ! I have even dream-run the marathon – I didn’t win which is a bit stupid as it was my dream after all. I have remained focused (the wife says obsessed) but I have to admit, I will be glad when it is all over. I think I know how I will feel when I finish. When I line up at the start in Blackheath in April, I will have run more than 500 miles in training and been through two pairs of running shoes. But I will line up knowing that I have given myself an excellent chance of not only finishing but doing my target time – in other words, I can win my marathon race ! I have now collected all of my sponsorship monies and I am delighted to tell you that the North Herts Sanctuary has received just over £3000 as a result of specific marathon pledges. Gift Aid will take this total even higher. Again many thanks to all of you for your great support. David Duggan
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It
was a very proud occasion for Jasmine on Saturday 27th January when she
sung as part of the Southern Cathedral Singers at Norwich Cathedral.
Jasmine is the first from St Mary's girls' choir to join SCS and she hopes
that others will want to join too. Jasmine sung the Smith Responses,
Canticles in G by Howells, O nata lux by Tallis at the Candlemas
Evensong in Norwich along with Helen, William, Alastair, Ed & Peter and
Lizzie & Chloe from St Faith's choir, and new friends made at the SCS
training day held earlier in the month. Jasmine said "I felt so special
singing in a Cathedral and with everyone being so friendly it was a really
enjoyable day". 
The
figure for this year’s Christian Aid collection was £12,666. Of this £5,062
was gift aided. The figure for 2006 was £13,755.97. It was down this year
due to some areas not having collectors, or organisers in Holwell, Pirton
and Ickleford. Thank you if you were a collector or a contributor. Christian
Aid is a life saver for so many people in such dire circumstances around the
world so all your efforts are used well. If you wish to be involved next
year please contact Helen Richardson: