Such was certainly the case yesterday when I popped along to Hethersett Memorial Field to see a number of runners set off on the London Marathon.
No they weren't running to London - but round the streets of Hethersett. As we all know this year's London Marathon was cancelled to all but elite athletes. So thousands upon thousands of people were taking to the streets and fields throughout the country to run marathons in aid of hundreds of good causes.
So at just before 9am I went to see a handful of runners set off. Took a few photographs and then returned three and a half hours later to see them finish.
So while I was at home in the warm and the dry these hardy souls were braving the rain to run, run, run and then run some more for charity.
I had no real idea of what time they would finish in. My only guideline was from my own running days many years ago when I was training for marathons and used to average eight minute miles. So that would have been a marathon in three hours and 28 minutes (give or take a few minutes of hours).
Assuming our runners were roughly around the same standard as myself of almost 40 years ago and that would be a finishing time of somewhere between 12.30 and 12.45 pm. And there they were right on time - back for a quick run around the park to complete the 26.2 miles.
I was just glad this time I was taking photographs and not running - nowadays I'm pushed to complete the two mile funrun. Mind you I would be interested to know how far I run during a two and a half hour tennis session which I had last Thursday.
So huge congratulations to all those who finished the marathon. I have to say those I saw on the Memorial Field looked as fresh as daisies at the end and many achieved personal best times - must be something in the Hethersett air.
In the afternoon I went to the latest village screen offering "A Personal History of David Copperfield." Wasn't sure what to expect as a number of friends and relations didn't speak highly of it. I found it highly entertaining and funny in parts.
I'm sure many would expect a different kind of David Copperfield simply because of the words "A Personal History." The title of the original novel given by its author Charles Dickens was the less than snappy "The Personal History, Adventures, Experience and Observation of David Copperfield the Younger of Blunderstone Rookery (Which He Never Meant to Publish on Any Account "
There were about 25 people there which the organisers declared to be a "Covid Record." It would still be good to see a few more there as the groups costs for film licences, hire of the hall etc stay the same whether there is a pandemic or not.
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Thanks to everyone who made comments about my recent blog about victim support and the horrendous case of a young lady who was stabbed more than 50 times. I will have some similar tales to tell in future blogs.