20 replies to this topic

[Wobbler]

Has anybody read the article in the Sunday Magazine (Herald Sun- Author Beverley Hadgraft) about heroic runners, each with an inspirational story. One of them is Shirley Young; 77 years old, and is planning on running her 30th Melbourne Marathon this year.

That in itself is remarkable, but what makes it more inspirational is the fact that at the age of 71, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

'Shirley's condition meant that she started getting lost during her 25-40km training runs around her home in Victoria. Her husband says, "she still has trouble remembering how far she's run, so now when I know she's due back I go and look for her. I also write a label on her water bottle, reminding her of the distance she's planned, so that every time she takes a drink she gets a reminder".

Her doctor told her husband that it was important to let her run on her own and not go with her, because it's something she still has control over.

'Her husband also adds that there are benefits for a distance runner in having short term memory loss. "The week after the Melbourne Marathon last year, we drove to Adelaide for a six-hour endurance run, Shirley finished the run, showered and then 2-hours later I saw her looking around confused". She asked what they were doing there and when he told her that they had some for the six-hour run, she asked "when do we start?".

The interesting thing is, that her continuing to run, therefore keeping up the blood flow to her brain has meant that the progression of the disease has been slowed.

Other heroic stories in that article included runners; Ray James, Linda Barbero & Angelica Stein. All are truly inspirational and certainly gives us 'plodders' reasons to get up in the morning.

Inspirational stuff and Good Luck for your 30th Melb Marathon Shirley!!!

Edited by Wobbler, 18 September 2007 - 11:11 AM.

[kathmandu]

Hah, thats unreal.
Go Shirley Go
Great to see her husband is really supportive too, rather than trying to bundle her in cotton wool. Ten points for him too.

[Spud]

Yep. I too read that article in the Sunday magazine and was also pleasantly surprised to see Eagle was featured.
Inspirational stories from both. Shirley is amazing, her running resume speaks for itself, the records she's set are fantastic.
Eagle another example of what hard work and dedication can do, his consistency and performances excellent.

[RMC]

Certainly an amazing woman.

I've had many a run with Shirley over the past few years (track ultras). Certainly remember her 6 hour track run in Adelaide last year and the year before that. Last year it was the week BEFORE the Melb marathon.

Hope to catch up with Shirley again at the end of next week in the Adelaide 24hr. I'm sure Shirley won't remember me even though I've had dozen of conversations with her at Coburg and Adelaide.

[blair]

Great story.

For those of us who don't get the Herald Sun, what was Eagle's story?

[Wobbler]

balri, on Sep 18 2007, 11:11 AM, said:

Great story.

For those of us who don't get the Herald Sun, what was Eagle's story?

'For Sydney Lawyer Ray James 57, marathons are a sign of mental toughness and, as a recovering alcoholic, he finds it a great comfort to be able to complete around 10 of them per year. If he's strong enough to do that, he's strong enough to stay off the drink.

"Marathon running has proven excellent," he says of his recovery. "Experiencing that discomfort makes you mentally stronger. You don't feel mentally strong when you give in to drink, so it's important. I don't like walking in a marathon because it shows I've given in. It doesn't happen very often".

James ran a few marathons in his youth and still has no idea how he made the transition from athleticism to alcoholism, drinking a bottle of scotch a day and losing 14 years of his life in the process.

He ended up in a detox clinic and, while there, asked if he could have permission to leave for an hour every morning to go running. The doctor, knowling his history, agreed and while James admits some of the other residents probably thought he was disappearing to find his stash of grog, he was really trying to find his feet again - in every sense of the word.

That was in January 1997. By July, he was running marathons again. He hasn't touched a drink since. "Alocoholism is different for different people but, for me, what I believed happened was that I lost my self-confidence and self-respect. I became destructive and negative".

Running marathons helps, he says. "Because if you do lack self-trust and self-confidence and then get to the end of a marathon, that's a very positive. It's a test that you can do something and, in my case, do it reguarly".

In addition, a marathon is a tangible achievement that means runners get respect from others, especially if, as in James' case, you're not just running one marathon, but doing a lot of them in a short space of time and at an age when most people are retiring. "I'm only just starting to hit my stride," he says.

James recently completed the Canberra marathon in three hours, nine minutes and 24 seconds; a good time for someone his age. He eats well, applying his intellect to his training, which means he is able to recover well and rarely suffers an injury. Not suprisingly, he feels as if he is in the best of health.

"You don't know how wonderful it is to wake up, be sober and manage your life, unless you've been away from that and in the depths of alcoholism," he says. "I take great pleasure in being alive, fit, health and well".

And maybe that's the key to it. You may have suffered all kinds of injury, illness or affliction but to come back and climb the mountain that is a marathon, you certainly know you're alive.

Author: Beverly Hadgraft

Edited by Wobbler, 18 September 2007 - 03:06 PM.

[blair]

Thanks Wobbler. Definitely another great story.

[kathmandu]

Wow, go you Eagle, thats an incredible achievement.
Thanks Wobbler for the post.

[Boonarga]

KatieG, on Sep 18 2007, 03:01 PM, said:

Wow, go you Eagle, thats an incredible achievement.
Thanks Wobbler for the post.

I saw Eagle at the recent GH100 coming into most of the checkpoints. An early back problem saw him having to do most of the race at a horrible lean. Crossing the creek into CP10 I was certain he was going to fall over. The lean was that bad. How on earth he managed to run 100 miles like that has me stunned. Total guts.

[Peterhorse]

doesn't it just make you well up with pride for these unsung heroes! especially when you know them and admire them even before you learn about the journey they made. fantastic stuff, inspirational! thanks for sharing it.

[kazz]

Ray has since ran 6th place at the Macleay River Marathon in a time of 3.03.57. That was in June this year. I had the pleasure of chatting with him during the presentation afterwards. A truly inspirational  guy.

kazz.

Edited by kazz, 19 September 2007 - 05:50 PM.

[Ultraphil]

Shirley Young - Yes definitely a HERO.  I ran in the same 24hr  race as Shirley in the late 90's when she ran a WR age group for her aqe group. For g and d it beat a lot of the other great 24hr runs that I have witnessed.  And Ron and Shirley are a very nice couple.

[AlunDavies]

Boonarga, on Sep 18 2007, 03:27 PM, said:

I saw Eagle at the recent GH100 coming into most of the checkpoints. An early back problem saw him having to do most of the race at a horrible lean. Crossing the creek into CP10 I was certain he was going to fall over. The lean was that bad. How on earth he managed to run 100 miles like that has me stunned. Total guts.

Hi Boon.

You'll probably remember that I had the pleasure of running the last 15km or so with Eagle (last 15 for me that was given that I was running the 'short' one!).

The lean you are talking about was very pronounced from the point I met up with him on the Mt Beerwah loop but thought that was just how he ran.

After the event, during an exchange of PM's, I mentioned it and he told me he hadn't even realised he was leaning at that point.  His back was hurting (a chronic complaint), but usually it didn't cause him to lean until much later or something along those lines anyway.  He must have been in constant pain all night.

What impressed me most about him following that event was him getting lost beyond hope of any recovery and resigning himself to running anywhere until the sun came up so that he could find his way back to Beerburrum.  I think there's a fair chance that he run in excess of the 160km for the event but was pretty philosophical about the whole thing.  The rest of his story simply makes it more amazing ... I'll stop gushing now!

[Beanie]

Another great article in Runner's World Feb 2009 re the Eagle.
Beanie

[BLUEBOY]

i second that, an inspirational guy, who contributes lots of good advice on Cool Running.

[Rock Doctor]

I was a amazed when I heard this story from Eagle the first time early one Sunday morning on a run somewhere. Ray has provided me with plenty of great advice before and since and hopefully into the future. Truly an asset to coolrunning.

[Cato]

Here are some photos of Eagle, Shirly and the inspirational Lucky Legs at the Melbourne marathon;



[attachment=3664:P1000599...6_x_768_.jpg][attachment=3665:P1000624...8_x_576_.jp
g][attachment=3666:P1000623...6_x_768_.jpg]


Oldies but goodies!

Cato

Edited by Cato, 14 January 2009 - 02:45 PM.

[Cato]

Oops I forgot Tesso.
Now that you have turned 50 Theresa, you can officially be called "OLD".
Another great performer.

[attachment=3667:P1000612...6_x_768_.jpg]

Cato

Edited by Cato, 14 January 2009 - 02:28 PM.

[thomo]

I hope Lucky Legs still wears her CoolRunning kit in fun run & big races.

I person very missed on here for all the positive she gave to CR.

[Caterpillar]

Haven't seen much in the media about Shirley Young in the past year or so. I read somewhere that she had a fall at the 30km mark of the 2008 Melbourne Marathon, and was forced to pull out, and no mention whether she tried again for 2009. I hope she is still able to enjoy life to the fullest despite her cognitive problems. Anyone in the know?

[KevinCassidy]

aferraro, on Jan 27 2010, 04:57 AM, said:

Haven't seen much in the media about Shirley Young in the past year or so. I read somewhere that she had a fall at the 30km mark of the 2008 Melbourne Marathon, and was forced to pull out, and no mention whether she tried again for 2009. I hope she is still able to enjoy life to the fullest despite her cognitive problems. Anyone in the know?

Shirley is fine, all things considered.  No more marathons but she and Ron are still regulars around the Masters running scene in Melbourne