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//Marie
description[0] = "";
description[1] ="I am running my first marathon for The GNO as it is a charity that my family are closely connected with.<br /><br />The GNO is one of the charities that supports Saxon Hill School, a local school for physically handicapped children, where my late Brother attended.<br /><br />No doubt all the staff and children who know me from there will be shouting at their televisions and willing me on…they will need to ! After a fairly inactive youth that mostly involved riding horses I discovered the joy (?!) of running at the grand old age of 36. I also met one of my fellow runners and good friend, Alison. Everyone needs an Alison. She arrives to go for that run in wind, hail, gales and storms, with a smile on her face. There is simply no getting out of it. We have now completed 5 half marathons in the last year so now for the big one! We realise that it’s a huge step from 13 miles to 26 but are excited about the challenge.<br /><br />The charity is a great one so please offer your support as I have seen first hand the direct benefits that the charity gives.";
description[2] = "Marie Tisdale";
description[15] = "<img src=\"images/runners09/Marie.jpg\" width=\"250\" height=\"230\" />";

//Alison
description[3] ="I have spent most of my life doing one sport or another, and when age and nerves got the better<br />of me, gave up rugby.<br /><br />I needed to stay active otherwise I would turn into a blob and triathlons followed. Then, early last year<br />I started running with Marie and Kate with the aim<br />of doing half marathons. The running is a social thing, and I have made some great friends. Other people have come and gone from the group but the core<br />of 3 musketeers remains.<br /><br />Marie and I decided that the next challenge would be a marathon and will be nursing each other through the next four months' training and around the 26 mile course.<br /><br />It's all for a fantastic local charity who provides opportunites for kids less fortunate than ourselves. I am both excited and terrified at the same time, but it will be all worth it. As someone once said 'pain is temporary, pride is forever!'";
description[4] = "Alison Richards";
description[16] = "<img src=\"images/runners09/Alison.jpg\" width=\"250\" height=\"230\" />";

//Bobby
description[5] ="When I was asked why am I running the marathon I did actually think to myself ‘Why am I actually doing this?’  My only other experience of any sort of long distance running was the annual school cross country, and the only way I got through that due to the fear of having my rugby coach riding after me with a stick, ready to hit me if I even thought of stopping.  Having said this I have always, for some reason, wanted to run a marathon.  Initially with the aim of improving my fitness and testing my discipline.  But having been to a GNO a couple of years ago I really could not turn down the opportunity to try and help put more smiles on children’s faces and making their dreams come true.<br /><br />I’d be lying if I said I would enjoy the next four months and all those hours of running in the lovely English weather but then again I suppose ‘no pain, no gain’, which is what I will keep saying to myself to get me through this challenge and no doubt amazing experience.";
description[6] = "Bobby";
description[17] = "<img src=\"images/runners09/bobby.jpg\" width=\"250\" height=\"230\" />";


//Andrew
description[7] ="Golf and football are probably my first sports of choice. However, I have turned my hand to running, more so in recent years. Having completed my first Marathon in 2007, the really hot London one..!,  I decided to come back for more punishment. I feel more confident this, time knowing what to expect, but no less apprehensive, desperately hoping that it all comes together on the day, I don’t injure myself this week and that my alarm goes off on Sunday morning, although from what I remember I don’t expect to get lots of sleep Saturday night.<br /><br />I am looking forward to taking it all in again, and definitely looking forward to crossing the finish line. All things being well..!!<br /><br />This charity inspires me. It is a charity that does brilliant work with very little fuss. It’s a privilege to be involved and I hope I do everyone justice on the day.";
description[8] ="Andrew";
description[18] ="<img src=\"images/runners09/andrew.jpg\" width=\"250\" height=\"230\" />";


//Rob
description[9] ="2009 Marathon Runner.";
description[10] ="Rob";
description[19] ="<img src=\"images/runners09/rob.jpg\" width=\"250\" height=\"230\" />";
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