Marathon First Time Trip To Paris For Joe
SERC Lecturer Joe McMahon had a marathon trip to Paris in his quest to take part in the Paris Marathon 2021.
It was a case of a completing travel endurance test before Joe McMahon (Newcastle) could compete in the Paris Marathon 2021.
Having discovered his PCR test results were not in order, and he wasn’t allowed to board his flight to Paris. He had to retake the test, and spend the night in Luton Airport before arriving in Paris in the nick of time to have breakfast before meeting up with his running buddies to register for the marathon.
Joe said, “After setting off from my home in Newcastle at 8.30am on 16 October, I didn’t get to Paris until 9am the next day, just in time to have breakfast and to meet up with my running club before the race. It wasn’t how I had planned it but I got there in the end.
“This was my sixth marathon and my first in Paris – my favourite city – which is one of the most scenic city marathons. It starts on the Champ-Elysees, passes the Louvre, along the banks of the Seine River, the Eiffel Tower and the Bois de Boulogne.”
Joe added: “I was going well for 22 miles but after that I took cramp in my leg and had to walk the last four miles. I managed to complete and at the end of the day I was doing it for my only charity NI Chest Heart and Stroke – all the support I had fundraising kept me going.
“Having set a fundraising target of £500 I was delighted to raise over £1000 for the charity which is close to my heart as I lost both my parents to stroke.
“I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who donated to my Just Giving page or left donations in the collection jar at the Downpatrick Campus.”
There is still time to donate at Joe’s JustGiving page: search Joe McMahon.
