By Beulah Ballbreaker
I’m sitting here now, applying aloe vera to my sunburn, rubbing my sore knees but feeling it was worth the pain. Why? Because I’ve ticked off something on my ‘to do’ list that I never thought I would – I’ve done a marathon. Not the London Marathon, running is not my thing – the Goodwood Roller Marathon.
I first heard about this when Inky Minx told us she was entering to raise money for the NSPCC. It’s 11 laps of the Goodwood track, which is 26.62 miles. We all said she was very brave and said we would sponsor her. We later said we would go along and support her as this wasn’t something you see every day. About a month ago Legs said to me that we should do it. I thought she was joking so I said ‘I’ll do it if you will’. The next week she had signed up. So, I had to do it. I checked the registration site and decided to sign up for 2 laps which equals just under 5 miles. For someone who isn’t known for her athletic prowess I thought that was sensible.
So, with this in mind I planned what to wear: Rebel t-shirt, leggings, full pads, sunnies, sun hat, smile. That should do it. Very sensible. Wrong! Friday I got a message that Inky and Legs were dressing as the 118 blokes. WHAT!!! Now, I’m as fun loving as the next person, but I look like a milk bottle so showing flesh is not one of my favourite things. ‘Ok, stop being an old foggey’ I thought, so said ‘count me in’. Out went the sensible gear, in came a white vest, red shorts, wig and moustache.
After 2 hours in the car we got to Goodwood. It was already teeming with skaters, both off and on skates. I got my number (boom boom) and timing chip for my ankle – some people were actually racing – and went and got my gear. The girls were already there as they had camped nearby overnight. We stretched, got into our pads and skates and nervously lined up with everyone else, including a fish and chip and a load of serious looking speed skaters. I saw friends from the Hellfire Harlots, Dolly Rockits and Sheffield Steel. We all looked on as we were told to not speed skate over the silver line – the whole time thinking that I was not intending going fast, just finishing. The whistle went and we all crossed the line waving to family and friends, wishing luck to the fish and chip. We used the first lap as a warm up, then Inky put in her earphones and skated at her normal whoosh speed, while I settled into what I thought was my last lap with Steph, who also skates with us.
Then it happened – I didn’t want to stop. Steph had signed up for the whole lot, but was thinking she’d see how she felt after 5 laps, so I said ‘I’ll stay with you and probably finish then’. We chatted and got to know each other – we laughed at Elvis when he was sat off track (he’d left the building – groan) and slowed down to grab drink or sweets then speed up to go down the slope after. We did 5 laps. Then we did another one, and another one. We kept saying we’d do another. And slowly but surely we made it to 7. Inky passed us on that lap and told us we were doing well. She was two laps ahead and looking really fresh, but wigless. I was the only one still dressed up. Oh well, if I rip this all of now, where will I put it? If I stick it down my front, I look like I’ve got a hairy chest, stick it down the back of my shorts and I have a hairy hump. Choices, choices. Hence, the wig and tash stayed on. Steph said by lap 2 she didn’t notice it anymore. We kept going, willing on small children and rollergirls alike. We saw friends and made new ones. All of us wanting to finish. We cheered laps 8, 9 and 10 as all felt like an achievement with our knees hurting and the wind getting stronger. We bemoaned the first corner and subsequent climb each time we reached it but pushed on anyway. Until lap 11.
We met Selena from the Swansea Slayers and she had cramp starting in her legs and wanted to finish. Steph put her headphones in and skated off as she wanted to get to the finish. I stayed with Selena and we chatted and skated our way to the finish, cheering each other on. I was genuinely pleased when I got over that line as I’d done something I’d always wanted to do – and I’d done it my way.
The rest is a blur of hugs and sweat as we tried to walk after skating for so long. 3 hours 31 mins. That’s how long it took to achieve a life-long ambition. It’s something I’ll never forget.. and intend to do again next year.
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