* Heavy Heart *

It is with a heavy heart I write this week. Last Sunday at a fantastic Cork City marathon, young Ellen Cassidy passed away after the race and put a cloud over the entire event.

It is hard to fathom and understand when someone so young dies. To her family and friends my deepest sympathy on behalf of all who were present last Sunday. No words of mine will ease your loss.

When we leave to go for a race or a run it is understood that we will get home whatever the outcome of the run was. That is a given. What happened last Sunday was against the natural order of the way we expect life to go.

I was speaking to someone recently about a team mate who died in September 1985 almost 40 years ago. We were in training for a Final in Gaelic Football when a tragic accident occurred and we were left numb. I can still recall it all so vividly, as we were too young to comprehend or find the words to express our feelings. I still can’t.

I also want to spare a thought for the organisers, as this was a very sad ending to the event and they had put countless hours of effort to pull it all together. 

I hope Ellen’s family and friends have the strength to get through this awful time for them. 

I want to ask all runners this weekend to carry her wonderful spirit in your thoughts and hearts wherever you are.

I leave with the words of Seamus Heaney – The Cure at Troy

“Now it’s high watermark
and floodtide in the heart
and time to go.
The sea-nymphs in the spray
will be the chorus now.
What’s left to say?      

#pwr     And the half-true rhyme is love.