Resort Properties Employee to Run Santa Cruz Half Marathon
It's his very first event of this kind, but Resort Properties' Gordon Hodge is optimistic as he gears up for the 19th Half Marathon in Tenerife's capital, Santa Cruz, on Sunday 8th November 2009. After months of intensive training and healthy living, the big day is finally looming for our Call Centre Manager and fitness fan.
Whilst adding a string to his sporting bow, Gordon will be raising funds for the Marianna Glorious Academy, a school for underprivileged children in Mombasa which was set up in 2002 and has since become one of Resort Properties' major charitable causes. So far, we have raised 11,000€ for the construction of a new accommodation block at the school, and have an ongoing commitment to provide funding for desks, texts books, sports equipment and a network of computers.
Not for wimps, the run - organised by the City Council's Sports Division and starting at 9 a.m. prompt - is a demanding 21.1km stretch in the form of two laps starting and finishing at Avenida José Antonio Primo de Rivera. Gordon is bracing himself for a tough but rewarding day: "I'm thrilled to be running for such a worthy cause and one that Resort Properties has been involved with for some time now. Obviously I've had to make sure I'm in great physical shape - I've been training hard over the last seven months or so to help me prepare for the challenge. It should be a great day and I'm hoping to beat my personal best."
The "XIX Half Marathon of Santa Cruz de Tenerife" is an annual event this year attracting 17 official major sponsors including Pepsi and Renault. Participation in the run increases every year, as people from all over Tenerife and the Canary Islands sign up to get fit and raise money - and this year the organisers are hoping to reach their target maximum subscription of 1,000 entrants. Trophies will go to the first five runners to cross the finish line within two and a half hours, and cash prizes ranging from 50€ to 800€ will be awarded to those who can beat the various time records set in the previous 18 half marathons - one for a male runner, one for a female.
Gordon hopes this will be the start of a glittering career sideline: "I've been going to the gym regularly for a couple of years now, but have upped my game for the run. This Tenerife event is the warm up before I attempt the big one - the Barcelona full marathon on March 7th next year. Who knows where that might lead?"
At Resort Properties we are hugely proud of our commitment to help alleviate the heartbreaking situation of Mombasa's impoverished children. As Gordon steps up to the challenge as our ambassador, we wish him all the very best for the big day.
Keep up with Gordon's progress on his blog page
Update, 17th November 2009:
Marathon Mission Accomplished!
We are delighted to report that Gordon completed his Half Marathon challenge in an amazing one hour 48 minutes, coming 439th out of 694 entrants and raising a staggering €2,200 for the Marianna Glorious Academy.
He tells us "Around the 19km mark as my legs started to plead for mercy, I asked myself ‘Why am I doing this?' then I remembered the kids in Mombasa and all the money my sponsors had pledged and I pressed on. It's incredible - the dedication from people who do the run year in, year out."
As the Barcelona marathon looms on the horizon for Gordon, he is determined not to lose focus: "After the race, I started thinking about the Barcelona full marathon in March and how tough that's going to be. But I've signed up now - there's no going back so I'll just have to get some serious training in. I can see how the people who enter marathons again and again do it partly just to beat their own time, like a personal challenge. Whether I'll still be thinking like this after Barcelona, I don't know!"
Resort Properties' Managing Director had this praise for Gordon: "Congratulations on a superb effort. If you are someone who trains then you know what a huge effort it is to run this far and to do it in one hour 48 minutes is truly fantastic. The fact that Gordon raised over €2,000 for a good cause is the icing on the cake. Well done, we are very proud."
