The Afterburners Ball!

Such an amazing weekend!!!!

The Torchbearers Ball had been spoken about since about February/March time on the Coca-Cola Future Flames facebook page.  It had been an idea from one of the Torchbearers to have a Ball, in the middle of the UK so it would be central for everyone.  This proved to be Leicester, and so the Marriott Hotel in Leicester was reserved for 20th October 2012.

It was the talk of everyone during the Torch Relay, and throughout the Olympics and Paralympics.  It was renamed by the husband of one of the Torchbearers to “The Afterburners Ball” as he had jokingly said we were no longer Torchbearers as the Torch Relay was now finished so we must be Afterburners! We all thought it quite funny, and so it stuck!  Tickets were purchased, hotel rooms booked for the weekend, dresses bought, shoes bought, torches polished and Relay Tracksuits checked and packed into bags.

There was an international theme, with each table named by an Olympic participating country.  Our table was Jamaica.  11 of us were held back from the main throng and after Andy Le Seelleur (head of the Organising Team) had given his speech, we entered the room, one by one carrying our torches high with the flag of the country of our table attached.  The whoops and cheers were deafening, and it was wonderful to have been chosen for that honour.

Carrying the Jamaican National flag!

The torch and flag then became the centre piece on the table.  A montage of all the torchbearers had been put together and was played whilst we ate dinner.  That was followed by a video which told the story of the day it all began for the UK, in France, with the vote that won us the Olympics for 2012, all the way through to the closing ceremony of the Paralympics and Olympics.  It was incredibly moving – especially when they showed ‘the torch kiss’ .  We were then entertained by Judith Hamer, a young Paralympian who plays for the England Ladies Basketball team.  She told us her story, how she became disabled, and how she had gone on to become a member of the team representing her country at the age of 21.  It was very humbling and very inspiring.  It was her first time public speaking – and she held her own in front of 120 people!  Not bad!!!

It was then time to party!!!  And party we did! 🙂 with me managing to stay in my stiletto shoes ALL evening, and I had absolutely no hip pain then or the following day!!! YAY!!!

2012 Olympic Torchbearers

Montage of the Afterburners

Phil and I in Afterburners Ball gear!

Dancing Diva’s Hip Shoes – couldn’t resist the pun!

 

Rendition of “Chasing Cars” taken to new extremes!

Boogieing the night away!

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My beautiful golden torch!

The Olympic Flame – and my very own Olympic Torch! Christchurch, Dorset on 14th July 2012

Saturday 14th July 2012 dawned overcast BUT DRY!!!  So many of the torchbearers had had to endure torrential rain during the flame’s journey towards the Olympic Stadium, but I had prayed for a dry morning, and so far so good!  Having managed to get only a few hours sleep – excitement, nerves and bloody seagulls dawn chorus, which is not a nice noise to be woken by at 3.45 a.m.! – we departed our hotel to head for the collection point.

Here I met with the other Torchbearers on my leg – one lady in particular, Caron Rogers, became an instant friend – we had similar interests, had lived in similar areas and had similar sense of humour.  She also happened to be passing the flame to me!  We were given a run through as to what happens regarding passing the flame from one bearer to the next – this being known affectionately as ‘The Torch Kiss’ .  And then all of a sudden it was a mad dash to the loo for one final pit stop, and then it was on to the bus.  We were in a quiet cul-de-sac off the main road that leads into Boscombe, near Christchurch.  As we boarded the bus, we noticed a few people hanging out of their windows and a couple of people on the street, watching.  They waved as the bus headed off, and then it turned the corner out onto Boscombe High Street – we were not prepared for what we saw – hoards and hoards of people standing cheering, waving, taking photographs and videos – of US!  It was deafening!  It was absolutely amazing and still brings me out in goose bumps when I think of it.  We parked up at the side of the road to wait for the police escort who would lead us to our various drop off points – and then we were off!

It was beyond incredible, mile after mile of masses of people.  Incredibly emotional!  When I reached my drop off point I was blown away – here was I gaily thinking that as I wasn’t from the local area, that there would be very few, if any, people along my stretch – boy was I wrong.  I was mobbed when I got out of the bus, but I did manage to have a huge hug from my husband who had seen me alighting from the bus and had watched my face crumple with emotion, and had come to the rescue!!!  Daft, I know, but I just couldn’t contain the huge wave of emotion running through me – I was here because of having bloody hip dysplasia!!!  I was here because Dr Sophie West (always in your debt, Soph!) had nominated me for my determination to get back to running!!!  And I was here because my mum had decided she would like a second child – little did she know quite what that would mean, and sadly would never know as she was no longer around to witness it.

“Could I have my picture with you, love?” One of Christchurch Council’s employees who was ‘crowd managing’!

The crowds were just incredible – “Can I have my photo with YOU?” not can I have a picture with the torch – it was me AND the torch – my jaws ached from smiling (memories of my wedding day!).  My poor family and friends were trying to get pictures with me and kept getting shoved out the way by strangers who wanted to get their picture taken, lol!  And even when we did manage a family picture, some random stuck his head into the middle of it, and then congratulated me, stroked the torch and then was off!  I laughed so much – it was really funny!

And then, all of a sudden the TST guy on the bike was at my side, telling me that the flame was on it’s way and that I needed to get ready.  And still people jostled to get a quick pic.  And then there was Caron striding over the brow of the hill with the huge Torchbearer’s bus behind her, and the crowd went wild.  Cheering, shouting – goose bumps again! And then the ‘Kiss’

“The Torch Kiss” with Caron Rogers and Annick Hollins

All of a sudden, that was it – I was on my own (well, sort of!) with the Olympic Flame under my protection – I was, at this moment, the only person carrying the Olympic Flame!!!  I looked at it in awe, and then the gentle arm of  ‘Tomo’, one of the TST’s ‘ was in the crook of my back quietly saying “Shall we run?”  I hadn’t planned to but all of a sudden I thought “Well, this is what it has been all about for me, to get back to running”, so I broke into a gentle run with the Torch held high and the crowds whooping and cheering.

It was over all too quickly.  Soon, I saw Pat, the lady that I would pass to, in the middle of the road, there was the Kiss, and then my flame was extinguished.  I waved Pat off and then boarded the bus – but it wasn’t over just yet – as the bus passed the crowds they were still going mad, cameras held up to the windows, and every time the bus stopped, faces would appear clapping and cheering us.  It was AMAZING!

It was a day that I will never, ever forget – well, especially as I have my torch to keep forever.  Sophie nominated me through Coca-Cola who have just been amazing to their Torchbearers – they set up a Facebook page so we could all get to know each other, from which we have met up with lots of fellow Torchbearers, and which has led to us organizing a Torchbearers Ball on October 20th, they have provided us with cheer banners, special Olympic pins, free photographs and most importantly they have paid for all their Torchbearer’s torches – which is just incredible.

It has been the most incredible part of my hip journey, something that I wouldn’t have dreamed of happening in a million years.  Through this hip journey I have come up with two personal mottos which describe me and how I feel – they are

“Inspiration from others, Determination from within”

“To run is not a given, as merely to walk is a gift”

Hip Sisters united!

I recently met with Dr Sophie and a few ladies off the HipWomen Yahoo Website, which unbeknownst to me at the time of finding the group, would provide my inspiration for ‘returning to normal’ .  Through this website I was able to see how badly others have been affected by Hip Dysplasia and how bloody lucky I had been to have done all I had done without the slightest inkling of what was lurking in my pelvic anatomy.  My recovery from the two PAO’s, although not without it’s problems, has been relatively easy compared to some, and I will be forever grateful for that, and for that fact that I happened upon a superb surgeon, Johan Witt, who I will have on speed dial for the rest of my life!  I will challenge his handywork, but I won’t be irresponsible – just one more marathon during this next year?!  🙂 Well, I turn 50 in a couple of weeks and 10 years ago was when I started to run for my first marathon which I did in April 2003, so I would like to think that over the next year I can train and build up enough strength and stamina to complete the Jersey Marathon next October – we shall see!

We only live once!

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