Page 70 - NHS Beyond the Classroom

Damian Hopa 1977

NEW YORK MARATHON airport in
I left New Zealand on Tuesday limousines and did
9th October and arrived in New York not wake up until
the next day. Everything was so big, we got to the
especially the buildings. It was winter airport. We then
in NY, but generally it got hot at flew to Los
lunchtime. Angeles on United Airlines and had
The Achilles Group and myself dinner on the plane.
stayed at the Madison Hotel for six We stayed at the Howard
days. We went for a boat tour, saw the Johnson Hotel, which was not far
Empire State Building and the Statue from McDonalds and Dennys. We
of Liberty. We had lunch at the Boat went on a tour of Universal Studios
Ramp Restaurant in Central Park and also did the and saw the makings of “Jaws” and “Beetle Juice”.
Haka there, it sounded mean. Heaps of people from We then went on heaps of different rides - “Back
different countries were cheering. to the Future” and Water World” to name a couple.
On Sunday was the New York Marathon. We The next day we went to Disneyland and I
got up at 4am to catch the 6am bus. It took half an took heaps of photos of Mickey Mouse and Donald
hour to get to Staten Island, and then we had Duck. The next day we flew home.
breakfast. I had a bagel, two buns and a hot I really enjoyed myself and would like to go
chocolate. back to New York, it is COOL! But I have no
The race started at 8am and there were 30,000 desire to go back to run for four hours and 48
competitors! I was the first person to run over minutes, although I could probably do it a lot faster
Staten Island. We ran over the four famous bridges: next time.
The Manhatten, Queens, Brooklyn and The Bronx. Who knows?
It took me four hours and 54 minutes to complete
the race. The Achilles Group
I was the first person out of the Achilles The Achilles Group provides New Zealanders
Groups of runners from every country to cross the with disabilities the opportunity to participate
finish line. I felt really good after the race and was alongside able-bodied athletes in local, national and
really relived to finish. international events.
Our last day in New York we rode to the