A marmalade-free zone - two ladies and the London Marathon

Written by Nancy Wilson, 2007

"Here we have two glamourous ladies just about to start the London Marathon ...” is how BBC Radio 5 introduced Barbara Hall and Cathy Corby, members of the International Women’s Club of the Riviera who found themselves participating in the London Marathon on April 22nd – the hottest in its 26 year history. And they did it – 26 miles in 6 hours and 26 minutes, with their matching D&G sunglasses, in support of Cancer Research UK . Barbara, a first time marathon participant recalls: “At Mile 19, someone passed us each a mini Mars bar. It was the right place, the right time and the right chocolate sugar buzz. But at three miles to go, I started to have my doubts that I was going to finish.” For Cathy, it was her second marathon. “You keep each other going, ”she adds. “And because we had our names on our shirts, people were shouting encouragingly ‘Go Barbara, Go Cathy’.” Just before crossing the finish line, they made a quick stop to simultaneously apply Guerlain Terracotta lipstick (the summer line, of course) – carried by Cathy in a bum bag along with all the other marathon essentials: kohl eyeliner, mirror and hairbrush – to ready themselves for the triumphant photo-ops.

“Anyone can do a marathon, “ Cathy claims. “It’s a question of being self-motivated. Age is irrelevant and there are no excuses as long as you train.” Clive Stokes of the Antibes Squash & Fitness Club, a strong supporter of cancer research, offered Barbara and Cathy two free memberships to get in shape for London. “Clive also gave us nutrition advice, especially about proteins and switching to carbs before the day of the marathon,” Cathy explains. “By special request to the chef, we had a plate of hot tagliatelle with pesto at 6:45 the morning of the race.” Barbara winces at this breakfast memory as she points out there is still time to make to make a donation to Cancer Research UK on their behalf. Reporter readers wishing to do so can contact Jill Shepperd at the English Book Centre in Valbonne. Next on the agenda for our two local athletes? “Maybe the New York Marathon. The shopping would be great.”

And what about the IWCR? Barbara, who moved to the Coast three years ago is the current President. “The IWCR has about 700 members, a mix of French, Italian, Dutch, English ... and offers sporting and cultural activities as well as friendship” she tells us. “Women need other women to talk to and for support and the IWCR is a real lifeline.” Looking at their May/June newsletter, IWCR has everything from bridge to tennis, art to cinema, patchwork to gardening in addition to coffee mornings and French conversation classes. There was even “Make your Own Beauty Product” course providing instruction on home-made after-sun lotion, mosquito repellent or massage oil. Cathy, who is deputy president, clarifies, “This is not a British organisation or for those who get excited about tea towels and marmalade. The common denominator is that you can speak English well enough – on the phone and to fill out forms.” Upcoming events include a Julio Iglesias concert and sausage BBQ which, if this dynamic duo is any indication of the crowd one expects to find at an IWCR event, should heat things up more than the London Marathon.