Dr Monique's Paris Marathon
Runner Monique Proves You Can Have Your Cake And Eat It!
For Dr Monique Robinson being plied with a delicious sponge during the Paris Marathon really was the icing on the cake!
She was already enjoying the carnival-style atmosphere and the camaraderie of fellow runners and the sponge cake turned out to be a bonus.
The sugar boost handed out around the 24 mile mark obviously provided the extra fuel she needed to finish the race in a respectable time - and raise more than £440 for Wessex Heartbeat.
For long-distance runner Monique, who tries to put in 40 miles a week in training, her finish time was 35 minutes better than her inaugural marathon in London in 2006.
Afterwards she spoke of her enjoyment at running in the shadows of the Eiffel Tower and along the famous Champs Elysees. " I am very pleased to say that I successfully completed the 26.2 mile trek around the beautiful City of Lights in Paris on April 6th.
"It was a truly magnificent experience with great atmosphere, crowds and scenery all the way round. At the 39th kilometre there was the additional treat of scrumptious sponge cake - very civilised!"
Monique, who joined the Wessex Cardiothoracic Unit at Southampton General Hospital in August 2007, has been undertaking research into a new method of detecting myocardial ischaemia.
Like all Cardiology and Cardiothoracic trainees at Southampton General Hospital, Monique has full access to the facilities at the new Heartbeat Education Centre. Her decision to raise funds on behalf of Wessex Heartbeat was prompted by what she described as "a real admiration and appreciation of the sterling work Wessex Heartbeat does on behalf of the department, patients and their relatives."
She added: "They really do make the world a happier place to be - one heart at a time!"
