Showing posts with label run. Show all posts
Showing posts with label run. Show all posts
Monday, 28 April 2014
Help... I think I'm Turning in to a Runner
In fact, if you'd have told me a year ago that I was even considering running 10k I would have laughed in your face. But strangely, at the age of 31, I find myself dragging myself out of bed at 6.30am on a Saturday morning so that I can eat my breakfast early enough before my 9am Park Run. Errr... WTF??
At school I hated running, I would get so out of breath within the first 100m that I would make myself ill. No one ever taught me about controlled breathing or starting out slow, I would bomb it for 30 seconds and then struggle for breath.
This is pretty much how my first runs went last year when I realised the mammoth task of a 5 mile run was approaching. Id sprint and walk, sprint and walk... and it was ok... it worked at the time. Gradually, after the race was over I began going out running for me... as a way of winding down after a long day. Still I'd exert myself and then slow down to catch my breath.. until one day, I started out slow. I jogged at a slow steady pace, controlling my breath and I jogged... and jogged... and I didn't stop. I couldn't believe it! I was running... albeit slowly... I was running non stop!
My biggest run so far (without stopping) has been 6k but over the next 20 or so days I'm going to hopefully ramp that up.
I'll keep you posted on the progress but in the meantime feel free to sponsor me.. it's for the kids!!
Wednesday, 7 August 2013
The One Where I Accidently Run 5 Miles for Charity
If you follow me on Twitter then you'll know I love entering Twitter comps.. well this one day back in May... I was out shopping (just checking Twitter as you do) when I saw a RT competition being hosted by The National Lottery on Twitter. Without even looking what the prize was I immediately re-tweeted as well as copying and retweeting again on my own feed, then I carried on with the rest of my day.
Later that night the competition popped in to my head and I realised I didn't even know what the prize was! I thought I'd have a look - honestly thinking it would be to win scratch cards or something like that - but to my horror I saw that the prize was a place in a run... yes you heard right... the prize was a 5 mile run!!! Errr no... what the hell?!... I immediately deleted both tweets and wiped the sweat from my brow - phew - imagine if I'd won that - no thanks!!!
The next day my phone bleeped... oooh a Twitter mention *checks phone* - you'll never believe it....
I'd won!! I know... even though I'd DELETED my tweets I'd still won (don't tell Di Coke)!!! It was only then that I looked at what the run entailed... it was 5 miles, yes (nightmare) but it was around the Olympic Park and guess where the finish line was? In the Olympic Stadium!!! The actual finish line that was crossed my hundreds of athletes in last years Olympic and Paralympic games. EPIC.
I'm a big believer in 'everything happens for a reason' so despite my initial shock I decided to embrace it and soon I started heading out for little runs. I downloaded the Couch to 5k app and began to prep. My family was so supportive and soon I actually began to enjoy running. The run was in July so I had a couple of months to train.
In fact, as part of my training, I entered my first ever run - the Liverpool 5k Race for Life. I ran it in 36 minutes and I was ecstatic. I started to believe that I could really do it! Not only that but I could feel myself getting fitter which The days flew by and on 21st July the big day arrived. I was so nervous. 5 miles is so so far when you've never really run before and especially when you've hated running all of your life!
We got up super early and travelled to the Olympic park by bus. Before I knew it I was walking towards the start line and waiting for Sir Chris Hoy to sound the horn for the final wave of runners.
HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONK
I was off, a few weeks of training and here I was running against Paula Radcliffe, Sporty Spice Mel C and Victoria Pendleton!!
The route was immense...
It took us right around the Olympic Park, around the velodrome, past the copper box, past the orbit and the best bit of all the finishing line inside the stadium.
The last few hundred metres entering the stadium was so amazing. As I run underneath the stadium through the tunnel they were playing Chariots of Fire and soon I could see the light from sky and the inside of the stadium. As I ran out on to the track I was completely overwhelmed and tears streamed down my face! The hairs on the back of my neck rose and I began to run the last 200 metres towards the finish line.
After an hour and 2 minutes I finally made it. I crossed the same finish line as all of the wonderful Olympic athletes including Usain Bolt!!
I'm not going to lie... it was tough... but I am so so pleased to say that I managed it in just over an hour and I did it all to raise money for Cancer Research.
Here's my official pics...
And it's not too late to sponsor me either - I didn't make it to my target yet :( Just click through to my JustGiving page to donate.
Tuesday, 28 May 2013
A Very Big Challenge - all in aid of Cancer Research
I found out on Friday that I had won a place in the The National Lottery 5 Mile Anniversary Run - an amazing event taking place on 21st July 2013.
The 5 mile course will cross the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park before reaching a thrilling conclusion on the track inside the stadium!!! Amazing - I am so excited about the challenge but I am completely scared too. I am notoriously poor at running - I nearly collapsed running for the bus once!
Anyway, although the race itself isn't for charity - it's to celebrate the anniversary of the Olympics and the National Lottery's crucial funding to our Olympic and Paralympic athletes - I have decided to run on behalf of Cancer Research. As you may remember my Dad has recovered from skin cancer and other members of my family have suffered from the horrible disease.
It is a cause very close to my heart, which is why I have agreed to run - even though at this moment in time it seems an impossible task.
I have around 50 days to train for this, so please wish me luck and sponsor me if you can...
(PS I know 5 miles may seem small to some people -but for me being so unfit, slightly overweight and a non-runner - this is a huge distance)
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