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Update on progress 26/08/09

After getting up to 7.5 miles in 1 hour 19mins some 3 weeks ago and having to walk a bit after straining calf and ankle muscle, I have been resting up so that it can heal.

I went out for some light hill running yesterday 25/08/09, the day before me 45th Birthday and really not good when you pull a muscle, but hey ho, got to crack on.

Calf has gone again and the ankle not a lot better, but the aim is to get round the Para 10 course, even if I have to crawl.

Not too bad, but starting to think I could struggle round the course, although I do have 3 hours and am aiming to complete in 1 hour 50.

26th August, today, Playing in a freindly footie match to boost the fitness a litlte more, then resting on thursday and then slow jog round the fields and hilly bits on Friday.

Friendly match on Saturday then thats me mostly likely done with footie untill the run is over, cannot afford to pick up any knocks that will hamper the run!

Be back soon! Thanks for looking and more importantly, Sponsoring me!

 

28/08/09..

Just seen the first online sponsors,

Just like to say a Big thank you to Peter Venn and all his team at Cunningham Lindsey Redhill office and to Steve Ellis at our office for getting the ball rolling and starting the sponsors!!

Hoping to pick up some more sponsors tomorrow when the teams meet up for the friendly, once I have them the offline total will be updated,

As far as times  to complete go, I am now aware that I am within the target time of 11mins per mile which is pleasing to know!

Found this out after reading a runners forum, also quite worrying that the last hill is near vertical which for some strange reason is at 9 miles!!!! Why not 1 mile??"Near vertical and some joker has mentioned he could see men crying at this point, not too sure if he meant because of the fear,  the excitement or onlookers crying with laughter while, as they put it, Civies struggle to finish!!

So looking forward to the last Hill now!! At least its down hill to the finish from there!!

Back soon!!

02/09/2009..

Dave McCabe, one 3rd of our runing team has been out and run 10 miles in 1hour 39mins, good on you Davy!!

I how ever will be running 10 miles this thursday night to check if the calf and ankle will hold up as not long to go now!!

Nick Long however, is in his own words finding it hard to run on his own, Hate to tell him but come next Sunday he wil be if he cant keep up with the pack!!

On my return to work Tuesday, see another donation of around £39.00 from Cunningham Lindsey, Colchester branch, thank you very much all at the office, again it is really apprecaited!!

back soon!!

 

03/09/2009

Tonight was the target night to see if the calf and ankle would hold up and hey presto!! it did, pity about the left one!!

Having not run any distance since the calf and ankle it was good to give it a go, first mile I was pretty impressed, blowing like a fish out of water but 8mins 24 seconds and still chugging, then bang, the left ankle has cramped up!!!

Off come the socks etc to try and free up some room for the blood to pump round, but still stiff as you like.

2 miles and its getting worse, so I have a slow walk with what I can only explain as when you walk with fins on,(flippers to those who dont dive), walking like a penguin with a puncture in its left foot!!

hundred yards or so and no better so crack on, 4 miles and its slightly better, and suddenly it dawns on me that 6 miles to go, and its getting dark.

To cut a long story short,

 I avoided being run over in the dark, time now is 8.45pm, and just 200 odd yards from the 10 mile mark, and just outside the village I live in, car lights shine out of the street lit road towards me on the bend, behind in the distance car lights shine across the fields.

In my moment of madness I decide to cross over so that the oncoming car misses me and I am not blinded then I can cross over to avoid being run over from behind.

What I had not taken into account is the car coming into the village is travelling a lot quicker than the one coming out, the car coming out just passes with no time to cross over and here it comes, into the hedge i go with no time to spare, am I going to live, Crap!!!! its only the missus!! Bloody nutter!!

Of all the cars to be coming along that road, it had to be the missus, car stops just insiide the 10 mile mark and waits,

up I plod to the car & check me time of 1.44 and 59 seconds, the door swings open and I get the question, not how did you do, but!! you took your time, your daughter said you left hours ago!!!! 

Is it me or do Females have different minutes and hours!!, anyway, considering I avoided death by running in darkness and not too mention the missus running me over, the time I will settle for, Roll on next weekend!! I cannot wait!! 

Thanks for looking!!

  

11/09/09

It has to be said that the response to this from complete strangers is 100% inspirational!!

Although the amount currently rasied is showing below the target , I am aware that this will be achieved and probably be above well before we even start runnning Sunday Morning!!

Please spread the word!!

Thank you Again!!

 

14/09/09

We all succesfully completed the course inside the 1hr 50min target,

 

UPDATE TO FOLLOW!!!

Davy, Nick & myself all finished inside 1hr & 44mins!!

Great achievment from 3 novice runners, Davy by far the quickest in 1hr & 33mins, Nick 1hr & 41 mins and meself 1hr & 43mins.

I had problems with the calf and ankle again, but Nick hung around to keep me going, which once we got to around the 8 mile mark he trotted off on his way as there was no need for him to keep waiting.

It has to be said that when we first set off on the run, I was not sure how we would do and would have been content with 2hrs & 59, but the other runners and then the Burgens coming past certainly spurs you on.

For the first half mile the run takes you and then down a little before an upward hike to the 2 mile marker, where you cross a road and are greeted with people applauding you as you cross, the hill keeps climbing before coming down at around 2.5 miles.

At around 4miles you reach the first water point, quick slurp and on your way, the run round a lake is a bit strange as on your way in you see runners coming  out, but suddenly realise it must be at least half a mile before you too come back out and see runners having to do the same.

Around 6 mile there is a fairly hilly bit before again crossing a road with people applauding, you get areal boast from this, you soon reach the 8 mile water point, whihc too be fair seemed more like 7, but i wasnt moaning, never quick slurp of that lovely cold water!!!

At around 8.5miles you are greeted with a dip that is full of water, in you go and up to your knees!!, trouble is its rocky and many are seen falling over, then you are greeted with "Pussy Hill", a near vertical hill and everyone seems to be struggling with this one, as it is stoney and loose under foot.

Once at the top, in the distance you can hear the applause as people finish and the loud speaker greetin gthem in, this is the point where I had massive cramp and the want to run taken over with pain, but onward you go with people urging you on.

As you reach the last 250 metres, Paras line the route and urge that last bit of effort, effort you can not deny giving, and at this point the pain has gone, with each word of encouragement more energy comes into my lungs and legs, as i reach the grass which is soft under foot a sudden urge to sprint kicks in and as I can see the faces of people urging me I shout to a burgen carrying  lad "Run", "Come on, put it in"!!! he responds and before I know it he is sprinting people are cheering and its a race I challenged him to and he wants to win!!!

Must have been 150 or so metres at full pace and as we hit the line I pat his head shout weel done, only for the cramp to kick in, as I stop and grab my calfs, I can hear well done from Davy and Nick and then another well done & thanks mate from the young lad who had just sprinted the last 150ms, massive hand shake and a big big grin!!

Both again say thanks and move off to get the medals and Shirts!!

Massively proud moment and a feeling of achievement that I have never felt before, very proud of myself and especailly my 2 team mates, Nick & Davy who I know are equally proud!!

Well done Guys, and too think at the start there were rummblings of not wanting to do it next year, and 24 hours later we were planning to return and talking others into running as well,, !!

Thank you for looking

Steve, Davy & Nick!