Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.

GREAT NORTH RUN          20TH SEPTEMBER 2009

Greetings colleagues, friends, family and to anyone who has accidentally stumbled onto this page, you're all very welcome.

Over 700,000 people have dementia in the UK, this figure will rise to over 1 million by 2025. Funds raised will go towards research into the cause, care, cure and prevention of this terible disease. Having entered the GNR and given our own family history, my wife and I thought it would be appropriate and worthwhile to try and raise funds and awareness of dementia.

I intend to post (I'm really getting the hang of this computer speak malarky - although in honesty, it did take me over an hour to put that photograph on at the top. Oh well, I suppose that't to be expected of a 56 year old technophobe) Where was I? Oh Yes, I intend to post an update on my training at semi-regular intervals - so here goes.

DAY 10 OF KENNY'S TRAINING           I was running along Stanley Road in Ardrossan quite smoothly when all of a sudden a giant six foot tall ant - yes! a giant six foot tall ant, jumped out directly in front of me. What happened next is unbelievable. The giant ant took up a boxing stance (southpaw, I think that's what threw me!) It then started pummelling me with it's - what are they? hands, paws, feet, antennae? Anyway, I was knocked to the ground and with a few more kicks and punches, the ant disappeared as quickly as it had emerged.

I was dazed and stunned as I lay on the pavement - not the first time I've been horizintal on a pavement but not usually while out on a run.

However, a kindly looking gentleman appeared, "Are you all right? Can I help in any way, I'm a doctor."

I looked up gratefully, "Thanks, I've just been beaten up by a giant ant".

He looked down at me, "That's all right, there's a vicious bug going round".

The jokes can't get any worse, can they?

 

THE TRAINING CONTINUES APACE    05.08.09

Having recovered, only just,  from the ant-related trauma, I decided a competitive element was needed to add a required edge to my training. Accordingly, on Wednesday night, 5th August, I lined up with the great and the good for The Dundonald 10K.

A 'friend' (make that fiend) had reliably informed me that the course was flat and not in the least bit hilly. Well, to paraphrase the great Blackadder, the course was as hilly as Harry and Benny Hill driving a Hillman up a Hill in Hilltown.

There was a safety ambulance employed during the run and somewhat disconcertingly it appeared to slowly follow me the whole way round. I couldn't decide if the paramedic was admiring my running style and stylish new shorts or if he had recognised some medically-related danger signs as I clambered up and down the steep inclines. For whatever reason, he obviously felt duty-bound to stay with me!

Anyway, despite the not flatness of the course, I stumbled back to the mean streets of Dundonald in 55 minutes Not too bad for me.

Major plus - no giant ants this time!     Although I think someone's uncle was running.

 

MY TRAINING ROUTE

I stay in Ardrossan. Now, being honest, the old town hasn't got much going for it. In fact, a national newspaper recently named it one of the worst  towns in Scotland. Not so long ago Ardrossan boasted seven hotels and a host of pubs (what exactly is the collective term for public houses? I suppose 'host' is quite appropriate really).

Sadly, the tally is now - one hotel and three pubs. Incidentally, the one hotel does a fine Early Bird between 1600 and 1830, Monday to Saturday, great value at only £7.95 for two courses!   

Things are looking up though. As well as a new Asda, the harbour area has been completely regenerated. There's now an Italian restaurant (excellent hot-plate review from Tam Cowan), there's quay-side luxury flats and aslo, a fine marina.

Take a walk along the marina. Smell the ocean, see the birds circle and hover overhead, listen to the guy lines tinkling against the bobbing masts. You could be in The South of France - if it was warmer, sunnier and you had a really vivid imagination

But what Ardrossan has always possessed is a fine beach incorporating an excellent promenade, ideal for traffic-free jogging. Another good route is the coastal road north along the A78 to Seamill. This is my favoured run. Three to four miles of uninterrupted, scenic pathway with The Firth of Clyde and the island of Arran on your left side as you proceed.

Nothing beats watching Goat Fell rising majestically as you pound away.

There's never a dull moment on this busy path. In the past, I've been asked for directions, nearly knocked down by cyclists (often), witnessed a car crash, helped erect a tent and on one memorable occasion, I was asked by a young lady if I could hitch a four by four on to her caravan! And no, that's not a euphemism for anything else!

Right, where's my running shoes and stylish shorts, I'm off to dodge some cyclists.

 

BORN TO RUN

As I said, I now stay in Ardrossan but I hail from Ayr, the town of 'honest men and bonnie lassies'. Having married a 'bonnie lassie', Evelyn, our first marital home was a caravan next to Masonhill Crematorium. Oh yes, I know how to treat a new bride.

The caravan was quite smallish consisting of a living area and a tiny partitioned off bedroom.  One night we had an argument and Evelyn (multi-tasking as usual) found and put on her shoes while simultaneously pirouetting in a desperate circular attempt to introduce her arm to her coat sleeve. "I'm leaving you", she explained loudly as she opened and then slammed shut the caravan's door.

Now, as I watched 'Follyfoot', yes, that's how long ago it was, I noticed through my peripheral vision that Evelyn had opened and closed the door from the inside and then had quickly nipped into the partitioned bedroom.

Time passed, then there was a knock at the door. Joan Donald, like Evelyn  was a Student Nurse at Seafield Hospital.   "Hello Kenny," she smiled. "Is Evelyn in? It's just that we arranged to do some studying together."

"Hi Joan," I said cheerfully. "Come in, come in. Evelyn's through here," I said, opening the bedroom door. I followed Joan into the bedroom and stood beside her at the bottom of the bed in the otherwise empty room.

Joan's puzzled and somewhat worried expression changed to one of mild terror as a muffled, disembodied voice emanated from under the bed. "Oh hello Joan. You made it after all, that's great."

A head suddenly emerged from the bottom of the bed, just in front of our feet. Then, with some considerable effort and a few grunts and groans, the rest of Evelyn materialised. Evelyn, now standing,  joined Joan and me in the small spare area at the bottom of the bed. It was a wee bit crowded there now with the three of us.

I took it upon myself to break the awkward silence. "Well I'm off for a pint. I'll let you two study in peace."

This is a true story and possibly forms part of some kind of a background  to the way our destinies are shaped and programmed for later life.  If I recall, I think Joan branched into psychiatric nursing not long after this incident.

So, just like Bruce - No, not Forsyth, Springsteen, I was Born To Run - or at least walk briskly.

PS The competative training continues. Completed the Irvine 10K in 51 minutes.

 

20th  SEPTEMBER  2009

Well, the big day has finally arrived.  The Great North Run.

We're lined up on Newcastle's central motorway waiting nervously to start our 13.1 mile journey to South Shields. The weather conditions are unseasonably hot. It's a roaster! It's going to make sustained running that bit more difficult (always get you excuses in early, that's what I always say).

A Mister Motivator type took the runners through a light warm up to the strains of 'YMCA' and then the public address system announced The Elite Runners.

"Martin Lel from Kenya" Huge round of applause.  "Jaouad Gharib from Morocco" More clapping.  "Gebre Gebremariam from Ethiopia"  More clapping.  "Kenny Weir from Ardrossan"  No more clapping.  Okay, okay, I made that last one up.

Then it was the celebrity runners turn to be introduced. "Gordon Ramsay", "James Cracknell", "Alistair Campbell",  "Kenny We . . . right, wasn't that funny the first time. 

As the start of the race drew ever nearer, the MC invited the runners and spectators to contemplate for a moment the reasons we were here and which people were in our thoughts at this time. It was a profoundly moving moment, intensified greatly when 'Abide With Me' began washing over the now very quiet and emotional fifty five thousand people. 

Then Sting, no less, fired the starting pistol and sent us on our way. Here's hoping for some 'Giant Steps' I thought optimistically.

The incredible heat soon took its toll as many runners slowed to almost walking pace.

The large crowds en route were a great support and none more so than when I reached The Official Alzheimer's Support Bus which was parked at the six mile mark. Everyone of the three and a half thousand 'Stampeders' received en extra cheer, whistle and wave from the voluble and enthusiastic Alzheimer support team on board. Well done, I cannot overstate what a boost this gave me.

The winner of The Great North Run completed the course in under one hour - incredible! My time was two hours and eight minutes, not brilliant but not too bad either.

But somehow I don't feel that the day was just about winning or recording fast times. It's the old cliche I suppose, its not the winning - its the taking part that counts.

The 20th of September for me was about a massive diverse gathering of humanity, from all walks of life, all sizes, all ages, all nationalities, all colours, all religions, united in a singular goal - to run 13.1 miles.

I saw firemen running while wearing heavy breathing apparatus sets;  soldiers running in formation with equipment packs on their back. I saw people competing in wheelchairs, people being pushed in wheelchairs. I saw blind runners, runners with disabilities, and I saw hundreds upon hundreds of crazy, colourful, kaleidoscopic costumes. And I saw The Red Arrows!

Whether it was to just have the satisfaction and personal achievement of completing the 13,1 miles or to have raised funds for a particular charity or cause, The Great North Run, for me, was a positive, atmospheric, exhilarating and humbling experience. An experience that I will never forget and one that I would recommend to all.

Finally, may I take this opportunity to thank everyone who took time, effort and expense to sponsor me.

A sincere thank you for supporting me and much more importantly, for supporting The Alzheimer's Society.

Cheers!