Amazing - I finished!

 

This was a team effort.  A huge thanks to my family and my friends families for their support on the course keeping us fuelled and watered. My running buddies Pete Hutson, Jason Allen, Frankie Chu and James Rodge - if it is possible to make an ultra fun, you guys came close to it. Same time next year?!!!!!!

 

The biggest thanks goes to all of you for making the journey really worthwhile.  The money we have raised will definately make a difference.  Well done everyone, including you Iain who pro-rata to income was my smallest pledge - remember I've seen your house! Seriously, a big pat on everyone's back for a really amazing effort.

 

I'm off to go and lie down in a dark room. In the words of Vinnie Jones 'it's been emotional'.

 

 

NO TURNING BACK NOW!!!!!!

 

The alarm went off at 4.30 am and Heather packed me off with my porridge & bagel (and snorkel, flippers - it rained 12 hours straight yesterday)! The course has been altered slightly to avoid the flooding but I think we will still have our fair share of knee high water!

 

The run starts at 8.30 - keep an eye on this page for updates on our progress!

 

Wish me luck!

 

 

I have decided to kick off 2014 with my first (and probably last) Ultra Marathon.  I'm not sure the human body was ever designed to run 50 miles but I am sure that my particular body was definitely not designed to do it.  This message is to ask for your support for a worthy cause, should I manage to complete the course.

 

I am looking to raise money for the breast cancer charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer.  http://www.breakthrough.org.uk A close friend of ours was diagnosed with breast cancer towards the end of 2013 and is currently going through the intrusive and  frightening treatment necessary to kick this disease out of her body. It seemed obvious to me that this was the appropriate charity for me to focus my effort and hopefully give me the incentive to push through during those dark places I'm expected to visit along the Thames path when I'm completing this event.

 

This journey began for me after the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics. I had achieved my new 'personal best' weight and decided to make a change following the inspiration I received from watching those athletes.  I entered a cycle ride to take place in the Alpes in the Summer of 2013.  To enable me to complete the course I realised I would need not only to get fit but to loose some weight.  What better way than to run it off during the winter of 2012/13. To that end I was persuaded to enter the Thames Trot as an incentive to get out and train hard.  In had previously run the 2002 and 2003 London Marathons but had done little long distance running since then. Sadly my attempt at the Thames Trot was thwarted in Dec 2012 with an achilles heal injury.  My entry was deferred to 2014, and here we are!

 

My training program has been a long affair and not without it's ups and downs.  I have left it until quite close to race day to send out this email as I couldn't be sure I would stay injury free to enable me to compete.  I am now into my tapper and hope to take my place on the start line in Oxford to complete the course which I expect will be somewhat wet should the current weather continue.  I hope to complete the event in around 9 hours but the time limit is 11 hours so 10.59 would be good enough as far as I'm concerned. The finish will be in Henley Upon Thames.

 

I will circulate a further few reminders before the event for those like me who have good intensions but need reminding to go on line and make a pledge.

May I thank those who do decide to give a donation to this worthy cause.  I’m sure many of us have been touched by this horrible disease and some of you will know that my mother suffered from breast cancer.  I look forward to following any such pledges and your messages on the Just Giving website.

hanks 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. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.