Tim Slater
Carolyn Slater's Fundraising Page
Fundraising for PROSTATE CANCER UK
Story
Sunday, 13th April 2008
It took longer than I wanted but that was down to two reasons:
1st -- a 20+ minute toilet stop
2nd -- I met a girl at Waterloo and we started together and then met back up after my toilet stop so we made a pact that as we'd started together, we'd finish together. Unfortunately though Alex was a struggling and we walked a bit between 21 and 24. Doesn't matter though as it wasn't about time, just about finishing it. Still held some in reserve for the sprint finish.
Had a fantastic time. Off to work now -- thank you so much to my supporters who came up to cheer me on. You were all superstars!!!
Thanks also to everyone who has helped me to raise such an incredible amount of money as well - I couldn't have done it without you!
Now for the important bit:-
I finished the line and had a glass of champagne which tasted "funny" so opted for a black coffee instead. Then went to the Plume to meet Sarah and Ady and had a lovely pint of lager which went down rather nicely (at this stage I was swaying a little). Came back home and shared two bottles of fizzy with Tim and Colin (they obviously drank more) and then had a glass of wine. No hangover this morning - a little dehydrated but I'm putting that down to the run (tee hee)!.
Thanks again to everyone...
Lots of love.. x.x.
Sunday, 13th April 2008 - 6.23am (104 out of 104 days)
Well, I said I was determined to do it and I did it!!!
All I can say now is ...... "bring on the finish line"....
x.x.x.
Saturday, 12th April 2008 (103 out of 104 days)
Well, for those of you who have asked why Carolyn's hubby hasnt made a donation yet, then here's my answer..... my personal suffering of Carolyn's mood swings and general grumpiness because she can't have a drink is surely enough of a personal donation in own right - isnt it??????
Now if you are suprised that I say that my wife has had moody moments, then I should point out that Carolyn's blog hasnt always been strictly true. I remember having (infact suffering) an evening when Carolyn was really really grumpy and wanting just the smallest glass of vino. Obviously she abstained, but what was curious was how her blog and an article in the Farham Herald explained how much easier she was finding having given up the pop - hah ha hah!!!?????????
Despite these potential Blog untruths, I can most definitely confirm that WIFEY really hasn't touched a drop. And as John (the afectionately known name of my middle aged gut has become known) has benefited from substantially less alcohol for many years as well as having been dragged on 2 half marathons, I guess it is time to dip in the proverbal pocket too!!.
Well done Carolyn!!
Ben, Laura, Helen, Nanny, Sarah, Adie, Georgie, Colin, Phillipa, me and others will all be there shouting for your tomorrow
xxx
Tuesday, 8th April 2008 (99 out of 104 days)
I feel like a kid counting down the days til Christmas. 5 sleeps now til Sunday. I'm really looking forward to it. Unfortunately though my tonsilitus has reared its ugly head again BUT I'm hoping that by Sunday it will have calmed down and I'll be able to ignore it. Weather conditions look great for Sunday - I'm so pleased that it won't be snowing!!
Yesterday was my hardest day for not drinking by a long way!! It was Tim's birthday and usually on one of our birthdays we drink for England but obviously not yesterday. It was really weird but for the first time I felt all day that something was missing. And it was... an alcoholic drink in my hand!! Tim's having two birthdays this year though so we'll be celebrating in true Slater style after Sunday!!
I have to say that I am totally shocked and surprised by how generous everyone has been in sponsoring me. You are all absolute superstars!! Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to donate to my fundraising page. I'm well on the way to raising my £2,000 so thank you!!
A BIG thank you to Julian at the Plume too - I'll be stopping in on my way back from London for that bottle of Chardonnay!!
I'm really glad I've done this and have taken the time off alcohol because the difference it has made has been unbelievable but I DEFINITELY won't be doing it again!! I will, however, be putting in an entry into the ballot for the 2009 Marathon - I'll definitely be doing that again.
Thanks again to all of you!!!... x.x.x....
Wednesday, 2nd April 2008
I just wanted to tell you all about the most amazing sandwich delivery company that's based in Bentley (BUT delivery ANYWHERE). They're called H20 and their sandwiches are out of this world. Especially their ham sandwiches cut into squares - yum yum!! If you want a copy of their menu, then email Adrian at h20ajf@talk21.com. You have to give them a go!! .x.
Friday, 28th March 2008
Something very important happened today which I just HAD to share! M&S delivered my wine order with over £300 worth of chardonnay and fizzy!! I am in my element. I spent the day looking at the bottles and labelling them in order of which bottle I was going to have first, second, third, fourth, etc. etc. etc.
Oh and I also managed to run for 3 hours and 5 minutes on Monday at the gym on the treadmill. I could have kept going but unfortunately the gym closed at 4pm because it was Easter Monday - I'm very confident now for two weeks on Sunday!! The countdown has begun! Not for the Marathon mind, for being able to drink alcohol again!!!... x..
Sunday, 16th March 2008
Another Half Marathon completed. Not my favourite running conditions mind, rain, wind and mud but quite enjoyed it really. Knocked 3 minutes off last week's Half so quite pleased considering the weather. 2hrs 4 mins!! Could've kept going too which was encouraging. (Thanks Sarah for the pukka roast which was waiting for us - even better was thrashing Ady at Buzz!). x.x.
3 weeks this Sunday - it's going to fly by. Especially when I now go back to work on the 14th April, the day after - work have been warned that I will be severly hungover - thankfully I've got two inset days til the kids are back tho!!
Good luck to Linda Tyler who's also running (I know her husband reads my blog)!....
Sunday, 9th March 2008
Completed the Silverstone Half. God what a boring course!!! Didn't do as well as I wanted to but not bad considering I'd been ill the week before. I also did my personal best Half Marathon since breaking my leg so I was really quite pleased. Managed to complete it in 2hrs 7 mins!!
Fleet Half this w/e!!... Hoping to do as close to 2hrs as I can!... Fingers crossed... will update after the race!
Still no alcohol, over 10 WEEKS now!!! Only 4 weeks this Sunday til the Marathon and my first pint of 2008 - I can't bloody wait!!...
Thanks again to everyone who has sponsored me so far!!!
x.x.
Wednesday, 5th March 2008
It's now been 9 weeks since I last took a sip of alcohol!! I can't believe that this Sunday it will be 5 weeks til the Marathon - oh mi goodness!!!!
I've been battling a throat infection and an awful cold this last week and I'm still not feeling 100% although I'm determined to run in Sunday's Silverstone Half. I won't overdo it though, I just want to finish it and then I can concentrate on the Fleet Half the week after!!
Training is going fantastically well and I've never been so fit so I'm really determined to beat my 2005 time!!
Oh and to say I'm gagging for a drink now is a slight understatement..
..x...
6/2/08
Another update - I've now done 5 weeks and 1 day!!
It's going really well!! Although I'm starting to worry that I've lost my appetite for alcohol - I'm hoping that it's only a slight hitch and my desire for fizzy and Chardonnay will come flooding back on Sunday, 13th April once I've crossed the line!!
I've promised myself a pint of Grolsch, a bottle of Champagne and a bottle of Chardonnay. I'll probably be as pissed as a fart - especially if Sarah's anything to go by!! Sarah (my mate) is doing 95% of the no drinking with me - she's supporting me - bless her!!
The weeks are flying by now and it's only 9 weeks this Sunday til the Marathon. Training is going very well and my running is so much better with no alcohol in my system! I'm flying on the treadmill!
So a little note to those pessimistic friends of mine - see - I can do it!!!
And a BIG thanks to everyone who has sponsored me so far!! I will do another update at the end of February!
In the meantime - cheers everyone!!.... x.x....
15/1/08
I just wanted to write and update everyone on how I'm doing. Well, todays is the 15th January and I've had no alcohol now for two weeks. The first week was hard - I had headaches some mornings but my biggest problem was not getting to sleep. I had to take something to knock me out!!
Second week though, a breeze!! I even managed a w/e away to Manchester (went to see James Blunt) and felt comfortable drinking water and non-alcohol drinks whilst everyone around me drank for England. It was very interesting watching people deteriorate throughout the evening!!
I'm back in the gym training now and I've got more energy and I'm knocking the times off my personal best!! On Sunday, 13th January it was 13 weeks til the Marathon, not long at all if you say it quickly!! I've put some lovely Chardonnay in the fridge for the evening of the 13th April and I'm looking forward to drinking it (on my own!).
Thank you so much to those who have sponsored me and if you're waiting to see whether I do it first, I think you're going to be surprised because I am SOOO determined!!.... x.x...
If you haven't visited this page before, this is what I'm doing:-
On Sunday, 13th April 2008 I will be running in the London Marathon with seven of my work colleagues dressed up as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfes. We are running to raise money for three Charities. Prostate Cancer (my Charity), CRY and Meningitis.
I know that in the past I have asked some of you to sponsor me for an event that Tim and I have done but this time it's slightly different. I'm doing a sponsored "Giving Up Alcohol" from 1st January - 13th April (after the Marathon). I have promised that I won't let a single sip of alcohol past my lips for the four months.
As you all know me pretty well, this is a VERY big thing for me to do but I want to raise as much money as possible for my Charity and if it means giving up alcohol, then so be it. Some of you might be sceptible and think that I won't do it but then there's some of you who know me better and know how determined I can be when I put my mind to something!!
I didn't get into the Ballot this year so I've taken a bonded place with Prostate Cancer because it's a Charity that I support. I need to raise £2,000 by June 2008. We've raised so much money for Charities such as Great Ormond Street and British Heart Foundation that I wanted to run for someone different.
Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. Please dig deep and sponsor me, no matter how big or small - it all makes a difference!
I really appreciate your support and wish you all a very Happy New Year!! Oh and if anyone needs a taxi - don't hesitate to phone me....
Carolyn .... x....
Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: The Prostate Cancer Charity will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.