Paul Shipman
Coventry Half Marathon for Coventry Special Care Baby Unit
Fundraising for University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire Charity
Story
So, like all good ideas that turn out to be terrible, this starts in a pub.
I was having drink and lamenting the fact that my half-hearted longshot application to the London Marathon hadn't won a place. At this point Emma (who is my hardcore running buddy and motivator) encouraged me to come to parkrun and also to start running regularly.
Then about 4 weeks later she pointed out the Coventry Half Marathon. She said it's a great target to aim for, a good event and something special in the city i'm proud to live in. I agreed and we signed up, thinking "well I can do 5k, how hard can a half marathon be?"
Looking back at past me, I honestly think he's clearly a bit simple.
As most of you know i'm built for running about as much as i'm built for international level gymnastics or entering Miss World (though now i think i've got the legs for it). I have the grace and balence of a drunk elephant on rollerskates and am notoriously clumsy. You think i'm bad normally? You should see me dance!
I needed a reason to do this, to keep going, pushing myself and training harder than I ever have. I found it, it's Sampson, my little cub.
My son was born 8 weeks early (too awesome to be contained, clearly) and entered this world before it, or in fact we, we ready for him. He only got to stay at Coventry hospital as it was too late to transport him to an intensive care unit elsewhere in the country. He spent his first night in the supply annex of the intensive care ward in an incubator, where after we'd all had cuddles and he's met the grandparents I settled him down, introduced myself, told him I loved him and read to him as I promised myself I would the day he arrived (the first chapter of the princess bride, with voices).
We then spent some of the worst weeks of my life at the hospital, every night, all weekend with him in Special Care as they nurtured him and helped him grow until he was ready to come home. We learnt all we could, and when the answers got scary, I backed away from asking questions, trusting the amazing staff who not only helped him, but helped us. We learnt how to bathe him, how to feed him, how to look after him, even how to change nappies though the hatches of an incubator (it's like a game on a weird twisted version of the crystal maze).
Through all of this the staff were amazing, always there to help and support, always there to answer my questions, even when I couldn't sleep and called at 3am (which became habit) just to make sure he was ok.
They supported my family at a time of need. Trying to support them and the amazing work they do for familes when they need it the most is the least I can do. I can never thank them enough, this is my way of trying.
That's what I'm running for.
If you can, any support would be appreciated. If you also with your sponsorship would like to suggest a good upbeat song, i'll add it to the running playlist for the day itself, when I promise I will finish the race.
I was having drink and lamenting the fact that my half-hearted longshot application to the London Marathon hadn't won a place. At this point Emma (who is my hardcore running buddy and motivator) encouraged me to come to parkrun and also to start running regularly.
Then about 4 weeks later she pointed out the Coventry Half Marathon. She said it's a great target to aim for, a good event and something special in the city i'm proud to live in. I agreed and we signed up, thinking "well I can do 5k, how hard can a half marathon be?"
Looking back at past me, I honestly think he's clearly a bit simple.
As most of you know i'm built for running about as much as i'm built for international level gymnastics or entering Miss World (though now i think i've got the legs for it). I have the grace and balence of a drunk elephant on rollerskates and am notoriously clumsy. You think i'm bad normally? You should see me dance!
I needed a reason to do this, to keep going, pushing myself and training harder than I ever have. I found it, it's Sampson, my little cub.
My son was born 8 weeks early (too awesome to be contained, clearly) and entered this world before it, or in fact we, we ready for him. He only got to stay at Coventry hospital as it was too late to transport him to an intensive care unit elsewhere in the country. He spent his first night in the supply annex of the intensive care ward in an incubator, where after we'd all had cuddles and he's met the grandparents I settled him down, introduced myself, told him I loved him and read to him as I promised myself I would the day he arrived (the first chapter of the princess bride, with voices).
We then spent some of the worst weeks of my life at the hospital, every night, all weekend with him in Special Care as they nurtured him and helped him grow until he was ready to come home. We learnt all we could, and when the answers got scary, I backed away from asking questions, trusting the amazing staff who not only helped him, but helped us. We learnt how to bathe him, how to feed him, how to look after him, even how to change nappies though the hatches of an incubator (it's like a game on a weird twisted version of the crystal maze).
Through all of this the staff were amazing, always there to help and support, always there to answer my questions, even when I couldn't sleep and called at 3am (which became habit) just to make sure he was ok.
They supported my family at a time of need. Trying to support them and the amazing work they do for familes when they need it the most is the least I can do. I can never thank them enough, this is my way of trying.
That's what I'm running for.
If you can, any support would be appreciated. If you also with your sponsorship would like to suggest a good upbeat song, i'll add it to the running playlist for the day itself, when I promise I will finish the race.