Stephen Gregory
Steves' page.
Fundraising for Christians Against Poverty
Story
Hello and thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
My name is Steve Gregory, aged 55 from Sheffield. I'm taking part in the 2010 Sheffield Half Marathon following a depressive illness of over 2 years. I joined my local gym in November 2008 after my Doctor recommended this as part of my recovery.
Initially I just wanted to get back in shape. The illness had left me very unfit and overweight. I had no self confidence - even deciding to attend the gym sessions in the first place was very difficult for me. But I stuck with it. Everyone at the gym was very supportive and I soon started to enjoy my visits. After just a couple of weeks I could see I was feeling fitter. My body was aching of course, but I loved the workout routines and the friendly support I was receiving from everyone.
Early in 2009 I started making personal goals for my fitness. When I was younger I played lots of regular football, but now being middle aged I realised I couldn't play for 90 minutes at the same level. One of the guys at the gym I know used to run marathons and after speaking with him I made the decision to take part myself. I began my training with the help of Dave Birds, the GP referral specialist at Concord sports centre.
I had never done distance running before this challenge. I think the longest I've ever run was 1 mile when I was playing football! Today, after 10 months of intensive training completing 85 training runs, I ran The Sheffield Half Marathon at The Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield. My official finishing time was 2.15.07, which I have to be happy with in the very warm conditions of full sun. I have a lovely medal, a T-shirt & a pen as souvenirs, but more importantly, I have achieved a personal goal I would have thought impossible a year ago. Days don't come much better than these!
The Organisation I'm running for is CAP (Christians Against Poverty). I wanted to have a good enough reason for running the half marathon other than personal gain and prestige. My Dads' Cousin Hazel and her Husband John introduced me to CAP during my illness and I could see what wonderful work they do for people just like you and I that fall on hard times in their life. You can find out more about them from their web site at www.capuk.org
Please will you sponsor me to run in the 2010 Sheffield Half Marathon?
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? Thank you.
Steve.
THE SHEFFIELD HALF MARATHON - SUN. 24/4/10. - I'VE DONE IT!!! My goal has been achieved. Running 13.1 miles without stopping in The Sheffield Half Marathon at Don Valley Stadium. Because of the very warm conditions in full sun, I had to run at a slower pace, hence a finishing time which was longer than I wanted, but I have always said finishing the course completely was my objective.
The last 10 months have been such a wonderful voyage of self discovery. There were times (after I was injured quite badly in a fall in December, and the subsequent icy conditions preventing me from training outdoors) when my determination and perseverance were tested to the limit. But I always kept my goals in focus and never once doubted my ability to succeed in this challenge. This very first marathon run is just the beginning for me. Next year I'm planning to run the full marathon in Italy. The Rome course is one of the most beautiful in the world and taking part in this event in the Eternal City will mean something really special to me. There is so much more I want to achieve with my training, and so much more I want to discover about myself.
I would like to thank a very special man. Jack Cowlishaw (who I'm pictured with in my photos). Jack was the reason I got involved in marathon running when I met him at my local gym. The guy is awesome. He's 70 years of age and his finishing time in todays race was a staggering 1.46.30 - that's almost half an hour quicker than my time!!! He has been such an inspiration to me throughout my training for this challenge, and is a perfect example of what can be achieved by the human spirit. Thank you so much Jack.
Thank you to everyone who has supported me during the last 10 months. It really has meant so much to me. I'm going to keep this page live until after I've completed my next major fitness goal - the 2011 Rome Marathon on 20th March, to raise as much as possible for my charity. Obviously, I'll keep updating my training (running & cricket) as I progress throughout the summer. Finally, in the words of the ex-Sheffield United footballer, Vinnie Jones - "It's been emotional".
PS - many apologies for entering the incorrect information on The Lord Mayors 10k donation post. The correct time & finishing position are shown below.
Here is a complete run down of all my training runs completed so far since I began this challenge in June 2009. The total mileage covered is in brackets. :
Sun. 21/6/09. - 2 mile distance - 30.00 (approx.) (2)
Wed. 24/6/09. - " - 25.00 " (4)
Sat. 27/6/09. - " - 25.01 " (6)
Wed. 01/7/09. - " - 25.01 " (8)
Frid. 03/7/09. - " - 25.00 " (10)
Sun. 05/7/09. - " - 25.00 " (12)
Tues. 07/7/09. - " - 30.00 " (14)
Thurs. 09/7/09. - " - 30.00 " (16)
Sun. 12/7/09. - " - 30.00 " (18)
Tues. 14/7/09. - " - 18.25 (First time using s/watch)
Sat. 18/7/09. - " - 19.14 (22)
Mon. 20/7/09. - " - 18.04. (24)
Wed. 22/7/09. - " - 17.47. (26)
Frid. 24/7/09. - " - 16.39. (28)
Mon. 27/7/09. - " - 17.26. (30)
Frid. 31/7/09. - " - 17.41. (32)
Sun. 2/8/09. - " - 16.47. (34)
Tues. 4/8/09. - 3 mile distance. - 29.54. (37)
Frid. 7/8/09. - " - 28.48. (40)
Sun. 9/8/09. - " - 29.41. (43)
Thurs. 13/8/09. - " - 28.19. (46)
Frid. 14/8/09. - " - 28.59. (In Blackpool)
Sun. 16/8/09. - " - 28.28. (52)
Tues. 18/8/09. - " - 33.57. (1st in Concord Park)
Thurs. 20/8/09. - " - 30.57. (58)
Sat. 22/8/09. - " - 29.34. (61)
Tues. 25/8/09. - 4 mile distance. - 37.25. (65)
Frid. 28/8/09. - " - 36.08. (69)
Sun. 30/8/09. - " - 45.00 (At Deepcar)
Wed. 2/9.09. - " - 35.49. (77)
Frid. 4/9/09. - " - 34.44. (81)
Sun. 6/9/09. - " - 35.58. (85)
Wed. 9/9/09. - " - 36.24. (89)
Sat. 12/9/09. - " - 34.29. (93)
Tues. 15/9/09. - 5 mile distance. - 44.51. (98)
Thurs. 17/9/09. - " - 43.21. (103)
Sun. 20/9/09. - " - 47.08. (108)
Tues. 22/9/09. - " - 50.00. (At Dam Flask)
Thurs. 24/9/09. - " - 46.24. (118)
Sat. 26/9/09. - " - 43.00. (123)
Wed. 30.9.09. - " - 43.50. (128)
Frid. 2/10/09. - " - 44.26. (133)
Sun. 4/10/09. - " - 44.09. (138)
Tues. 6/10/09. - 6 mile distance. - 50.40. (144)
Frid. 9/10/09. - " - 51.03. (149)
Mon. 12/10/09. - " - 49.04. (155)
Frid. 16/10/09. - " - 50.40. (161)
Mon. 19/10.09. - " - 50.19. (167)
Sat. 24/10/09. - " - 49.52. (173)
Tues. 27/10/09. - 7 mile distance. - 60.03. (180)
Sat. 31/10/09. - " - 61.05. (187)
Wed. 4/11/09. - " - 60.32. (194)
Mon. 9/11/09. - " - 58.33. (201)
Frid. 13/11/09. - " - 59.26. (208)
Tues. 17/11/09. - 8 mile distance. - 1.10.30 (216)
Sun. 22/11/09. - " - 1.09.39 (224)
Thurs. 26/11/09. - " 1.09.05 (232)
Mon. 30/11/09. - " 1.09.44 (240)
Wed. 9/12/09. - Fell & badly bruised my rib cage whilst working. Nothing broken but agonisingly painful.
Thurs. 24/12/09. - 1st run after my fall in the gym on the treadmill. 4.3 miles or 7 km. Approx. 45 mins. (244)
Mon. 28/12/09. - 9 mile distance. - 1.38.14 (run indoors on the treadmill at the gym) (253)
Thurs. 31/12/09. - 6 mile distance. - 1.11.00 (run indoors on the treadmill at the gym) (259)
Tues. 5/1/10 - 7 mile distance. - 1.06 (run indoors on the treadmill - gym closed due to bad weather) (266)
Frid. 8/1/10. - 9 mile distance. - 1.36.35 (run indoors on the treadmill) (275)
Tues. 12/1/10. - Estimated 7/8 miles. - 1.20.00 (run indoors on the treadmill) (282)
Sat. 16/1/10. - 9 mile distance. - 1.36.48 (run indoors on the treadmill) (291)
Wed. 20/1/10. - 10 mile distance. - 1.46.00 (run indoors on the treadmill) (301)
Mon. 25/1/10. - 3 mile distance. - 30.19 (304) The first run outdoors since my injury.
Wed. 27/1/10. - 3 mile distance. - 29.40 (307)
Sun. 31/1/10. - 3 mile distance. - 29.15 (310)
Sat. 6/2/10. - 6.75 mile distance (4 full circuits) - 1.03.14 (317)
Thurs. 11/2/10. - 4.5 mile distance. - 45.00. (run indoors on the treadmill) (322)
Sun. 14/2/10. - 10 mile distance. - 1.36.07. (332)
Thurs. 18/2/10. - 6.7 miles approx. - 1.04.00 (run indoors on the treadmill) (338)
Sun. 21/2/10. - 7 mile distance. - 1.07.00 (run indoors on the treadmill) (345)
Sat. 27/2/10. - 6.7 mile distance (4 full circuits) - 1.03.08. (351)
Thurs. 4/3/10. - 10.5 mile distance (3 full circuits around Dam Flask) - 1.34.57. (361.5)
Sun. 7/3/10. - The Norton 9. My very first competitive road race over the 9 mile distance.
1.28.59. Finished 468th out of 509 runners. (370.1)
Thurs. 11/3/10. - 7 mile distance. - 1.04.18. (377.1)
Sun. 14/3/10. - 12 mile distance. - 1.51.12. (389.1)
Wed. 24/3/10. - 11 mile distance (over 3 laps of Dam Flask) - 1.48.22). (400.1)
Thurs. 1/4/10. - Half marathon distance (13.1 miles). - 2.05.07. (413.2)
Sat. 10/4/10. - 8 mile run to Sheffield City Centre. Walked the next 4.72 miles. (12.72 in total (422)
Wed. 14/4/10. - 8.65 miles to Fox Hill & home. - 1.22.25. (430.65) First run in new Nike trainers.
Sun. 18/4/10. - The Lord Mayors' 10k. 6.2 mile competitive road race. - 54.15. (436.85)
Finished in 209th position out of 279 runners.
Wed. 21/4/10. - My 85th & final run before the half marathon. Approx 4 miles (4 circuits around
Leazes Park in Newcastle, running with a backpack!) in a time of 35.41. (441.2)
Sun. 25/4/10. - THE SHEFFIELD HALF MARATHON. (13.1 miles). - 2.15.07 (0fficial time)
Finishing position - 3,605th out of 5,500 competitors.
Finishing position in my age group (50+) - 127th out of 157 competitors.
Total miles ran during this challenge - 454.4.
POST MARATHON RUNNING UPDATES:
Mon. 3/5/10. - My 4th competitive road race. The Wombwell 5 mile event.
Official finishing time - 43.34. Finished 87th out of 114 competitors.
BEGIN FULL MARATHON TRAINING - week commencing 17/5/10. Made the decision to run the
full marathon, and extend my Just Giving page until after the event. Full marathon training runs follow.
PLANNED DESTINATION: ITALY, THE ROME MARATHON, 9.30am. SUNDAY. MARCH 20th. 2011.
Frid. 21/5/10. - 5 mile distance (with a stop at 3 miles. So hot today) - 47.59.
Thurs. 27/5/10. - 9 mile distance. - 1.31.40
Wed. 2/6/10. - Planned 12 mile run, but ran 6 mile & walked 6 mile. - 1.02.29. Disappointing
Sun. 6/6/10. - 3 mile run on the treadmill at the gym. - 33.22. Another disappointing run.
Mon. 14/6/10. - 5 mile run around Hyde Park in London. - 38.23. A good time today.
Sat. 19/6/10. - 14+ mile Run & walk. Ran 4 miles, walked 10. - 3.45.00. Disappointing again.
Thurs. 8/7/10. - 2 miles. My first run for 19 days following a heavy cold.
Sun. 11/7/10. - 2 miles in Concord Park. 21.51.
Thurs. 15/7/10. - 3 miles around my estate. 30.44.
Sun. 25/7/10. - 5 miles around my estate. 45.59
Mon. 2/8/10. - 1.5 miles. 1 circuit. 14.30.
Sat. 7/8/10. - 4 mile local road run. 39.17
Thurs. 12/8/10. - 4 mile road run. 35.00.
Thurs. 19/8/10. - 6.3 mile (10k). 104.22.
Wed. 25/8/10. - 2 mile run. 21.25.
Sat. 28/8/10. - 5.3 miles. Dam Flask. 52.11.
Thurs. 2/9/10. - 3 miles. Local. 28.22.
Mon. 6/9/10. - 2 miles. Local. 17.13 (PB)
Sun. 12/9/10. - 5 miles at Deepcar. 42.58.
Tues. 21/9/10. - 10k local road run. 1.00.45.
Thurs. 30/9/10. - 5.67 mile local run. 54.23.
Sun. 3/10/10. - THE RIVER NESS 10k, INVERNESS, SCOTLAND. - 56.14. Finishing position in race - 1,194.
Category M50+ position - 97th.
Gender position - 659. This was the first competitive race in which there were more runners behind me than in front!
Sun. 10/10/10. - 4.5 miles to Wicker Arches.
42.47. PB* for the distance.
Wed. 20/10/10. - First training run with Jack Cowlishaw.
2 laps of Longley Park, then home.
4.2 miles in 43.24.
Sat. 30/10/10. 8 mile road run. - 1.16.04.
Sun. 7/11/10. 10k local run. - 59.44. This was a half marathon
PB attempt that went wrong due to bad
preparation. One run to put firmly behind me!
Wed. 10/11/10. 3 mile local run. Back on track with a PB!
27.19 - beating my previous best by 1 full minute!
Sun. 21/11/10. 4 mile local run. 39.38. A tired run.
Wed. 15/12/10. 3.5 mile local run. 30.00
Tues. 4/1/11. First run of the New Year. 4.5 miles.
Mon. 17/1/11. 5.38 mile run to Town. 49.01.
Thurs. 20/1/11. 2.85 local run. 26.36.
Sun. 23/1/11. First competitive race this year. The Bolsover 10K
54.08. A PB for the 10k distance
391st out of 588. Age group (55) - 20th out of 25.
Frid. 28/1/11. 2.5 mile local run. 28.36.
Sun. 30/1/11. My 2nd race. The Meltham 10k, near Holmfirth.
The hardest run of my life! Lots of hills & winding
gradients. 60.28. Came 319th out of 363. In my
age group (55) came 21st out of 21!
Thurs. 3/2/11. Began hill training for The Huddersfield 10k.
2.5 mile local run to Firth Park & back. 30.00
Sun. 6/2/11. 4 mile local hill run. 37.10
Tues. 8/2/11. 2.5 mile local hill run. 21.33. A PB.
Thurs. 10/2/11. 2.5 mile local hill run. 21.07. New PB.
Sat. 12/2/11. 4 mile local hill run. 35.03. A PB.
Tues. 15/2/11. 2.5 mile local hill run. 22.20.
Thurs. 17/2/11. 2.5 mile local hill run. 20.52. New PB.
Sun. 20/2/11. 4 mile local hill run. 35.16.
Tues. 22/2/11. 2.5 mile local hill run. 20.54. Felt tired today.
Frid. 25/2.11. 3 mile local hill run. 27.58. Final training run.
Sun. 27/2/11. The Huddersfield 10k road race.
Official time: 58.02. (57.57 real time).
Finishing pos: 353rd out of 491 runners.
In my age group (M55 - 19th out of 25)
My toughest race yet, but most satisfying!
Tues. 1/3/11. 2.5 mile local hill run. 21.36.
Frid. 4/3/11. 4 mile local hill run. 35.23.
Sun. 6/3/11. The 'Norton 9' mile road race, nr Doncaster.
Official time: 1.20.26. (1.20.21 real time)
Finishing pos: 385th out of 504 runners.
In my age group (M55 - 30th out of 35)
A PB at this distance, beating last years
time by a massive 8mins & 33 secs!
Wed. 9/3/11. 2.5 mile local hill run. 21.18.
Frid. 11/3/11. 4 mile hill training run. 34.29. A new PB
at this distance & my first sub-35 min. run.
Sun. 13/3/11. An intended 10 miler that turned into a very
tired 4 mile hill run with 2 stops! 36.38.
Sunday 13th? One to put firmly behind me.
Tues. 15/3/11. 2.5 mile local hill run. 21.37. Foggy conditions.
Thurs. 17/3/11. 4 mile hill run. 34.59.
Sun. 20/3/11. 3.27 mile run in 33.50. An intended long run
which went badly wrong. My worst ever run.
Wed. 23/3/11. 2.5 mile local hill run. 20.50. New PB.
Sun. 27/3/11. My 3rd successive bad Sunday run. Had a pain
in my left ankle. 3.5 miles in 32.06.
Tues. 26/4/11. My first run for a month following an Achilles
heel injury. 2.5 mile local hill run. 21.12.
Sun. 1/5/11. 3 mile hill run. 26.21. PB
Beating my previous best by 58 secs!
Tues. 17/5/11. 4.5 mile Town run to the Wicker Arches. 40.17
A PB! Beating my previous best time by 2.30!
Sun. 22/5/11. Shireoaks Towpath & Trail 10k race.
Official time - 56.13.
Finishing position - 160th out of 288.
Mon. 30/5/11. 2.5 mile local hill run. 21.37.
.
I've also just joined my local cricket team - Shiregreen C.C.
Steve.