Jacob Johnson
Jake and Kelly's Bristol Half Marathon Fundraising
Fundraising for British Heart Foundation
Story
Hello. If you're here its probably because I've pestered you into giving me a reason to huff and puff around Bristol. Soon, after your amazing donation, you will be among the gracious, saintly members that make up the donatees to the bottom of this little box. You could be there! Think of how good that will feel. Your name! On the Internet! Wow.
You'll also have the added bonus of helping The British Heart Foundation, which is pretty darn good as well.
UPDATES
11.09 Half Marathon photos are online now. You can see Kelly and I in our nice bright red vests here and here.
09.09 Kelly went for her first post-half marathon run last night, while I stayed at work and rested up my feet. She felt ok and is making me feel like I need to get my bum in gear again. She's trying to drag me into the Portishead 10k on Sunday 20th! Should feel like a stroll in the park. Only a quarter marathon!
06.09 Well that was fun! Perhaps not fun, but you know... Kelly and I managed tog et over the line in 2 hours 23 minutes, which is an ok pacwe and we didn't knacker ourselves out too much. Now for a deserved rest and perhaps some alcohol!
05.09 Thanks to @lgladdy and my uncle Tim, we are over the £600 barrier, meaning we're also over 120% of our target. I'm just about to send a thank you email to everyone who has donated to give us some extra motivation to get around Bristol!
03.09 I'm trying to cut out tea, because of the dehydration, but when you've got a bag of iced gems right in front of you, its just shouting for a partner!
01.09 People have still been giving us money! Fantastic news! Thanks to everyones efforts, we are at 114% with 5 days to go before the big day!
30.08 10.8 miles today as our last big run before next Sunday.
29.08 And the numbers have come through. I (Jake) am 25500. Can't remember Kel's number. No turning back now though! We will be in the 10am start - right at the back!
21.08 We're scratching our heads as to who 'Usain Bolt', the person who pushed us over 100%, is. I'm pretty sure its not the 'Lightning Bolt' himself.
18.08 Another couple of donations from @streety_ and a Gradwell colleague takes us to 90% of your target! Almost makes the 11.55 mile run on Sunday worth it. Knee was ok for the most-part. Did it in 2:06, which is just under 11 minute miles. I'm starting to think that 10 minute miles are going to be hard to achieve overall - but you never know with a race day atmosphere! A few donatees will igve a bit extra if we get under 2hrs, so that might spur me on the just belt it for the last 3 miles!
16.08 Just about to set off for an 11.55m planned run (http://is.gd/2jw9M) - inspired by £20 from Kelly's grandparents and a mysterious £10 from someone who didn't leave a name or a comment!
14.08 A flurry of donations this morning has taken us to the £400 mark! Thanks for people at Begbies Traynor's Bristol branch and my collegaues at Gradwell for their support and, of course, money!
10.08 A donation from Kelly's mum - the inspiration for this event - and Nan takes us to 66% and £330!
07.08 Another Gradwell-realted donation from Ade takes us to 62% and £310!
Going to Marc's wedding this weekend. I'll get to see some family, so I'll be supplying the link to them. Is it wrong to pester people for donations at a friends wedding?
06.08 Was interviewed by the JustGiving guys this week. Was good fun. They've posted it on their blog as well! http://is.gd/24Kz0
05.08 A 6 mile run was completed in snail-like fashion (11 min miles) today. Both Kelly and I found it hard going. The knee was hurting all the way through, but nothing I couldn't cope with. The "morning after" pain is less than usual, so maybe its finally learning that I'm going to keep running on it...
We also reached the £300 mark thanks to another Gradwell workmate. Thanks Oscar!
04.08 Wanting to get an 11 miler in this Sunday. Only problem is I have a wedding to attend - as an usher - in Hereford on Saturday. Hmm...
02.08 The longest run yet. 10.2 miles. Knee wasn't too happy about it, but it was much better than the last attempt at the 10 mile mark, so this could be seen as progress. 11 minute miles are the only bad point, but it feels as if the 13.1 mile mark is achievable!
31.07 Got a £20 donation from my mum for my birthday! Takes us to 55%. Thanks @jojohwaffle for that! Also started my drink-free August and September in preparation for the event!
28.07 A longer gap between runs that I would have liked, but a friends stag do and a paintballing debut got in the way - still got in 6 miles though, and at exactly 10 minute miles, so was quite happy with that.
22.07 The Bristol Half Marathon course is released! Can finally see how far we've got to drag ourselves. http://is.gd/1HvCH
21.07 We've reached the 50% mark! My Gradwell work mate @timdouglas kindly pushed us over that landmark. To commemorate it, I'm off for a 5.5 mile quick run tonight!
17.07 No run this weekend as Kelly's swanning off to the polo with my Aunt, while I'm left babysitting my cousins in deepest darkest Wales!
12.07 Kelly and I managed to push ourselves to as near to the 10 mile mark as we've been as we clocked up 9.86 miles on Sunday. The knee felt ok, bit of a twinge around 7 miles, but I really think planning ahead with the painkillers really helped this time. It was nice loop from home, through Ashton Court, through Leigh Woods, onto the Toe Path, through Ashton and home to Southville. Time was a little better at 1:46:11, but thats still too slow for my liking.
06.07 2 months to go.
05.07 A second run in two days was a BAD IDEA. Did 8.5 miles which was impressive by my knee is NOT happy with me. The last 3 miles or so was quite a struggle, but i was determined to do it. I think I need to rest it for a full week before attempting another run. The knee made the time a bit longer at 1:42:46, which I hope to drastically improve on.
You'll also have the added bonus of helping The British Heart Foundation, which is pretty darn good as well.
UPDATES
11.09 Half Marathon photos are online now. You can see Kelly and I in our nice bright red vests here and here.
09.09 Kelly went for her first post-half marathon run last night, while I stayed at work and rested up my feet. She felt ok and is making me feel like I need to get my bum in gear again. She's trying to drag me into the Portishead 10k on Sunday 20th! Should feel like a stroll in the park. Only a quarter marathon!
06.09 Well that was fun! Perhaps not fun, but you know... Kelly and I managed tog et over the line in 2 hours 23 minutes, which is an ok pacwe and we didn't knacker ourselves out too much. Now for a deserved rest and perhaps some alcohol!
05.09 Thanks to @lgladdy and my uncle Tim, we are over the £600 barrier, meaning we're also over 120% of our target. I'm just about to send a thank you email to everyone who has donated to give us some extra motivation to get around Bristol!
03.09 I'm trying to cut out tea, because of the dehydration, but when you've got a bag of iced gems right in front of you, its just shouting for a partner!
01.09 People have still been giving us money! Fantastic news! Thanks to everyones efforts, we are at 114% with 5 days to go before the big day!
30.08 10.8 miles today as our last big run before next Sunday.
29.08 And the numbers have come through. I (Jake) am 25500. Can't remember Kel's number. No turning back now though! We will be in the 10am start - right at the back!
21.08 We're scratching our heads as to who 'Usain Bolt', the person who pushed us over 100%, is. I'm pretty sure its not the 'Lightning Bolt' himself.
18.08 Another couple of donations from @streety_ and a Gradwell colleague takes us to 90% of your target! Almost makes the 11.55 mile run on Sunday worth it. Knee was ok for the most-part. Did it in 2:06, which is just under 11 minute miles. I'm starting to think that 10 minute miles are going to be hard to achieve overall - but you never know with a race day atmosphere! A few donatees will igve a bit extra if we get under 2hrs, so that might spur me on the just belt it for the last 3 miles!
16.08 Just about to set off for an 11.55m planned run (http://is.gd/2jw9M) - inspired by £20 from Kelly's grandparents and a mysterious £10 from someone who didn't leave a name or a comment!
14.08 A flurry of donations this morning has taken us to the £400 mark! Thanks for people at Begbies Traynor's Bristol branch and my collegaues at Gradwell for their support and, of course, money!
10.08 A donation from Kelly's mum - the inspiration for this event - and Nan takes us to 66% and £330!
07.08 Another Gradwell-realted donation from Ade takes us to 62% and £310!
Going to Marc's wedding this weekend. I'll get to see some family, so I'll be supplying the link to them. Is it wrong to pester people for donations at a friends wedding?
06.08 Was interviewed by the JustGiving guys this week. Was good fun. They've posted it on their blog as well! http://is.gd/24Kz0
05.08 A 6 mile run was completed in snail-like fashion (11 min miles) today. Both Kelly and I found it hard going. The knee was hurting all the way through, but nothing I couldn't cope with. The "morning after" pain is less than usual, so maybe its finally learning that I'm going to keep running on it...
We also reached the £300 mark thanks to another Gradwell workmate. Thanks Oscar!
04.08 Wanting to get an 11 miler in this Sunday. Only problem is I have a wedding to attend - as an usher - in Hereford on Saturday. Hmm...
02.08 The longest run yet. 10.2 miles. Knee wasn't too happy about it, but it was much better than the last attempt at the 10 mile mark, so this could be seen as progress. 11 minute miles are the only bad point, but it feels as if the 13.1 mile mark is achievable!
31.07 Got a £20 donation from my mum for my birthday! Takes us to 55%. Thanks @jojohwaffle for that! Also started my drink-free August and September in preparation for the event!
28.07 A longer gap between runs that I would have liked, but a friends stag do and a paintballing debut got in the way - still got in 6 miles though, and at exactly 10 minute miles, so was quite happy with that.
22.07 The Bristol Half Marathon course is released! Can finally see how far we've got to drag ourselves. http://is.gd/1HvCH
21.07 We've reached the 50% mark! My Gradwell work mate @timdouglas kindly pushed us over that landmark. To commemorate it, I'm off for a 5.5 mile quick run tonight!
17.07 No run this weekend as Kelly's swanning off to the polo with my Aunt, while I'm left babysitting my cousins in deepest darkest Wales!
12.07 Kelly and I managed to push ourselves to as near to the 10 mile mark as we've been as we clocked up 9.86 miles on Sunday. The knee felt ok, bit of a twinge around 7 miles, but I really think planning ahead with the painkillers really helped this time. It was nice loop from home, through Ashton Court, through Leigh Woods, onto the Toe Path, through Ashton and home to Southville. Time was a little better at 1:46:11, but thats still too slow for my liking.
06.07 2 months to go.
05.07 A second run in two days was a BAD IDEA. Did 8.5 miles which was impressive by my knee is NOT happy with me. The last 3 miles or so was quite a struggle, but i was determined to do it. I think I need to rest it for a full week before attempting another run. The knee made the time a bit longer at 1:42:46, which I hope to drastically improve on.