24 November 2011
We have some fabulously dedicated runners; steadily pushing
one foot in front of the other they finish marathons, 10Ks, half
marathons, Santa 5Ks and more... so when Ruth Walters told us she
was planning to run a corking three marathons in three months to
raise money for Pancreatic Cancer UK, we thought it would be a
great idea to give her a regular column on our blog, charting her
training, her ups, her downs and following her progress all the way
to those three finish lines.
She's a pretty inspiring woman. So, if you're a runner for
us, or interested in
running to fundraise, read on and let Ruth's enthusiasm infect
and inspire you...
Ruth after crossing the finish
line of the Paris Marathon in 2011
"On Saturday it arrived. My London Marathon 2012 training pack.
Here begins my "3-3-3(000)" challenge for Pancreatic Cancer UK.
That's 3 marathons in 3 months in a bid to raise £3,000. I'll be
joining the crowds in London (April), Edinburgh (May) and
Cheltenham (June), no doubt collecting many blisters along the way.
But what's a blister that hurts a bit then soon enough heals,
compared with the pain of Pancreatic Cancer patients? Totally
insignificant!
My Mum, Fi, was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer at the end of
January 2011. This was one month into my training for my first ever
marathon (Paris) that April. Running quickly became the most
amazing coping mechanism for dealing with the shock of her
diagnosis, gave me time on my own and a chance to reflect on
things. Every mile of that first marathon was for her.
I raised a fantastic amount of money for Cancer Research UK but
this year I've upped the stakes in a bid to encourage folks to dig
deep and give a major boost to Pancreatic Cancer UK.
The training's not going to be pretty. It was brutal enough for
one marathon, but three.... I was massively supported by StreTch Rayner, a
kick ass trainer from My Momentum, who got me across the line of my
first marathon. His 'training masterplan' for this challenge will
start in earnest in the New Year. We're trying a different approach
to traditional long, slow distance running and I'm going to be
taking on a CrossFit Endurance programme. Basically running
training combined with the inferno-like workouts of CrossFit, a new
form of overall strength training.
What I learnt from my first marathon is you need people around
you. I'm really excited to be joining a new, local gym in
January and I will inevitably press gang everyone I know into the
weekly North London Parkrun.
I'm excited and petrified all at once. I have no idea what's
ahead but what I do know is I'm determined. I look forward to
sharing this journey with you and raising heaps of awareness about
pancreatic cancer along the way.
Posted
at 15:28
0 Comments