Saturday to stay with Stuart in Islington, a lazy afternoon in one of my favourite parts of the City. We meet up with Stuart's friends and go to his regular, local Italian.......'homemade lasagne please' would do the trick to boost the carbs and then onto the '99' Islington Comedy Club for 3 very talented comedians....in bed by 12 and shattered.
Surprised myself and slept like a baby....up at 6.30am for the big day....all prepared....the orange juice, smoothie, 3 Weetabix, extra Vitimin C, coffee for caffeine fix and banana. Stuart takes me to Charing Cross for 7.30am ( top host ! ) and I board the train to Greenwich Park. I am ahead of schedule but everyone else must have had the same idea...arrive early, take it in, chill and enjoy the build up.....we are packed in like sardines.....packed in so tight it was very intimate but the buzz in the air......was electric, the anticipation building of one of the greatest challenges 35,000 of us would ever take on.
Meet up with Lisa from work and Dud, her brother in-law. I decide to start the race with Lisa....we had been on a roller coaster journey to date and it felt right to start the 26.2 mile race with her....everyone is so, so friendly.....transpired the husband and wife team next to us live in the next road to Lisa in Rushden....how mad and likely was that !
Time flies.......9.15 passes and the wheelchair chaps are off, 9.45 the elite runners and soon after....us ! Months of training, months of doubt and this is it. I feel confident but aware we are both going into unknown territory in baking, hot heat.......never doing more than 16 miles in training before.
Lisa and I start together for the first couple of miles running alongside 'The Hoff' and 'Pamela Anderson' Baywatch lookalikes....I'm laughing and applauding them as the crowd cheer them on. The noise of encouragement already incredible and we have only done a mile ! I lose Lisa in the crowded road and then find myself passing the Baywatch team and using Batman and Robin as my new pace makers......my target time is 4 hours 30....my ideal I have not shared with others is sub 4 hours.....I have both pace bands on my arm to measure each mile against the clock.
After each mile I am losing seconds which build and build to put strain on the sub 4 hours.....I beleive I can make it up but it is so congested you just can't get into your Marathon pace.....the pace I'd trained at, was confident at but could not do on the day. I was losing momentum and getting frustrated. At 13 miles coming into Tower Bridge I just smiled, against the blueist sky I could ever remember it was stunning, inspirational.......just WOW ! I thought about what Paul and Andrew had said the day before.......'just smell the flowers'.......and I just accepted I would not do the time but would enjoy every second of the rest of the race !
At my lucky number,19, I hit the dreaded wall.....19 miles.I now have legs of lead and a head of doubt....I ran into Canary Wharf and the air just died and my legs along with it ! People all around were dropping, stopping, collasping with cramp and being looked after by the fantastic St.John's Ambulance team.
At that very point a colleague, Gary Lloyd, from work gave me a huge 'come on Jon! '....his words were enough to kick start my belief system....I will do this and I will make 4 hours 30. Over 3 miles I run, past more colleagues and friends and I'm feeling good as the crowd goes from 5 to 10 deep.....they are deafening......the 82 pubs I've past were all kicking, the bands banging out the big ballads, the deafening crowds shouting your name are the reasons your body and mind JUST DO IT!
With 4 miles to go I'm feeling ok but I must do the 4 hour 30 minutes.My legs a little heavy I catch up with a Royal Marine in full gear, boots and 36lb back pack on this hot,hot day. His knickname is Monty, my knickname is Monty with our names on our shirts the 10 deep crowd screaming 'come on Jon !','come on Monty !', was double the encouragement. We chat together, share stories together and run together. The last 600 metres I have to push on, dig deep and catch my last superhero of the day,'Superman',through the line at 4 hours 30 minutes and 32 seconds.......hitting my target on the nail !
Lisa had severe cramp at 8 miles and often questioned continuing.I'm so pleased she did ! Lisa was bitterly disappointed but you can't do anything if you hit the cramp levels she hit, in the high heat we had she did it when many gave up through exhaustion, cramp or worse.She did it and beat thousands of others including the well publicised attempt by Katie ' Jordan' Price and Peter Andre.
Do it again.....maybe !
A closing, massive thank you to all our sponsors ! We have raised over £ 7000.00 and it is still rising. It will make a difference to the girls ( nurses ) who make the difference for others at Bury and Cynthia Spencer Hospice along with MKSNAP.
We DID it !
THE END.
Saturday, 2 May 2009
Friday, 24 April 2009
Smell the flowers.....2 days to go......
This will be the last blog until Lisa, I, hernia and 35,000 others attempt the greatest road race, the London Marathon....I'm confident we will both complete it !
In our final week we have had huge support from everyone......colleagues,friends, family, suppliers, customers and several whose loved one's have been supported over the years by Cynthia Spencer Hospice.
My great friend, Paul Tudor, has told me for years......' Jon, make sure you smell the flowers !'.....this week I must have used Paul's wise words over 100 times.....at the Monday networking event, at the pub discussing, HOPS, a new Charity were forming, the Northants Leaders Group and the Chamber Golf day.....we will enjoy the experience, enjoy the day and enjoy the 'smell of the flowers' !
Thursday I have a trapped nerve, more pain than the sports hernia of the last 6 weeks......I'm so pleased I met Vicki, the Saints physio, who, in 30 minutes releases the trapped nerve and seems able to give me a new body and back....top girl, big thanks and Happy Birthday for today....I won't tell anyone your 30 !!!!!
Ex-marathon runners tell me this will be one of the greatest days of our lives.......( sounds like a 'Take That' moment ).......I'm to be convinced and will let you know !
If you ever have to go to a Hospice,MKSNAP or most Charities you realise again how fortunate we are.......and how pathetic we can be for getting stressed out and negative about minor issues in our lives......it truly puts life into perspective.
Another great friend, Paddy Behan, puts this best, when, invariably after 6 pints says.....'WE ARE ALL BLESSED !'.......we will then proceed to carry him home and put him to bed ! When you STOP and think about this you realise how right he is and how grateful we should be.
Anyway, I am 'Mr. Pasta' this week...pasta for lunch, pasta for dinner.....carbs all week...I have lost over 1.5 stone in weight in the 12 weeks training and probably shot my knees in the process.....but hey....only doing this once and then a normal life again......maybe.
We are nearly at the £ 7000,00 mark - BIG THANKS to all those who have made this hard journey worthwhile with your kind sponsorship.
This is for Mum, for the girls ( nurses ), turning 40 and because we ( Lisa and I ) believe we can !
Thanks,going to bed - goodnight !
PS.Sponsorship still appreciated.....go on....give....it feels great !
In our final week we have had huge support from everyone......colleagues,friends, family, suppliers, customers and several whose loved one's have been supported over the years by Cynthia Spencer Hospice.
My great friend, Paul Tudor, has told me for years......' Jon, make sure you smell the flowers !'.....this week I must have used Paul's wise words over 100 times.....at the Monday networking event, at the pub discussing, HOPS, a new Charity were forming, the Northants Leaders Group and the Chamber Golf day.....we will enjoy the experience, enjoy the day and enjoy the 'smell of the flowers' !
Thursday I have a trapped nerve, more pain than the sports hernia of the last 6 weeks......I'm so pleased I met Vicki, the Saints physio, who, in 30 minutes releases the trapped nerve and seems able to give me a new body and back....top girl, big thanks and Happy Birthday for today....I won't tell anyone your 30 !!!!!
Ex-marathon runners tell me this will be one of the greatest days of our lives.......( sounds like a 'Take That' moment ).......I'm to be convinced and will let you know !
If you ever have to go to a Hospice,MKSNAP or most Charities you realise again how fortunate we are.......and how pathetic we can be for getting stressed out and negative about minor issues in our lives......it truly puts life into perspective.
Another great friend, Paddy Behan, puts this best, when, invariably after 6 pints says.....'WE ARE ALL BLESSED !'.......we will then proceed to carry him home and put him to bed ! When you STOP and think about this you realise how right he is and how grateful we should be.
Anyway, I am 'Mr. Pasta' this week...pasta for lunch, pasta for dinner.....carbs all week...I have lost over 1.5 stone in weight in the 12 weeks training and probably shot my knees in the process.....but hey....only doing this once and then a normal life again......maybe.
We are nearly at the £ 7000,00 mark - BIG THANKS to all those who have made this hard journey worthwhile with your kind sponsorship.
This is for Mum, for the girls ( nurses ), turning 40 and because we ( Lisa and I ) believe we can !
Thanks,going to bed - goodnight !
PS.Sponsorship still appreciated.....go on....give....it feels great !
Sunday, 19 April 2009
7 day countdown......
Funny old week really. Couple of 45 minute runs....Rich and family return to Holland - great mate I will miss until the next visit.
Had 5 minutes at the Club 100 Thursday breakfast meeting to explain the purpose of doing this run I was not built to do.......turning 40, people saying I can't do it and the girls/nurses at the Hospice and MKSNAP who are just amazing........surprised myself and walked out with £ 400.00 cash for the cause !!! delighted...only wish I'd started talking to strangers sooner !
Lisa is helping contact friends, family, business contacts of old and mates....were having some great success and are over the £ 6000.00 mark.....HUGE THANK YOU TO ANYONE WHO HAS DONATED....PLEASE HELP IF YOU HAVEN'T.
I've even been supported by my class of 1985......Philips High, Whitefield, Manchester, a great old school friend, Kelly-Lee Wilkinson emailed my classmates of '85 ahead of our reunion in July......old friends I'd not heard from for 25 years sent emails and sponsorship with great words of encouragement....many of them new my 'Mum'.....made me take time out to reflect once more on why I was doing this.
Saturday 'Toys' R' Us' for a Scooter for Isabelle, onto the Rugby where we beat London Irish and then dinner with the Bond's and Campbells......a full on week of work, running and play !
Sunday, the training programme says a 1 hour easy run.....1 hour so I do 7.5 miles around Pitsford Resevoir. Lisa and Isabelle jump in the car...it was a glorious day, sunny with a fresh breeze, sailing boats were racing on the bright blue, shimmering lake. Lisa hires a bike, with childseat for Isabelle, and they follow me on the relatively short run compared to a week down the road.
Just 7 days to the London Marathon.....nervous yes, confident....NOT !
Had 5 minutes at the Club 100 Thursday breakfast meeting to explain the purpose of doing this run I was not built to do.......turning 40, people saying I can't do it and the girls/nurses at the Hospice and MKSNAP who are just amazing........surprised myself and walked out with £ 400.00 cash for the cause !!! delighted...only wish I'd started talking to strangers sooner !
Lisa is helping contact friends, family, business contacts of old and mates....were having some great success and are over the £ 6000.00 mark.....HUGE THANK YOU TO ANYONE WHO HAS DONATED....PLEASE HELP IF YOU HAVEN'T.
I've even been supported by my class of 1985......Philips High, Whitefield, Manchester, a great old school friend, Kelly-Lee Wilkinson emailed my classmates of '85 ahead of our reunion in July......old friends I'd not heard from for 25 years sent emails and sponsorship with great words of encouragement....many of them new my 'Mum'.....made me take time out to reflect once more on why I was doing this.
Saturday 'Toys' R' Us' for a Scooter for Isabelle, onto the Rugby where we beat London Irish and then dinner with the Bond's and Campbells......a full on week of work, running and play !
Sunday, the training programme says a 1 hour easy run.....1 hour so I do 7.5 miles around Pitsford Resevoir. Lisa and Isabelle jump in the car...it was a glorious day, sunny with a fresh breeze, sailing boats were racing on the bright blue, shimmering lake. Lisa hires a bike, with childseat for Isabelle, and they follow me on the relatively short run compared to a week down the road.
Just 7 days to the London Marathon.....nervous yes, confident....NOT !
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
Reflection, visualisation, sh*t 12 days to the toughest run of our lives !
Reflection has kicked in.....I have just read the first diary note on our blog six months ago. Six months!!!.....the journey so far, Christmas, New Year and now Easter have all passed....the wet, cold winter to warmth of Spring....the training,the lack of training, the highs, the lows, the family, the knee, the economy, the sponsorship, the hernia, the worry, the optimism, the cancer, the 40th, the nurses and now sh*t...just 12 days to go.
12 scary days.....sh*t !
Easter weekend was fantastic....a weekend in the West End to see Jersey Boys....the Frankie Valli and Four Seasons....standing ovation at the end, a must see, feel good factor show. Eileen and John kindly look after Isabelle and Lisa and I have a London weekend of food, fun, theatre and relaxation.
Made time for a Saturday 8am run along Oxford Street...beat the crowds, into Hyde Park onto St.James Park...past Buckingham Palace, Whitehall, Big Ben and along the Thames, the London Eye, over Tower Bridge and back to Bloomsbury Square and our hotel.......a really enjoyable 13 miles around the City, I just typed... enjoyable...this running is getting addictive....probably saw more on that run than I'd seen of London in 20 years.
We collect Isabelle who does not want to come home - clearly very, very happy at the Harley's !
My Father arrives on the Sunday - he has still not moved on since Mum did ! .....still they did have 50 years together and she was a bit special to say the least.....made me really re-focus on why I want to raise this money for the nurses, for the hospice ! Only last week was he able to take Mum's things to the Hospice Charity shop....sponsor Lisa and I if you can....we really need it and appreciate it.
Anyway, the Necus family arrive from Holland and we have a family and friends, chilled, enjoyable remainder to the Easter weekend.
40 minute run with Sam and Rich last night...keep visualising the finishing line, how we will feel, the sense of achievement....finishing the world's most famous and challenging Marathon......sh*t, 12 days to go, 26th April 2009, 26.2 miles, the London Marathon !
12 scary days.....sh*t !
Easter weekend was fantastic....a weekend in the West End to see Jersey Boys....the Frankie Valli and Four Seasons....standing ovation at the end, a must see, feel good factor show. Eileen and John kindly look after Isabelle and Lisa and I have a London weekend of food, fun, theatre and relaxation.
Made time for a Saturday 8am run along Oxford Street...beat the crowds, into Hyde Park onto St.James Park...past Buckingham Palace, Whitehall, Big Ben and along the Thames, the London Eye, over Tower Bridge and back to Bloomsbury Square and our hotel.......a really enjoyable 13 miles around the City, I just typed... enjoyable...this running is getting addictive....probably saw more on that run than I'd seen of London in 20 years.
We collect Isabelle who does not want to come home - clearly very, very happy at the Harley's !
My Father arrives on the Sunday - he has still not moved on since Mum did ! .....still they did have 50 years together and she was a bit special to say the least.....made me really re-focus on why I want to raise this money for the nurses, for the hospice ! Only last week was he able to take Mum's things to the Hospice Charity shop....sponsor Lisa and I if you can....we really need it and appreciate it.
Anyway, the Necus family arrive from Holland and we have a family and friends, chilled, enjoyable remainder to the Easter weekend.
40 minute run with Sam and Rich last night...keep visualising the finishing line, how we will feel, the sense of achievement....finishing the world's most famous and challenging Marathon......sh*t, 12 days to go, 26th April 2009, 26.2 miles, the London Marathon !
Monday, 6 April 2009
HELP,HELP,HELP !!! ....amazing girls ......
Have you ever considered raising money for a Charity close to your heart ?
You don't want to ask everyone as you tell yourself they have been asked before, last week, last month but deep down you really want to help the Charities that have helped you, your family, your friends and thousands of others alike.......so eventually you pluck up the courage and ask everyone you know for help.
This is our HELP,HELP,HELP !!!
Remember the fun of the 3 legged pub crawl days, a friends sponsored swim, diet, walk and so on....have you ever watched Comic Relief on that March evening and said to yourself or loved one....... ' I must give to Comic Relief.....it's amazing, they are amazing 'and then unless you do it right then.....right NOW.....get that credit card from upstairs.....it just does not happen......all the best intention but life, pressures, effort,kids, football, second bottle of red, sleep......all catch up and it just doesn't happen !
Well I think that's where Lisa, I and the nurses need your help......we need it to happen !
We have done 12 plus weeks of training for 3 Charities, MK SNAP, Bury Hospice and Cynthia Spencer Hospice. We are on target for over £ 2000 for MKSNAP but in the last 3 weeks before the London Marathon we need to accelerate the monies for the nurses at the two Hospices dear to our hearts.
They are amazing girls ( nurses ), who do an amazing job, giving amazing care for those fighting cancer.......my Mother lost her 7 year battle with cancer just over 18 months ago and these girls and the Hospices need our financial help to be able to keep giving this immeasurable care for those we love....our family and friends !
I've mentioned I was 40 last month....maybe a mid life crisis but I have parked the party until after the Marathon.......all I know is I want Lisa and I to achieve our £ 10,000 target.....we need your help which will make a difference for others. £ 5, £ 10, £ 15, £ 50 ( £ 1000 given by John and Brendan at Claremont - BIG THANKYOU CHAPS ! ) or whatever you can will ALL add up to make a difference.
So please help, HELP,HELP,HELP and get that credit card from upstairs, out of your pocket, wallet or purse.......and give to these amazing nurses and Hospices....hopefully you'll never need them but I think we all know someone who has been helped with fighting cancer and by these girls.
Training...oh yes...hard graft for both of us...didn't achieve Sunday's 20 mile run....cramp set in at 10 miles again....maximum is 16 miles so far.......will keep training and ensure hydrated....tips on hydration and stretching exercises appreciated.
Thankyou if you've sponsored Lisa and I already....if not.....
.......please,please give........a BIG Thankyou from Lisa,I and the amazing girls !
You don't want to ask everyone as you tell yourself they have been asked before, last week, last month but deep down you really want to help the Charities that have helped you, your family, your friends and thousands of others alike.......so eventually you pluck up the courage and ask everyone you know for help.
This is our HELP,HELP,HELP !!!
Remember the fun of the 3 legged pub crawl days, a friends sponsored swim, diet, walk and so on....have you ever watched Comic Relief on that March evening and said to yourself or loved one....... ' I must give to Comic Relief.....it's amazing, they are amazing 'and then unless you do it right then.....right NOW.....get that credit card from upstairs.....it just does not happen......all the best intention but life, pressures, effort,kids, football, second bottle of red, sleep......all catch up and it just doesn't happen !
Well I think that's where Lisa, I and the nurses need your help......we need it to happen !
We have done 12 plus weeks of training for 3 Charities, MK SNAP, Bury Hospice and Cynthia Spencer Hospice. We are on target for over £ 2000 for MKSNAP but in the last 3 weeks before the London Marathon we need to accelerate the monies for the nurses at the two Hospices dear to our hearts.
They are amazing girls ( nurses ), who do an amazing job, giving amazing care for those fighting cancer.......my Mother lost her 7 year battle with cancer just over 18 months ago and these girls and the Hospices need our financial help to be able to keep giving this immeasurable care for those we love....our family and friends !
I've mentioned I was 40 last month....maybe a mid life crisis but I have parked the party until after the Marathon.......all I know is I want Lisa and I to achieve our £ 10,000 target.....we need your help which will make a difference for others. £ 5, £ 10, £ 15, £ 50 ( £ 1000 given by John and Brendan at Claremont - BIG THANKYOU CHAPS ! ) or whatever you can will ALL add up to make a difference.
So please help, HELP,HELP,HELP and get that credit card from upstairs, out of your pocket, wallet or purse.......and give to these amazing nurses and Hospices....hopefully you'll never need them but I think we all know someone who has been helped with fighting cancer and by these girls.
Training...oh yes...hard graft for both of us...didn't achieve Sunday's 20 mile run....cramp set in at 10 miles again....maximum is 16 miles so far.......will keep training and ensure hydrated....tips on hydration and stretching exercises appreciated.
Thankyou if you've sponsored Lisa and I already....if not.....
.......please,please give........a BIG Thankyou from Lisa,I and the amazing girls !
Sunday, 29 March 2009
Happy Birthday Old man Thorpe, an amazing £ 1000.00 sponsor plus a half Marathon......
Well I'm back in training...can't beleive it and I've made great friends with my Pro V1 golf ball of a sports hernia....and the art of 'popping it back in' as the Doctor advised.( too much detail for some ! ...apologies ).
Redundancies at work.....a difficult couple of weeks but had to be done for the well being of the business and team within.....banks and Mr.Brown need to sort themselves out, make decisions and get the lending off the ground......really hurts though when you have to let loyal, quality, acs people go.....knowing how it will impact them and there families......and all due to the behaviour of the banks and government.
On a more cheerful note a needed family holiday. We went to Portugal, Prai del-Rei, for my 40th Birthday with my wife, Lisa and gorgeous daughter, Isabelle. We were blessed with the weather....no wind and 24 degrees on the Silver Coast ! The Townhouse we stayed at was literally, ' on the beach', and one of the greatest golf courses in Europe.
My birthday started with a 5 mile run on the golden sandy beach against crashing Atlantic waves, warm sun and steep red cliffs behind......this was my training each day.....a really tough start to the day !
Birthday lunch at the 'Fishshack' beach restaurant......a 5 minute drive....a wooden hut on the beach where 'What they catch is What you eat'....prawns followed by sea bream...service simple,food fantastic!
We play frisby on the beach and build more sandcastles which Isabelle and I are becoming quite creative with.
Onto Obidos - lovely, local 14th Century Medieval town....walked the cobbled streets upto the stunning Castle where the Annual Chocolate Festival was taking place......Lisa and Isabelle are in paradise albeit Isabelle is wearing most of her chocolate.
Sorry for waffling but a truly fantasticly, chilled, needed, laid back holiday for the family - can be rented at http://www.oceanviewportugal.com/ .
Anyway, the Marathin training.......arrive back and next day do the Silverstone Half Marathon with Lisa Ross ( my great work colleague and Marathon running partner ). It's mid-day, hot and hard to run on the reinforced concrete of the F1 circuit....Copse Corner at 7 miles an hour seemed like fun but at 10 miles my hamstrings and calves tighten and I find myself walking in pain. I finish in 2 hours and Lisa shortly after but were both disappointed......no way we can do 26.2 miles, double Silverstone with how our legs of lead felt today !
Back to work on the Monday and a letter has been received from one of our partners, Claremont Office Furniture in Glasgow. Brendan, John and the company have given £ 1000.00 in sponsorship for Lisa and I.....and a further £ 500.00 if Lisa beats, I quote, 'old man Thorpe !'
We are in disbelief, a huge gesture and a huge motivation to pick up the training, grin and bear the discomfort of the hernia and knee and focus on the task ahead and remember why,why,why were doing it.....for the nurses at the local, Northampton Cynthia Hospice and Bury Hospice in Manchester - great nurses, great men and women doing an amazing job for those with cancer and other illnesses. They find the right words and give dignity and hope in difficult times ( Bury nurses looked after my Mum's 7 year fight with cancer and still help support the old fella nearly 2 years later ).The other Charity is local, MKSNAP....a great, inspirational MK Charity for young adults with learning difficulties.....the staff giving them encouragement, a purpose and much,much more.
Come on - if you haven't sponsored yet.....help Lisa and I raise over £ 5000.00 and sponsor us....a fiver, tenner, £ 50 or £ 500 it all adds up....... a big thankyou and it really helps others make a difference for those in real need.
Fast forward to today......just did 16 miles around Brixworth Country Park....aching I am but feeling a little more confident about the last 4 weeks to what is considered the World's greatest road race, The London Marathon.
Next weekend is the 20 mile test before the training slows down in preperation for the Big Day !.....I'll let you know.
Redundancies at work.....a difficult couple of weeks but had to be done for the well being of the business and team within.....banks and Mr.Brown need to sort themselves out, make decisions and get the lending off the ground......really hurts though when you have to let loyal, quality, acs people go.....knowing how it will impact them and there families......and all due to the behaviour of the banks and government.
On a more cheerful note a needed family holiday. We went to Portugal, Prai del-Rei, for my 40th Birthday with my wife, Lisa and gorgeous daughter, Isabelle. We were blessed with the weather....no wind and 24 degrees on the Silver Coast ! The Townhouse we stayed at was literally, ' on the beach', and one of the greatest golf courses in Europe.
My birthday started with a 5 mile run on the golden sandy beach against crashing Atlantic waves, warm sun and steep red cliffs behind......this was my training each day.....a really tough start to the day !
Birthday lunch at the 'Fishshack' beach restaurant......a 5 minute drive....a wooden hut on the beach where 'What they catch is What you eat'....prawns followed by sea bream...service simple,food fantastic!
We play frisby on the beach and build more sandcastles which Isabelle and I are becoming quite creative with.
Onto Obidos - lovely, local 14th Century Medieval town....walked the cobbled streets upto the stunning Castle where the Annual Chocolate Festival was taking place......Lisa and Isabelle are in paradise albeit Isabelle is wearing most of her chocolate.
Sorry for waffling but a truly fantasticly, chilled, needed, laid back holiday for the family - can be rented at http://www.oceanviewportugal.com/ .
Anyway, the Marathin training.......arrive back and next day do the Silverstone Half Marathon with Lisa Ross ( my great work colleague and Marathon running partner ). It's mid-day, hot and hard to run on the reinforced concrete of the F1 circuit....Copse Corner at 7 miles an hour seemed like fun but at 10 miles my hamstrings and calves tighten and I find myself walking in pain. I finish in 2 hours and Lisa shortly after but were both disappointed......no way we can do 26.2 miles, double Silverstone with how our legs of lead felt today !
Back to work on the Monday and a letter has been received from one of our partners, Claremont Office Furniture in Glasgow. Brendan, John and the company have given £ 1000.00 in sponsorship for Lisa and I.....and a further £ 500.00 if Lisa beats, I quote, 'old man Thorpe !'
We are in disbelief, a huge gesture and a huge motivation to pick up the training, grin and bear the discomfort of the hernia and knee and focus on the task ahead and remember why,why,why were doing it.....for the nurses at the local, Northampton Cynthia Hospice and Bury Hospice in Manchester - great nurses, great men and women doing an amazing job for those with cancer and other illnesses. They find the right words and give dignity and hope in difficult times ( Bury nurses looked after my Mum's 7 year fight with cancer and still help support the old fella nearly 2 years later ).The other Charity is local, MKSNAP....a great, inspirational MK Charity for young adults with learning difficulties.....the staff giving them encouragement, a purpose and much,much more.
Come on - if you haven't sponsored yet.....help Lisa and I raise over £ 5000.00 and sponsor us....a fiver, tenner, £ 50 or £ 500 it all adds up....... a big thankyou and it really helps others make a difference for those in real need.
Fast forward to today......just did 16 miles around Brixworth Country Park....aching I am but feeling a little more confident about the last 4 weeks to what is considered the World's greatest road race, The London Marathon.
Next weekend is the 20 mile test before the training slows down in preperation for the Big Day !.....I'll let you know.
Sunday, 1 March 2009
Lights blown....Hernia....but...?
A tough week on the work and training front. Sunday I do 45 minutes of my 2 and a half hour run and stop in pain...my left knee hurts but now also discomfort in my groin.
Monday night I get home and feel a tear in the groin as I get out the car, I then pick up Isabelle ( my lively, lively 2 year old daughter ) and feel even more discomfort in the groin....get changed, look down and a new found friend....what I can only describe as a 'golf ball' has presented itself ! Panic...I'm not good with surprises and ask the wife, Lisa, for a second opinion......'YEP, Doctors as soon as.....Hernia love....no Marathon for you !'
The rest of the week I am Mr.Doom and Gloom.....no training, no Marathon, the economy is getting to everyone, Brown and banks still need to have a word with themselves.....I'm confident in the journey ahead but my training was part of my stress release to keep focussed and fit for the day job.
Thursday I find myself at a Prince's Trust initiative with 20 local businesses at Kingsthorpe Grove Primary School.
Can you beleive 20% of the children had never been to the seaside ?....we agree to sort this out and take them !
It had been a long time since I'd been to Assembly....the Head, Assistant and pupils were truly inspiring....I will do what I can to support these kids and the school.
Reflecting on the day I had real highs and lows.......it made me wake up to helping these kids and the challenges they face, made me recommit to give wherever and whenever I could and to be there for those most important to me.....my friends and family !
In the same week I also find myself on the pop 2 nights.....convinced.....no Marathon for me !
Eventually, I get into the Doctor's on the Friday....he checks and advises it is a Hernia. I explain my need to do the Marathon....everyone taking the p at work...'is it a ProV1 ?'.....'good excuse not to do it! '.....he suggests if the Surgeon is in agreement and I can put up with the pain and work out how to put the 'ProV1' back in each time then the operation could take place after the London Marathon.
I leave delighted....and then Friday night go to Claire's 30th Birthday bash.....a great party but I'm in severe pain....I leave p*ssed off again thinking....no Marathon for me!
Miss Ross, my co-runner, has joined a running club......she is looking really toned, getting fitter and fitter and more and more focussed on achieving the goal ahead....I'm confident she'll do it !
Sunday night I just go to the gym to see how it feels running.....30 minutes into it I was ok....it hurts but not to the point of making me stop.
Longer runs may be more challenging but I'll kick start my training again and see how we get on.
Monday night I get home and feel a tear in the groin as I get out the car, I then pick up Isabelle ( my lively, lively 2 year old daughter ) and feel even more discomfort in the groin....get changed, look down and a new found friend....what I can only describe as a 'golf ball' has presented itself ! Panic...I'm not good with surprises and ask the wife, Lisa, for a second opinion......'YEP, Doctors as soon as.....Hernia love....no Marathon for you !'
The rest of the week I am Mr.Doom and Gloom.....no training, no Marathon, the economy is getting to everyone, Brown and banks still need to have a word with themselves.....I'm confident in the journey ahead but my training was part of my stress release to keep focussed and fit for the day job.
Thursday I find myself at a Prince's Trust initiative with 20 local businesses at Kingsthorpe Grove Primary School.
Can you beleive 20% of the children had never been to the seaside ?....we agree to sort this out and take them !
It had been a long time since I'd been to Assembly....the Head, Assistant and pupils were truly inspiring....I will do what I can to support these kids and the school.
Reflecting on the day I had real highs and lows.......it made me wake up to helping these kids and the challenges they face, made me recommit to give wherever and whenever I could and to be there for those most important to me.....my friends and family !
In the same week I also find myself on the pop 2 nights.....convinced.....no Marathon for me !
Eventually, I get into the Doctor's on the Friday....he checks and advises it is a Hernia. I explain my need to do the Marathon....everyone taking the p at work...'is it a ProV1 ?'.....'good excuse not to do it! '.....he suggests if the Surgeon is in agreement and I can put up with the pain and work out how to put the 'ProV1' back in each time then the operation could take place after the London Marathon.
I leave delighted....and then Friday night go to Claire's 30th Birthday bash.....a great party but I'm in severe pain....I leave p*ssed off again thinking....no Marathon for me!
Miss Ross, my co-runner, has joined a running club......she is looking really toned, getting fitter and fitter and more and more focussed on achieving the goal ahead....I'm confident she'll do it !
Sunday night I just go to the gym to see how it feels running.....30 minutes into it I was ok....it hurts but not to the point of making me stop.
Longer runs may be more challenging but I'll kick start my training again and see how we get on.
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