Bring on the Royal Parks : As recovery from one run ends, the second race is upon us

Well, Ive not blogged since the Great North Run, so I suppose I better start by telling you how it went!

It was hard, very hard, and whilst the rest of the team all did unbelievably well, I unfortunately suffered badly and after only a few miles was left run/walking. Tom, Laura, Dave, Rachel and finally me crossed the line in that order, but after the run, all the talk was over the fact that Laura beat Dave by a whole 9 seconds!!! There's danger of a fight in tomorrows run if it is close at the end of the run.

The Great North Run was absolutely amazing. Never seen such support, such dedication, and so many people. Seeing just how many people were running for good causes was truly inspirational, and some of the reasons were so heartfelt. Two stories in particular really got to me. First off Red 4. It was well publicised at the event but the widow of red 4 (the Red Arrow pilot that passed away a few weeks earlier in a tragic air accident) started the event and then ran the event. Given how soon it was after the tragic death of her husband, it took amazing courage to take part and to launch the foundation in her husbands memory.

The other story that really got me, was a girl that always seemed to be around the same pace as I. She was running for her Mum, who had died only a month or two before the race from cancer. Again, such courage to take part in the memory of someone so close and so soon after her death was incredible and truly inspirational.

So......whats happened since the Great North Run. In all honesty - not much!!! Some of the team doing the second half marathon have done great with their training, others.........haven't! I definitely fall into the second category. Blisters that I got during the Great North Run have resulted in training limited to one training run a couple of days after the first half marathon, and I go into tomorrows half marathon having absolutely no idea how I am going to get round.
But I'm not alone - Jen - has a bad back, Adrian has a black foot from football, and the rest - well I think we are all falling apart.

Even so, really looking forward to tomorrow, I know it will be a great event just like previous years, but this with the knowledge that for every mile completed we are getting closer to completing the 26.2 mile marathon in a month.

If you have supported us along the way, thank you so much. Its not too late to still support if you haven't. We will be in Hyde Park ready to start the Royal Parks Half Marathon at 9.30am so if you would like to come down everyone is welcome. The other possibility is by sponsoring us for the NRAS. We are so close to £6,000 and it would be amazing if we could get there! The link to the charity page is http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/marathoninamonth

Its going to be emotional when its all over, but we are all so chuffed that so many have joined in and so much money has been raised for the NRAS in their 10th year so all thats really left to say is a massive THANK YOU!

To finish todays blog - here's a few photos from the Great North Run. More will be added once the Royal Parks is over, and if you are in the area - look out for those in NRAS vests :-)

Darren, Laura, Dave and Tom

The Boy Band Pose before the Great North Run (with Laura as well obviously!)

Some of the NRAS team that took part in the Great North Run. Including Tom, Laura and Dave.

At the front is Ailsa the founder of the NRAS who was pushed round the course by some of the team in the picture in an amazing time of 3 hours

Darren and Rachel with our Great North Run Medals

So this is it! It all begins now......Thank You!

So here we go - the weekend of the first leg of the marathon in a month.

First off - sad to report that Neil has unfortunately has had to pull out of the event with a torn muscle, but the rest or us are ready - actually scrap that! The rest of us are going to be there - none of us feel ready no matter how much training we have done. All of us are feeling very nervous about what is to come, but all that I read anywhere is what an amazing even this is - so although nervous and not feeling ready, it is tinged with excitement! Honestly!

Loads of good luck messages which have been great, so thank you all, and also thank you so much for all of the money that has been raised. So far we are up to over £5,100 which is absolutely incredible. We've been told of atleast another £200 in promises, so it would be amazing if by the end of the weekend we could get to £5,500, and if not, it would be just as amazing if we could get to it by the end of the Royal Parks Half Marathon, which now is only 22 days away ARGH!!!!

For those that are interested - it seems like its going to be live on the BBC for most of the day, so look out for us if you can. Coverage finishes at 1.30 - just about the time Im looking to be crossing the line - so - watch out for the pained ginger crawling over the finish!!

So - off to Newcastle we go in a few hours. Ive just downloaded another 106 running songs. That gives me 207 - 6 hours or so of music - I must be able to finish by the time they run out!!

I was going to announce everyones run numbers so you could look out for us, however, it would appear that atleast one person (Mr Rooney) is very much keeping his number under wraps!! So - if you see a very random blog in the early hours of the morning with just a number on it - you know Ive discovered it ahead of the race. In the mean time - here is two to look out for.

Thanks again for all your support and generosity

Rusty around the edges

So...two weeks ago I came home from five weeks in Thailand where my trainers sat glumly in the bottom of my rucksack and i: partied on a beach, partied on a boat, did anything but run. I followed this by spending a week in London catching up with friends and drinking copious amounts of everything and was subsequently really happy when my skinny jeans fit well. Like really well. And I had a minor victory.

Until today.

In preparation for five weeks from now, I strapped on said shoes and went for a spin around the block. 3.7 wheezing uphill kilometers (2.3 miles) later I stooped over my front door wheezing. And then my legs began to twitch and seize up, which is when I realised that my skinny jeans fit because i've lost nearly all the lovely marathon runner muscle mass in my legs.

but hey, i'm part of a team and we've got a purpose. so my motto for tomorrow is...5 kilometers, 5 kilometers, 5 kilometers. And on sunday, for my last trick...i will attempt 6 miles.

T minus 11 days!

11 days, yep, thats all thats left until the first leg gets underway.
The realisation has well and truly kicked in that in 11 days we will be heaving our bodies around Newcastle and attempting to make it to the coast at South Shields.

The lack of blog activity has been as much about us all being in denial that this is really happening than the time that we have had to write. By not coming on the blog, and writing on the blog, we could avoid the fact that we would be running these half marathons.

Since getting back off holiday, running has improved, Ive managed it through an 8 mile run, and fingers crossed this Sunday I will manage 10 miles, then next Saturday we will be heading up the Newcastle in preparation for Sundays start. For those that fancy watching - its live on BBC1 for most of the day, so you may well see us all crossing the line - in various states of running, walking, rolling, crawling!!

I must thank everyone that has got involved in sponsoring us, We are nearly at our target of £4,800 and with there still being a good 5 weeks till the challenge finishes with the Royal Parks Half in London, it would be great to break the £5,000 barrier. (hint hint if anyone fancies joining the sponsorship)

About a week ago, RA reared its horrible head again for Simone, with a really nasty attack. After a few months when it hadnt been too bad, we came back off holiday and then she had a really significant flare up with lots of pain and stiffness. She went through a day unable to make a cup of tea because I was at work and she couldnt lift the kettle. Its when it gets that bad that every day routine goes out the window and it dawns on you just what a horrendous illness RA is. A visit to hospital and injections and after a few days the flare up started to ease, but it still doesnt hide the fact that every day for Simone is painful. A flare up is just much much worse.

Sort of brings into context why we are doing this, and why the NRAS are so vital with their support network and their research.

So, just a warning - there will be a bit more blog activity now that we are getting close, and dont forget to look out for us on TV!! Time for a short training run I think..........after Dominos gets here that is :-)

Twitter, Illness, Injury and then the NRAS 10k

Well, I've not been on here for a while, and a lots happened recently.

Firstly the blog went crazy when we used twitter to get some extra support. Setting up Simone's blog as a link I blitzed a whole host of celebs, and amazingly got responses.

Retweets from personal heroes of mine Mick McCarthy (the Wolves manager for those that don't know) and Steve Froggatt, were followed by a good luck message from Andi Peters. To finish off an absolute God in my wife's eyes Michael Buble then included a link in his daily online newspaper, and before we knew it the blog had rocketed passed 1000 views all over the world - which has been brilliant in spreading the word. Now all we need is a bit of sponsorship to back it up!! (hint hint)

The last few weeks however, have been very tough, with a cough and cold that has made running very difficult due to breathing difficulties - especially coping with asthma as well. Added to that has been a tight calf and because of that absolutely no training for three weeks. Last Sunday I was determined to go for a jog to get back into it - after all, it was only 10 weeks to go at the time till the first of the half marathons.

It just happened that last Sunday was the NRAS 10k near to High Wycombe, and the idea that if I took part in a race I would have no choice but to complete, meant that I thought what the hell! It was described as an undulating course - not quite what I would call it. Hooves, bleating and horns would have suited the run better - yes that's right - a Mountain Goat would have stood a much better chance. Over 600 feet were climbed, but what goes up also has to come down! At times the hills were so steep I couldn't actually walk up them and had to hang on to trees!!! Although there was a fair amount of running, I have to confess there was a bit (ahem!) of walking too leading to the worst time ever for a 10k at 1 hour 30. The biggest surprise however - finishing and being told I wasn't last.
http://www.adidas.com/com/micoach/WorkoutDetails.aspx?WID=42f8e5d4-fda3-4fa5-825f-60fc3fa063dc
is the link to my run from micoach - shows just how hilly it was! I have to say though - amazingly picturesque course, really well organised event and lots of fun and support- would highly recommend anyone to take part (but maybe get some hill training in first)

The real highlight of the day, was that after being involved with raising money for the NRAS for a few years I finally got to meet the team that do such an amazing job at the NRAS. It was really nice to finally put faces to names and have a chat with them all, and I'm looking forward to seeing them all at the Great North Run, especially as the founder of the NRAS Ailsa (see pics below) is taking part as well in her wheel chair with a team of helpers. Should be an amazing day.

Thought I'd attach a couple of photos to finish the blog, and if anything the 10k has spurred me on again - time to get full on into the training. 30 minutes on Saturday, and a simple (ahem) 1 hour 35 to do on Sunday - lovely!!

Some of the amazing NRAS team (plus me!)

Olly, me, Ailsa, Emma, Val, Tracey

Yes that really is me - all alone on the finishing straight! (but not last - just!)

Thank you Mr Davies - for finding my motivation

Well, over the last couple of weeks I've really struggled. The runs I have been on have been difficult, painful, and if I'm perfectly honest, I have so many doubts creeping in about how on earth I'm going to firstly make it round one half marathon course, and then manage to recover, re-motivate myself, get over any injury niggles and three weeks later do the second half marathon, that I really think I have probably bitten off much more than I can chew.

But then, I see something today on the news that makes me realise just how important it is for charities such as the NRAS to keep spreading the word on debilitating conditions and make sure that everyone knows and realises how important it is to support people with conditions such as RA. MP Philip Davies has shown exactly how ignorant people can be of those with disabilities and exactly why charities need to continue to support and educate people.

Mr Davies has come out today and informed everyone that vulnerable jobseekers including those that are disabled should be willing to accept lower wages (lower than the minimum wage) so that they can work. So, instead of promoting the need for better understanding within businesses of disabilities etc, it appears people with disabilities, whether they be metal or physical, should just accept that they are likely to be discriminated against and therefore cut their value so that they can work.

As well as supporting RA sufferers and their families and setting up a fantastic support network, the NRAS are also involved in lobbying parliament, for fairer terms for the disabled, for lower or free prescriptions for those with lifelong illnesses. The sponsorship that you guys are giving helps the NRAS in so many ways, and the comments by Mr Davies today have helped me to re-find my motivation. To rediscover the reasons why I put myself through this and to help stop the ignorance that exists towards RA sufferers.

So Mr Davies - thank you for your total ignorance, you've helped me find my motivation to really step up the training and spread the word far and wide.

And it begins, again

Well, this constitutes my first post on the marathon in a month blog. Hello!

Let me introduce myself; I'm Jen, one of Simone's colleagues, and a 'i get points for trying' kind of runner. I'm not meant for running, really--i've got collapsed arches, wonky knees and a weekly hot date where I get manhandled by my physio. I trained for, then ran the London Marathon this year and then swiftly, promptly, quickly tried to bury the hitting the wall feeling of the last six miles by not running for the past two months.

The relaxing, sleeping in and copious amounts of wine tippling have been glorious, but i've been vowing to get my nine toenailed feet back into my asics for the past three weeks (what they don't tell you about long distance running tip #1: you may lose (several) toenails). And on Tuesday, it happened. I wheezed my way around crouch end, hornsey and up the neverending slightly sloping hill of finsbury park for a 4.2 mile run. I'm back!

As my first test of endurance, i've signed up for the Battersea Park Boutique Run 10k on 9 July. I will, hopefully, at this point, have already completed far longer than a 10k, but regardless check it out here: boutique run.

And if i'm feeling extra ambitious, I may follow this with the British 10k through Central London the next morning on 10 July. Note: the course does take you through some of the nicer bits of the london marathon route. Find info here: british 10k.

anyone interested?

Picture Time

Well over the last couple of weeks I've failed miserably to set up a slideshow gadget on the side of the blog, so instead, thought I'd post a blog with them in so you can see just what we have been up to in the past!!

Adrian and Darren - Sports Relief 6 miles 2010

Adrian - Bristol Half Marathon 2010

Darren - Royal Parks Half Marathon 2008

Dave and Darren Royal Parks Half Marathon 2010

A famous monument on the Royal Parks Route

Dave and Laura Greenwich 10K 2010

Dave and Laura Surveying the slopes of Greenwich

Jen - Edinburgh Marathon 2010

Jen - London Marathon 2011

Rachel and Neil Bristol Half Marathon 2010

Rachel Bristol Half Marathon 2010

Rachel Race for Life 10K 2010

So there you go - just a few pics of what we all look like. Im sure there will be more pictures emerge over time!!

Back to training

Well Tewkesbury half is complete and now onto training for London tewkesbury was a really good run starting in the town and moving out into the country side the run was going really really well with my pace owing as planned with 3 miles to go for some reason I sprung a nose bleed which is never good while running but I kept my head down and continued to power through while throwing water into my face to try and clear it. With a mile and half to go my legs were wanting to stop but knowing I was nearly there I upped my pace slightly. I turned the final corner and sprinted the last 150meters smashing my personal best by over 6 minutes bringing my new official pb to 1 hour 59 mins and 16 seconds so this has set my bar even higher than planned now the idea is to really hit the training hard try and get a stone of weight off and work on building up my core strength. The plan is to be doing a couple of 6 mile runs each week along with a Sunday morn run of at least 10 miles if I want to beat my pb again then I am really going to have to pile the miles in. I want to get into the mid 1 50s for London so bring on the pain.

And the team is complete

Well that's it - all you eager people itching to join us in our marathon in a month quest (I know you were all secretly queueing up even if you weren't openly volunteering!), I'm afraid its over - we now have taken the final Royal Parks place for the NRAS. So welcome to the team Jen Avila, a workmate of my wife, who managed to make it successfully round the London Marathon Course this year in aid of Shelter.

So a team of 25 are taking part in the Great North Run and 10 in the Royal Parks Half Marathon for the NRAS. And of those, the marathon in a month team have managed to get 6 places for each run, with 9 of us taking part. Our final target is set at £4,800. Please post these blogs wherever you can, and let people know about the blog, the virginmoneygiving page (link at top and bottom of the page) and exactly what a stupidly ridiculous challenge we are trying to complete.

To highlight the stupidity of the situation, I include below a picture of my celebrity body double! Just think how hard it would be to heave that mass round two half marathons! (Pleasant isn't it)

So please, spread the word, and if any of you can spare even a pound towards the cause - we would all be very thankful

Motivations back.....but the fitness isnt quite there yet!

Well, in the last couple of weeks, Ive failed miserably with any training at all! Knowing that the first half marathon is creaping up really hasnt helped and until Tuesday, I hadn't gone running for a good couple of weeks.

Im happy to say, that with persuasion and pushing from friends and family, Tuesday and Thursday I've done training runs of 30 and 35 minutes and finally am starting to feel the motivation is coming back - the next step, two weekend runs of 30 and 40 minutes to see if Im really starting to get somewhere.

You will see on the right of the blog, some vital stats have been added, admitedly with TBC's on a lot of them for the time being. This is so that you guys that are sponsoring, watching, reading and following can see the levels of past running we have all done - we are all true amateurs, and although a lot of people may find doing one or two half marathons in a period of time easy - it's certainly not for any of us.

Over the next few weeks, Im going to share not only the training, but also a few past experiences from the runs I've taken part in, along with some of the more memoriable moments - for good and bad.

But to start - an example of the level of fitness currently being displayed by such fine atheletes. I wear a heart monitor to check everything is ok when I run. The idea - get your heart rate over the 80% mark to get a good work out. Over 95% and it bleeps to tell you to stop as you are pushing yourself too far. So........when preparing for a run a couple of weeks ago, I was shocked when it started bleeping telling me to stop........especially given I hadnt even started running yet - all I was doing was bending over to try and do my shoelaces up!!!! Hopefully - the training and subsequent weight loss will ensure I dont suffer this sort of embarrassment again!!!

Good luck with the training everyone.

Sponsorship request

Hi all hope the training is all going well I have had an ok week I did a 11 and a half run on Sunday and then a 6 mile one on Wednesday. I am planning on doing another 6 tomorrow and hopefully have a full on week this week as I only have 2 weeks today until the tewkesbury half marathon. I am thinking of putting together some sort of official letter to ask some companies for sponsorship I would like to include a picture of each of the members of the team wearing there NRAS running vest I know that we are not going to be able to meet up for this so if everyone is happy with me doing this then could people send me a pic Darren has my email address there are a few big companies who I work with alot that I know would love to put some money towards this great cause. In the letter I would like to include a quote from simone if she is happy with that along with information on exactly what we are doing all of this obviously on propper NRAS headed note paper. What does everyone think? Please let me know.

Hot summer, hot, hot summer...

.... so the song goes.

Not conducive to running at all. My times have suffered somewhat in the heat I must admit. I think I'm a winter sort of guy - non symptomatic S.A.D they call it.

Personally I thrive in the cold and dark. Mainly because no one can see how drained of energy you look and also my running style, I have been told, resembles the gait of a pregnant goat. It's not an attractive sight.

However, what I lack in grace I make up for in a new training diet of BBQ's and light refreshing summer ale that has seen my weight travel in the opposite direction. Not good.

Bring on the winter.

Marathon running and the blog gets popular

Well I've just got back from a few days away, and am shocked to see the blog has lept in views, which is brilliant news. 350 views - may not sound much, but for the team running this, knowing that so many people have already read it, its brilliant, and motivational. Also amazing to see just how many countries are now viewing - the stats are brilliant and the countries visiting so far are: UK, US, Germany, France, Cyprus, Hungary, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore.
So hello to all our friends round the world that are checking up on us and supporting us as the training starts (slowly for some of us!) And for all of those passing on the blog for others to read around the world thank you too. Now all we need is some sponsors ;-)

While sat in the sun, thinking about running (ahem!), taking a break from work for a few days (yes I know I should have actually gone running! And I did think about it........was lovely countryside for running too! but very hot!.......and I was on holiday), I got to see the London Marathon. Seeing the achievements that those taking part in it did makes me realise that running two half marathons in a month really shouldnt be that difficult! (but for us it is!) Some guys on the day of the marathon actually ran from the finish at 4am to the start, before running the main marathon - now thats just stupid!

So we may not be doing a marathon, but for those taking part, this is a massive challenge, and seeing all those runners taking part in the London marathon certainly is inspirational. I know I will be applying again this year and hoping that I manage to get a spot!! Special congratulations to Peter Sharp and Jen Avila, friends of Simone and I that took part and raised loads of money for Dreams come true and Shelter. An amazing effort by both of them especially given the very hot conditions on the day. Their next challenge - avoiding me as I try and persuade them to join team NRAS for the Royal Parks Half Marathon - come on guys you know you want to :-)

Anyway, only 173 days and both events will be completed hopefully!!! Better go and do some training.....

And if anyone has any ideas of additional things to add in to this blog, widgets, gadgets etc, please drop a comment or a note and will see what we can do.

I don't run - Simone's story

Okay, so I’m no runner. I’m not planning on running this ‘Marathon in a Month’ thing. In fact, I have absolutely no intention of running anywhere; I don’t even run for the bus! No, I’m not lazy. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis.

I’m hoping by writing this I can drum up a bit more support for this wonderful group of people who are running the ‘Marathon in a Month’ for the NRAS. My husband Darren is constantly telling me that I need to share my experience of this disabling disease in order to help raise public awareness. So, here goes...

I was diagnosed as having Rheumatoid Arthritis at the grand old age of 17. I was ignorant to the condition, and like many, believed that this was a disease which affected ‘old people’. How wrong that was! The arthritis initially developed slowly, and only affected my right hand. Not a big issue and nothing a few painkillers couldn’t fix. However, over the next few years the number of joints affected grew and my mobility has become more and more restricted. I now have RA in most of my joints, and immunosuppressants, painkillers and steroids are the only way for me to continue as normal life as possible.

My normal day to day routine is as follows:
Get up at 5am. Wake Darren up to move my arms so I can use them to help me sit up. Slowly get out of bed limping (which eventually turns to a walk in about an hour). Next, take my first 7 tablets of the day and start getting ready for work, sometimes with help from Darren. It roughly takes me 2 hours to un-stiffen enough to be able to leave the house for work. Next, I do a day of teaching. More tablets. Then home to rest (as soon as I can!). Spend some time with Darren, eat, slump in front of the TV etc. 3-4 more tablets before bed at 9pm (early start means early to bed!). Sleep is usually interrupted by not being able to settle from stiffness and pain. Then, I’m up at 5am to start my day over again. Occasionally I may slip in a trip to hospital for a steroid jab. I mustn’t forget the odd stint in the knee brace. Oh, and the compromised immune system meaning that you catch and develop every known virus and infection under the sun! The biggest surprise was contracting Meningitis. When I’m not suffering from bad pain and fatigue I like to see my mates too!

It doesn’t sound like much fun when you put it into basics, but don’t get me wrong, I don’t resent a minute of this. It’s my life (and Darren’s now) and I’ve learnt to cope. In fact, I’m proud that I can cope so well. I’m so used to this that I don’t even think about having RA sometimes. I know that many people look at me and don’t see it. It’s an invisible illness, and unless you’re limping, using crutches, crying etc, people don’t realise the constant pain RA suffers can be in.

I want to live my life as normally as I can, and I refuse to stop doing so until I have to. Yes, it even hurts to walk (let alone run!) but I can, and I will continue to do so until I can’t (fortunately, my Blue Badge means I don’t have to walk very far now!). It is inevitable that many of us with RA will get to the stage where we are severely limited in what we can do, but it’s the support of charities and research facilities such as the NRAS that make it easier for many of us to keep going and not give up.

Please support these amazing runners who are running for me and all RA suffers who can’t do the run themselves. Thank you.

Back to training

Hi all just thought I would give a little bit of an update on training all is going really well I had a week off last week due to work commitments, birthdays and weddings so have gone back to training last night with a 10.3 mile run in 1 hour 41 so really happy with that just need to keep the milage up and try to get quicker hopefully I am on target to get my royal parks time under 2 hours but I think that may be pushing it a little 2 much anyway we will see how it all continues everyone keep going with your training you are all doing really well.

Avoiding Expensive New Gear

I take it back.

Stick with your HiTec Silver Shadows and your old pair of shorts from your '97 (INSERT YOUR OWN TEAM HERE) away kit.

The run on Monday at 5 miles with a decent-ish time of 40m12secs completely destroyed my feet. Couldn't feel a thing for pins and needles. Very odd indeed and annoying. But mostly odd.

Obviously having self diagnosed my issue through Google clearly I am bout to keel over and pass on into the next world any second now.

Or maybe I need to review the trainers I purchased.

Back to it - how do you motivate yourself to train!!

Well, Ive been out of action now for nearly 2 1/2 weeks, having missed 10 training runs from the schedule that has been set for me by the micoach app - your training friend and shouting maching that appears to take great pleasure in telling you you are going far to slow and need to speed up!!! Bugs and just feeling really off colour have resulted in not running, but tonight is the night.....................hopefully!!!!

After a break like that, its really hard to get motivated to go for a run, and although its only 20 minutes (yes you heard me - whilst Tom, Laura and Dave try to beat each other with what for me would be impossible runs at this stage) Im just happy to still be standing after 20 or 30 minutes. To be fair, hearing how everyone is doing is really motivational, but sat here on the sofa at the moment, with work to do, and Man Utd vs Chelsea\ on TV (unfortunately not the mighty Wolves!), it was always going to take a lot to get me moving!

Receiving the NRAS newsletter for Spring, and seeing the articles about what we are getting up to has also helped, and whenever I feel like I really can not be bothered, its things like that, and thinking about how hard it must be for Simone (the unfortunate other half) to get up each day with the aching and stiffness of the arthritis, knowing she has to try and go and work, that makes me think - its only 20 minutes, and hopefully its going to result in lots of money and good things for a charity that have done so much (I try and block out the thought of the pain, the inability to breath, and the general thoughts of what people may think (and mock) as a 17 stone man tries to jog at the same pace as the elderly walk!!)

So - this is it - think its nearly time to get going!! One last thing for today - thanks to everyone that has read this blog - over 200 views from all round the world (may not sound like much - but every view gets people to learn a bit more about the NRAS!)

Wish me luck............................(and inform the emergency services just in case!)

ps - 180 days time - it will all be over! 26.2 miles complete - or the alternative......injury!

Struggling... but looking good.

First of all hello, I'm Tom and I'll be attempting the Great North Run with the guys on behalf of the NRAS.

First decent run out of the way this morning. Not great. 1hr 11 over 7.1 miles. Hardly chariots of fire but working out a few niggles and sporting injuries (don't laugh) along the way so I'm sure that will improve. That said, underneath my well crafted exterior (crafted in the pub I might add) is an athlete trying to get out.

Having done a half marathon before I have a bit of experience but sadly I haven't kept up the training. With some graft I'll hopefully be under two hours and with it lots of sponsorship for the cause so please give generously.

Now the secret to taking on any challenge beyond actually completing it is getting in the right state of mind. I'm not the short of person who just throws on a pair of shorts and goes for a jog. You see running is all in the head.

The best way to do this is to pop down to your local running shop and spend as much money as you can afford on the best gear you can get your hands. Just nod knowingly and smile at the guy in the shop as he talks "gait analysis" and "pacing strategies" whilst you hand over your card in return for the latest compression technology has to offer. If you don't know what that is, neither do I. But you can pretend you do. It's something to do with the material in your running kit.

The actual impact of the this equipment on your time will be negligible (see my time above). The only thing that can affect your time is a solid work ethic and talent. I possess neither. But thats not the point.

You FEEL like a runner. And thats half the battle. The other half is beating Laura.

And we all love beating Laura Mumford.

First sponsors and last places going quickly

Hi everyone

Well after a week off training due to illness, Im hoping either tonight (later on!) or this weekend I will be able to get back in to the training with the aid of the trusty micoach app!

Todays blog is just a quick one to say firstly thank you to Louisa and Laura, our first online sponsors on our virginmoneygiving site http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/marathoninamonth Any money anyone can sponsor is a real bonus. You will see the full target is now in place for the team at £4,400 so the challenge has been fully set and the race is on to ensure we can raise loads of money for the NRAS.

Had a chat with Val from the NRAS earlier and she has informed me there are only two places left for the Great North Run and only three places left for the Royal Parks Half Marathon, so if you fancy taking part as part of the Marathon in a Month team, or independantly please get in touch with the NRAS or leave a comment and we will get in touch with you. Just to give you some of the basics, as there is always a need to guarantee a level of sponsorship with any charity. For the NRAS you only have to raise £400 for a half marathon, and obviously pay a deposit to the NRAS to guarantee your places. (which is part of the sponsorship you have to raise). They are a great charity and we would love to get those last places filled, and if we can get you doing the full marathon in a month, then bonus!

Let the training re-commence!

Saturday Mornings - made for lie ins

Well I am another member of the marathon in a month team.

I have very little running experience, although I did do the royal parks half marathon last October with Daz. The aim had been to keep up the fitness regime but unfortunately training took a bit of a dive from November to March. I'm less Haile Gebrselassie, more Hardly Grabbing me Trainers.

That was until we took up the marathon in a month challenge to raise money for the great charity, NRAS, who celebrate their 10th birthday this year! So I dusted off my trainers, downloaded an app on the iPhone that tells me where to run and when, so I don't even have to think, and the programme started on Tuesday this week and counts down the the great north run in September.

Next run is tomorrow morning. Now I must say that normally Saturday mornings are made for lie ins.................but not anymore!

From the sounds of it the rest of the team are ahead of me in the training stakes so I pretty make tomorrow morning a good session(!)

Online a week

Well the blogs officially been online a week, and we now have three signed up to start blogging on training and why we are taking part in this potentially stupid challenge!!
It seems training is slowly starting for all of us, but thought Id just post strange fact of the week.

Although we've not had a lot of sponsorship so far, the blog is officially international, with views not only in the UK, but also in Japan, and Hungary! Just shows how far the NRAS charity are starting to reach, so lets hope we get loads of sponsorship to help the NRAS help out more and more sufferers of RA along with their families.

I am up and running!!!!!!!!!

Training run

Hello all thought I would try this blog thing out just so people know a bit of background about me etc I'm darrens bro and got into running when I came down to london to watch Darren in the royal parks half 2 or 3 years ago from that moment I decided I thought I could give it a go since then I ran the sports releif 6 miles, the evesham 10k and have now moved onto half marathons I have no intentions on moving up to the full marathon I'm just happy with the level I'm at. I have so far done 2 halts my first was Bristol in 2010 which I completed in 2 hours 7 mins and then my 2nd was last month at the bath half, which was quoted as pancake flat ye ok that was a complete lie, I did get a new pb of 2 hours and 5. I am now in training for Tewkesbury half on the 22nd may before obviously the main event of the royal parks. Training is going really well so far last week I did a 5 and half mile run on Tuesday and a 4.8 on Thursday aswel as my 2 games of football a week. This week on Tuesday I again did my 4.8 mile route which is 50% road running followed by 50% cross country and managed this in a really good time of 42 mins so was really pleased with that. Today was the big one though I managed a 6 mile hill run up Bredon hill which is not easy at all and completed this in 1 hour 4 mins there was quite a few walking moments on the steep incline. Any way I am going to stop rambling on and will keep you up to date with how things are going hope everyone is getting some training inane good luck all.

Hello and welcome

Hi everyone

Well this is just a quick hello to say welcome to our blog. We are a group of (ahem!) athletes that will be taking part between us in two half marathons on behalf of the NRAS (the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society). In the months in the build up we will be blogging about why we do this, why the NRAS, how are we going to achieve this, and just how painful is it!

I hope you enjoy our blogs and by following us through this, will be encouraged to join in either taking part, raising awareness of Rheumatoid Arthritis, or by going onto our fundraising page (link at the bottom, but if you cant find it) http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Marathoninamonth

Thanks for reading
Darren