09/06/2011 - Brathay 10-in-10 completed!
Thank you all so much for your incredible contributions and support. You have each made a huge difference to a very worthy charity, as well as helping to get me through the toughest challenge of my life.
To read in gruesome detail how it all went, have a look at my blog of the event:
http://www.brathaywindermeremarathon.org.uk/blog/andy-nice-10-in-10.aspx
or watch the daily video blogs of our collective struggles:
http://www.cumbrialive.tv/brathay10in10
Thanks again,
Andy
------------------------------------------------
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
As some of you will know, I have in recent years thrown myself into marathon running and despite most people being baffled by it, have become quite attached to spending hour upon hour training hard, pounding the streets and pushing my body beyond its limits. It has become quite the bug for me. I ran 6 marathons in 2010 (along with around 2,000 miles of training) and have now got my PB down to a respectable 2 hours and 48 minutes.
The Challenge
In the coming year I am moving things up a notch. Amongst a busy 2011 schedule with over 20 marathons, as well as a few ultra marathons thrown in for good measure, in May I will be taking on the Brathay 10-in-10 Challenge. This means running the Windermere Marathon. 10 times. In 10 consecutive days. The schedule is as simple as it is vicious; run a marathon (26.2 miles), refuel by eating copious amounts of pasta whilst sat in an ice-bath, sleep for as long as possible, get up the next day and run another marathon. And repeat. Until the challenge (or my body) is done.
The Windermere Marathon is well known for two reasons. As one of the most picturesque marathon courses around, but also one of the toughest. Make no mistake, the 10-in-10 is a huge challenge. It is the ultimate UK marathon event and only 32 runners have completed it before. As well as being the equivalent of running from London to Newcastle over the 10 days, the cumulative climb of the course amounts to scaling Everest along the way. Physically, mentally and emotionally I expect to be a quivering mess by the final Sunday afternoon! See an interview with me as I discuss my hopes and fears for the challenge:
www.cumbrialive.tv/Brathay10in10/index.htm?config1=file/get/Brathay-AndyNice947.M4V
Why am I doing this?!
Partly for the challenge of course, but also this event does a lot to raise money and profile for the Brathay Trust, a very worthy cause. Working in partnership with national and regional youth agencies, the Brathay Trust is a long-established charity which works with disadvantaged young people all over the country. Helping to empower kids that have been affected by difficult personal and social circumstances, Brathay gives them somewhere to turn; providing the skills and support to make positive choices about their behaviour and attitude. Currently, Brathay work with over 5000 disadvantaged youngsters, but of course could help so many more with more of our support. You can learn more about their work by visiting www.brathay.org.uk
What can you do to help?
Firstly, please dig deep and spare a few quid. I’m aiming to raise over £5,000 in sponsorship; all money raised goes directly to the Brathay Trust and will help them to help kids all over the country. Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me.
For those who enjoy watching others suffer, I would also be delighted should any friends and family make the journey up to the Lake District during the event to offer moral, emotional and most likely physical support. A few words of encouragement from a familiar face make the world of difference when you’re dead on your feet with miles still to run!
If you're interested or intrigued by my plight, please feel free to track my very own personal hell via my training blog:
http://www.brathaywindermeremarathon.org.uk/blog/andy-nice-10-in-10.aspx
Thanks for your help and support,
Andy
