Thank you for visiting my page. I have now run the Virgin London Marathon 2010 and was planning to run the Bank of America Chicago Marathon 2010 for The Christie. However, I have picked up a back injury that is likely to count me out of the Chicago race. It is not certain yet, but it looks unlikely that I will be able to train for a couple of months from now (June 2010), so will not have the time to get in the miles.

In case I cannot run the Chicago race, I am planning a coast to coast cycle ride in September. I can cycle with the back injury, just not undertake high impact training. The plan then is to run the 2011 London Marathon, all as part of the effort to raise the target of the £25K for the Christie.

You can contact me direct on tel. 07712 891 070 or via email at chris@rapidnews.com. 

Please see below for details of why I am running and cycling, and all the people that have helped in my fund raising effort. First off, however, news on my first marathon in London 25th April 2010.

I Finished the London Marathon 2010

Well I did it. After months of training I finally got to London and completed the London Marathon 2010. The weather threw a real wild card into the mix, with London baking in 22 degree heat on the Saturday, and predicted to be hotter on the Sunday. Sunday started cold and pouring with rain. All the runners in their cool gear were freezing and soaking wet when we started under grey skies at 9.45. However, about 1 hour in the clouds cleared, the sun came out, and the wet roads started to steam off. It became so hot and humid people really began to suffer. Add to this the fact that you are surrounded by thousands of over heated runners, and the conditions became pretty nasty. 

I started pretty well. By mile 12 I was well on course for a sub-4 hour time which was my target. About half way (in fact just where Gordon Ramsey pulled out) I started to suffer. Began to feel tired but then at about 14 miles started to get cramps in my calves. Have never cramped once when training, but that was always in cool if not cold temperatures. This was new territory for me. I have run in the heat before, but that was back in the day when a run was maybe three miles. I was now 14 miles in to a 26 mile run, and that was tough. I kept going, but had to keep slowing down to let the cramps work through, then get back up to speed. All the way through to about 20 miles it was a mixture of normal running for half a mile, then slowing down to a gentle jog to give the cramps time to shift. 

Mile 19 to 20, saw so many people pulling up. Cramp seemed to be getting everybody, and for the first time I actually began to worry that I may not make it. Had never considered that my body would just let me down, but people a lot younger and fitter looking than me were falling like flies. So this is where I switched to survival mode. I had to finish, there was so much riding on it, so much pent up emotion, and so I slowed to a jog and finished the last 6 miles well within myself.

The final stretch was an amazing experience. The crowds were immense all the way around, especially Cutty Sark at 6 miles, Tower Bridge at 13, and Canary Wharf at 18, but on Embankment past the Eye and Big Ben then onto the Mall was extraordinary. What an atmosphere, and what a mixture of relief, pride, and elation when I got over the line. Happy to admit I shed a tear when I stopped. Weird mix of feelings, but was relieved to see that nearly everyone around me were also wiping their eyes.

For the record, finished in a twitch over 5 hours. Not what I was aiming at, but not bad for a first timer running in a sauna. 5 months ago I never ran more that 4 or 5 miles at a time. Now I can actually write without batting an eyelid "I was going well up to mile 13 or 14." Seems ridiculous! Having a month off now from training. Will have a couple of jogs a week when I want to not when the training schedule says I should, and will do some cycling and swimming to keep the fitness levels up but give my aching body a rest.

Then its back into training for Chicago marathon in October. Lessons learned. I think I over trained for London. I peaked end of February, and then got a few injuries, so was reducing mileage a month and a bit out from the marathon. I didn't do enough cross training (i.e. training that was not running). Got a bit obsessed with running more and more miles. In the race, set off at my normal pace, and should have started much more within myself. Getting to 13 miles and realising that you have to do the same again is psychologically a huge hurdle, and one that training doesn't prepare you for. And finally, just enjoy the ride. What a fantastic experience running a big international marathon is.

I feel such a sense of achievement, and above all I am so delighted that the Christie is benefitting from the fund raising that is going on around my running. Thanks as always to everyone who has helped with this. We are tipping £16,000 of the £25,000 as we stand on and off line, so 6 months to close the gap.

My Motivation

In July 2009, my Dad, Philip Young died. He had been under the care of The Christie Hospital in Manchester — one of the leading cancer hospitals in the world — for a couple of years. While my Dad was unwell, I visited the hospital on numerous occasions, and saw at first hand what an incredible place it is. My Dad was consistently overwhelmed by the care he received at The Christie, and throughout his illness found great comfort in knowing that he was receiving the best treatment possible.

I have been running for fun for many years, and it was just after my Dad passed away that I decided that I would like to honour his memory by combining my joy of running with a cause close to my heart, namely raising money for The Christie. I was always so proud of my Dad, he was an amazing man, and I hope that he would be proud of me as I attempt to help this fantastic hospital.

The Christie granted me one of their very few Golden Bond places to run the Virgin London Marathon 2010 on their behalf. I am delighted that the hospital gave me this opportunity, and I will endeavour to raise as much as I possibly can for them. Since then I have also been accepted to run the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in October this year, also for the Christie.

I would be extremely grateful for any donations that anyone would be willing to make. The Christie is at the vanguard of research into cancer, and relies on donations to continue to advance towards a cure for this disease. 

Special People

I am hugely grateful to everyone that has donated, and also to a number of people who have been extremely helpful and supportive as I attempt to prepare myself for the marathons. Among these people are:

Marie. Marie is my wife and the best friend anyone could have. Despite the fact that she must now be heartily bored listening to my tales of training and running, she never shows it. It is Marie that keeps me motivated, kicks me out of the house to go running  when it is snowing and minus 20  and I am being seduced by a bottle of red wine, and she is always happy to listen when I need some help. 

Peter and Linda Byrne. Good friends of ours, Peter is my secret weapon. Peter used to be a semi professional cyclist and athlete running sub-3 hour marathons in his time. He is always full of good advice and motivates me a lot. Linda and Peter are also helping out with the fund raising through their business Diamond Design in Heswall. They have already decided on a time they think I will finish the marathon in. I just hope I can live up to their expectations.

John, Barbara, Kirsty, and Emma. I have a secret vice, and that is Chinese food. Ever since I announced what I was doing in London and Chicago for the Christie, John, Barbara, Kirsty, and Emma at Sangs Restaurant have been great. I am there every Friday, and they are so generous with their support and interest, and also helping me raise funds. Thanks to you all. This truly is the best Chinese restaurant in the North West.

Everyone at Rapid News Communications. Rapid News is my company, and everyone there is extremely kind and generous as we try and raise as much as we can for the Christie. Everyone at Rapid is superb, and I am extremely lucky to be around such a talented and thoughtful team.

Off LIne Collections

For those of you with a healthy mistrust of on-line donations, here are the collection points around the North West of England where you can make physical donations. Thanks to all the companies that have so generously agreed to collect on behalf of me and the Christie.

Sangs Chinese Restaurant, Heswall, Wirral

Diamond Design, Heswall, Wirral

Bargain Booze, Heswall, Wirral

Nail Heaven, Heswall, Wirral

Dry Cleaning by David, Thingwall, Wallasey, & Greasby, Wirral

Rapid News Publications, Tattenhall, Cheshire

Rooney Pontin, West Kirby, Wirral

NISA Store, Tattenhall, Cheshire

Bunbury Medical Centre, Bunbury

Corporate Sponsorship

A number of valued clients and suppliers are supporting the Christie through various business promotions that we have launched. Key among these companies are:

Z mags - Digital magazine software specialists

Pensord - Probably the best printers in the world!

Whitehouse Scientific - Europe's leading particle size certification laboratory

Vindon Scientific – leader in the field of controlled environmental rooms and chambers, stability storage equipment and services.

Microsystems UK Ltd – specialists in the design, manufacture, and validation of ultra precision injection moulds for the medical, pharmaceutical and optical markets.

Concerva – Manchester's No. 1 tax and financial advisor

Protolabs – the world's fastest source of CNC-machined and injection moulded parts

MEC – Industries come to the MEC with what they wish to achieve - The MEC makes it happen.

Stanco – The leading supplier to the UK event's industry

Fund Raising

The on-line collections are now showing just shy of £16,000 raised.