So, where to start....

This November I will be 40, the same age as my mum when she passed away from Cancer in 1991. As much as the number doesn't bother me (I'd prefer to make it to 41 and beyond!) I wanted to challenge myself to do 'something' before I got there.

Those who know me well know I've never been 'athletic' or 'sporty', in fact, as a serious swerver of exercise for most of my life doing a 'fun run' would NOT be high on my priorty list of things to do... BUT, something happened a few weeks ago to change that, a crisis of confidence in myself if you will, when the 'what ifs' started creeping in... 'what if it gets me?'

I discovered the NHS Choices Couch to 5K (C25K) programme and decided to challenge myself to do that. The idea of the programme is to go from doing nothing in terms of exercise, to running for 30 mins 3 times per week. Somehow I managed to complete it. AND I am still running, albeit very slowly! But the strangest thing of all is that I really love it!! I have even done a couple of Parkruns, yes, I've even ran in public!!! Woo, go me eh!!

Now throw into the mix that I have Plantar Fasciitis in both heels and just putting both feet on the floor to get out of bed in a morning is absolute agony and you might start to understand how much of a challenge this has been...

So, on the back of this new found enthusiam I found a race to enter, The Poppy Run, in aid of the Royal British Legion. The race is a week before my birthday.

I have chosen this charity as family members have been/are active servers within the military and it was a charity which my late Nana supported ~ she ALWAYS wore her Poppy pin with pride, every day. I now have this pin & will wear it on the fun run.

One other thing... me being me doesn't do things by halves (but I guess you already know that!) There is another event starting on 9th September for Sport Relief called the 5x50 challenge, where you have to complete 5K a day for 50 days by any means. The last day is the day of my fun run.... so I decided to do the 5x50 challenge for fun, just to see if I can! Besides, it will be stamina building... apparently...

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. If you are able to donate, it really would be appreciated and please remember to Gift Aid it if you can. Most importantly, please remember to buy a Poppy when the time comes.

Thank you.

Joanne

 

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