Well, firstly, thank you so much to all of you who donated to my charity page in 2010, I was delighted to raise over £500 for cancer research by taking part in the BCF Technology Charity Challenge.
This year we are once again raising money for 3 charities, one of which is Marie Curie Cancer Care. BCF Technology is generously going to match pound for pound everything I raise. I am taking part in a number of events so rather than looking for your kind donations more than once I am going to list the events and hopefully you will once again dig deep and help make all the training worthwhile!
The Marie Curie Whole Hog - Sat 21st May: The whole hog is a 10k multi terrain run completing obstacles along the way...lots of mud and water involved! Done...brilliant run although super tough and weather was grim! Route ended up being a little over 8 miles, huge hill, dip in the water up to my neck, tyre carry, obstacles...phew! 4th overall and won the ladies category. Time: 1:45:50
Dunfermline 1/2 Marathon Sunday 26th June: My first attempt at this distance and is a bit of a last minute entry...I have no idea if I can do this distance yet but will give it a go! DONE!! Managed to run the whole way which was my main goal! Finished in 1:52:11 so happy enough with that.
The Black Rock 5K - Friday 1st July: This is more than just your average 5K as it involves not just road running but...once the tide has started to go out the course takes you out over the wet sand (and often through water!) and around the 'Black Rock' and back in to Kinghorn. DONE!! TImings chips on gun so times not accurate, I logged at 37 minutes so pleased with that. Beautiful sunny run with the whole British Military Fitness team
Glasgow RIverside Rat Race - Sunday 21st August: It is a 10km journey along the banks of the Clyde, interspersed with adventure activities based on, near (or in!) the Clyde. DONE...in a time of 1.08 which was fine considering the time taken to do some of the obstacles. I was however beaten on one of the tasks, I just couldn't make the 6.1m jump off the tall ship despite a couple of attempts...maybe next year!
The Para’s 10 mile – Sunday 11 September: A multi-terrain andurance event, the race will follow the same route as the Parachute Regiments ‘P’ company selection 10 mile march route at Catterick Garrison...this is a fast, hilly one! Crikey...this was a toughie! Very hilly and the tail end of the US hurricane provided very windy conditions. To make matters worse I was feeling absolutely grim with the cold/flu...despite this I actually managed a good time of 1:24:11 so was happy with this...next year I will go for the P Coy challenge!
The Great North Run - Sunday 18th September: This well known half marathon takes place in Newcastle...it'll be just me and 54,000 other runners! I'm pleased to be sporting the Daffodil Team colours for Marie Curie on this one. AMAZING...the atmosphere, emotions, scale, spectators, red arrows, bands...it all made for such a wonderful experience and the miles flew past (sort of!) still hanging on to my cold so didn't quite get a PB but considering it was such a busy race I was pleased with my time of 1:53:13
BCF Pentlands Rogaine - Sat 24th September: A cross country challenge over 5 hours involving both route planning and navigation. There will be 2 disciplines...on foot and by mountain bike. The aim is to get as many points as possible....points = £££££s DONE! 5 hours of hard work! My BCF partner Jamie and I smashed the running event collecting all but 2 of the points and covering 11.4 miles of tough running before jumping straight onto the bikes for almost 16 miles of hilly, boggy mountain biking on tired legs...ouch! Our time penalty resulted in second place...not bad!
Loch Ness Marathon - Need I say more?! My biggest challenge yet. DONE!! Oh my goodness....lack of distance preparation made this one incredibly tough. My fitness was fine but my body was not and started breaking down at about mile 18...everything after that was really, really tough due to the pain! However, we dug deep and made it to the finish line in 4:58...when you take off the toilet queuing time and the visit to the St Johns Ambulance to have my ankle strapped up the total running time was 4:35....not breaking any records here but I was delighted with this!
Men's Health Survival of the fittest- Sunday 16th October: This challenging 10k takes competitors around the streets of Edinburgh with a tough obstacle every kilometre. It's a hilly one and the obstacles include a water slide into a loch and an army assault course...with more mud! Done!! A fantastic race with brilliant obstacles...a great way to end my year...a little sad to see the end of it but also welcoming the break!
So...a varied list I'm sure you will agree...no time off for me this year! I might be doing more events as and when I hear about them but so far these are the ones I am signed up for!
Thanks everyone, L,xx
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