Hi Everyone

GNR update - go to bottom of page!

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page in support of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

I'm going to run in the 'BUPA Great North Run' a half marathon on the 19th September 2010 for this hard working and worthwhile charity.

I'm running for the RNLI this year with a team of people from my local gym (Life and Soul at Cramlington) as it is a great charity that I have always admired.

Who are the RNLI?

The RNLI is an independent charity, funded by voluntary donations. They could not save lives at sea without the public’s support.  

They are volunteers across the UK and Republic of Ireland united by selflessness, skill and courage.

The RNLI provide 24-hour lifeboats and seasonal lifeguards dedicated to saving lives at sea.

RNLI lifeguards are highly trained to offer safety advice, give first aid and perform rescues.

The RNLI employes specialist staff, from engineers to trainers, to support its lifesavers and keep costs down.

The RNLI's lifeboat crews are mostly volunteers. They will drop everything to save lives in all conditions, day or night.

Every day, RNLI crews and lifeguards show selflessness, skill and courage to help save lives at sea.

http://www.rnli.org.uk/

Early in April 2010 my Dad was diagnosed with stomach cancer and after a successful operation at the RVI Newcastle to remove his stomach he is now fully recovered.  I had already decided to run for the RNLI but will now run for the Northern Oesophago-Gastric Cancer Fund as well.  I have setup two separate pages; one for each charity.  Greatly appreciated if you choose to donate for the RNLI  - its a very important cause and a worthwhile charity.

I've decided to start running the Great North Run again and will continue to run every year for a charitable cause until I can crack the time in the photograph or my knee's give in!  Oh to be as lithe, fast and skinny again as the old me in the photograph.  Anyway, my cunning plan is to run, walk, crawl, be dragged behind a cart...but somehow get around in a decent time this year.  And who knows on one fine day in a future run I may break two hours.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Thanks again for choosing to donate and support this excellent charity.

Regards

Mike

GNR Result

It was a great day, really was a great day...100’s stories like all other runners, a fitting 30th Anniversary for the Great North Run which is still the largest event of its type in the UK.  

We had inclement weather from start to finish but the air temperature was okay today.

Apparently 39,000 plus started the half marathon.

I have done the run many times in the past, albeit when I was carrying a lot less weight (the old skinny me).  That aside I was targeting 2hours 25-30mins and up until 7.5 miles it was looking like it may be achievable.  But here come the excuses; basically I’ve been having problems with my left knee and it went at around 7.5 miles.  So rather than risk injury I pretty much walked with a bit of jogging from 8 miles to the finish line.  Of course I did put in a convincing last 200m for the camera’s – vanity.

So my target time was 2hours 30mins and I did it in 3 hours 24 mins.  Such is life.

Onward to next year as I have the running bug again and shedding a couple of stone more will do me no harm at all.

Thanks again for your support.