Well it’s true!

I am running the Virgin London Marathon, April 2010 for a fantastic children’s charity called Phab Kids (www.phabkids.co.uk).

At this stage the whole thing seems a little scary but exciting at the same time!

Phab Kids

Phab Kids funds and organises residential holidays for disabled and non disabled children. Phab also encourages and helps support self reliance in young people and helps to enhance their living skills and abilities.

Phab Kids aim is to promote and encourage people with and without physical disabilities to come together on equal terms, to achieve complete integration within the wider community and to make more of life together.

Money raised by me and other runners will go to supporting a network of over 200 clubs. Phab clubs provide valuable support for families, and carers helping them overcome feelings of isolation.

A worthy cause I am sure you will agree!

Training

Ok - Signing up was the easy bit (or crazy bit depending on how you look at it! But typical me, I had the idea and so I just had to do it).

Now comes the hard part – the training.

I need to transform myself from an out of shape, over weight bloke in his thirties into a lean mean, running machine! (Anyone got a magic wand to hand?)

Running

The marathon would be easy if it wasn’t for all that running!

I am running four or five days a week at the moment and have been doing so for the last few weeks. Currently I can run about 5 miles a day (which in a village as small as mine must be causing some amusement / confusion to its residents as I go past one way, then the other, then back again etc),  while this is a start, it means I am actually not even running a marathon a week! Let alone in one day.

It is an incredibly daunting thought and the truth is I am not quite sure how I am going to get through the winter training let alone how I am going to run 26 miles on the day.

Running through the village in the summer sunshine has been enjoyable but long morning runs on a cold January morning will be a lot less fun, I am sure of that!

I am also signed up for the Adidas Half Marathon on the 14 of March which I will run as part of my training, assuming I make it that far!

How you can help keep me motivated!

I am in it for the money! Seriously – Phab Kids does fantastic work with children who perhaps haven’t had the best start in life. As a dad of three energetic boys I can only imagine how hard it must be for the families of children with a serious disability.

I have a target to raise £2,000 and I need your help.

It is this target, and seeing the donations building up over the next 7 months that is going to keep me pounding the streets come rain or shine until the marathon in April of next year.

Please give generously

I will be keeping this page updated with my progress every now and again so keep come back soon!

Thank you from me and Phab Kids for your support!

All the best,

Sam

Update 1 27/10/09

I thought I better update this as it's been about a month since I set this page up (or maybe longer?) Anyway, all is going well, I have well and truely caught the running bug and been averaging 20-25 miles per week. I have given up running in the local villages today as once I got up to about 6.5 miles it was getting silly, each village is only about a mile across and each is interlinked by roads with no lighting or pavement so not ideal for running, I started on my new plan today, running by the river Cam.

I have registered for a couple of 10 mile races, the first being in 4 weeks and as I had only run 6.5 miles up until today I thought I better start adding to that so I mapped out a 7.5 mile run which I did for the first time today in a hour and 10 minutes, which while not quick, I am still very pleased with.

You can see my run here http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/-waterbeach,-cambridge/791125668333473456

I will add another mile next week and a mile a week up to one of my runs (thats the plan anyway :-))

I will update this page again at the end of next month after my first race! :-)

Update 30/11/09

Thought it was about time I updated this page. Over all I have to say things are going well (until last week that is). I have managed to up my mileage each week and I am now running between 30-40 miles per week.

Unfortunately I ran 8 miles x country last weekend and felt a tweak in my knee, I tried to run on Monday but felt some soreness so stoped after only 1.75 miles. I did run on the Tuesday, 12 miles and that was probably a mistake as I was limping afterwards. I have been taking ibroprophen tabs daily and icing my knee every day (I actually had ice on it for more than 6 hours the day after) and tomorrow I am going to try running on it again following a 7 day lay off which has left me feeling quite down.

I am running the bedford half marathon on the 13th of Dec which will be my first 'race' and first half marathon, I was on track progress wise but events of the last week have left me feeling like my prep has taken a couple of steps backwards.....

You live and learn. I will still be running (assuming tomorrows run does not leave me in pain) and I will be giving it my best.

I will deff update this page following the run on the 13th and I will let you know how I got on.... fingers crossed for tomorrows run........

Update 10/12/09

The run I referred to in my last message did not go well. I ended up limping back to the car after less than two miles. I have seen a doc who suggested my running shoes might not be up to scratch but also said there appeared no serious damage. Unfortuantely it means I won't be running my first half marathon on Sunday at Bedford and I haven't run in a week or so which has left me feeling a bit down.

I have been to the pool and done some lengths but it is mind numbing and I can't wait to get out there again next week. I went to the running shop and bought some new shoes today, turns out I 'overpronate' quite a bit which means my foot roles from the outside in as I run (and probably caused my bad knee). Still glad I caught it before any real damage has been done and I now have some shoes with the right level of support.

I will probably look for another half to do in Jan, and I still have the Siverstone half to run on the 14th of March. My official marathon 16 week training programme starts on the 4th of Jan (...what all this running and I haven't even started yet???? :)) I have had some help from some very experienced runners to get it together so really looking forward to getting started although it is fairly challenging and has me running 60 miles + in later weeks. Anyway, I will let you know how I get on next week once I am back on the road!

Update 16/12/09

Still not running, tried again on Monday and got 1.5m before my right knee started to hurt again. Stopped straight away this time and I have another docs apt for Monday morning. So it looks like my marathon training will be continuing in the pool in the short term. Already been on Mon / Tue this week. 70 lengths each time alternating between freestyle, breast stroke, back stroke and back stroke with no arms (arms stretched out above my head). I did manage to try out my new shoes and my running tights (its cold out there!) on Mon and both were great for the very short time I was using them. (if you want to see a picture of me in my running tights posted I need more donations!) Fingers x'ed I will be back on the road soon.

Update 06/01/10

Today is the big day. Seeing the physio at 2pm. Been back to the docs as since my last posting I only managed to run 1.5 miles on the 30/12/09 before the pain came back again. Really getting me down to be honest. Have been treading water trying to keep in shape and was averaging 200 lengths a week in the pool before Xmas and I managed to get to the gym last week, I have been doing press ups, sit ups, and trunk raises as well. No good for cadio but being injured and unable to exercise is driving me up the wall! I was up at 4.45am yesterday morning for a rendezvouz with a bloke (Rob White, Ozone from Runners Forum) who very kindly donated me a crosstrainer and took a detour on his way from Yorkshire to Slough via Cambridge to deliver it to me. I managed to do about 7.5 miles on it yestrerday which felt good... not as good as getting running again would though. I have no idea what the physio will say however my 16 week marathon training programme 'proper' was susposed to start on the 4th. I am preparing myself for the worst (which would be her telling me that running the marathon is not going to happen) which would mean coming up with a plan B........

...... fingers crossed!

Update-2 06/01/10

I am now more determined than ever! I will only really have 13 weeks to get prepared for the marathon once I get running and as someone very new to running I have no idea how much of my fitness I will have maintained..... Feeling much better now than I was this morning! Off to the pool tomorrow! Will update again in two weeks hopefully with news of a successful run!

Update 22/01/10 - I am back!!!!!

Physio said I could go for a gentle run on Thursday and on grass. 2m run followed by 2m walk x 10 (total 40m) and I am sooooooooo pleased to say that I managed to get around with no pain or discomfort! (the fact that it was dark and 10pm did not put me off either), I was up and on the field again at 6am yesterday in the rain for a 20m continuous run which again I completed with no pain or discomfort. The physio has given me fairly strict instructions about my training over the next two weeks but it looks like the 1.5h of stretching and physio exercises I have been doing over the past 3 weeks has paid off. I have now realised just how hard it is just to make it to the starting line fit let alone running the race!

I have made some adjustments to my training plan and I am still confident that with lots of hard work I will be able to complete both the Silverstone Half Marathon on the 14th of March and the London Marathon!!!!

I now need to get in serious fund raising mode, there is a cake sale planned for the 26th of March and I am also going to be selling raffle tickets, but first I need to get some prizes donated (My brother Rob has donated a meal and a bottle of wine at Nando's as the first one!)

I will update this page again in a week or two!

Update 31/01/10

I have had a great week. Second week running and I managed to get in 30 miles and felt good through the vast majority of them. Had a nice slow 8 mile run today when I was able to really just enjoy running again and focus a lot on my form rather than speed.

I feel really positive now I have got through a full week of running with no signs of ITB problems. Looking forward to next weeks running now.

Update 12/02/10

This has been a week of contrasts for me. Two really bad runs on Mon & Tue both of which I had to cut short due to calf pain. I was starting to question whether my decision to try to alter my gait might have ruined any chance of me finishing any of my planned races.

Today I was scheduled to run 10 miles easy, I was particularly nervous after having to walk two miles back to the car in the cold on Tuesday in only a t-shirt so I wore my base layer, hat, jacket and gloves (just in case) and set off. The first one or two miles were not particularly comfortable but I decided after going off much too fast on Tuesday and blowing my calves that I would take this really easy and just try to get some miles in so off I went at about 10m/mile pace (very slow I know) after a couple of miles I was already thinking perhaps I should only do 8 miles today, 4 out and back just in case (I didn’t want a 5 mile walk back to the car) but after 4 miles I felt pretty good so I carried on for the 10. As I got close to the 5 mile point I started to think perhaps I should push on for 12 miles, I have a 12 mile lsr in my schedule for Sunday but I was unsure how my legs would feel (and lacking confidence at the moment in my running) I decided to keep going (as its only another mile) to the 6 mile point before turning back. As I approached the midpoint of the run and as you get into the town centre while running along the river in Cambridge there is about 100 meters of suspended wooden planks that you have to cross. I ran over them and I can't describe the feeling without getting all gushy and stupid sounding but as they are sprung they return a fair amount of energy back through your legs and at this point I realised that my new gait felt great and more natural than any running I have ever done before. (That's me trying not to be gushy). Anyway so I am on my way back now and feeling fantastic and light on my feet so I had the idea perhaps I could take a 1.2 mile detor on the way home and then I will have covered a full half marathon distance, something I have never done before. So before crossing back over the river by the foot bridge I ran on for just over half a mile before turning back and making my way back along the river to the car with the biggest grin on my face ever!

2h and 2m which considering I was actually trying to slow down and take it easy for most of the run I am really pleased with

I need to start getting prizes ready for the raffle, Cambridge United FC have given me 2 x executive box tickets to a home game to add to the prize pot, a cake shop have also said they will give us a prize.

Another update in a week or so!

Update 15/02/10

I did the Cambridge Park Run on Sat in a blizard! Had a great time. It was my first 'race', I ran the 3m to the park as a warm up but arrived 20m early so stood around in the cold trying not to look like I had no idea what I was doing. I started the race two thirds of the way back in a pack of 86 runners. I was really aiming for a time of 23.30 (as that is what the table in 'run less run faster' told me I could do based on my timed 10k time from before I got injured). I went of a little quickly I think but after the 1st K the snow started to come down and I was finding my breathing was uncomfortable in the cold but I started to pass a few people and as I got up on some of the runners I could hear that there breathing was worse than mine which gave me some confidence.

I then managed to overtake someone in their club kit which again made me feel like I was in the right place. Once I settled in I gave it a bit more over K's 2-4 but by the last K I was having to dig deep and was absolutely shattered.

I ended up finishing in 22m 23s which is a full minute under my target time I am over the moon with that. I was 26th out of 86 runners and 24th with an age adjusted time and 4th in my age category (30-34) (I must be getting old!) and only 4 of the 21 runners ahead of me where not club runners which also makes me think perhaps I might improve if I did some club training at some point.

Had a great time! (but race pic is bloody awful! See above!)

Update 20/02/10

Just wanted to update on my longest run of last week. Following a 9 mile and 8 mile run on Tue and Wed, I was pretty tired and in need of an easy day..... so I ran 15 miles on Thursday in the pooring rain in the freezing cold, my face was numb for the full 2h 29m it took me to complete the run. I was struggling for the last 5m and each mile it just seemed to get worse. I really have no idea at this stage how I am going to complete 26.2 miles now. I just have to trust that if I keep training I will get there but that was TOUGH! More updates next week.

Update 08/03/10

Had a couple of really good weeks. I ran 50 miles plus both weeks (which is a first for me!) and I feel good! I ran the Cambridge Parkrun again two weeks ago and ended up breaking my PB by 14 seconds (22m09s) despite the course being ankle deep in mud and standing water. I was expecting the time to be minutes slower however I had such fun I the time was unimportant (a PB is always great though!)

This week is my big test. The Silverstone Half on Sunday the 14th! I am aiming for 1h59m. I have never run a big race before and they are expecting 10,000 runners so it will be a great experience and give me a good idea what to expect for the Marathon. Fingers crossed I will have a good run.

I also start my new job next week which will add a huge challenge. How to balance a new job with a commute and running 50 miles plus per week..... I am sure I will work it out! I will update again after the half marathon :)

Update 14/03/10 - Half Marathon - 1h37m11s - Overall finish 390 out of 5,750 :)

This is probably my last update before the big day in 3 weeks now!!!!! The last couple of weeks have been up and down however I have got some good running in (although not achieved the mileage I would have liked). I ran 13 miles on Friday and felt good and this morning ran 22 miles which is my longest run to date. The sun was shining and although it was HARD work, I really enjoyed it and it gave me some confidence that I should make the distance when the big day comes. I have a 17 mile run planned for Wednesday for this week and also a 19 mile run in the diary for next Sunday. No more long runs after that (well a 10 miler the following week but that seems short in comparison to 20 miles+).

I also need to give a huge mention and thank you to Zahra and her work colleagues who have worked tirelessly to help me raise money for Phab. They have done an amazing job (although still more needed!)

My next planned update will be after the big day. Thank you all for your continued support and your good luck messages :)

Final update 25/04/10 - I DID IT!!!!!

If you are interested according to the VLM site my stats are:

runner no. 44676

Split Time

5K 00:25:18

15K 01:15:51

HALF 01:46:34

30K 02:32:54

40K 03:25:48

place (total) 5393

place (cat) 2465

Thank you all so much for your support!!!!!!!!!!

Sam