Thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
As you know I will be running my first Marathon in April 2010, which will be my 30th year on the planet, so I thought I would celebrate my 30th Year by running the Marathon and raising some money for a good cause. Training will be hard through the winter months, but I am determined to get a good time on the day and stick with the training and make my first marathon a sucess and raise lots of money. I would also like to thank my amazing boyfriend Rob and my Parents who have sponsored me £100 each.
Updates:
27/12/09 -So I have been training since November and all has been going well, although I got ill for a week which I had to take off, which was very annoying as just wanted to get out and run and then before I knew it was Christmas and felt like I pigged out on Christmas food for a couple of weeks although I still managed to run I knew I needed to make sure I kept myself healthy as well, but its Christmas right? ha ha! SO I got my butt back into gear not time to lose and I did my first 12 mile training run today - yes that is right - a day after boxing day, it was hard, but I did it!! this sets me in good pace for my next 4 months of training so all going well! I can get on with training over the rest of the Christmas and New Year holiday!
14/01/10 - I thought I would add a little update on how my training is going! So there is just 3 and a half months to go to the actual race and all is going well, including my training in the snow and over Christmas. I have now completed three 12 mile training runs and running comfortably for 2 and a half hours. just about couple of hours to run to complete the marathon ha ha! SO yes all training going well, and I am certainly upping the mileage and the time spent running in one session, and at this rate the Hastings Half Marathon in March will be a relaxing training run, a walk in the park compared to my training plan. Just thought I would update you all, to let you know I am running well, injury free, although really shouldn't say that! Thank you for sponsering me and I promise I will make you all proud. Bring on the race!!!! I will keep you updated as often as I can.
25/01/10 - So another update - I ran my first 15 mile training session yesterday in 2hrs 40 mins which I thought for my first attempt wasn't too bad. I have my first 3 hour training session on sunday so hoping to cover 18-19 miles in that time - well shall see. training still going well and now only 3 months to go to the big day!
1/02/10 - I went for my first 3hr run yesterday and managed to cover 18 miles, which means I am well on target for 4hr 30min marathon - hoping all goes well from here. I will be doing a 20 mile run next week, before taking the miles down again and then upping them again a few weeks before the race and then it will be race day before we know it! I am not aching to much which is a bonus! I will keep you posted on how my 20 mile run on sunday goes!
08/02/10 - Well I went out for my 3hr 20 min run on sunday - and it was totally hard work! I managed to keep pace the whole way, but when it got to the 16th mile where I had to loop in an extra mile into my course, I started to struggle, but I persevered and managed to get up to 19 miles in 3 hours 10mins. Still not a bad effort - although aching today! Still the longest run I have done, although still need a little work on miles over 17-18, but I will get there - still 10 weeks of hardcore training to go.
09/03/10 - Well since my 19 mile run - I have managed to run 3-4 12/13 milers in good times and upping the miles again to 16 this weekend so trainig is still gong well. I made sure I didn't injure myself on my snowboarding holiday ha ha! And even managed a couple of runs on my holiday - now that is dedication ha ha! Back to normal training this week and 16 miles on sunday!
24/03/10 - I ran the Hastings Half Marathon on sunday 21st March and was my first indication this year on how I my training has been going and I managed to run the 13.1 mile hills from hell course in 2hrs 13 mins, which was a great achievement for me as my best time for the half marathon previously was 2hrs 27 mins so the training has definitely been paying off and I am feeling confident about running the 26.2 miles in 4 and a half weeks. I am running an 18 mile training run on sunday! that should be fun - but bring it on!
I am running the Marathon for ACTION HEART:
The Cardiac Rehabilitation programme in Dudley has been in existence since 1978, and is one of the longest running in the United Kingdom. The programme gained charitable status (registered number 518586) and was renamed Action Heart in the late 1980's. It has developed as an independent organisation, and is now contracted to provide its services by Dudley Health Authority. The Action Heart Centre is now situated in Block C in Russells Hall Hospital. Now there are more than 700 patients being looked after at any one time, for up to 12 months, on a programme of exercise and lifestyle management.
Action Heart's clinical work is guided by its Medical Advisory Panel, and its commercial activities by the Board of Directors. The former includes Cardiologists from Dudley, and Russell Tipson (Action Heart Director) who is also the liaison with the other Directors. The professional staff includes Exercise Physiologists, nurses and a Physiotherapist, as well as an administrative support team, and a commercial fund raising team. There is also a group of people (patients, ex-patients and supporters) who act as an army of volunteer helpers.
The twenty years of experience and growth means that not only is the programme one of the largest in this country, but as part of the DHSS scheme to improve good practice, Action Heart was awarded Beacon Status in 2000. This has enabled the programme to continue its own development, and support the growing number of new rehabilitation programmes around the country.
It is a very worthy cause and I will be running my heart out to help others with their Heart.
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Thank you all so much and here's to crossing the finishing line.
Toni xxx
