Ken Norman
Beginner's Guide to The Great North Run
Fundraising for Cystic Fibrosis Trust
Story
Thank you for visiting our fundraising page which charts our progress on our way to running our first half marathon The Great North Run on 30 September 2007.
Cathryn asked her big (in more than one sense of the word) brother Ken to run The Great North Run with her, in memory of her childhood friend, Alexandra McMillan, who died from cystic fibrosis in 1992 aged 16. Alexandra was a feisty, funny girl who was hit hard by this terrible disease, yet, she was incredibly positive and had a very mature outlook & attitude toward life and beyond. She was an inspiration.
Ken: The furthest I've ever run (well hobbled) before is six miles in sixty minutes (eight years ago) so starting my training at the age of 44 is proving to be quite hard - I always preferred cycling - but hey, it's nowhere near as hard as the journey that Alex had to make is it?
Cathryn: I'm more a natural born bouncer than a runner. I don't seem to go a great distance, but am enjoying the half-hour runs to the end of my road and back!! 13.5 miles might take me all day, but I think I'm up to the challenge, especially with Ken's encouragement and enthusiasm and the thought of raising some money for such a good cause. I'm going to keep on bouncing!
Update:
Just to let you know that we did survive the Great North Run and that we both managed to keep running the whole distance. Ken got round in 2 hours 26 minutes - Cathryn in 2 hours 13 minutes. Gosh it was warm in the midday sun. Having got split up in the mad dash for the baggage bus we managed to somehow find eachother in the hoards as we queued up for the start so we ran together for the first 6 miles (1 hour) thereafter Cathryn picked up speed finishing ahead by a margin of I minute for every year younger! We were treated to a magnificent welcome home by “The Red Arrows” who began their display just as Ken headed along the seafront.
We both loved the atmosphere and are already planning next year's run!
Thank you very much indeed for your support – we've made our £2,000 target to The Cystic Fibrosis Trust – our way of remembering Alexandra McMillan - but don't let that stop you donating, if you haven't already!
Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to donate: Cystic Fibrosis Trust will receive your money electronically and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in Gift Aid will be added to your donation at no cost to you.
Please donate generously.
Many thanks for your support. Cathryn & Ken