My story

***FINAL UPDATE***


Yesterday, I ran the London Marathon. and got my finishers' medal. My time, of 4:39, was well outside what I was hoping for, after running 21 miles in training in 2:54. The first 13 miles didn't feel like running, spectators lining the route the whole way carried me along, and I ran each mile in 8 minutes, getting to halfway in 1:45. Then, as I came up to 15 miles, and the temperature came up to 20C, the cramp began. I've done a lot of training, and never cramped up, so this came as a serious shock. But, with the help of a couple of St. Johns massages, and hundreds of "Come on James"s from the crowds, I made my way round the rest of the course.


Photos will be published on http://www.marathonfoto.com soon, so look out for me. My race number was 43611.


I can't convey in words how grateful I am of everyone's support. When each mile you run is worth well over £500, there is no stopping! My run was a small step in getting Sarah walking again.


***END OF FINAL UPDATE*** (and end of my running - for now)

 

 

Thank you for visiting my JustGiving page. You probably know I'm running the London Marathon this year, but why?

 

Polymyositis is a very rare disease which attacks the muscles and leaves sufferers with little strength to help themselves. Very little is known about the disease - why it occurs to some people, and how to treat it. 

 

The Myositis Support Group, run by Les and Irene Oakley, is the only UK charity specifically covering the various forms of myositis: Dermatomyositis, Inclusion Body Myositis, Juvenile Dermatomyositis and Polymyositis. The group distributes information about the diseases, helps sufferers obtain treatment, spreads awareness, and, most importantly, funds and supports medical research into the diseases. Since 1985, the charity has raised over £500,000, and has funded research at King's College Hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital, UCL, Bath University, Hammersmith Hospital, and Birmingham and Manchester Universities.

 

You might know that Sarah, my aunt, suffers from Polymyositis. Most of us take our muscles and a fully functioning body for granted, but Sarah's diagnosis, and the fact that it could affect anyone, has made me think twice about this. As a result, I'm running the London Marathon 2011 with "Team Muscle" to raise funds for the Myositis Support Group.

 

26.2 miles is a very very long way, and so I will be doing a lot of running between now and then. My target time (wildly optimistic given my running history) is 3:45, so promise me a bonus if I run sub 3:45 and I'll do even more training.

 

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.

 

Thank you for your support!

 

James

 

http://www.myositis.org.uk/

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=122000214533389

http://www.virginlondonmarathon.com/

 

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22-12-10 Just been for a 5 mile run in the snow. Very cold, but not too slippery. 16 weeks and 4 days to go.

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26-12-10 Week 0 (out of 16) total: 24.4 miles

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02-01-11 Week 1 total: 27.9 miles

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13-02-11 Been a while since I've updated this, but no news is good news here. Training's going well, up to around 45 miles / week, and 16 miles for the long run. Going to take that up by a mile each week. Racing the Boundary Run in Cambridge (half marathon) in two weeks' time. Getting lots of support from friends running with me & keeping me going. Follow the facebook link, as that gets updated more regularly. :)

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27-02-11 Suffering from some serious "runner's knee" at the moment, so I'm replacing some runs with bike riders and erg (rowing machine) sessions. Back on track today though with a 1:39.31 half marathon at the Boundary Run :)

 

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21-03-11: Finding out that I'm definitely not built for running. Got a few good runs in along with some rowing, erging and cycling. Knees have been getting better with less impact. However, I now have "runner's foot", an inflamed tendon called the plantar fascia. I definitely have no broken bones (proof by x-ray), which is good. Should take a week or so to recover, and I can still cycle in the meantime. :)

 

My gallery 2

My Teams

My company

My charity

Myositis Support Group

Myositis Support Group

Charity Registration No. 327791

The Myositis Support Group is a UK charity providing advice and support to sufferers of Dermatomyositis, Polymyositis, Inclusion Body Myositis and Juvenile Dermatomyositis and their families. The MSG also funds and promotes medical research that improves diagnosis, treatment, management and understanding of these diseases.

Donations 174

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Congratulation on a great fundraiser for a very special person!

Donation by Michael Donegan on 26/03/11

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Good luck James! Our dearest and oldest friend Sarah is truly an inspiration to us all. All love all the Turpins xx

Donation by Dick & Vivi Turpin on 25/03/11

£200.00

+ £56.41 Gift Aid

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Sarah is an inspiration! Good luck with the run and hope you reach your fundraising target. Tracy and Barry Bryant

Donation by Tracy Bryant on 25/03/11

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Good luck with the stroll and very best wishes to Sarah!

Donation by Richard Chenevix-Trench on 25/03/11

£120.00

+ £33.85 Gift Aid

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James - congratulation on supporting Sarah in this way and good luck from the whole family

Donation by Emma Innes-Whitehouse on 25/03/11

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Good luck James. Great cause. Chris and Carole Cracknell

Donation by Chris Cracknell on 25/03/11

£100.00

+ £28.21 Gift Aid

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Go James! I hope you surpass the target total. Enjoy the run.

Donation by Ricksters on 25/03/11

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The Myhre family are wishing you the very best of luck.

Donation by susanna myhre on 24/03/11

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It is a wonderful thing you are doing James, good luck, and big hug to our Sarah.

Donation by Sandra and David Robinson on 24/03/11

£100.00

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Good luck and have a great run with best wishes the montgomery family

Donation by elsp montgomery on 24/03/11

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Good luck James and warmest best wishes Sarah from all of us

Donation by Geoff & Sandra on 24/03/11

£50.00

+ £14.10 Gift Aid

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Have a great run. The Leefe family x

Donation by Joy Leefe on 24/03/11

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Best of Luck, Kathy Matthews

Donation by Kathryn Matthews on 24/03/11

£50.00

+ £14.10 Gift Aid

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James all the very best of luck! Heather, Garry and Harriet (Harriet is school pal of Jemima Lee!)

Donation by heather pratt on 24/03/11

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Good luck!! Sarah, very best wishes from Bel and I. Matt Sethard-Wright

Donation by Matthew Sethard-Wright on 24/03/11

£100.00

+ £28.21 Gift Aid

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Good luck James.

Donation by Jo Hawes on 24/03/11

£25.00

+ £7.05 Gift Aid

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All the best.

Donation by Graham Staples on 24/03/11

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

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Great effort and good luck.Double if you beat 3.45. Jules & Tor

Donation by Julian Brown on 24/03/11

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Good luck, James - I'm also doing it but will probably finish a long way behind you!

Donation by Lucy Tardrew on 23/03/11

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

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Very well done for supporting such a vital charity. Good luck with the race! with best wishes from the Mathiases xx

Donation by Lynn Mathias on 23/03/11

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Fantastic! A brilliant cause close to all our hearts! Good Luck from the Womersley's. xx

Donation by Elizabeth Womersley on 23/03/11

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Good Luck, James. It is such a wonderful cause. Much love from Les, Sue, Charlotte & Tilly

Donation by Sue Hart on 23/03/11

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Good luck and a great cause. Love to Sarah from Mike and Alli

Donation by Michael Warren on 23/03/11

£200.00

+ £56.41 Gift Aid

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a very worthwhile charity - well done

Donation by Roy Williams on 23/03/11

£250.00

+ £70.51 Gift Aid

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Good luck! Great Cause.

Donation by Katy Wellesley Wesley on 23/03/11

£10.00

+ £2.82 Gift Aid

Donation summary

  • * Online donations$20,537.80
  • Offline donations$3,184.16
  • Text donations$0.00
  • Total raised$23,721.96
  • Gift Aid$4,282.10

* Charities pay a small fee for our service. Find out how much it is and what we do for it.