Mark Roberts
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Fundraising for Sam Beare Hospice
Story
Contrary to the below mischievious email from Mr Duhamel....I just want to say I did it !!!
Yes in the searing heat I did the London 10k run from Hyde Park Corner along Embankment and finally...thankfully ending in White Hall.....
Thanks to my very good friends Ian Monaghan,….. who I believe ran it in just over an hour so well done Ian, ...and Monica Mahi who were both there in a spirit of camaraderie to run and in particular Monica who ran with me and kept me going when I was not feeling so clever....and there were a few not so clever moments.....which I put down to the heat and of course the lack of serious training......message to myself...I really must train properly next time (there will be a next time?...oh yes indeed) ....Still an excellent event....some interesting outfits ! for sure....let us just say some chaps are very confident about their body beautifuls but do I want to see it on a Sunday morning? I think not.....some very good causes being supported, really interesting the variety of small and large charities...and some causes obviously very personal to the runners....a sea of humanity which was doing something very positive... and it was lots of fun with thousands of cheering fans..... and special thanks to that lady who told me those magic words "not far to go now ...." which sadly was a blatant lie but well intentioned I think....
Thanks to all those who supported my charity Sam Beare Hospice...it is an excellent cause and needs all the funds it can get…so please feel free to donate if you haven't knowing I have in fact completed the run
And the time I hear you ask….Monica and I crossed the line holding each other's hand aloft in 1hour 14mins which clearly is not a time to write home about but hey in the circumstances I was pretty pleased with it…
And how am I today ?....Let's just say I am very aware of my legs this morning…..
With Best Wishes,
Mark
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From: Duhamel, Lawrence
Sent: 12 July 2010 09:27
To:
Subject: Stop all the Clocks
It's nearly half past 9 Monday morning and no sign of Mark yet.
Therefore, as requested by Colin Beirne, the memorial collection for Mark Roberts will be opened at 10am this morning.
A short reading of WH Auden's poem will be followed by a moment of silence and a collection around the office.
You can then log on to the 10K Website to claim all refunds.
Peace be with you
Lawrence Duhamel
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Firstly thanks to everyone who has so far sponsored me.
To those who are still holding back from donating thinking I am incapable of completing this challenge please believe me I am still in intense training for this London Nike 10k run along with Mr Monaghan. All donations to the worthy cause which can help to maintain the upkeep of the Sam Beare Hospice, which does excellent work providing palliative care for patients who are coming to the end of their life, are truly welcome.
How is training going I hear you ask. Training is really going. The run is now only a month away and I still have not decided what apparel I will wear on the day which is I confess starting to concern me…I'm thinking baggy knee length shorts but whether dark blue or a brighter red is still to be determined and whether the top be pure cotton or lycra based is a big decision….catching myself in the mirror last night perhaps lycra would be unwise at this time. But I have bought the sport watch and a pair of cool wrap around smoke mirrored anti-glare sport sunglasses in M&S and the sweat headband at the weekend so along with the trainers and nike non cushion socks I've got the essentials sorted…. I know it is not a fashion parade but there will be photographs at the end so I should look pretty cool on the day
So again please think of me and my chosen charity, The Sam Beare Hospice, when thinking of donating to a really good cause.
Best Wishes,
Mark
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All,
Quick update to say the past week the cycling has been really intense but hey...need to get out there and run...so here we are May Bank Holiday weekend....and it is pouring with rain !! I will get out there soon.
Mark
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All,
Thanks for taking the time out to visit my JustGiving page.
My chosen charity is the Sam Beare Hospice which is local to me, close to my heart and a really worthwhile charity where so much good and life uplifting work is done in very sad situations. The Hospice helps patients with life limiting illnesses to receive free compassionate care to help address fears and concerns they may have, help retain their dignity and provide medical relief through the pain as they come to the end of their lives. The Hospice is funded purely by charitable donations and is currently is at risk and is in desparate need of funds.
Thus the biggest couch potato and general lard arse living in the Weybridge area, Mark George Roberts, has decided to dust down his old trainers...find some really big baggy shorts and tee shirt....and get running. No I hear you say....Mark Roberts....running....surely not....and you would not be far from the truth. This is a guy who struggles to ascend the stairs at home but now on Sunday 11 July '10 he will be running, nay crawling, the London 10k run to help ensure the Sam Beare Hospice continues....
Training starts in earnest this week with some very hard power walks and some difficult sessions with a space hopper which will certainly take me through the pain barrier......at the same time no wine...no beer ...no bacardi breezers......and definitely none of my favourite walkers cheese and onion crisps or scampi and lemon nik naks !!!
Easter Weekend over and I have to be honest training and maintaining the dietary regimen has been difficult.....
I have grappled steadfastly with the vast quantities of chocolate that was simply just there in various parts of the house talking to me....teasing me as only chocolate can. Admittedly it was not my chocolate but the children's Easter stash but heck there was so much of it they would not miss half an egg....don't be silly Mark your two would miss one chocolate button and then there would follow a full painful inquiry which could only lead to your naming and shaming....
So I struggled manfully on until finally Easter Monday but then full of the euphoria of a great Holy Week and both children out with friends I found myself alone and I finally succumbed and slipped to a couple of squares of Cadbury's dark Bournville chocolate which was nestling in the back of the fridge...how I found it is anybody's guess but find it I did with my head wedged fully in the lower shelf of my white Hotpoint (I know the extremes that some of us are prepared to go to for chocolate...) .....and it was just so disappointing to succumb to the temptations of dark chocolate as milk chocolate is very much my thing.....but hey it was so so scrummy and went down a treat.....
So a slight hiccup but having recovered myself I take solace in that it was only a "couple" of squares and now I am truly back on the training horse with a tight dietary regimen and an exacting physical training programme which would have Sir Chris Hoy throwing in the towel....well perhaps a slight exaggeration...
So I keep going.....and special thanks to Charles for the cash donation at Waitrose......Don't forget to keep me and my chosen charity in mind when thinking of donating to a really good cause!!!
With Best Wishes,
Mark
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