Story
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The Snowdonia Marathon
http://www.snowdoniamarathon.com
On Saturday October 27 I will be competing in the Snowdonia Marathon. Initially I was motivated by wanting to be fit again as after a year of research in the London Library I felt like my brain was getting some good exercise but not really the rest of me. However, as I have trained throughout this year, more and more people have asked if I would be raising money for a particular charity. I decided to hold back until I was 100% sure I would be running as injury is quite often hard to avoid as the miles mount up. Well, I am in much better shape and I’m convinced I will make it to the start line. My main motivation now is to help two specific charities who in turn support people in real need and transform their lives.
If you read on to the very end you will learn that I decided to run on New Year’s Day this year. That afternoon, in the Snowdonia National Park, I was completely alive, living totally in the present moment. Although I was quite isolated and remote the tinge of fear I had just heightened the excitement. I was safe, secure and warm. I knew exactly where I was and help was there if needed. As I have run mile after mile this year I have reflected on those people facing almost the complete opposite situation in their lives. The Haven and The Haller Foundation are both supporting and transforming people’s lives. It would be fantastic if you were able to make a donation to one of these two charities. I will be running for both of them. I have given a brief description of each charity below and if you want to learn more I encourage you to take a look at their websites.
Thank you so much for your help,
Christopher
The Haven is a national charity helping people through the experience of breast cancer and has been a tremendous support to Emma over the last two years as well as so many others. Havens offer a free programme of in-depth support to improve the quality of life of anyone affected by breast cancer. I am sure that many of you, with whom I was at university, may already be aware of the Haven because it was founded by Sara Davenport in 1997. The idea for the charity came following the experience of her children's nanny, Wendy Ricketts, who was diagnosed with breast cancer. Sara was concerned by the lack of emotional support and information available at that time to anyone diagnosed with the illness. Believing that "no-one should have to face breast cancer alone", Sara sold her art business and put all of her energy into creating The Haven.
The Haller Foundation’s work is based on the techniques of the award-winning environmentalist, Dr. Rene Haller, a UNEP Global Laureate renowned for his restoration of cement quarries in Kenya. They use a similar model of environmental regeneration to bring economic security to poor, small-holder farmers living on inhospitable land.
Haller works at the grassroots level with some of the poorest communities in Kenya. They address communities’ basic needs through an integrated set of programmes in water, farming, education, health, alternative energy and nano-enterprise. Haller’s community partnerships are not quick fixes, rather they offer long term, life-skills training which empower farmers and their children to lead self-sufficient and sustainable lives and reduce their dependence on aid. Haller was set up as a charity in 2004 by Louise Piper and Julia Hailes MBE and is currently chaired by Jeremy Withers Green.
Just like Sara, both Louise and Jeremy were at university with me and it is with huge respect for the charitable work that they all do, that I will make my way around the Snowdonia marathon course.
The Decision to Enter and the Challenge Ahead!
In the early afternoon on New Year’s Day this year, while walking in The Snowdonia National Park, I announced to Emma, Nick and Myfanwy that I planned to climb to the top of the Cnicht and walk, or maybe even jog, back to the Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel rather than heading down the valley and driving. I was not to be dissuaded as I had been, quite rightly, the day before when, too late in the afternoon, I announced that I would be heading back to the PYG up through the Devils Kitchen.
New Year’s Day was a bit drizzly and cloudy, but not too cold, and there were even occasional breaks in the clouds – 12 miles would be no problem! So equipped with a GPS, a thermos of tea, some shortbread, a head torch and a few other bits of survival kit I headed off on my own. It was a fantastic afternoon walk with fabulous views and the excitement that comes with being on an adventure … with a small element of risk. On the one hand I knew I was, by choice, completely remote and isolated, but I also knew that if I needed help it was a phone call away and I could let the outside world know exactly where I was within a meter or two. Around 4:00pm I sent an email to Emma: “Making good progress! Current Coordinates: SH 66444 51314. Can see PyG due North from me about 2miles. See you in 30mins Xx”. I didn’t tell her I had twisted my knee leaping down a boggy heather terrace, because luckily it didn’t turn out to be as bad as I first feared. And anyway, that injection of fear had only made me feel more alive. Later I sat sheltered on the side of a ridge, watching the sunset with a cup of tea and some shortbread, exposed to the elements but feeling safe, secure and warm. I finally arrived back, in the dark, at about 6:30pm, guided by my head torch, with that feeling of wellbeing that comes with physical exertion and a little adventure.
That evening by the fire in the PyG (http://www.pyg.co.uk/history.htm) as I told a few people about my exciting afternoon, the conversation took a turn and I found myself listening intently to another interesting local challenge - the Snowdonia Marathon.
On Monday 2 January, still high on the memory of the previous day, I entered the race; after all there were limited places which would all be snapped up by midday. And then, over the course of the next few weeks when I started telling a few people I was doing it, there was no going back!
As you might imagine, the Snowdonia Marathon is not particularly flat and even though you only have to run around the foot of Snowdon, not up and down it, the route is quite challenging. Over the full course of 26.2 miles you effectively run up and down about 1,700ft in total as well!
In preparation I have been pounding the pavements hard throughout the year and particularly during the last few months. In July I was supported and encouraged by John and Millie during my first half marathon near Siena and in August I spent a great weekend with Sasha, her family and father Jim in Perth doing some hill training with my trainer J Iain, whom many of you know only as Snej. In September I started my longer runs which took me into Richmond Park and along the Thames between Putney and Kew. Finally, ten days ago I travelled up to Snowdonia and ran the last twenty miles of the actual course while Oliver handed out water and soft dried apricots at regular intervals.
Many thanks to all of you mentioned above who have helped me along the way and those of you who will be there on the day, which by the way includes Jean who always keeps my pace and encourages me to go just a little bit faster!
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