Updates at the bottom of the page

In June 2007, this lean, mean running machine weighed 21 stone.  One year later and seven and a half stone lighter, the next challenge beckoned.  As a 48 year old ex Round Tabler, I couldn't think of a better organisation to benefit from the mental and physical torture that I was going to put myself through by running the London Marathon than Round Table Children's Wish www.rtcw.org

So get your credit cards out and please support me, because this is going to be a one off.  As Sunday 26th April gets closer, my excitement is building as is my determination to complete the distance, even if it means crawling the last mile on my hands and knees.  

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Round Table Children's Wish Limited gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation. So dig deep and please sponsor me now! 

My sincere thanks go to...

Jan Erik Groos at Macron & FD - My Training & Race kit sponsor.  Brian Colbert at the Irish Institute of Neuro Linguistic Programming.  His hypnosis CD 'Slim To Thin' helped me get my focus right to lose the weight.  www.nlp.ie. Lindsay Thompson at Lighterlife provided me with the diet that worked for me and the support to change my outlook on food, who were responsible for the £150 sponsorship that was raised offline. www.lighterlife.co.uk   Finally, Ruth & Gary Moyler, my fitness instructors, for those punishing yet enjoyable training sessions www.thegymcompany.net.

July 2008 Update - Over a 106km of running this month, including the British 10k Run in London, where I wanted to record a sub 60 minute time.  I came in at 56:51, so objective achieved.  The race was invaluable experience running in a big crowd learning about pre-race preparation, pacing and hydration.  I entered the Nike 10k competition on Virgin Radio and went into the studio in London to run on a treadmill (a first) and answer trivia questions from Christian O'Connell and whilst I didn't win, it was great fun.  After the 10k, I upped the mileage with my eye on the Half Marathon in October and managed to complete two half marathon training runs towards the end of the month.  My aim is to go sub 2:30:00, so completing one in 2:27:35 was encouraging with 10 weeks to go.  I have been totally bowled over by the generosity of my sponsors.  £1,239 raised this month and at 24% of my £5,000 target, things are looking good.

August 2008 Update - Over 120km of running this month.  I have completed 6 half marathons this month, all under 2 and a half hours and put in a personal best of 2:23:58.  I should come in within my target as long as I can negotiate my route around the walkers and sponsorship groups efficiently.  £1,504 raised so far, which means I am 30% towards my target of £5,000...  £265 raised this month... 

September 2008 Update - Over 70km of running this month.  A slight blip on distance due to competing in the Cross Country for Essex in the Round Table National Sporting Weekend in Nottingham.  A comparitive sprint of 2.2 miles in 17 minutes 41 seconds meant that our four man team came in 4th.  Three half marathon training runs completed this month, with a new PB of 2:16:27.  £110 rased this month brings my total amount raised to £1,524 which is 30.48% of my target with 6 months to go to the marathon.

October 2008 Update - Over 89km of running this month.  Getting used to the treadmills as winter sets in and getting in a some 5k sprints midweek, which is good for stamina and speed.  Completed the Run To The Beat London Half Marathon in 2 hrs 12 mins 41 secs which was a personal best.  Another £50 in sponsorship which takes me to 31.48% of my target with 5 months to go.  Upping the distances I am going to run kilothons next month, which is a metric marathon.  26.2 km or 16.4 miles. 

November 2008 Update - Over 140km of running this month, which represents the most running in a month I have undertaken todate.  I have done three kilothons, which is a metric marathon at 26.2 km, with my quickest time sub 3 hours.  Winter is really beginning to bite and motivation levels have to be at their highest to get out and pound the pavements... I am thinking of signing up for a marathon training weekend in January, so that when I arrive at the start line in April, I will put myself in the very best of positions to succeed... Another £150 in sponsorship, which has brought me up to £1,724 and 34.5% of my target...  Lots of people have said they will sponsor me, so I will send gentle reminders in the New Year... I am looking to continue with a mix of Kilothons, Half Marathons and 10 mile runs dependent on the weather and start to introduce some midweek 10km and 5km in December, as I have quite a bit of holiday to take towards the end of December.  Thinking of dropping in a 20 mile run in the New Year... 

December 2008 Update - The most deadly illness known to the male population struck this month... Man Flu... It laid me low for a couple of weeks and meant that I only got in 72km of running this month... The good news is that with two weeks off at the end of the year, coupled with the rest, I put in Personal Bests for 5km and 10km.  £51 of sponsorship this month has brought the figure up to £1,750, which represents 35% of my target.  Tune in next month to see how I got on with the 20 mile run and also the Marathon Training Weekend.

January 2009 Update - An interesting month this month.  I completed a 20 mile run in 3 hrs 45 mins and attended the Full Potential Marathon Weekend, which I found to be enormously helpful.  Professional Coaches, looking at all aspects of getting us ready for the London Marathon.  I managed to get in 116km of running this month and rounded off January with a PB for a half marathon.  I am off on holiday to Egypt at the early part of February, but when I get back, it will be straight into my 10 week programme of Hill training on a Tuesday, Interval training on a Thursday, Long Run on a Saturday with a recovery run on a Sunday.  No new sponsorship in this month... I can see some e-mails going out when I get back from holiday!!!

February 2009 Update - A two week holiday in Egypt impacted on my mileage this month and despite managing a couple of 10k training runs at sunset alongside the Red Sea, I managed a total of 71km of running.  £260 raised this month, has me breaking both the £2,000 mark and over 40% of the way to my target of £5,000. With the Marathon just 8 weeks away as at 1st March I am going on to weekly updates.  The idea behind this is to help me with my focus going into the important weeks. 

Sunday 8th March Update - 7 Weeks to go.  This week the training has gone to pieces.  Away in Glasgow with work and away for the weekend at a Round Table event in Portsmouth, meant that I didn't do any running this week.  As I hang my head in shame, I vow to make up for it next week.  £75 raised this week, bring me up to £2,085 in sponsorship.

Sunday 15th March Update - 6 weeks to go.  After last week, I do two half marathon training runs.  The second setting a new personal best of 2:07:53.  Extra excitement, as the Lighterlife Magazine comes out (April 2009 edition - Page 40) and I have a four page spread of how I lost my weight and turned to running to maintain it.  No sponsorship this week...

Sunday 22nd March Update - 5 weeks to go.  Half Marathon training run completed in 2:18:03.  I have decided that there are two types of people that have dogs live with them... Dog Owners who are in control of their dog and people that have dogs that seem to think that it is all right for their animals to jump up at me when I run, tripping me up, ripping my running glove, scraping skin off my hand and giving me a bruised thigh and shin...  It has really made me realise how lucky I have been with injury and but for the grace of God, this idiot and his out of control mutt could have put me out of the race... Reading next week... At least I am guaranteed a dog free course... Then tapering down... Sponsorship up to £2,121...

Sunday 29th March Update - 4 weeks to go and the the time seems to be racing up on me...  I did the Reading Half Marathon this week and wanted to do the distance at Marathon pace, which is a lot slower than I would normally do a half marathon.  I wanted to feel fresh and strong at the end, so that I knew I could do the whole thing over again if necessary... I said up front that I wanted to do the marathon in under 5 hours and really had to hold myself back to finish in 2:20:35, which was a real discipline... The big learning point was ensuring that I do not get carried away on the day, set off quickly and burn myself out...

Sunday 5th April Update - 3 weeks to go and the first week of tapering has kicked in... I did a 15km run in 1 hour 45 minutes and then a 5k warm down run the next day.  Feeling weird not doing the long distances, but everyone has told me the importance of tapering, so I am going take heed of the advice and slow down.  The video of my Reading finish and pictures are now available at the following link... http://www2.marathon-photos.com/scripts/event_entry.py?event=Sports%2FCPUK%2F2009%2FReading+Half+Marathon&match=9123  Sponsorship is coming along and I have been promised a couple of corporate sponsorships, which should see the sponsorship rise to over £3,000.

Sunday 12th April Update - 2 weeks and counting.  A 10k on Saturday was my second fastest of all time and a 5k recovery run today completes the tapered training for this week. £190 raised this week in sponsorship as the excitement builds.

Sunday 19th April Update - I can't believe that there is just one week to go till I line up at the start of the London Marathon.  Yesterday I did a 10k in 1:00:51 and today a gentle 5k recovery run with Kate in the forest in 42:53...  The enormity of what I am about to do has hit me between the eyes.  Quite simply it is the most challenging physical undertaking I have done in my life.  The supporting comments have been amazing as has the generous sponsorship.  I am humbled by it.  I will post my time next week, but if anybody wants to follow my progress during the race, they can do so by texting 'RUN' to 83040.  Adidas will send you a link to the mobile tracking service... Simply enter 43339, which is my race number and you will get 5k updates as I meander my way along the course, via the timing chip that I will be wearing in my shoe... My training is done, it is now just a case of resting and ensuring I start relaxed. My sincere thanks to you all for helping me raise over £3,000 for an amazing charity, when you add in the tax and gift aid.  Whilst my original aim of raising £5,000 seems to have been a tad on the ambitious side, I am still hopeful of breaking the £4,000 mark...

Sunday 26th April 2009 - I finished the marathon in 5 hours, 19 minutes and 8 seconds.  At the 15 mile mark I started to get blisters at the end of my toes, which then burst and this slowed me down.  The last 11 miles were absolute agony, but the fitness element was good throughout.  I did beat the World Champion Luke Kibet, who had to withdraw!!!

Sunday 17th May 2009 - Three weeks later and the money is still coming in... I have been promised £3,500 from work, which will bring up my total donations to £7,395, which is 148% of what I thought was a challenging target.  When you add the gift aid of £735-03, it means Round Table Childrens Wish will benefit to the tune of £8,130-03, which has really bowled me over... My next races are the British 10k on 5th July, The Royal Parks Half on 11th October and the Dublin Marathon two weeks later on 26th October... I am in the ballot for the Virgin London Marathon for next year... Something tells me that I have got the buzz!!!  It is not too late to donate, every penny counts...

A Big Thank You to everyone who supported me...

Jim