Run Crime Off The Streets

Malcolm Hogarth is raising money for Crimestoppers

Story

24th April

Yipee, I did it!!

I was a bit too tired to update the page yesterday - I am sure you will understand.

I had a fantastic day, the weather was perfect for running and the crowds were brilliant. I was also very lucky to see Ann at the halfway point and was able to give her a wave as I went past.

I did the first half in about two hours but at about fifteen miles the gas tank started getting a bit sluggish. I was spurred on at the 17 mile point when I saw the Crimestoppers crowd and I stopped intermittently to do some stretching here and there and to put some extra vaseline on my feet where my shoes were rubbing a bit (the trick worked and I ended up without any blisters).

I managed the twenty mile mark at about three and a quarter hours which was slower than my training times, but not too bad. However, that was when the wheels fell off! My heart and lungs were fine all the way but I just ran out of fuel even though I was taking on board carbhydrate gels and plenty of liquid. I think I walked a full mile between 23 and 24 miles but then a fellow runing club member caught me up and gave me a boost which spurred me on again. I lost it again at about 25 miles when another club mate caught me up and I spurred on yet again. I eventually 'ran' down the Mall and by my watch got in at 4 hours 29 minutes and 26 seconds. Not bad for an old boy in his first (and last) Marathon eh?

I was a bit unsteady on the legs this morning and expect to be even worse tomorrow but I have got the medal and raised funds for my cause.

Thanks everybody once again for your support and encouragement - I didn't manage to raise as much as I wanted but I wasn't too far off in the end. It certainly helped on the day though and I am sincerely grateful.

Now then, I have done the training, I have done the fund raising and I have done the distance - the next challenge is to draw in the funds from those of you who have so kindly donated - sponsored etc and who are now itching to send me your hard earned sterling.

I will accept all methods of legal tender either made out to me or to crimestoppers. You can also donate on my justgiving site if you wish.

Thanks once again one and all.

Best regards,

Malcolm

2nd April

Completed my second and final 20 mile run today. It was a bit different to the last one as it wasn't under race conditions so I did not have the motivation of having other runners to compete with. However Ann accompanied me on her bike and kept me well supplied with energy drinks, jelly babies and vaseline (if you don't know what the vaseline is for send me another £5.00 and I will tell you) !!

Conditions were perfect for running and I did very well for the first 16 miles when the legs got a bit heavy. I kept going though and with a few pauses for refuelling and a couple of sessions walking we got back home in about 3 hours and 10 minutes having done slightly over the 20 miles.

The next three weeks are classed as training down weeks and the mileage and effort is reduced - so next Sunday I am only going to be doing 10 miles!

Thanks once again to you all. I am still trying for the final push to get my target and am ever hopeful.

Bye for now ,

Malcolm.

26th March

Although I felt pretty good after my 20 Mile run 3 weeks ago I suffered a bit in the following week with what felt like a trapped nerve. It wasn't muscular anyway but it did put pay to running for a few days. In the last couple of weeks I have done sixteen and a half miles around Alton Water reservoir and have coped quite well and today I competed in a ten mile race in Stowmarket. My time today was 1 hour 23 minutes and 30 seconds which is about my standard pace now for the distance. Unfortunately I didn't get a photograph as my trusty assistant was helping to Marshall the event. I am planning to run to Ipswich next weekend for my next 20 miler and will try my very best to get a photograph then.

Watch out for the next installment.

5th March

Well., I have completed my first ever 20 mile run in a fairly good time of 3 hours 3 minutes and 42 seconds.Things were pretty good until about the 14 mile stage when the legs got a bit heavy and then again at 16 miles when they got even heavier. I had a bit of a dip at 18 miles when I saw an incline ahead of me so I walked for a few minutes. While I was walking 3 or 4 other runners overtook me but when I got going again I caught them up and passed them. All in all it was an enjoyable run with perfect weather - albeit a bit cold on some of the exposed sections. I am really pleased with the result considering I had never gone above 14 miles before and it has given me a great boost for the big one in seven weeks time.

I had a bit of a nightmare run last Satuday when I had planned to do up to about 16 miles. Halfway round I had a bit of a Paula Radcliffe moment (Bowels) and had to phone Ann to come and get me!!

My next planned run is a couple of laps around Alton Water reservoir next Sunday which should knock off another 16 miles or so and then I have got a 10 mile race towards the end of the month.

19th February 2006

Got back from a week on the piste at 11.00 last night after leaving the Alps at 08.00 in the morning. A very interesting journey it was too, especially the bit where I had to fit the snow chains so that we wouldn't end up over the side. The skiing was very good and the domestic financial controller has intimated that we may well go back again in the New Year (If I am a good boy)!!

After a wonderful sleep back in my own bed I was up and off to Bungay to compete in a 20km road race first thing this morning. I thought I would not have lost much fitness after skiing for a week but believe me the race was tough. However I did a credible time of 1 hour 46 minutes and 10 seconds which I am rather pleased with. I need to spend the next couple of weeks doing a bit of fine tuning for a 20 mile race on 5th march.

My fund raising pages have not risen much whilst I have been away but I am just about at the halfway stage and will be out there again rattling my metaphorical tin with a view to reaching my target well before 23rd April.

Thats it for this update - I will post another on 5th March.

5th February 2006

Hello friends and welcome back to my marathon website. If it is your first visit welcome!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to those who have sponsored so far. I have hit the £600.00 mark this week after a month of promoting my cause.

Training is still going well and I have clocked up about 30 miles a week for the past two weeks. I am now running to and from my club on training nights which adds about four miles to the workout. I went out this morning with a number of fellow striders and we did fourteen miles in a little over two hours, which is quite commendable. I have got a couple of training nights next week (along with some swimming and maybe a gym session). We are then off skiing at the end of the week where I will be having a complete rest from running. I will not be taking things to easy though and will be beasting the pistes trying to avoid the snowboarders. We get back on the 18th Feb and I am doing a 20km race the following day - should be fun.

I have also featured in the Ipswich Evening Star, Advertiser, 'In touch with Stowmarket' publication and the Bury Free Press. I havn't had any donations from the features though - perhaps I have put people off!!

Anyway I will give you another update after my 20km on 19th Feb. Then I must get my skates on in preparation for a 20 miler on 5th March.

Ciao for now,

Malcolm

Crimestoppers is the only UK national charity helping to stop crime. Each day around 20 people are charged as a result of information given to Crimestoppers and as a direct result of their work 56 murderers were brought to justice in 2004 and 322 people have been arrested and charged with violent crimes since January 2005.

Your donation will go a long way to helping me achive my target (£1500) and will certainly keep me motivated over the next few months. Hitting my sponsorship target will raise approximately the same amount it costs Crimestoppers to take four criminals off the streets. I thank you for generosity in helping me in achieve my aim.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Crimestoppers will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.