Story
Many thanks for clicking onto this page, let me outline to you what I'm doing and why.
The Charity
Cotswold Care Hospice helps anyone over the age of 18 who has been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, and also extends their support to families and friends of patients known to them or to the Macmillan Team. They provided great support and opportunities for my Nana when she was diagnosed with cancer and I would like to give something back through my running.
The Person
I am Peter Holmes from Tetbury, Gloucestershire and I run for Cheltenham Harriers. I was a student at Loughborough University where I captained the cross country team and trained alongside great runners, such as world championship silver medallist, Lisa Dobriskey. In the spring of 2009 I moved to Vancouver, Canada to work for the International Triathlon Union and I now train with the Vancouver Falcons Athletics Club under the coaching of John Hill.
The Race
I made my marathon debut in 2006 at the London Marathon and went through halfway in 1hr 21mins, however cramp struck at the 20 mile mark and I finished with a disappointing 3hrs 7mins. Last winter I was training for the London Marathon, had run the British elite qualifying time over the half marathon distance and was all set for an epic battle, throwing in 100 mile (160km) training weeks and generally becoming an absolute aerobic monster. I promised my Mum I would run it for Cotswold Care and all was going exceptionally well... and then I got a new job… in Canada… which was great, but meant that I wouldn’t be able to run London so I shifted attention to the Vancouver Marathon… which I then missed as I was off covering a triathlon race in Korea. My spring marathon aspirations were over.
So why run a marathon in Luxembourg?
Well someone I know rather well happens to live there and tells me it's a rather nice race, starting in Echternach on the Eastern border of Luxembourg before crossing into Germany and returning back to the town. It sounds great!
Following a busy summer of work, having just five weeks of marathon training is hardly ideal, but it has to be done. If I'm to complete the race off such limited preparation I'm going to need every ounce of support I can get, so if you feel the urge, please click below and sponsor me for this very worthy cause.
Many thanks,
Peter