This year I'm joining #TeamStCuthberts and taking on the Durham City Run for the Hospice!

DURHAM 10k RUN

Hi, my name is Eddie Newcomb, and I will be representing St Cuthbert's Hospice Durham in the Durham 2024 10k run. I work in the ACS department of Durham University, so with the help of my colleagues in ACS we will also be fund raising for St Cuthbert's from within the university. I will be 61 when the run comes around and have until recently been a keen runner but after covid and lifetime of sporting injuries started to take its toll on my body, I took the decision to scale back the running. I am also a keen gym goer so to supplement my lack of running I upped my gym activities; however, the gym was closed for a short while over Christmas, so I once again took to road running. Fortunately, my injuries had little reaction to me running so the idea of running in the Durham 10k came about.

I was born with chronic asthma and spent many of my earlier years seriously ill in hospital, this combined with other serious injuries and resulting hospital stays left me relying on the kindness and help of others. Now is the time for me to repay the kindness and help I was given and to help other people. I have attended the St Cuthbert's hospice and witnessed the marvellous work they do, so when I saw that there was a chance, I could represent St Cuthbert's I contacted them, got accepted and that’s how all this has come about.

St Cuthbert's Hospice provides specialist care to people with life-limiting illnesses, people approaching the end of life and people that are bereaved. They don't charge for any of the services offered, ensuring hospice care is available to everyone. It costs over £2 million each year to keep St Cuthbert's Hospice running!

To learn more about their work, please visit their website www.stcuthbertshospice.com

Hi everyone

Its my intention to give updates on what has been happening so we can all be on this journey together. Firstly I would like to say a huge thankyou and well done to all those tremendously generous people that have already donated and got our fundraising off to such a wonderful start.

As I've said previously the idea of the run came about at Christmas and since then I've trained every week covering distances of between 6 to around 12k. Although I've already completed the distance it doesn't mean that I can take it easy until the run in July. Each training run is difficult and brings different challengers every week. The weather is a huge factor, training in wind and rain, snow and ice is not pleasant even dangerous at times but still has to be done, Also at 61 I have my fair share of injuries, aches and pains all of which have to be manged carefully. I intend to run once a week between distances of between 8 to 10 k up until the week before the run so I have a lot of training in front of me all of which I am enjoying tremendously. I am also continuing to exercise in the gym to vary my training. I hope you all enjoy these updates and I am looking forward to giving regular instalment. Again many thanks for everyone's donations I am really humbled

Thank You All

Eddie

Hi everyone

I would like to bring you up to date with my training progress. I have ran twice since I last updated things. The first run didn't go to well as it tired me out and left me fatigued for days. I felt strong when I started, I was nourished and hydrated but we all have bad day hopefully this was mine because it was hard work. I was not alarmed as I've had these kind of experiences before so rested for the next couple of days before going to the gym to continue my weight training. My second run a week later could not of been any different. I was a little apprehensive and started slowly but soon upped my pace. The further I went the stronger I felt and completed the run in great shape. I hope the first run was just a blip and I can continue my good form this week.

Thank you all for your donations everyone is being very generous

Eddie

Hi everyone

Once again Id like to bring you up to date with my training in preparation for the Durham 10k run in July. Everything was going fine until 2 weeks ago when I went for a training run but unfortunately forgot to apply the support to my left knee. The run went very well but afterwards I did have some discomfort in my knee so decided to rest it for a week. A week later it was a little stiff but I applied my knee support and went on a very successful run with minimal discomfort in my knee. I thought all was well so was looking forward to this weeks run but my knee has started to ache again, I think this is from some squats in the gym so I'm not running this week and am doing my best to keep my knee rested. I'm sure this is only slight setback and I will be fine to resume training runs again next week.

Can I ask everyone who reads this if they would be so kind as to copy the link and post it on their social media its really important that we get the information out to people who might want to donate and help the hospice.

A very big thankyou to all those who have donated you are all amazing

Hi everyone

I am pleased to say after a short away from training because of injury I am once again running. I have completed 2 successful training runs in the last 10 days and all is well . I still have a little pain in my knee but with some careful management this should not be a problem. I had 2 weeks off and missed 3 runs so when I started back I suffered from a little stiffness and lactic pain. I have two ways of dealing with these firstly and by far the most unconfutable is 20 minuets in a cold bath . This method is uncomfortable but the most affective and relieves around 75% of my aches and pains. The second method, 20 minuets in a hot bath with 2 /3 cups of magnesium salts or Epsom salts added to the bath. This just seams to take the edge off the aches and pains but relaxing in a hot bath listening to music for 20 minuets is very therapeutic and relaxing . If I have a hot bath after a run odiously this sends my core temperature up and dehydrates my body further so I think it is important to drink water afterwards to help rehydrate myself.

A very big Thankyou to everyone who has donated so far, I am looking forward to giving future updates .

Take care and Thankyou

EDDIE

update

Hi Everyone

Since my last update I have been away to turkey where I managed to get 2 training runs in. These were very enjoyable runs in the sunshine of around 8k each. Since I've been home I've completed another three runs of 10k plus , all the hard training is paying off things are getting easier although I still have some discomfort from my knee, it is manageable and seemingly getting a little better. The target I set of £500 has been surpassed , thank you all. This doesn't mean that I am stopping there the page for donations will still be open so please help me get the word out by telling your friends and publicising my Just Giving page on your social media , I will continue to train for the run and raise as much money as possible for St Cuthbert's Hospice.

A huge thanks to everyone that has helped St Cuthbert's

EDDIE

Hi again

I thought it was time I posted an update of my training progress. Every thing is going fine although my knee is still improving, I still have to manage it carefully. I have been doing this by reducing the frequency of my longer runs and putting in extra shorter run this seems to be working fine. As I get closer to the run date I am satisfied I now have enough miles under my belt to cope with distance, the course terrain and conditions. To get to the distance and to get familiar with the course was easy but until the last couple of weeks the weather has been cool but lately its warmed up and the sun has shone. I found it quite hard going in the strong sun which made me realise I needed to hydrate better, I'm also using electrolyte tablets pre training and electrolyte recovery drinks post training this is helping both with stamina and recovery. I will continue to train until around a week before the race and then I will rest so hopefully I'm at my best on the day . The total sponsorship so far is £854, that is absolutely amazing a huge thankyou to everyone who has contributed and those who have given their time to support this wonderful cause.

Thankyou and please keep on donating

EDDIE

Hi

with the race almost here I have continued my training with the last short run due tonight 15/07/2024 leaving me with 2 full rest days , I'm happy that will be enough time . I ran a full 10k at the weekend and was pleased with both my time and recovery so hopefully I have got my training schedule correct. My knee is slowly improving so fingers crossed it will be ok on the big day. The hydration tablets and the energy gels have helped hugely, so all in all everything is looking good to go and I'm satisfied I've prepared for the race to the best of my ability. Id like to thank everyone who has helped with this project, everybody has been so kind , generous and encouraging , it really has been inspirational. Thanks to everyone who has donated to the hospice, the just giving page will remain open for donations so please tell your friends and publicise it on your social media. I will post an other update after the race

Many Thanks

Eddie

Hi

The run took place last night 18/07/2024 and I am pleased to say I completed the run in 50.35 . What an amazing night the atmosphere was awesome, that combined with everyone's kindness and generosity really did spur me on and I'm very happy with my time. My knee held up well although I do have a very stiff hamstring . I finished 327th out of 1411 starters and 16th in my class which I am very happy with and can promise everyone I gave it my all. I hope you've enjoyed my updates I've certainly enjoyed writing them and training for the event. It only remains for me to thank everyone who donated to this fabulous cause and made this such a success

Thank You All

Eddie