THE BIG 39

Well last week I finally turned 39,the day when I decided to start my "40 before 40. My Birthday was lovely starting with a trip to Running Form in Burton to get my new Running shoes which were kindly funded by someone amazing. After lots of tests and running on a treadmill in several different pairs I finally setteld on these bad boys.

Sadly funding has got in the way of paying for actual races every week so I decided that the weeks I am unable to race in an organised event  then I will run at least 13.1 miles and log on the old Garmin so that I can post here.

My First Run as a 39 year old (with the mind of a 10 year old) just happened to be alongside a Fundraiser that was being held to raise funds for our cause Cameron's Smile supporting the Histiocytosis Research Trust. Central Sup in Tamworth had offered to hold a 7 mile Stand up Paddle board event along the River Thame. Nine brave souls took part but alas my nerves kicked in and I bottle it so ran alongside from Dosthill,through Kingsbury and along the Canal to the finish. Thanks so much to all who took part and raised over £400 for the cause.

It was such a Beautiful day and the sight of the group caused quite a stir with lots of questions being asked. I managed a run of 9 miles albeit broken with a short car journey to the paddle start.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/222927925

 
 Sunday saw me attempting my longest run yet of 17 miles in my New Shoosies. I had it all planned, shotblocks ready for fuel,new pink donut bottle at the ready and a good breakfast............mmmmmmmm forgot  I have not shopped this week so a leftover Bday Cupcake and I am off.

I head off towards the Canal up a huge hill which kills me to start (this is not going to be easy) then head off towards Atherstone. I am in my element as its cool and very quiet with just a few walkers,one fisherman and a couple of cyclists passing the time of day. I am however walking lots as I am worried about new shoosies and wondering if I have picked too long a run for their second outing.

I hit 5 miles and decide to double back on myself  and am plodding along quite happily when suddenly I hear "SLOW DOWN" Well really, I'm know I'm not running that fast. I am too nervous to look over to where the sound is coming from as I imagine someone is taking the mick. Then again "SLOW DOWN YOU P***K YOU ARE CAUSING WAVES". Oops I realise now that's not for me and for the speeding Barge that is powering up the Canal. I have never seen that before and then wonder when I will see the Canal police with flashy lights. I have to admit this does make me smile and helps me along for a few more miles.
I hit 11 miles which just happens to be at Tamworth AC where I pop in for my loo break and to fill my Bottle up. They have the Academy there on a Sun and I cant get over how many kids are there. The Olympics sure has Inspired a Generation. I am off then once more but the break has made my legs suddenly feel like lead. I am due to do 6 more miles but I am really struggling now so sadly I only make another 3.38 making a total of 14.38. I am gutted but hoping that I can get the 17 in next week.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/223271579


So I reckon thats 1 down 39 to go which will include the Tamworth 10k and Abingdon the week after on the 21st Oct.

Just the Beginning.

Right,I suppose I better explain how I got to this point in my life. I have the occasional flashback to me earlier attempts at running. I had decided that my first race would be a Cancer Research 10k at Sutton park Oct 2008. I chose this one as at the time they were funding research into HLH. I had been losing a bit of weight with Slimming world and felt that I could undertake this new challenge with the right training.My training regime consisted of  a bit of walking with a few half hearted attempts at running with a lot of Cake eating thrown in, I mean how hard can a 10k be?
A couple of people had decided they would run with me in Memory of Cameron so on a very wet and soggy morning we stood at the start line proudly wearing our tribute shirts. I was so confident that I could run most if it,how wrong I was.
I remember charging off at the start trying to keep up with the proper running types up at the front. About 3/4 of a mile and I had already stopped to walk as I was struggling and suddenly I realised that I had been a bit daft and really hadn't taken it seriously.
The atmosphere was so good though and we weren't the only ones who were taking it easy. We had got chatting to a lovely young lad called Glen who had agreed to run with his work. They had all run off and left him and he was finding it really tough so we decided to hang back and help him out. I knew at this point we were pretty much going to be last so making new friends seemed to be a good idea.
By the time we hit 8k we had gathered a few more lovely ladies so decided that we would all go over the Finnish together. As we came up to the end we saw that most of the crowd had gone but a few wonderful people had stayed to cheer us in. I will never forget how amazing we all felt to get to the end together in a time of 1h 35. We had laughed,we had cried,we had struggled and probably said a few words we shouldn't but we met some fab people and it is a day I will never forget. Little did I know then how things would turn out.

So aged 35 and 6st overweight in size 20 I decided that I had to make some huge changes. After Cammie I lost my identity and didnt know where I could fit back into life. Going from being a mum of a Toddler who needed 24 hour care whilst in Hospital I suddenly  became a bit of a spare part as all my older kids were in School full time.
 It was at this point a dear friend of mind asked if I wanted to go walking on an evening. I dont think she will ever realise what she did for me that day but without boring everyone I lost 6st and became a runner who now runs with a local club in a Ladies team and became a dedicated fundraiser and family support for parents with children like Cammie. I had a new identity and felt this was who I was meant to be all along. Losing my beautiful Son was the lowest part of my life but I had to survive for my other 3 kids as they had lost him too and still needed a Mum and hopefully a good role model.

I must have gone a teensy bit crazy.

Well here I find myself  approaching 39 with a daft idea of completing 40 races before I turn 40 with no less than 400 miles. I know this may not be a lot to some but if you saw me 4 years ago then you would understand why its Mahoosive for me.

 This picture is of me with my reason for taking up running although It is something I had always fancied doing (this was no mean feat for the Yorkshire lass that lived on Cake and had a knack of getting out of every P.E lesson as a teen)

 The little boy in the pic was my beautiful Son Cameron more affectionately known as Cammiedoodles by his older siblings. He was born happy and healthy in 2006 and I was so proud to have this precious little gift that was adored by everyone. Tragically as I had brought my little man into the world I also had the heartbreak of watching him leave it aged just 20mths . As I held my Son in my arms that day I honestly thought I too would die with the pain. The early days were spent getting the older ones to school with my Happy face on and then I would come home and sleep all day until I had to paint my smile on again and face the world.I had never wanted my children to suffer so I knew I had to do something positive to show them that you can overcome anything.