Experiencing an imminent & immanent marathon

Travelling with a large group of similarly mad (if not insane) people - also known as 'runners' - I have frequently been asked to describe how I feel now that we are here in New York. For the past few days I have said "surreal". Quite literally dream like. Wandering the streets I keep expecting to wake up either at home in bed or in front of my computer at work.

Reality has seemed to play no part in the last half week since I woke up on Wednesday morning and headed to the airport to catch a QANTAS flight half way round the world. 24hrs, no sleep, 2 planes & half a dozen movies later we were in New York and checking into the Park Central Hotel, 2 blocks South of Central Park and right in Midtown.

Since then the ING NYC Marathon has pervaded everything!

Every morning the hotel lobby writhes with international runners in full running regalia and buzzes with discussion about distances, time, nutrition (carbs, carbs, carbs), expectation, gear and weather. The streets are awash with runners at all times of the day, and night (New York never sleeps), the news is littered with marathon stories and the locals love to hear you're running, why you're running, where you're from, and what you have accomplished to get here. It is impossible to go out without being aware the marathon is here.

The atmosphere is AMAZING, the city is alive and tingling with 'marathon fever' and the support is palpable wherever you go.

And yet until a few short hours ago it still seemed a dream. Having managed to adjust to the time difference easily, I went out early this morning with Kate from World Vision to cheer on Andrew, Aaron, and Rose from WV, as well as Amanda, Hani, and Paul from Amnesty (who needs surnames when you have a charity affiliation) in the NY Road Runners 'Dash to the Finish Line'. Standing in the bleachers cheering people on as they ran the last 200m in all manner of style and comfort, the reality of tomorrow sank in, and a similar sensation was felt in the pit of my stomach which sank DOWN!

Oh my! Just WHAT exactly have I done in signing up for this?

The sensation of fear and disbelief continued to rise over breakfast as I chatted with Kate, Rose, and Amanda and while my goal is to finish and enjoy the race all manner of doubts and a sensation of panicky fear grew until I quite literally wanted to piss my pants! To know that this time tomorrow I will be somewhere in the 42.2kms between the start and finish, that the crowds support and the determination of the World Vision Team to complete will carry each of us through was cold comfort as my mind raced with the terror of "what if I can't do it?".

What if I can't do it?
What if I'm still going after dark?
What if everyone has gone home and I'm still out there?
Or my worst fear, what if they take down the course markers and I'm still running but can no longer find the way?

Baseless fears, founded in the uncertainty of the unknown and now purged by writing. I know tomorrow will bring many challenges, many fears and many triumphs. I know tomorrow I will face the temptation to simply give up, to quit and walk away and I know that deep down there is a core that refuses to surrender.

I WILL FINISH, and I will stand proud of what has been accomplished for World Vision, and for those SEE Solutions benefits and for who I will know myself to be. Today I am a runner, simply because I run. Tomorrow I am a marathoner!

QF107 to New York is departing ... TODAY!

The time is finally upon me and upon us all! 

Despite some turbulence over the weekend (some minor disruption at an airline?) tomorrow all 47 of us taking part in this Inspired Adventure will congregate in New York for the final few days leading to the culmination of 10 months effort! Running the New York Marathon for Charity!

This late night post will be my last before New York, I promised to explain how to follow me so anyone who wants to watch it live, or simply check in at 6am and see if I'm still alive and running can do so.  

Go to the official NY Marathon website runner tracking page and look for "TrackMyRunners via Web" (a free web service available on race day) or get the "Join In, Mobile Spectator App" ($2.99, iPhone and Android).   

My bib number is 49255 and I'm in Blue Wave #3, Corral #49 and my start time is 10:40am New York time which is about 01:40am Monday 7th in Sydney.  

4 days, 7 hours left on the official countdown timer, so many emotions and thoughts, so many expectations, hopes and concerns, so many unknowns! 

Ultimately, I wake up early tomorrow, put my bags in the car and start the first leg of what will be a 24 hour journey to arrive in one of the most famous and frenetic cities in the world and 3 days later run a 42KM race for people who struggle to feed their families.  That fact is enormously sobering and makes me realise what a great privilege it is to be given the opportunity to do this.  How fortunate am I to be able to take have an opportunity like this and to use it to transform the lives and worlds of some of the poorest people in the world. 

As of today, I have raised $10,935 for World Vision's SEE Solutions, the World Vision Team has raised $121,350.06 as a whole.  That is an enormous effort and one that will make a huge difference to so many people!

No matter how my race is run (or walked) on Sunday, it has a purpose and one of which I am proud to be part.  42.2KM, and every step dedicated to the transformation of lives around the world.  

Now I'm READY! 

Now I'm EXCITED!

A rising sense of ... panicitement?

Panicitement (Pan-I-Site-ment) -  the sensation of fear and anticipation where it is impossible to tell if it is PANIC or EXCITEMENT that you feel, and most probably a sizeable dose of both!

Moments of dread, horror, excited anticipation, & numbing shock at how little time there remains until I'll be standing at the start line (admittedly for 4 hours before the race starts).  A little over 11 days remains and there is much to be done still.

All those last minute items like finding warm clothes for New York and warmer clothes for Toronto the week after along with making sure I list out all my running gear so I don't forget anything.  Then there are the practical steps like money, international roaming for emergencies, getting in touch with people to visit, working out what to do in the days leading up to the race (more excitement than panic thinking through this), looking forward to meeting the Team World Vision USA runners on the Friday night & planning just how much sleep I can actually get on the plane!

On the flip side are the doubts that creep in - Will they let me into the USA? (I have changed my surname since the last time I was there).  Can I make the distance? (YES! Even if I have to walk the whole way!).  Will the tightness that runs from the middle of my back down my right leg to my ankle making it painful to run and sometimes walk present itself again on race day? (It has done so twice in the last month, most recently this weekend just gone).

And through it all I return to 2 things. Firstly God is control and I rely on him. Secondly, even if I have to walk the whole course I am crossing that finish line! At 6km an hour that's only 7 hours of walking :)

Ooh Eck! 3 Weeks and it's all over ...

A bad case of Bloggers Block for the last month has meant that despite having great things to share about running, fundraising, going to New York and everything else Marathon related I just haven't been able to get it from head to screen.

Now suddenly it is the rush of the final weeks, and I have so many people to thank (not least of all my wonderful wife) and still it is hard to get it out in a coherent stream.  So many jumbled thoughts and feelings, concerns and hopes, last minute items to complete, and things to take care of at work, at home and for the marathon that I wonder where to start.  If I was sensible, it would be where I left off a little more than a month ago, but that would be too easy! I'm not sure how this will all come out, I'll stick in a LONG BLOG warning now just in case :)

I'll start by coming clean - I've been writing with an effort to be positive when I definitely didn't feel that way most of the time.  The months since my first half marathon back in May have been HARD work mentally not only regarding the marathon and fundraising, also at work and at home.  I've done a lot of training around thought discipline and creating empowering contexts but I have to say I struggled long and hard with a whole stack of things that seemed to all come at once.  Slow progress with fundraising, financial pressure at home with the final part of my personal costs for the marathon being paid out, changes in my client base at work putting financial and resourcing pressure on my team, performance management issues with some members of the team adding to the stress and pressure, interrupted sleep as we went through the winter colds and flu with two small children, developing a new round of first shin and then lower leg pain that has plagued me in various ways since late July - reeking havoc with my training plans and knocking my confidence as time dragged on. 

Thankfully a number of people have stood by me, forgiven my anger and upset (and the occasional dummy spitting tantrum) as I have plowed my way very slowly through the last 4 months.  My wife Jenny, my extended family (Bernie, Ruth, Mum and Dad, Chris and Alison) and my good friend and coach Deidre are most notable in those who have supported, coached and persevered through that time.  They have my love and my thanks for persisting when I wanted to give up and for being willing to "get up my nose" or "kick my butt" whenever it was required. 

September saw the efforts come to fruition with a massive turnaround in my fundraising.  The work I had done over the preceding month in getting the word out there, making donation requests, working with the local coffee shop to set up a charity day, plugging away at promoting SEE Solutions and my running the marathon as well as running a charity BBQ at work paid off with over $5000 being donated between Sept 2nd and 29th.  I have now raised almost $11,000 - all thanks to the generosity of family, friends, church, work colleagues, APEX Gosford, the Julius Cafe and ProActive HealthCare - everyone of them an Everyday Hero in their own right!

Having smashed the $10,000 target two days early, my attention turned fully to getting my body ready for the marathon ahead and it was with some dismay I faced up to the continuing issue of lower leg problems.  Post SRF Half Marathon (completed without shin pain thankfully) I took things slowly and decided to try and do a couple of kms on the Wednesday.  Walking was ok but running brought instant pain and a sensation of having steel bolts for calf muscles so I gave up and booked in for a massage the next day, a brilliant plan and I felt great afterwards until I did something to my right leg stopping myself twisting my left ankle that night.  I ached from hip to ankle on my right side for the days following and my physio very wisely told me to stop injuring myself!

Many physio, massage and kinesiology visits later and here we are, just under 3 weeks to Race Day and only 2 1/2 weeks to the day we fly.  My running is slowly getting back on track however I have faced up to having to re-write my plans for the marathon and the last of my training.  Today I left the physio with some final tips on the new running style (feet under centre of gravity) and some new exercises to strengthen my hips that will hopefully help make the difference and take the pressure of my lower legs.

A renewed commitment to blogging my progress has also been made and I aim to keep everyone up to date with how the last 21 days progress.  I'll also post details on how to follow me through the marathon - they have the technology :) - in the next few days.  For now, things are looking good and while at one level I'm freaking out, the excitement of fulfilling my word on running a marathon 10 months on from when this all started is also building!

Bring it on!

Awesome end to August, on to a Sensational September!

How fast time flies!  City2Surf feels like it was yesterday and already the Blackmore's Half Marathon is this Sunday!

Quick recap - August wound up with a huge improvement in my running (still work to be done but at least I can run for more than 500m again - and the videos of me running were far too embarrassing to post!).  A massive boost to my fundraising and confidence came in at the end of the month thanks to the Gosford APEX club who not only got behind me by donating $1,000 but also gave me a load of sausages, steak, onion and discounted drinks to run a Charity Fundraising BBQ at work.  

The BBQ took place at the Datacom offices in North Ryde last Friday (September 9th) and it was a great day despite the rain.  My team joined in to help set up, serve and clean up while Bernie from Gosford APEX joined us to man the BBQ outside (fortunately under a gazebo borrowed from my in-laws at the last minute).  2 hours of frantic activity, a whole lot of fun and thanks to the generosity of the Datacom staff we raised over $300 for World Vision SEE Solutions!

This week! 

Julius Cafe (part of Fibonacci Coffee) is donating their entire tips jar for the week, along with $1 from every coffee sold on Thursday September 15th  to SEE Solutions and in support of my marathon!  If you are anywhere near 1 Julius Avenue, North Ryde on Thursday, stop in and grab a great cup of coffee, support SEE Solutions and tell Maile and her staff what a great job they are doing!

18 days - $3,500, 54 days - 42.2km

The countdown is now on - 18days to finish my fundraising and only $3,500 to go!  54 days to finish my training and then it is only a 42.2km run :) As one supporter put it - "Think of it as 42 thousand steps, one foot in front of the other!".  Love it!

You can help me raise the funds and accomplish my goal by donating through my Team World Vision fundraising site, and pay by credit card, cash, cheque or BPay simply by clicking "Donate Now" and filling out the donation form.

$30 expands a sustainable fish farm in Cambodia

$50 provides training for a group in Kenya to start a small business

$100 trains 14 coffee farmers in Ethiopia to improve the yields and quality of their crop 

What Next?

Lots of email requests, Facebook messages and status posts going out along with a Facebook fundraising event running from now to October 1st asking people to donate - I can't get there without your support! 

I'll be launching my Limited Ticket Charity Raffle later this week.  This will be your opportunity to win one of 5 RedBalloon gift vouchers valued between $50 and $250, only 250 tickets at $25 each or 5 for $100 so get in quick! 

Also keep an eye out for details regarding the Post Marathon Party to be held in late November!

City2Surf ...

A week (and a day) ago I completed my first City2Surf and I have to admit it was not a great experience.  Rain 30mins before the start meant it was chilly and damp lining up, clothes, bottles and various other rubbish strewn across the start and for most of the course, bothersome shins that didn't warm up until AFTER heartbreak hill and most uncomfortable of all was busting for the loo just shy of 4kms - never knew running with a full bladder could be so painful!

My first thanks go to Woollahra Municipal Council for having the loos at the back of their council building open, saving me from continued pain and from having to queue for the porta-loo at the 4km mark.

What worked on the day?  I hit 8km and started to get comfortable and fall into a rhythm.  I still struggled a bit from time to time with shin pain and got to put into practice all the mental training around persevering and dealing with niggles and aches, and completed the race in 96minutes 36seconds - comfortably meeting my target of completing in under 100 minutes.  I proved to myself I can persevere! 

The BEST thing about the day was catching up with the legendary Rose and Colette from Team World Vision AND getting a fantabulous! leg massage by the wonderful people from the Australian College of Natural Therapies.  Team WV had a great setup on the first floor of Chapel by the Sea, warm and welcome with loads of food and drink as well as the massage team all set to care for tired legs and tight muscles.  Highlight of the day!

Fundraising

Crunch time is upon us and I need to complete my fundraising for World Vision by October 1st or I don't get to fulfill on my dream and run my first marathon in New York.  $4,630 to go, lots of plans in action with offers from the cafe at work to donate $1 from each coffee sold one day in September, creating a sponsored walk as part of a training run, guessing competitions, trivia nights and personal appeals?  

Can you help by donating online at http://www.teamworldvision.com.au/mikeedyejones_mmm?

What's Next?

I registered for the Half Marathon event at the Blackmore's Sydney Running Festival last Friday, so come Sunday September 18th I'll be at the start line (06:20!!) for the last of my event based training runs. I have to admit I'm nervous about being prepared in time given the trouble I have had the last few weeks with niggling aches in my shins. 

I heel strike, and therefore I suffer!

Last week I went to visit my physiotherapist (the ever patient Tony at ProActive Healthcare in North Ryde) to have my legs treated and my running style filmed and analysed, he found quite a few things for me to work on, two are the most significant:

1. I heel strike, hence the pain! 
2. I don't "kick" high enough. 

Having seen Tony again this morning where he taught me how to run - properly this time - I can feel (and thanks to running-cam, see) the difference. Tony has got me started on running on my mid to forefoot, and kicking me heel up off the ground.  All in all it makes for a shorter but faster step with my foot on the ground for less time. The ENERGY in that style of run is amazingly different to what I have experienced and I'm excited to get out and develop it further (under the watchful coaching of Tony and being sensible not to overdo it too soon and hurt myself).  I plan to post the video to remind myself of how to & how not to run so stay tuned to see what I'm talking about. 

City2Surf!

Woo Hoo!  

Sydney City2Surf is tomorrow, and another first for me - the first time I'll run in the world's largest fun run. OK, at 14kms it is only 1/3 the distance of a marathon but it is an important step in my training and a great indicator of how well prepared I am for New York in November!  

So excited!  12 weeks from today I'll be lining up in New York at the start of my first ever marathon, but to get there and be allowed to run I need your help ...

 This is why I run!

To make a difference in the lives of people who through no fault of their own do not have the access to education, markets, finance and health that will enable them to work their way out of poverty.  The opportunity to partner with Team World Vision to raise money for their SEE Solutions Campaign, to have a direct positive impact on the lives less fortunate than myself,  is what inspired me. 

How YOU can help

My target is to have raised $10,000 for SEE Solutions by October 1st. At the time of writing this I have raised $5,370. If I haven't reached my goal by October 1st, then I can't run the marathon.  My training will have been in vain, my reason for running will be denied.

Help me. Help World Vision. Help the poor of this world of ours become self sustainable! Donate now through the Team World Vision site at Everyday Hero

 

It's the end of financial year and only 4.5 months to NY!

As most of you know, I am running the NY Marathon this year in order to raise funds for World Vision's Social and Economic Empowerment (SEE) Solutions, a project that provides the working poor with access to small loans,training and other support in order to assist them to get out of poverty and build a sustainable future for themselves. Donations are going well with over $4500.00 raised so far.

 

The running is also progressing well and I'm really happy with how far I've come since January when I couldn't run more than a couple of minutes (downhill!).  In May I ran (with some short periods of walking) the Sydney Morning Herald Half Marathon in under 2.5 hours and I am now working with Tony Boutagy of the Boutagy Fitness Institute to complete my training for the NY Marathon.  The training program Tony has developed focuses on the 'long run' with a variety of shorter runs and interval training during the week to increase stamina and speed.  While it's only 4.5 months until the marathon, by sticking to the training plan and increasing the distance of my long run incrementally, I'm confident I can stay injury free and fulfill my personal goal of completing the marathon in under 4 hours. 

 

With the end of the financial year upon us, if anyone was thinking of getting behind my marathon efforts with a donation to the SEE Solutions project, now would be a wonderful time. 
$30 can expand a sustainable fish farm in Cambodia
$50 can help train and mentor a group in Kenya to start a small business
$100 can help train 14 coffee farmers in Ethiopia to improve the yields and quality of their crop

You can donate online and get a tax receipt straight away at http://www.teamworldvision.com.au/mikeedyejones_mmm (hosted by Everyday Hero).

 

Thank you for reading!

Mike Edyejones

It's only 42kms ...

The normal reaction I get to telling someone I'm running a marathon is something that questions my sanity and grudgingly acknowledges the guts required to take on the challenge.  This morning it was refreshing to sit opposite Tony Boutagy at his gym in Cremorne, see him smile and say the words "it's Only 42 kilometers!" 

Tony trains a lot of Ultra Marathoners, so a standard marathon (while admirable) is no big deal.  His confidence in being able to help me prepare, his clarity in describing what was required and how my training would progress under his guidance left me feeling refreshed and inspired at what was possible.The goal I have created with Tony is to complete the marathon in under 4 hours, and I have the confidence that under his training that is a done deal!

Now, to find someone who says "It's only $16,000" ...

Wow! And what a come down!

A long time ago in a land far away (about 6 years ago in London) I told some new workmates trying to convince me to join a running club that "Runners are MAD! A completely senseless waste of energy in a pointless exercise!".

On Sunday May 15th, I took part in my first public running event, which also happened to be my first half marathon and the 20th Anniversary of the Sydney Morning Herald Half Marathon in Sydney.  An early start with a glorious dawn gave way to a beautiful day bright with sunshine and almost 11,000 people completed the to the 21km race which wound through some of the best parts of the city.  I was thrilled with my time of 2:25:56 and this was an important psychological as well as physical milestone on my way to New York in November.  I spent the rest of the day basking in my achievement and enjoying the company of my extended family.  A truly great day and even the cold bath to help soothe muscles and aid recovery was somehow enjoyable - runners are truly mad and I now count myself among them!

I read in one of my (many) marathon books that the days following a race can be a let down IF you don't have a new goal already set.  My next goal is New York and the days after this race were a let down ... so I'd like to correct that.  The days following a race can be a let down regardless of your goals!
I'm still fired up for training for New York and my first full marathon (I'm certain now it won't be my last) and I have more and more ideas for fundraising coming to me with renewed vigour, however the return to work and the rude shock of normality first thing on the Monday morning was just plain RUDE!!!  By Monday night I was struggling with a fit of the doldrums and the next few days were simply horrible with the elation of completing a major personal challenge rapidly dwindling away.  

Fortunately a return to exercise (ok, it was a 3km brisk walk) on Friday morning followed by a change of pace with a management away day at work has helped to snap me out of the lows and taught me a valuable lesson - mental discipline is not just necessary for the race, I'm going to need it in the days that follow as well.  I have already thought ahead and organised to take the week following the marathon off as annual leave to delay that return to normality (and hopefully avoid the crash). 

Looking back, last week actually wasn't that bad.  Eight of us from work took part in the half marathon and there was a write up in the company newsletter so the word is out again about my running New York. I finally met Rose and Colette - our wonderful Team World Vision liaison supporters, and I can hold my head up knowing that with rather interrupted preparation and a brief visit to hospital for a general anaesthetic and routine procedure 4 days before the race, I still managed to come in under 2 1/2 hours!

4 months and counting ...

4 months in and it has already been a roller coaster ride for both the training and the fundraising.

Fundraising has not been as smooth as hoped with less support than anticipated from certain areas, however I have $3,850 raised on the way towards the $10,000 goal and there are plenty of options in the pipeline!

I have dealt with health & fitness issues ranging from the aches and pains associated with getting used to running again, through to a bout of Giardia and all the complications that brings - including wanting to give up as the symptoms dragged on and I lost over 6 weeks out of my training plan!  Finally, with the support of friends, family and a magnificent physiotherapist, my training is back on track and a pair of orthotics combined with new running shoes means pain free runs :)

This week brings 2 new challenges - day surgery tomorrow (including a light general anaesthetic) and the SMH Half Marathon on Sunday for which I feel unprepared AND it will be a great experience anyway.

Join Hugh Jackman in giving the world's poor a hand up, not a hand out, and support me in my marathon bid by donating today at http://www.everydayhero.com.au/mikeedyejones_mmm.

Time flies ...

It's been over a month (again) since my last post and again it has been quite a journey. 
I've mostly recovered from the giardia infection but still have some side effects, which a visit to a specialist gastroenterologist a week ago revealed may be due to an underlying condition.  I now have a date with a camera in mid May - 4 days before the Sydney Morning Herald Half Marathon.

My training has been sporadic as I deal with recovery and restarting training on a tight deadline.  Stretches are essential and something I have neglected from time to time to my own detriment.  My Physio (the talented Tony at Proactive Healthcare in North Ryde) has been an invaluable support and patient advisor as we work to get me up and running comfortably and without injury. Runs with patient work colleagues (Darren and Gilbert) through the national park near work have helped push my training further but it is time to really knuckle down to some serious training if I'm going to complete the SMH half marathon in May.

Fundraising plans are back on the drawing board following a conversation with work that produced a result that was less than I had hoped and threw a spanner in the works for my corporate sponsorship plans.  Personal requests, Facebook posts and conversations are back in action and the generosity of friends offering to help raise money has been a welcome and wonderful support.

Ideas, training discipline and conversations are now the flavour of the month. 
Bring it on!

The month that's been

Here it is almost a month since my last post and a lot has happened, unfortunately not around running and increasing race fitness!

In the week following my last post I went to see the physio twice, and my foot appeared to be healing well. I was advised to start some gentle jogging for short periods.  We went away camping for the following week and whilst I didn't run I did do a fair amount of walking (including carrying small children) which gave my foot a good testing.  Back to see the physio on our return (Friday Feb 26) and he was happy that I'm all set to start training again, easy at first and see how it goes.

Hold everything!

The following 10 days were filled with fever, headaches, stomach cramps and other related symptoms - no running!  Off to see the doctor (4 times in two weeks) resulting in a bunch of tests and treatment for Giardia.  The illness has left me very tired and physically incapable of training - the most frustrating aspect as it has been over a month now since I have been running.

I know I need to recover fully or risk doing myself damage, I'm concerned it will impact my ability to run the SMH Half Marathon on May 15th - only 2 months away having already resulted in my pulling out of the Corporate Games 5KM run on March 19th.

That's how it is at the moment, this is what I'm dealing with and I'm determined to run the half marathon in May.

Once I'm healthy I'll have to restart my training regime and get back to being disciplined about the early morning starts and following a program.  Right now I need to focus on recovery and fundraising!

Changes?

It took me a while to think of a title for this blog - I considered "Yo-Yo" but that didn't really capture it, "Rollercoaster" sounds too dramatic and yet it has been 3 weeks of ups and downs.

Picking up from late Jan, and the first low around my training, I went back to my physiotherapist as I was having real trouble getting a rhythm in my running and constantly felt like all my leg muscles were tight from the hips down. Some effective massage, a few stretches for at home and another visit to learn how to use a hard foam roll to really help stretch reluctant muscles later and I noticed a BIG change in how I felt about running.  Up we go as I start to enjoy my training and even look forward to it.

First week of Feb and Sydney is in a heat wave while Queensland is waiting for category 5 Cyclone Yasi to hit, parts of Victoria are flooding and the outskirts of Perth are on fire - crazy!  Little or no sleep for a week, it is about 28C at 06:00 (37C at 00:30 one night!) and really humid but no rain and running was exhausting rather than exhilarating, down we go again. A southerly change hit on the Sunday, the whole city  breathed a sigh of relief and I look forward to getting into some serious training in the week ahead.

Tuesday morning, first real run of the week and I cover just over 5km's in a warm up, 5x 5min runs (30 sec gaps) and warm down format.  Felt GREAT!  Looking forward to the rest of the week.  Tuesday afternoon, minor cramp in my left foot that becomes more painful on Wednesday, leads to me skipping my run Thursday morning as I start to hobble and then making an appointment to see the physio again that afternoon.

Thursday afternoon Tony at ProActive Healthcare checks out my foot, helps relieve the pain and gives me treatment advice while breaking the news that it could be either a stress fracture (no thanks - never broken a bone and not keen to start with a stress fracture of my 5th metatarsal) or tendonitis.  No running for a week, wear soft shoes, ice, rest etc etc.  Back again this Tuesday to see how it is healing and see if it needs X-Ray or Ultrasound.

Here's to a quick and full recovery and getting back to running!  In the meantime it is bike repairs so I can ride and off to the pool to keep my cardio work on track.

Realisations ...

You can call me slow (and not just for my "running" speed) but a few things began to dawn on me this week!

I got my "Team World Vision" training shirt at the end of last week. I love wearing that shirt when I train - it reminds me why I'm out running at 6:00 in the morning! It reminds me that this isn't about me, it isn't about losing weight, it isn't about a mid-life crisis or proving I can run a marathon. It is about making a difference in the lives of the world's poor, about giving people a  hand up not a hand out!  About a purpose greater than myself that calls me into action NOW.  Thinking of that purpose is what led to this post ...


I was thinking this week about the devastation of the QLD Floods and the call for donations to help rebuild the towns and cities and support those who have been affected so tragically.  I have been feeling guilty about asking for donations for SEE Solutions, thinking the need appears not to be so immediate.  When I realised this was what was going on in the back of my mind, I realised just how ABSURD it is to be thinking that way! 
The effect of the floods in QLD has been horrific, the damage extensive, many have lost everything and some have lost people they love! Supporting the people and rebuilding of QLD is important. It is also important that we don't lose sight of the fact that QLD is rebuilding after a major disaster and not just surviving each day.

The people and communities SEE Solutions supports live in poverty everyday. They are trying to earn enough to simply survive. They lack the quality of education, health, transport and other public infrastructure (if they have it at all) that we enjoy here in Australia.  Every day is a struggle for survival, their need is as immediate as those who have suffered in the floods in QLD.  Your generosity makes a significant difference to their survival and provides a means for self sufficiency - a solution rather than a band aid!

Give to the appeals for QLD, they need it and I'm doing the same.  Also give to the people and their need addressed by SEE Solutions - it is not one or the other!

There are still 5 spots left for Team World Vision, and registrations close on Tuesday 8th February. To register your interest, visit: www.everydayhero.com.au/event/worldvisionnym2011

Milestones and Donations

It has been a week in which two significant milestones have been reached. Not least was raising the first $1,000 for SEE solutions in just over a week! Strictly speaking it took me until Sat 15th Jan against a target date of Friday 14th Jan, but we got there in the end and it is thanks to the wonderful generosity of so many people in my life - they know who they are!

I set a challenge of 100 people, $100 each to reach $10,000 and so far 10 people have taken up that challenge in a one off payment, several have let me know they will donate $100 in installments over time, and others have donated what they can afford.  I am truly grateful for each of these and it never ceases to amaze me how blessed I am by the support of my friends and colleagues.

The other milestone has been running for over 10mins at a time, although there was a minor set back on Friday when a bad nights sleep resulted in being rather stiff and it was like my legs were lumps of wood, I had no knees and my hips were rusty hinges - Blah!! Tomorrow is a new day, the first of this weeks runs lies ahead and I look forward to that being by the beach in cool coastal air, with the smell of the sea and the sound of the waves as company.

... and so it begins!

I finally took the plunge and moved from doing more walking into actually going for a run.  Well, more of a mix of really slow jogging with a little walking -  and by really slow I mean R.E.A.L.L.Y. slow!!  Total distance was about 2km and it took 15 mins including stopping to stretch - so about average walking pace. Fastest pace was 5mins/km (great having an iPhone App to log your run!)

How do I feel? Well it is a start but it is obvious I have a lot of training to do to be able to run for 42km (21 times the distance) and do that in about 4 hours (16 times as long).  There are times of being overwhelmed by the time, training and fundraising commitment I have taken on, but I have made that commitment and now have to deliver.

I have been looking at who else is on the World Vision Team and have appreciated reading Kate Offer's blog 'The New Walker', and have to admit that a coach who can adapt an 18week training plan to the almost 40 weeks I have available to train is a great idea! (Kate's post - Jan 4th)

I'm also inspired by how Kate's fundraising efforts are going (just over $3,000 to date) and a little concerned by the fact that the first fundraising milestone of $1,000 is due next Friday - January 14th.  It has taken me longer than planned to get my fundraising page set up and available so now there is an urgency to getting into action and asking for donations.

If you want to show your support you can click here to donate directly to World Vision and help me reach my target at the same time. All money donated through the site goes to World Vision's SEE Solutions Campaign which is specifically designed to provide Social and Economic Empowerment to the working poor around the world.

Making this kind of a difference in the world is what I am passionate about and supporting SEE Solutions was the main reason for taking on the challenge of running a marathon and going through the physical and mental transformation that goes with that training.

Thanks to everyone who has offered and given support so far!

Ready, set...

I have now put in place almost everything I need to begin training.

• I've had my medical checkup: all good, but slightly overweight - an excellent marathon candidate!
• I've lined up some training partners, people to help with fundraising, and a special deal with the physio.
• I've researched all kinds of training plans, and haven't fainted.
• I also received six pairs of running socks for Christmas, and three books all about training for marathons.

And I have not yet run an inch.