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" ...