Amy and I did our long run this morning. The first five miles were really hard - we were on the coast and it was extremely windy. This was not fun!But when we turned around it was great as the wind, obviously was right behind us!
Part of the training is working out what sort of nutrition we need and what to take during the run. This kind of detail could be quite boring but it starts to become really important whether a half a banana taken at five miles helps or hinders! For fluid I am using a mix of orange juice and water with a pinch of salt, a sort of home made isotonic drink. Amy very kindly gave me a running belt for Christmas which stores all of these essentials.
Christine asked in one of the comments whether it was better to run in rain or cold (I think - I haven't figured out how to access the comments whilst putting together a post). Personally I don't mind either. I would be concerned if the Marathon falls on a really hot day, and obviously strong wind can be hampering.
One thing I have been surprised at is the speed with which my body temperature drops following a run. I get cold really quickly and struggle to warm up again. Is this about blood going to muscles? Is anyone out there medically minded and can let me know?
I haven't been at work for a week and will return on Monday - in specialist palliative care, a lot can change in a week and I wonder how the patients and their families have experienced their Christmas's.
This week is the last 10, 7, 6, and 5 mile runs and the long run creeps up to 11 next week. We are hoping to run a half marathon on the 3rd February in preparation so we need to be able to run 13 miles by then. There has to be a balance of not increasing mileage too quickly and yet getting the time spent running increased enough. I have been niggled by a lower back pain but was relieved when I went to a sports physiotherapist to find out that it is not a 'mechanical' fault (!) but more to do with 'core body strength' (or lack of) which I can sort out. Interestingly, this was exactly what our physiotherapist at the Hospice, Kimberley, told me when I first mentioned it to her!
It's the end of 2007 and the beginning of 2008 this week - any news years resolutions?
Saturday, 29 December 2007
Sunday, 23 December 2007
Christmas is the time for giving ...
It's the evening before Christmas Eve and I wanted to waffle on a bit about money if that's OK. The main aim for running the London Marathon for St Helena Hospice is to raise as much money for the organisation as possible. As I have said before I have worked at the Hospice for five years and am amazed at the service it offers individuals and families facing a life threatening illness and death. I am even more amazed how much of the cost of this service has to be found through fundraising. It is through the generosity of the general public and the many volunteers who support the Hospice that it continues to be able to provide the quality of care that it does.
I am delighted to say that, thanks to 'jessie' and 'Sigmund Floyd' (!) I have raised £52.20 through my 'just giving page' - what a great start. I should also like to thank Mandy and Pauline and Denis who have sponsored me £20 each.
In December I took part in two events, one was an art exhibition and the other a Christmas Fayre and through these events raised almost £500 for the Hospice.
This really matters and helps enormously when it is freezing cold and I have to go out for my runs. They don't call that jog in the park on April 13th a marathon for nothing - the commitment necessary for the training is a marathon in and of itself. Getting out to do four runs a week takes some doing and to know that a steady trickle of money is coming in for the Hospice just makes it make sense. This week the four runs are a 7, a 6, a 5 and a long run of 10 miles, oh yes .... and it's Christmas!
I am committed but please, please if you are reading this, pop over to the justgiving page and make a donation. The thing about working at the Hospice is that it isn't about working with those people over there with a life threatening diagnosis. 'Those people' were you and me just getting on with their lives when, one day they were given some dreadful news and their life took a completely different journey. The money you donate will just help them navigate that journey a little easier, that's all.
Anyway, as I prepare for a 7 miler tomorrow morning, have a really lovely Christmas.
I am delighted to say that, thanks to 'jessie' and 'Sigmund Floyd' (!) I have raised £52.20 through my 'just giving page' - what a great start. I should also like to thank Mandy and Pauline and Denis who have sponsored me £20 each.
In December I took part in two events, one was an art exhibition and the other a Christmas Fayre and through these events raised almost £500 for the Hospice.
This really matters and helps enormously when it is freezing cold and I have to go out for my runs. They don't call that jog in the park on April 13th a marathon for nothing - the commitment necessary for the training is a marathon in and of itself. Getting out to do four runs a week takes some doing and to know that a steady trickle of money is coming in for the Hospice just makes it make sense. This week the four runs are a 7, a 6, a 5 and a long run of 10 miles, oh yes .... and it's Christmas!
I am committed but please, please if you are reading this, pop over to the justgiving page and make a donation. The thing about working at the Hospice is that it isn't about working with those people over there with a life threatening diagnosis. 'Those people' were you and me just getting on with their lives when, one day they were given some dreadful news and their life took a completely different journey. The money you donate will just help them navigate that journey a little easier, that's all.
Anyway, as I prepare for a 7 miler tomorrow morning, have a really lovely Christmas.
Monday, 17 December 2007
What a beautiful day it was ....
Another week, another 25 miles but not easily gained. Amy (my running partner) and I are running two runs together a week and two on our own. At the moment this involves two six milers, one three and the long run of ten. It's so funny to think that at one point three miles was our longest run and that wasn't so long ago.
Unfortunately, or rather fortunately I was finally able to use the vouchers for Aquasprings that I was kindly given during my maternity leave from work. Friday I spent being pampered and this included an hour aromatherapy massage. Lovely ... except that Saturday morning when I was supposed to be picking Amy up for the long run I couldn't get up, I was so relaxed still! This meant we postponed the long run until Sunday afternoon. It couldn't have worked out better as the weather was brilliant, cold but bright and sunny with no wind. Along the Clacton front was so beautiful and as we headed back from Frinton to Clacton we watched the sun dip. It was a fantastic run and we felt re-assured again that our training is going OK.
Work is very busy. the Hospice is having the last in its series of Light up a Life events this evening at Myland Hall. These have been very succesful and provide an opportunity for families to remember their loved one at this special time of year.
As an Art therapist in speciallist palliative care I work with both children and adults, in pre-bereavement work, palliative care, and bereavment. I work indiviually and with groups. The main principle of the work is that sometimes thoughts and feelings that struggle to be put into words can find expression in pictures and the art making process. Since having my daughter I reduced my days to two and my colleague Flisan now works here for the other two.
Anyway, hope everyone who might (?) read this is well. Thank you for the comments - very supportive. But Jane, you didn't mention how your running was going. I know you've just started?!
Unfortunately, or rather fortunately I was finally able to use the vouchers for Aquasprings that I was kindly given during my maternity leave from work. Friday I spent being pampered and this included an hour aromatherapy massage. Lovely ... except that Saturday morning when I was supposed to be picking Amy up for the long run I couldn't get up, I was so relaxed still! This meant we postponed the long run until Sunday afternoon. It couldn't have worked out better as the weather was brilliant, cold but bright and sunny with no wind. Along the Clacton front was so beautiful and as we headed back from Frinton to Clacton we watched the sun dip. It was a fantastic run and we felt re-assured again that our training is going OK.
Work is very busy. the Hospice is having the last in its series of Light up a Life events this evening at Myland Hall. These have been very succesful and provide an opportunity for families to remember their loved one at this special time of year.
As an Art therapist in speciallist palliative care I work with both children and adults, in pre-bereavement work, palliative care, and bereavment. I work indiviually and with groups. The main principle of the work is that sometimes thoughts and feelings that struggle to be put into words can find expression in pictures and the art making process. Since having my daughter I reduced my days to two and my colleague Flisan now works here for the other two.
Anyway, hope everyone who might (?) read this is well. Thank you for the comments - very supportive. But Jane, you didn't mention how your running was going. I know you've just started?!
Wednesday, 12 December 2007
First of many ....
Hello. Well this is the first post of this journey. I am running the London Marathon on Sunday 13th April for St Helena Hospice. I haven't done this sort of thing before, keeping a blog or running a Marathon for that matter so I'm not sure if there is any etiquette or correct way of doing it. So my aim is to update the blog once or twice a week and maybe inform people who may be interested about my work as an Art Therapist in Specialist Palliative Care, the work of St Helena Hospice and my training for a 26 (+) mile run.
The first thing I want to say is that I work with adults facing a life limiting illness and their families and I will NOT under any circumstances be writing about these individuals. I take my work extremely seriously and the respect I have for confidentiality will not be compromised. However, I can talk in general about working as an Art Therapist.
The training? Well, I started seriously in the early autumn and have just completed this weekend the first 10 mile long run! I am training with a friend who is also running for St Helena Hospice. We were blown about, rained upon and unsure how we would feel but ended feeling elated at our completion of the 10 (we had previously run 8). We are running roughly four times a week, with a combination of long runs and shorter faster ones.
So, can I please invite you to comment upon my postings. That way I can respond to what thoughts you may have or questions. As I have said I haven't done this before so will really be playing it by ear. It goes without saying, actually isn't that a tautology - it really does need saying - the main reason I am doing any of this is to raise money for St Helena Hospice to support the fantastic work they do for patients and their families.
The first thing I want to say is that I work with adults facing a life limiting illness and their families and I will NOT under any circumstances be writing about these individuals. I take my work extremely seriously and the respect I have for confidentiality will not be compromised. However, I can talk in general about working as an Art Therapist.
The training? Well, I started seriously in the early autumn and have just completed this weekend the first 10 mile long run! I am training with a friend who is also running for St Helena Hospice. We were blown about, rained upon and unsure how we would feel but ended feeling elated at our completion of the 10 (we had previously run 8). We are running roughly four times a week, with a combination of long runs and shorter faster ones.
So, can I please invite you to comment upon my postings. That way I can respond to what thoughts you may have or questions. As I have said I haven't done this before so will really be playing it by ear. It goes without saying, actually isn't that a tautology - it really does need saying - the main reason I am doing any of this is to raise money for St Helena Hospice to support the fantastic work they do for patients and their families.
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