Raising money for Cancer Research UK in loving memory of a very special person

[Claw75]

First, the running bit.  Having not done any running since the Berlin Marathon back in September I decided a couple of weeks ago that I needed a new goal to work towards to get me back out pounding the streets.  Seeing that one of my cousins planned to run the British 10k in London in July, and having run it last year and enjoyed it, I signed up.  I wasn't planning on running for charity this time, or attempting to do anything other than get round the course in one piece.  That's changed over the last couple of days.

Let me tell you about my auntie Maureen.  My family is a large but close and loving one.  Auntie Maureen was the epicentre of that - a loving mum to her own four children and their kids, but as close as you could come to being a second mum to the rest of my generation, her nieces and nephews.  Well all knew that whenever we were in trouble or needed a hug, words of wisdom, or a place to stay, Maureen would be there with an open door, open arms, emotional support and practical help.  I went through a particularly traumatic experience in my late teens and it was Maureen who took me in and stood by me.  I'll never forget that. 

In March of this year Maureen was taken ill with suspected gallstones, and went into hospital for a scan to confirm.  It was discovered that she had pancreatic cancer. The prognosis for that is not great at the best of times, but Maureen was identified as a candidate to undertake some new treatments being trialled at Guildford Hospital.  She remained positive that she was going to beat the cancer, and her bright outlook was infectious.  She was due to start treatment next Monday, 20th May.  Late last week Maureen became ill with a suspected infection, and was taken back into hospital, and last Friday it was confirmed that the cancer was also in her liver and that she did not have long left (they had previously believed growths on the liver to be cysts).  She came home to be with her family on Monday night, and we all gathered round to spend time with her.  She sadly passed away yesterday, just a month after her 60th birthday.  So many people are going to miss her so much.

I'm now going to run the race in memory of this amazing lady, and will be training hard to get a PB.  I also hope to raise as much money as possible for Cancer Research UK in the process.  This horrible horrible disease needs to be beaten.  There is a link to my justgiving page in my signature, any contributions will be gladly received.

[TightEnd]

sorry about your loss

good cause and good luck with the run.

[Eso Kral]

sorry about your loss

good cause and good luck with the run.

[Mohican]

Made an iccle donation. Gd luck with this.

[Claw75]

Thanks guys. Have raised a whopping 86% of my target in just a couple of days - really overwhelmed and absolutely determined to smash that PB!

[dreenie]

Sorry to hear of your loss, will donate at the end of this month, really good cause, and hope you complete the race and make your Auntie proud xx

[Claw75]

Training starts this weekend!  Have already exceeded my original target of £250 but further donations more than welcome.

We laid Maureen to rest yesterday in a beautiful service.  I wanted to share this poem that Hannah, my ten year old, wrote and read out at the service to a church full of several hundred people:

The lady that was caring and put people first,
Sadly got ill and had to be nursed.
She closed her eyes on the 16th of May,
And now she peacefully lays.

The lady that was a loving Mother and Wife,
Made the most of her life.
Many people admired her,
But now she is calmer.

The lady that was the best,
Now can calmly rest.
Whatever she wanted to do, she could,
The lady that was called Maureen Hood.

[Claw75]

Just over four weeks to go until race day.

One thing i've learnt since taking up running is that training for a race *never* goes to plan. On the flip side, it's always been alright on the night

Got a couple if short slow runs in as training commenced, and felt that getting back up to covering 10k in the time, and hitting a pb along the way, should be well achievable.

The spanner in the works came last friday - running to cross the road on my way to work i felt an excruciating pain in my calf as i landed on my right leg and couldn't put any weight in it at all without being in agony. Initially thought that would probably see me out of the race, but recovery seems to be much speedier than i hoped. Already seem ok to walk a mile or so unaided with minimal pain and, all being well, will try a tentative jog this weekend.

Not sure whether the pb is going to be doable now, but i relish the challenge and it would have been dull if it had all just gone to plan

[theprawnidentity]

Sorry to hear about your loss.  GL with this.  Donation sent.

[Claw75]

Sorry to hear about your loss.  GL with this.  Donation sent.

Thank you so much Tom, and to everyone else who has donated

[Claw75]

Touch wood i think the leg is going to be ok. Went for a very short (half a mile) jog around the block last night and it held out fine. Dan stopped me getting too far ahead of myself as i wanted to go out on a park run this morning but he banned me as i've only been 5 days off crutches and still got a chesty cough at the tail end of a cold.  glad he's here to keep me in check as i know i'm impatient and sometimes push myself too hard and the last thing i want is to jeopardise being able to race.

Wen't out for a slow two miler instead - just over halfway the calf started twinging - a few minutes walking as soon as i felt it seemed to keep it in check though. Chest seemed ok too but felt a bit light headed. Hopefully in a few days i'll be properly shot of all the problems and can start getting some serious training in

[Claw75]

Dan goes out to do a parkrun every Saturday morning (for those that are unfamiliar, these are free 5k timed runs held in parks across the country every weekend). Today was my first time, and Hannah also came along to run. I didn't want to push it hard today, so ran round slowly with Hannah. Dan ran back to meet us when we had just passed the 4k mark, so I was able to run a bit faster for the last stretch whilst Dan ran in with Hannah. My time was around 33 minutes which I was pretty pleased with in the circumstances. More importantly, no niggles at all from the calf.

So, I'm not quite where I'd have like to have been with just three weeks to go until race day, but I'm pretty happy with how things are shaping up. We're all parkrunning again next weekend, but this time Dan will run with Hannah and I'll treat it more like a race and hopefully get a better idea of how achievable a sub 59 min 10k is going to be.

[Claw75]

In other news, the company where Maureen worked are planting a tree in her memory, and will be using part of Hannah's poem on the plaque

[celtic]

Cool diary.

Fav Nandos order?

[Claw75]

Cool diary.

Fav Nandos order?

Thank you.

Medium chicken breast pitta with halloumi and chilli jam, creamy mash and macho peas.