2010 Blog!

I've decided to keep a seperate blog for 2010 and keep this one archived. If you'd like to continue to follow my training and fundraising progress you can do so here : http://davehursthouse2010.blogspot.com

D :-)

Signing Off for 2009...

A little later than I'd planned but I thought I should wrap up my 2009 running blog in a tidy manner :-)

I've come to realise this year how much I actually enjoy the running and also what a difference it makes to being able to keep the weight off (even though it sometimes feels like I just move the injuries around my aching legs!).

I should say a few thankyou's...

Thanks to everyone who has supported me with a donation to either The Isaiah Trust or the RNLI... You know who you are and that you're money will be used wisely and well by the charity recipients. Your support was a massive motivator for me in helping covering the runs and put in the training! Thank you!

Thanks to Nicky and Tim for letting me run for the Isaiah Trust in 2009! Keep up the fantastic work! I hope I can help you out again in 2010!

Thanks to Lisa and Chloe and all at the RNLI for allowing me to run again for the RNLI and all the help and organisation you gave... And mostly for the RNLI being there when I needed you! A debt I feel will never be truly repaid! I can't run the GNR in 2010 as it clashes with my Wedding Anniversary but I will run some other runs... Watch this space ;-)

Thanks to my one and only BLOG follower "Akkers" and well done on your time on the GNR!

Thanks to Rob for the one and only comment on my blog! ;-)

Thanks to Rachel for adding my blog in to her internet explorer favorites!

Thanks to the Physio's at Sandbach Physiotherapy & sport's injury clinic for mending me and keeping me going! ;-)

And last but not least, Thanks to Karen and the girls for your support and for just being there! xx

I've enjoyed keeping a running blog... It really has been a motivator in it's own right, if only to avoid the guilt of long spaces between training runs! I hope you've enjoyed it! I think I may keep another in 2010 :-)

Happy New Year all!

D :-)

Working off the Christmas Pud!

A short jog along a sunny sea front with my new Sony iPod running headphones... 1.5 miles in 11 mins.

D :o)

Feliz Navidad!

Don't really know what possessed us but Karen and I decided on the spur of the moment to go for a run!?! (mainly to shake off the huge Chinese meal we had last night and to make room for Turkey :o)

Gentle jog of about 2.5 miles along the coast in around 30 mins. Really nice run and feel great now... Ready for a beer! Happy Christmas all!

D :o)

Blowing away the cobwebs

Left my car in Middlewhich last night for the Sub-aqua club Christmas Dinner so ran the 5.3miles from home to pick it up this morning. A nice crisp, cold but bright morning. Covered the distance in 47 minutes :-)

D.

RNLI Reindeer Run :-)

A great family day out today at the RNLI Reindeer runs at Knowsley Safari Park despite the cold, wet, windy and muddy conditions!

<- I finished the 10km in 50 minutes and 50 seconds

And the girls finished the 5km in
37 mins 02 seconds ->







<- and 39 mins respectively!



Rounded off the runs with mulled wine, hot chocolate and mince pies courtesy of the RNLI... Very civilised!

D :-)

A little jog!

Just back from a 1.5 mile jog in 17 mins around the block with my youngest daughter who wanted to do some training for the RNLI Reindeer run tomorrow! (better late than never ;-)

D

One week to the RNLI Reindeer Run!

Haven't done much running recently... The cold, dark nights are not much of an incentive to get out! Managed a run today though which was good! 4.5 miles through Sandbach, up The Hill and back around the wheelock rail trail in 40 minnutes.
D

A run in the dark

Went for a figure of eight run around Sandbach tonight thinking I'd planned my route along street lit roads but then finding myself stumbling half a mile on a grass verge alongside the national speed limit stretch of road out to the motorway in the dark! Doh!

3.7 miles in 40 minutes. Not the best of times but ok given I had to walk on the unlit stretch and also taking it easy recovering from my pulled hamstring which bore up well.

D

RNLI Reindeer Run :-)

Felt that I needed another challenge to motivate me back in to running so we've (the Cheshire branch of the Hursthouse clan) entered the RNLI Reindeer Run on Sunday 29th November!

I've entered the 10km and the girls are running in the 5km immediately afterwards!

I went out for my first run since the Great North Run this evening... Just a mile and a half around the block but the hamstring beared up which was the main aim (I've been having physio on it since the GNR)... 1.5 miles in 11 mins and 20 seconds.

D

After Dinner Speech for the Alsager RNLI Ladies Guild

Well... I survived the after dinner speech last night to the Alsager RNLI ladies guild and guests... All 200+ of them! Met some lovely and interesting folk!

If I've learned one thing this year it'll be that there's a LOT of good people in the world, despite what the newspapers would have you believe. Kinda restores your faith in humanity!

The Alsager RNLI ladies guild were formed in 1951 and Mrs Wetherby who I met last night (who asked me to do the talk) was one of the founder members and still takes a leading role in the fundraising with the help of some very nice friends! Stunning that a land locked town like Alsager can muster over 200 people to support an RNLI event! Well done ladies!!!

After last nights very generous donations, my run totals for this year now stand at £1,359! Thanks all!

D.

Two weeks on...

The problem with my right knee turned out to be a pulled hamstring so I've had a couple of weeks off the running to get some physio and allow it to repair properly. It's well on the mend now and I'm hoping to resume running next week.

I'm thinking of running in the RNLI's Reindeer Run which is a 10km run on the 29th November around the grounds of Knowsley Safari park (hopefully not including the animal enclosures!).

I'm busy preparing at the moment for an after dinner speech that I agreed to do earlier this year for the Alsager RNLI ladies guild. Little did I realise when I agreed that it was to be in front of around 250 guests!?! It's this coming Friday and I'm wondering what I've let myself in for! :-o

I'm also wrapping up the final cash collections for my sponsorship pledges... Current total stands at £1,309! Thanks again all!

D

The RNLI Great North Run... Is Done :-)

Just wanted to say a huge thanks to everyone who has supported me in this and my other runs this year! I really couldn't have put myself through this without your help!



The donations for the RNLI so far total £1,239 which I'm blown away by! I'll be asking for this to be directed again to the Abersoch station and hope you agree this will be your money well placed!



Some images from the big day to share with you... Above left, the crowd at the start in the middle of Queen's " we will rock you"... a spine tingling moment!


<< Team Lifeboat at the RNLI post race reception at South Shields Sailing club



Support the Lifeboats :-) >>








<< My most loyal supporters! xx
Thanks Again everyone!!!

D

The Great North Run ~ Finishing line !

Finished in two hours six minutes and nine seconds! Quite pleased given how bad my knee is (this morning I thought I might not be able to make it! Topped up on Ibuprofen and Syndol an hour before the race)
Feel great, but tired! Thanks everyone for the fantastic support!

D

Wedding Anniversary & RNLI Great North Run... Tomorrow!

Today is mine and Karen's 22nd wedding anniversary! Love you loads K!!! xx

We're heading off up to the North East this afternoon ready for the Great North run tomorrow morning. Start time is 10.40. It's live on the BBC if you fancy looking out for me amongst the 54,000 other runners! I'm in the Orange wave just after the Elite men's wave which is probably about the closest I'll get to them during the race!

Thanks everyone for all your support! And if you were thinking of sponsoring me but haven't done so yet, it's not too late :-) ~ http://www.justgiving.com/daves-rnli-run

D

Two days to go to my Great North Run for the RNLI!

Once again I find myself bowled over by the support and generosity of my family, friends and work colleagues! I'd hoped to raise £1,000 for the RNLI but today that target has been smashed (as last year) and stands currently at £1,175!!! :-)

Thanks to everyone who's donated but particularly to Express Gifts who I work for (and Kleeneze for their support too) in supporting me with a dress down day in the office today which alone has generated another £220!

Oh... and the knee is feeling ok too :-)

Bring it on!

D.

Three days to go to my Great North Run for the RNLI!

Had a session at the Physio this evening, the knee seems to have calmed down considerably already so hopefully no more drama now before the big run on Sunday!

D

Four days to go to my Great North Run for the RNLI!

Went out for a short run this evening as a last stretch before this Sunday's main event. 2.5 miles around the Wheelock rail trail but had a niggle in my right knee again which whilst didn''t pull me up didn't feel too comfortable either. Had taken the precaution of booking another Physio session tomorrow evening which I'll follow up on and hopefully the knee will be good enough to get me the 13.1 miles from Newcastle to South Shields this Sunday... Fingers Crossed!!!

D.

Five days to go to my Great North Run for the RNLI!

Fundraising total today stands at £705! Thank you so much to everyone who's donated so far!

D

Six days to go to my Great North Run for the RNLI!

Been out for a short, gentle run this evening... 3.2 miles around the Wheelock Rail trail in 27 minutes. All felt good and the knee is fine :-)

Fundraising today for the RNLI stands at £534... Just over half way towards my target of £1,000 for the Abersoch crew (pictured) who came to my aid following my sailing accident in September 2007.

Many thanks to everyone who's donated so far!

D

Justgiving's featured runner? ;-)

Had another physio session this morning and the knee is feeling loads better! Just been out for a short 'tester' run of 1.5 miles 'around the block' and all felt great! I'd forgotten how much of a buzz I get from running!

Also... Got an e-mail today from Justgiving.com to let me know that today they had selected me as their featured runner! Don't know what I've done to deserve that but if it helps raise awareness for the RNLI I'll have some of that! Catch the article here... http://runners.justgiving.com/2009/09/10/dave-hursthouse-running-the-gnr-again-for-the-rnli/

D

On the mend!

Well... I've had two sessions at the Physio since my last posting for an inflamation to the underside of my right knee cap and it does seem a whole lot better! I've been trying to keep my fitness up by swimming and cycling on an exercise bike at the gym but haven't been running for nearly two weeks :-(

I'd have prefered to be getting a couple more big runs in before tapering the training but it's undoubtedly helped my knee get right and I know I'll be ok with the distance having done it before and been training throughout the year. Got another Physio session tomorrow morning and hoping to get out for a short run to test it out tomorrow evening but I won't be doing any big runs before the big day now... I'll keep you posted!

So... if you were delaying sponsoring me, no need! ;-) Go on... You know you want to and it's for a fantastic cause! - http://www.justgiving.com/daves-rnli-run

D

Set back

The 'niggle' in my right knee after my last run developed into something that I couldn't put a great deal of weight on the following day... Have been taking it easy over the weekend but decided to give it a go this evening with a short run around the block (about 1.5 miles). Unfortunately didn't get more than a couple of hundred metres before pulling up with a limp :-(
Going to see if I can get some physiotherapy on it tomorrow but this is the last thing I need two weeks before a half marathon. Hopefully something I can get sorted but I'll walk around on the day if I have to!

D.

That's better!

Went out for another run this evening. Had hoped to get a long run in but short on time so stuck to the usual Romping Donkey route of 7.3 miles covering the distance in 1 hour 5 mins. Not the best time ever but much better than Tuesday's run and felt like I could have ran a lot further as I finished. Bit of a niggle in both knees, right knee more so but hopefully nothing that won't wear off over the next couple of days.

Fundraising is going well, today's total stands at £325... Nearly covered the pledge total of £350 for my RNLI place in the upcoming Great North Run which is now only 3 weeks away!!

D :-)

Felt rubbish!

Went out for a run this evening which started off bad and got worse!
Struggling to catch my breath after about a mile, felt tired, had to stop to re-tie my shoelace and just couldn't seem to get going again. Felt rubbish!
After about 5 miles slog with my arm throbbing where I gave blood yesterday I realised that giving blood less than 24 hours ago probably wasn't helping!
Took it easy back home completing the 6.7 miles in about an hour and ten minutes...
I'll try again later this week!

D

Ten miles

Went out for an extended training run tonight... Usual route up to the romping donkey pub and then returned via the canal towpath around Sandbach to Elworth before returning home. 10 miles exactly in 1 hour and 30 mins... All felt good!

RNLI fundraising for the Great North Run is going well and stands today at £145. Thanks everyone!

D.

Quick run around the Wheelock Rail Trail

Went out for a short, quick run tonight... 2.5 miles around the Wheelock rail trail in 20 minutes 30 seconds.

D.

As if to punctuate the point...

... That the Great North Run is only 5 weeks away... Today I recieved my entry pack and race number. I'm running in the orange wave in Zone C which is quite a good start position so hopefully I'll be able to hold on to the shirt tails of the Elite runners!

D

Five weeks to the Great North Run!

Picked up the training again this evening after a lull over my holiday. Ran the usual 7.3 mile Romping donkey route in 1 hours and 3 mins which I was quite pleased with given that I've not run that kind of distance for over three weeks now. Felt good during the run and the hay fever related asthma seems to have cleared considerably whilst away which is great!

The Great North Run is looming and I'm conscious that I need to start extending my training distances now... So keep a watch out on here... All help with motivation at this stage is gratefully received!

D.

Yes... It's VERY pink!

Managed to squeeze a weekend in at Abersoch between returning from holiday and going back to work! Went out sailing in 'Zig Zag' my Laser Pico for the first time this year. Note the watersports helmet! Once bitten twice shy!

D.

Too hot!

Another holiday run this morning around the Puerto Aventuras marina in Mexico in around 20 mins again... Won't be doing this again! Much too hot and now feeling a tad ill due to dehydration!
D.

Summer Training

On holiday in Puerto Aventuras, Mexico but decided to try and keep up with a modicum of training. Went out for a run at 7.00am this morning in a very humid 27'c running approx 2 miles around the Marina complex and back in just under 20 minutes...

D

Heavy breathing!

Over the past couple of years I seem to have developed a hay fever related Asthma (for a couple of months through to the end of Summer). Unfortunately it seems to be kicking in again :-(

Went out for a run today soon developing a tight chest and finding the run consequently very hard. Did 6.7 miles (which wasn't as far as I'd set out to do) in 58 minutes. Bring on the Ventalin!

D.

Another quick run

A short/quick run of 2.5 miles around the Wheelock Rail trail this evening before Sub-Aqua club in 20 minutes 20 seconds.

D.

Summer running (had me a blast...)

Another run in humid conditions this evening but with a light breeze the 23'c didn't feel too bad. Usual Romping Donkey route (that's the pub in the background) of 7.3 miles in 1 hour 3 mins. Felt good and could have run farther this evening but it was getting late...

D.

Heat wave!

Went out for a run this evening as the Met Office declared an official 'heat wave'?! At 26'c it certainly wasn't the best conditions to be running in so decided not to push the distance this evening. Stuck to the usual Romping Donkey route completing the 7.3 mile circuit in 1 hour and 4 mins.

D

Upping the distance...

When I ran the Great North Run last year I'd only covered 13 miles twice before in training and found the last few miles on the day really tough. With 3 months to go before this years run, I'm hoping to get up to that distance pretty soon and cover it a few more times in training so its not such a shock on the day. So... With that in mind, extended the usual romping donkey route this evening, covering 9.3 miles in 1 hour 28 mins. Not such a great time, had to stop and walk a few times from about 7 miles, temperature was humid at 24'c which was really energy sapping. Had a raging thirst by the end of the run, but worth it to get a few more miles in!

D.

Quick run

Grabbed a quick run before Sub-Aqua club this evening, around the Wheelock Rail trail. 2.5 miles in 20 minutes 40 seconds.

D.

A hard slog!

Went out for a run this evening, felt really hard from the off! Possibly the 'muggy' conditions (21'c)? Managed a reasonable time of 1 hour 3 minutes for the 7.35 miles covered (Usual Romping Donkey route) and without a break which was good for the endurance.

On a brighter note, got my first RNLI donation! Thankyou Robin & Catrin for getting me off to a flying start!

D.

Diving off St Tudwal's Islands, Abersoch

Another departure from the running this weekend... A great day out scuba diving with my friends from Vale Royal Sub-Aqua Club. I've been diving for around 18 years now, love it, but don't dive nearly as often as I'd like to or used to.

My daughter is now learning to dive and came along on the RIB for the trip ->

Had a really good dive on the wreck of 'The Timbo' off Carreg-Y-Trai reef (aka Half Tide Rocks) about 400 metres South of St Tudwals Islands in Abersoch bay.

<- Saw seals under water which was a real treat!

You can see more of my under water photo collection here if you're interested... http://www.flickr.com/photos/davehursthouse

D.

Not enough hours in the day?

One of the things I've found about running is that it's hard trying to find time to squeeze it in between everything else that has to be done! Particularly when your evening gets trashed by spending 2 hours 25 mins on a motorway tring to get home from work!

Anway, managed a short(ish) run this evening as a stretch after the Abersoch 10km (which I'm still a bit stiff from)... 3.8 miles in roughly 30 mins.

D.

Abersoch 10km... Done!

What a fantastic event! The torrential rain that was in for the day broke for a couple of hours from just before the start to just after the finish. The couple of miles along the beach weren't as bad as expected but the hills... They were sooo tough!

The views of St Tudwals Islands, Bardsey Island and the lanes en route were spectacular. The management and marshalls great. The beach groynes (sea breaks), stiles, tracks and lanes made for a bit of steeple chase but added to the uniqueness of the run ~ http://www.abersoch10k.com/abersoch-10k/more-info

I'm really pleased with the time of 51 minutes and 59 seconds considering the course. The few hundred people that took part made for a much more interesting race than the Great Run thousands. Here's my official results - http://www.tdl.ltd.uk/results.php?checked=1&race_id=162&race_number=57&surname=Hursthouse&submit_x=141.

It's not too late to sponsor me, for this or the Great North Run later this year...

http://www.justgiving.com/daves-rnli-run !

D :-)

Three days until the Abersoch 10km for the RNLI

My last training run before this Saturday's Abersoch 10km, my first run this year for the RNLI.

Another slight variation on my 'Romping Donkey' pub route, finishing off along the canal tow path from Malkins Bank and then up Crewe Road back in to Sandbach up 3/4 mile hill... 6.7 miles in 57 minutes.

I haven't really pushed the sponsorship for this run so soon after the Great Manchester Run (only 3 weeks ago) but will step it up for the Great North Run in September this year. You can however support me for either or both runs here if you wish :-) ~ http://www.justgiving.com/daves-rnli-run

D

Isaiah Trust ~ Fund raising totals from the Great Manchester Run

Well... Pretty much all the donations have now been collected and the totals stand as follows:-

• My own donation page ~ http://www.justgiving.com/daves-isaiahtrust-run = £600
• The IT Team I ran with from work's donation page ~ http://www.justgiving.com/express-it = £966

So a grand total of £1,566! Thanks to all those who have donated... It really will change lives! You can see how here ~ http://www.isaiahtrust.org/

The donation pages will remain active until 17th August if you'd still like to donate :-)

D.

Less than a week to the Abersoch 10km for the RNLI!

Doesn't seem too long ago I was training in sleet and freezing temperatures! This morning's run was in clear blue skies and 24'c sunshine... This whilst fantastic is not ideal running weather... A complete energy sapper!

An ever so slight variation of the 'Romping Donkey' pub circuit (which has opened again!) until after the Abersoch 10km just to keep the regular training distance... A slow run of the 6.7 miles in 59 minutes.

Hope to get another run in midweek as a last training session before this coming Saturday's Abersoch 10km for the RNLI. The course is going to be quite a test! A mile of beach with some groynes thrown in & some soft sand, a very steep lane up off the beach on to the headland, some undulating roads for 3 miles before joining the beach again for another mile back to the start/finish line! I'd originally thought this would be good training for the Great North Run later this year, but I'm now not sure which will be most testing! :-) More details here... http://www.abersoch10k.com/abersoch-10k/more-info

You can support my run with a donation at http://www.justgiving.com/daves-rnli-run if you like! It would be most welcome and goes to a very worthy cause!

D

Training run

6.7 miles this evening in 57 minutes... A slight variation on my regular 'Romping Donkey' circuit to get me back in time to watch the United v Barcelona final... Need I have hurried back?

D.

Cross training?

Took a break from the running over the weekend to have my first wakeboarding lesson from Off Axis in Abersoch... What a scream! 15 minutes of ear to ear smiling! The coach, Johnny was great and as you can see... Somehow managed to get me on my feet (that is me... Honest) !

D :-)

Back to the training...

Training now for my next run which is the Abersoch 10km on Saturday 6th June for the RNLI. Still a bit stiff from the Great Manchester run, had a run this evening up to the Romping Donkey Pub in Hassal Green, Cheshire and back again... Did 6 miles in 51 minutes and then completed the route of 7.35 miles in 1 hour and 4 minutes.

Loosening Up!

Went out for a short run this evening. Nothing too strenuous after Sunday's Great Manchester Run, just a jog and a few stretches around the Wheelock Rail Trail in Sandbach... 2.5 miles, 21 minutes 30 seconds.

D

The 2009 Great Manchester Run... Is Done! :-)

What a fantastic day! I'd optimistically hoped to get under 50 minutes but ran a new personal best of 48 minutes 31 seconds which I'm chuffed to bits with (beat my time from last year by 4 minutes)! I came 3,707th out of around 33,000 runners :-)

You can see my full results here - http://www.nike.com/europerunning/grs/index.jsp?runner=736749&rid=122

The girls were in full voice in support ->






... and it was great meeting up with the rest of the team afterwards who all ran well!
<- Me and Dominc

Rob, Lucie and me ->

Also met up with my brother Kev & his wife Bev who ran the run for the first time and had a family beer with them afterwards to round off a great afternoon!

It's not too late to add a donation for the Isaiah Trust, the donation page will remain active for another 3 months, but your donation could change a childs life forever!

http://www.justgiving.com/daves-isaiahtrust-run

D

Serious Fun!

In a bit of a break from preparations for the Great Manchester Run, I took part in a videoed testimonial interview for the RNLI this morning for the update of their Serious Fun! DVD (very kindly hosted by Astbury Sail sports in Congeleton ~ Thanks guys!). Just a bit of a recount of my sailing mishap of 2007 hopefully showing that despite training and preparation, accidents still happen and that the RNLI volunteer crews are on hand to help if they do! Anyway... Not sure if they'll use some, all or none of the footage but I figured it was the least I could do to agree to help!

The current DVD is really well put together. It features 11 water sports ranging from sailing, diving, power boating through kayaking to surfing, water skiing, Jet skiing and sea angling with practical advice on staying safe on the water and tips on training and developing skills... The DVD is free and well worth a watch! If you're interested you can get a copy here: http://www.rnli.org.uk/how_to_support_us/give_money/give_regularly/seriousfun/promo

So... Back to the running!

I think I'm as ready as I'll ever be for the Great Manchester Run tomorrow, looking forward to representing the Isaiah Trust again and hoping for good weather! Funds as of today stand at £580 on my own donation page and another £526 on our IT team page! Thanks to everyone for their huge generosity and support!

D.

On track for the weekend

Had another really good run last night up to the Romping Donkey Pub in Hassal Green, Cheshire and back again. Did 6 miles in just over 50 minutes and then completed the route of 7.35 miles in 1 hour and 1 minute.

Last year I ran the Great Manchester Run in 52 minutes and 22 Seconds. This year I'm hoping to get under 50 minutes which I know will be a challenge!

I'm in the Orange wave on Sunday, race no 5063. I'm giving Haile Gebrselassie a head start as he's younger and smaller than me but this will be my only concession!

D.

A good run!

Had a really good run up to the Romping Donkey Pub in Hassal Green and back again this evening... Did 6 miles in 49 minutes and 50 seconds. Had a bit of a breather and then completed the route of 7.35 miles in 1 hour and 2 minutes... Felt great :-)

D

One week to the Great Manchester Run...

Ran the Romping Donkey route again this morning, clocked 6 miles in 53 minutes, had a bit of a stretch and completed the circuit of 7.35 miles in 1 hour and 3 minutes.

Fundraising for the Isaiah Trust is going well... Funds stand at £810 as of today with £470 from my own donation page - http://www.justgiving.com/daves-isaiahtrust-run and £340 from the Express teams page - http://www.justgiving.com/express-it

Pleased on both fronts :-)

Thanks to everyone who has donated so far! It really makes the training worth while!

D

Just under two weeks to the Great Manchester Run...

Out for a training run this evening in wind and showers... Did the route up to the Romping Donkey pub again, clocked 6 miles in 55 minutes and completed the circuit of 7.35 miles in 1 hour and 4 minutes.

D

Fund raising updates and a run

Fundraising:

I got a card today from the RNLI to let me know that I collected £97.12 from last Saturday morning's tin rattling in Holmes Chappel... We collected £441.79 overall! This doesn't count towards my pledge target for my Great North Run place but is with the RNLI now being put to good use which is really what its all about (it does seems a whole lot easier way of fundraising than my running though ;-)

The Isaiah Trust fundraising for the Great Manchester Run is going well and stands today at £415 (£125 from my own fundraising page and £290 from our IT Dept. team). Thanks to everyone who's donated so far!

Running:

Did a three mile run this evening in 25 minutes flat which I'm quite pleased with.

D

Sunday morning run

Got up and went straight out for a run which never works well for me! 4.5 miles in 41 minutes... Not my best run but not my worst either.

D

Tin rattling for the RNLI

Not exactly running but spent a couple of hours this morning with Cheshire RNLI on the streets of Holmes Chappel collecting for their RNLI flag day... Never fails to humble me how generous folk are! Restores your faith and all that... :-)

D

Out for a stretch

A quick run around the Wheelock Rail trail... 2.5 miles, 21 minutes.

D.

New Shoes on :-)

Invested in a pair of new Asics runing shoes yesterday from Running Bear in Alderley Edge. They were really helpful, did a 'gait analysis' (watched how I run) in 4 or 5 different pairs of shoes to see which give the best support... and best of all, they didn't cost a fortune :-)

Had a morning run out in them today... 8.74 miles in 1 hour 25 mins. Very sunny and warm :-)

D

Abersoch 10k

Not done any further runs since Monday... Had a streaming cold which is clearing now so hoping to get out this weekend...

I have entered the Abersoch 10k race though! ~ http://www.abersoch10k.com/the-course-large . It's the first time they've held this and it sounds a bit grueling! A mile along the beach, up onto some tracks along the golf course, 1/3 mile up a VERY steep hill, a few miles around neighboring Sarnbach and back down for another mile along Abersoch beach to the finish line. It's after the Great Manchester run but should be good training for the Great North Run in September. Cheshire is not known for it's hills so something like this should help prepare for the long incline at the back end of the GNR... Well that's the plan anyway!

Not really started the fund raising for the GNR/RNLI run yet but fund raising for the GMR/Isaiah Trust is going ok... £320 so far :-) - http://www.justgiving.com/express-it (our team page) & http://www.justgiving.com/daves-isaiahtrust-run (my own page)... Thanks to all those who've donated so far... Very much appreciated!!!

D.

A run along the coast

Spending the weekend in Abersoch on the Llyn Peninsular in North Wales having a fantastic weekend with the family in glorious sunshine (not predicted by the weathermen!). Got up early this morning and went for a 3 mile run through Llanbedrog village and back with coastal views out over Cardigan bay on the way... Beautiful!

D.

A run around the block

Grabbed another run last night (twice in one week... must be serious training now ;-), just over 2.5 miles around the Wheelock Rail Trail in 21 minutes. All good!

Another rainy run!

It must be something to do with putting on running shoes but whenever I do... It rains! (For £10 towards my runs I'll promise to put them away if your having a BBQ!).

Ran up to the Romping Donkey Pub and back again (which has shut up shop since my last run past... Sad sign of the times!), 7.35 miles in 1 hour 6 mins. Need to step up the pace a little...

D

Quick run before dusk

Managed to get a quick run in this evening just before dusk (too many unlit roads where I live to run far at night)... Just over 2.5 miles in 21 minutes along the Wheelock rail trail before it went dark. Felt good!

D.

Skiing :-)

Swapped running shoes for ski boots last week for a week ‘training’ in La Tania, France ;-)

Back to running this week!

D.

Sunday morning training run

I've done a few runs over the past couple of weeks but only about 3-4 miles which have taken about 40 mins or so each and have felt dreadful (I don't like running in the cold)!

Set off this morning for a longer run on one of my training routes up to a pub called the Romping Donkey and back (a circuit of just over 7 miles... and no, I didn't call in for one ;-). It was bright but windy whilst changing into my running gear but by the time I'd got out and into the town centre it was raining. The rain came heavier then turned to sleet!... Yuk!

Despite this, the run wasn't too bad. Felt good apart from a niggle in my left knee which I initially ran off but got worse towards the end of the run. Did the circuit in about an hour and fifteen mins (but walked the last half mile so as not to aggravate the knee). All in all quite pleased!

D :-)

The 2009 Great Run's !

This year I'm running for two charities that mean a lot to me. You can keep a track of my training ups and downs here!

The Isaiah Trust
On the 17th May 2009, I'm running the Great Manchester run (10k / 6 miles) again for the Isaiah Trust. This is a registered charity started back in 2001 by two good friends from work Nicky & Tim. The charity helps kids in Kenya orphaned by Aids and surviving on their own on the streets in some of the most appalling conditions imaginable... More info can be found on their fantastic work at http://www.isaiahtrust.org/ .
I've done this run twice before for the Isaiah Trust and am as comfortable as I dare be with the route! Last year I raised £755 individually and a further £1,010 as part of a team. Last year's time was a personal best of 52minutes and 22 Seconds which I'm hoping to beat this year :-) !
If you'd like to support me you can at http://www.justgiving.com/daves-isaiahtrust-run

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
In September 2007 I had an accident whilst sailing my Laser Pico dinghy out at sea off Abersoch, North Wales. You can read more about that here - http://www.hursthouse.eu/ . The Abersoch crew (pictured) came to my aid and I'll be eternally greatful!
I ran the Great North Run (a half marathon at 13.1 miles) last year to raise £2,291 funds for the station by way of thank you and even though it was one of the toughest things I've ever done, am doing it again this year on Sunday 20th September. My time to beat from last year was 1 hour 58minutes

If you'd like to support me you can at http://www.justgiving.com/daves-rnli-run

I'll try and keep you updated here on my training and fund raising progress...

D