What it's like running with Tarsel Tunnel

It feels a little bit like this:This is the amazing Peg Leg Bates (google him, now he is the definition of 'winning').
Now obviously I'm exaggerating, but the sensation of running after 4 or 5 miles means my entire left foot is tingling so much I can't feel my toes, the ball of my foot or my heel, it's like running on a stump. I've had two injections into the tendon so far and it seems to be helping, however, my Tuesday 5 mile lunch time run was cut short as I couldn't go any further. It's 10 weeks to the marathon now and I'm really trying hard to have enough in me to run it in under 4 1/2 hours.

It's really tough.

However, the sun was out on my run on Tuesday, there's nearly $800 raised between Eliza and I for the kids and if we get to that magic $1000 all this running, pain, and blogging will be worth it. Those kids and the staff that care for them are amazing and they need every penny they can get to continue the work they do and give those lovely children the education and life they so deserve.

If you can please (pretty please) donate here:
http://www.mycause.com.au/mycause/raise_money/fundraise.php?id=17855

A marathon a week, the monster month is here!

The Monster Month, a marathon a week in March

March is the monster month. It’s the biggest month of running, in Feb I managed 71K but in March I’ll be running a marathon every week!

That’s 3 runs a week, two short week day runs and one long half marathon on Saturday. I’ll be clocking in at 104 miles in the month, to put that into perspective I’ve just reached 100 miles total running in all my training up to this point. GLUP!

I’ve also got another Tarsel Tunnel Syndrome injection to have, however, my body is starting to get the hang of it – I think - and this weekend I took my first cold bath after a run. Let’s just say it was an experience one should not share!

I’m doing all of this to raise money for Mekhala House orphanage in Cambodia, please support my marathon quest by sponsoring me here:

http://www.mycause.com.au/mycause/raise_money/fundraise.php?id=17855

Tarsal tunnel syndrome

Last night I had an injection into my tendan at the top of my foot, not the greatest feeling in the world, but it seems that all my training for the marathon has alerted my body to the fact I've been suffering with tarsal tunnel syndrome.

It basically means that when I've done about 4 miles my foot starts to go numb until it's so numb and uncomfortable I have to stop and shake it out. Needless to say it's put a dent in my training.

They say training for a marathon is an adventure and I can say now I understand why, it pushes your body as far as it will go, and while things like this happen, I have to say I'm enjoying seeing what my body is capible of, we are tough little machines!!

Run, Party, Run, Party !

A slice of life:

8 miles hill running on sat, party on a boat on sat too, then 4 mile at run at lunch today… it’s getting nasty!

Between now and the marathon I need to run around 175 miles before the start of the race, I also have my 30^th birthday, a stag night, a wedding, and several other birthdays to attend. Fun times. However, my happiness at 8 miles hill running was quenched by the alcoholic grip still clutching my system.

It seems that Saturday nights attack on several bottles of cava has left me rather cross eyed. My run started well enough today, a mile to the Southbank and over Blackfriars bridge, but after that it descended through several layers of hell, where the ghosts of Saturday night heckled me. Me legs filled with sand and my lungs shrank. It seems this long adventure of training might be starting to take its toll.

No matter, life is there to be lived, I have a birthday drinks to attend tonight, before another 4 miles on Thursday and then a 10k race on Sat followed by drinks in Brixton… glup!

If you'd like to support me in my efforts to rasie tons of money for an amazing cause then you can here: Running for the kids!

Why am I running? For the coolest kids I know!

Running on a Saturday morning (getting back for Saturday morning kitchen!)

Running after work in the dark dodging busses and people.

Running in the cold, in the real cold from 0 to an amazing 3 degrees!

Running on my lunch break when I'd like to be watching youtube clips of cat's provoking dogs into fights!

Why on earth am I running so much for one day?

Well two reasons, one because I want to be alive at the end of 26.2 miles, the second is because I'm running for a cause and the more I run the more I get to tell people about it!

The cause I'm running for is FDCC (the foundation for Developing Cambodian Communities) like with all charities it's an emotional choice to support them. 47 girls and 3 boys all live in an orphanage in one of the poorest provinces of Cambodia. They live in 6 garage sized cubes (they used to be garages) and have a play area with two swings and a little vegetable patch. the main building is one big room when they assemble for lessons in dance, or assemblies, and there's an outside teaching area under a shelter with three walls.

That's it. No frills. No huge grants from the government to do their work. No air con. The kids have come from a variety of backgrounds, some utterly horrific, but they live in this space and they try their best at school.

But these kids are simply amazing! I've worked with them twice over 4 years teaching art therapy and photography, and they are sponges for information, pouncing on any opportunity to expand their skills and knowledge of the world. When it's play time they somehow turn this little patch of earth into a different universe everyday, from limbo challenges to football to a world of Khumer games that basically involve a lot of running about and a lot of laughter!

The aim is for these children to grow up in a safe environment where they can get a good education and when they leave they can go on to teach others, to become local communities leaders, to set up their own business, the children of Cambodia are it's future.

I run to help raise money and awareness of the coolest kids I know.

And I really like running!!

If you'd like to donate you can here:

http://www.mycause.com.au/mycause/raise_money/fundraise.php?id=17855

Here's a pic of me presenting the chocolate award to the winning football team in 2007!

If you want to know my team of kids came 3rd, and the director of the orphange, in the middle with his thumb up, won!

Thank you London!

To all the London South Bank runners out there at lunch time.. thank you!!!

Marathon training is hard work. There's a lot of peaks and troughs, at the weekend I ran 10k and felt great, today I could not find the energy to get going for a 3 mile run on my lunch, but I got out there and was not having much fun with it, until I hit the South Bank from Farringdon road.
Just seeing all those runners, some fast, some slow, of all ages and fitness, well it made my day and I enjoyed the rest of my run!

Thanks guys and girls!

Dogs in the park

Well I've run a marathon now... kinda, a total of 26 miles over 11 runs. But I'm doing good now, did 5 miles no problem, got some new shoes and Eliza is out running with me too.

Today we went to Clissold park and as we were jogging we picked up a new friend, a cute dog decided to run next to us. He really liked Eliza, as he was doing the dog thing, looking up lovingly, all the while hatching an evil, but funny dog plan. He decided to weave in and out of Elizas feet, she bumped into him and must have some sort of acrobats balance, there was a stumble, but no fall.

Ahh the perils of running, if it's not zombies at the bus stop aimless wondering without looking it's dogs tripping you up.