Just a quick blog update today, but just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone that has been in touch with support, sponsorship, facebook page likes, stories and advice to help me on the way.
I'm going to be doing a longer blog in a couple of days, as on the 1st of November, it will be three months since Isaac died, and I think it is about time I told Isaac's story in full so please look out for that blog - will want to try and get that page shared as many times as possible to get Isaac's story across and show everyone exactly why I am running the London Marathon in his memory.
It's been an interesting couple of weeks, the facebook page "likes" have increased considerably, the twitter followers have gone up as well and have received some lovely messages of support. As I've said on the facebook page, we have our first paralympian following Isaac's story, and our first celeb, and as I've been preparing to write this tonight, Donna Air has retweeted the charity link and in doing so all her followers if they choose can now click on a link to access the charity fundraising page.
I've also had to return to work which has been incredibly difficult, but have to say, everyone I work with has been fantastic and made it as easy as possible under the circumstances to return. I think it probably helped that so many from work came along to Isaac's funeral which, although the day was a total blur for Simone and I, an amazing number of people came along to show their support and celebrate Isaac's short life.
As for training, well the last couple of weeks have been all about getting into a routine to make sure I try and get 5 runs in a week. Its been hampered a little bit by a tight calf which I have tried to counteract by running a little slower, missing one run in the two weeks and doing a half hour walk as one of the runs in week 2. Yesterday saw my longest run so far, running for an hour and 5 minutes and covering 5.2 miles, and with 25 weeks to go, Im really pleased with how its going so far.
With the nights now drawing in, its time to get the winter hi vis kit out and scare a few in wood green with the runs - still its probably scarey enough for people not to consider mugging me for the iphone which is always a bonus!
So, below are the micoach links for the training for week 2 and 3.
Week 2 Runs
Run 1 : 30 minutes blue and green http://www.adidas.com/us/micoach/Web/WorkoutDetails.aspx?WID=e8dacea6-17e8-4d07-8807-aba73c2c3fdb
Run 2 : 30 minutes blue and green - Run missed
Run 3 : 30 minutes blue and green http://www.adidas.com/us/micoach/Web/WorkoutDetails.aspx?WID=26cc032a-5119-478c-b64b-cfc41db7cc8b
Run 4 : 30 minutes blue and green - Unfortunately run didnt save - ended up doing a half hour walk due to the tight calf
Run 5 : 1 hour blue and green http://www.adidas.com/us/micoach/Web/WorkoutDetails.aspx?WID=eb4a3025-9719-4fb8-8712-a216bbbb34cb
This weeks runs - Week 3
Run 1 : 30 minutes blue and green http://www.adidas.com/us/micoach/Web/WorkoutDetails.aspx?WID=93d0b0bd-2fa7-4502-8bd6-514f28400b59
Run 2 : 30 minutes blue and green http://www.adidas.com/us/micoach/Web/WorkoutDetails.aspx?WID=9fc07a95-5c15-4e77-bca6-2f4f84c6404e
Run 3 : 30 minutes blue and green http://www.adidas.com/us/micoach/Web/WorkoutDetails.aspx?WID=23529b61-97ac-4ef5-b65e-59e13a664473
Run 4 : 30 minutes blue and green http://www.adidas.com/us/micoach/Web/WorkoutDetails.aspx?WID=e332fc05-2177-4764-b7a0-de10ab11b340
Run 5 : 1 hour and 5 minutes blue and green http://www.adidas.com/us/micoach/Web/WorkoutDetails.aspx?WID=45920d0e-2112-4a4a-88ec-15a867eddfdf
Monday, 29 October 2012
Sunday, 14 October 2012
One week down, Twenty-Seven weeks to go!
It seems such a long way away. 27 weeks, more than half a year, but I know it will catch up quickly, so I'm really pleased with the way the first week of training has gone.
This week hasn't been an easy week, but no week ever is. With Baby Loss Awareness month this month, and next week being Baby Loss Awareness week, it makes you think a lot about what happened to Isaac, trying to comprehend in your head why and how it happened, and how we have ended up in the position now, two months on, with no little boy that should be playing, laughing, crying and everything else a two month old little boy should be doing.
Writing up the Running for Isaac facebook page has certainly helped to channel the pain a little and given me something to focus on as has starting the training properly.
This week I have managed to make it through all five training runs, which as you can imagine, I'm very pleased about. Hopefully in the coming weeks, if I can keep this up I may even start to see the weight dropping off. One thing I know for certain. I need to lose a good couple of stone by the time of the London Marathon. Trying to run that distance weighing 16 stone 10 is going to completely destroy my knees, as well as probably my back and the lack of stomach muscles in the barrel isn't going to help either.
Each training run went relatively well, even doing half an hour in the pouring rain which I know I am going to have to get more used to as Autumn and Winter progress. Todays longer run went really well helped by the conditions, cool and sunny at 9 this morning. I always try and make sure my run takes me passed the Cemetary where Isaac is buried so that I can blow him a kiss as Im running. (Learnt this week that I dont jog I run. Bought the Marathon for Dummies book which explains that the translation of jogging is in fact wiggling, and as I pound the streets of London, I really hope I dont wiggle!!!)
Using the Micoach app means that I can create a page for each run I do, so will try and ensure each weeks runs are added with a link so that if people are interested they can have a look at the pace (very very slow) and the gradients being run. If anyone does look at them and has any advice on what I can do to improve my chances of making it through the Marathon - please do say. Although, "run faster" will not really help me.
Before putting the links, I just wanted to let you all know one more thing for this week. Tomorrow, the 15th October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. There is an attempt to create a global wave of light in memory of all babies that have died during pregnancy, at birth or after birth. So, if you have a candle and would like to join in, please light it at 7pm BST tomorrow and leave it burning for an hour in memory of all of those that have died.
Thanks
This weeks runs
Run 1 : 30 minutes blue and green http://www.adidas.com/com/micoach/Web/WorkoutDetails.aspx?WID=c438a59c-6168-4b7f-91b2-de7749fd0c12
Run 2 : 30 minutes blue and green http://www.adidas.com/com/micoach/Web/WorkoutDetails.aspx?WID=31a5c1a6-6436-4666-a60b-5b2dd2f2f156
Run 3 : 30 minutes blue, green and yellow http://www.adidas.com/com/micoach/Web/WorkoutDetails.aspx?WID=f3b6cbc9-081e-4281-b48b-a82b6662525c
Run 4 : 30 minutes blue and green http://www.adidas.com/com/micoach/Web/WorkoutDetails.aspx?WID=ae857228-eafa-40d9-8b6b-8fabee85edf0
Run 5 : 1 hour blue and green http://www.adidas.com/com/micoach/Web/WorkoutDetails.aspx?WID=78788a93-1a73-41c8-ba9f-9768cbab32a8
This week hasn't been an easy week, but no week ever is. With Baby Loss Awareness month this month, and next week being Baby Loss Awareness week, it makes you think a lot about what happened to Isaac, trying to comprehend in your head why and how it happened, and how we have ended up in the position now, two months on, with no little boy that should be playing, laughing, crying and everything else a two month old little boy should be doing.
Writing up the Running for Isaac facebook page has certainly helped to channel the pain a little and given me something to focus on as has starting the training properly.
This week I have managed to make it through all five training runs, which as you can imagine, I'm very pleased about. Hopefully in the coming weeks, if I can keep this up I may even start to see the weight dropping off. One thing I know for certain. I need to lose a good couple of stone by the time of the London Marathon. Trying to run that distance weighing 16 stone 10 is going to completely destroy my knees, as well as probably my back and the lack of stomach muscles in the barrel isn't going to help either.
Each training run went relatively well, even doing half an hour in the pouring rain which I know I am going to have to get more used to as Autumn and Winter progress. Todays longer run went really well helped by the conditions, cool and sunny at 9 this morning. I always try and make sure my run takes me passed the Cemetary where Isaac is buried so that I can blow him a kiss as Im running. (Learnt this week that I dont jog I run. Bought the Marathon for Dummies book which explains that the translation of jogging is in fact wiggling, and as I pound the streets of London, I really hope I dont wiggle!!!)
Using the Micoach app means that I can create a page for each run I do, so will try and ensure each weeks runs are added with a link so that if people are interested they can have a look at the pace (very very slow) and the gradients being run. If anyone does look at them and has any advice on what I can do to improve my chances of making it through the Marathon - please do say. Although, "run faster" will not really help me.
Before putting the links, I just wanted to let you all know one more thing for this week. Tomorrow, the 15th October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. There is an attempt to create a global wave of light in memory of all babies that have died during pregnancy, at birth or after birth. So, if you have a candle and would like to join in, please light it at 7pm BST tomorrow and leave it burning for an hour in memory of all of those that have died.
Thanks
This weeks runs
Run 1 : 30 minutes blue and green http://www.adidas.com/com/micoach/Web/WorkoutDetails.aspx?WID=c438a59c-6168-4b7f-91b2-de7749fd0c12
Run 2 : 30 minutes blue and green http://www.adidas.com/com/micoach/Web/WorkoutDetails.aspx?WID=31a5c1a6-6436-4666-a60b-5b2dd2f2f156
Run 3 : 30 minutes blue, green and yellow http://www.adidas.com/com/micoach/Web/WorkoutDetails.aspx?WID=f3b6cbc9-081e-4281-b48b-a82b6662525c
Run 4 : 30 minutes blue and green http://www.adidas.com/com/micoach/Web/WorkoutDetails.aspx?WID=ae857228-eafa-40d9-8b6b-8fabee85edf0
Run 5 : 1 hour blue and green http://www.adidas.com/com/micoach/Web/WorkoutDetails.aspx?WID=78788a93-1a73-41c8-ba9f-9768cbab32a8
Sunday, 7 October 2012
Training Programme Ready and waiting!
So, tomorrow I embark on a training programme running five times a week for the next 28 weeks!!!
Yes, it really is going to be that painfull!
Having considered all the options Ive decided to stick with the training app that I have been using for the last year and has resulted in the biggest improvement in my running. Hopefully it should result in me doing just about enough to get round the marathon course in somewhere between 5 and 5 and a half hours.
So, the app that Im using is the adidas MiCoach app which gets you running at different speeds for set period of times and if you fail to run at those paces it likes to remind you of the speed you should be running at. Below is the whole of the training programme Im going to try and undertake, and I've tried to estimate how many miles it will result in me doing each week. Its quite a lot..............! (The last week includes the beast that is the 26 miles of the London Marathon)
Yes, it really is going to be that painfull!
Having considered all the options Ive decided to stick with the training app that I have been using for the last year and has resulted in the biggest improvement in my running. Hopefully it should result in me doing just about enough to get round the marathon course in somewhere between 5 and 5 and a half hours.
So, the app that Im using is the adidas MiCoach app which gets you running at different speeds for set period of times and if you fail to run at those paces it likes to remind you of the speed you should be running at. Below is the whole of the training programme Im going to try and undertake, and I've tried to estimate how many miles it will result in me doing each week. Its quite a lot..............! (The last week includes the beast that is the 26 miles of the London Marathon)
Blue
|
Green
|
Yellow
|
Red
| |||
Min per mile
|
17:00-12:45
|
12:45-10:30
|
10:30-8:20
|
8:20-6:10
| ||
Week start
|
Minutes
|
Minutes
|
Minutes
|
Minutes
|
Total Minutes
|
Est Miles
|
08/10/2012
|
65
|
110
|
5
|
0
|
180
|
15.53
|
15/10/2012
|
60
|
120
|
0
|
0
|
180
|
15.52
|
22/10/2012
|
60
|
125
|
0
|
0
|
185
|
15.98
|
29/10/2012
|
60
|
130
|
0
|
0
|
190
|
16.43
|
05/11/2012
|
60
|
135
|
0
|
0
|
195
|
16.89
|
12/11/2012
|
65
|
130
|
5
|
0
|
200
|
17.34
|
19/11/2012
|
84.8
|
120
|
5
|
4.2
|
214
|
18.48
|
26/11/2012
|
85.8
|
130
|
5
|
4.2
|
225
|
19.47
|
03/12/2012
|
85.8
|
140
|
5
|
4.2
|
235
|
20.38
|
10/12/2012
|
65
|
160
|
10
|
0
|
235
|
20.60
|
17/12/2012
|
65
|
170
|
15
|
0
|
250
|
22.03
|
24/12/2012
|
65
|
180
|
20
|
0
|
265
|
23.47
|
31/12/2012
|
65
|
205
|
20
|
0
|
290
|
25.74
|
07/01/2013
|
65
|
215
|
25
|
0
|
305
|
27.18
|
14/01/2013
|
60
|
218
|
16
|
0
|
294
|
26.12
|
21/01/2013
|
55
|
108
|
36
|
0
|
199
|
17.84
|
28/01/2013
|
60
|
230
|
20
|
0
|
310
|
27.63
|
04/02/2013
|
60
|
240
|
20
|
0
|
320
|
28.54
|
11/02/2013
|
55
|
116
|
36
|
0
|
207
|
18.57
|
18/02/2013
|
69
|
250
|
21
|
0
|
340
|
30.25
|
25/02/2013
|
120
|
270
|
50
|
0
|
440
|
39.04
|
04/03/2013
|
85
|
120
|
40
|
0
|
245
|
21.66
|
11/03/2013
|
70
|
350
|
0
|
0
|
420
|
37.20
|
18/03/2013
|
120
|
220
|
60
|
0
|
400
|
35.55
|
25/03/2013
|
70
|
360
|
0
|
0
|
430
|
38.11
|
01/04/2013
|
65
|
220
|
20
|
0
|
305
|
27.11
|
08/04/2013
|
66
|
130
|
24
|
0
|
220
|
19.42
|
15/04/2013
|
80.8
|
340
|
0
|
4.2
|
425
|
37.65
|
Totals
|
1987.2
|
5242
|
458
|
16.8
|
7704
|
679.72
|
Friday, 5 October 2012
Psychedelic Backdrop
Just thought I better put a quick apology for the psychedelic back drop. Hopefully it wont put you off, I think it looks quite good!
The reason behind it - well here is a pic of a team of runners doing the "Mo-bot" having taken part in the Bridge 10k for the Together We Can Charity.
As you can see, the kit has some lovely coloured circles, and when designing the blog, this background reminded me very much of the shirt design. So, if I'm going to be running in a top like this, with ginger hair (clashes with everything!) (it is my natural colour by the way - not a wig or anything), I thought I'd sub-consciously get everyone used to seeing the coloured circles so that when the run takes place in six months time, you will automatically spot Together We Can runners on the TV or on the road if you're in the crowds.
The reason behind it - well here is a pic of a team of runners doing the "Mo-bot" having taken part in the Bridge 10k for the Together We Can Charity.
As you can see, the kit has some lovely coloured circles, and when designing the blog, this background reminded me very much of the shirt design. So, if I'm going to be running in a top like this, with ginger hair (clashes with everything!) (it is my natural colour by the way - not a wig or anything), I thought I'd sub-consciously get everyone used to seeing the coloured circles so that when the run takes place in six months time, you will automatically spot Together We Can runners on the TV or on the road if you're in the crowds.
Welcome to the Running for Isaac Blog
Well, you've made it this far, so somehow you may well know a little something about what this is all about. If not however, and you have accidentally stumbled on the blog, welcome along.
Hopefully over the next six months, you will continue to follow this page, along with the facebook page, twitter feed and charity fundraising page leading up to me embarking on trying to run the Virgin London Marathon on the 21st April 2013.
It's been set up in an attempt to raise as much money as possible for the Together We Can charity with the funds being put to the Evelina Children's Hospital at St Thomas's in Central London.
It's not our local hospital, but it is the hospital where our son was transferred to and cared for after suffering from a lack of oxygen as a result of a placenta abruption shortly before birth. Unfortunatley, aged 6 days our son Isaac passed away due to the level of brain damage that he had received. In his short life he was an inspiration, showed such strength and touched so many peoples lives with the help of the brilliant teams that looked after him as St Thomas's. Running the London Marathon will hopefully enable me to raise funds for the hospital so that they can continue their pioneering treatment and hopefully have happier outcomes for babies in conditions similar to that that Isaac was in.
Over the coming months, I will hopefully use the different sites that have been set up for this event to tell the story of Isaac's short life, to try and show just how brilliant the teams were that looked after him, and share his strength whilst also talking about the highs and lows of training for my first marathon and the events along the way.
Thanks for reading
Hopefully over the next six months, you will continue to follow this page, along with the facebook page, twitter feed and charity fundraising page leading up to me embarking on trying to run the Virgin London Marathon on the 21st April 2013.
It's been set up in an attempt to raise as much money as possible for the Together We Can charity with the funds being put to the Evelina Children's Hospital at St Thomas's in Central London.
It's not our local hospital, but it is the hospital where our son was transferred to and cared for after suffering from a lack of oxygen as a result of a placenta abruption shortly before birth. Unfortunatley, aged 6 days our son Isaac passed away due to the level of brain damage that he had received. In his short life he was an inspiration, showed such strength and touched so many peoples lives with the help of the brilliant teams that looked after him as St Thomas's. Running the London Marathon will hopefully enable me to raise funds for the hospital so that they can continue their pioneering treatment and hopefully have happier outcomes for babies in conditions similar to that that Isaac was in.
Over the coming months, I will hopefully use the different sites that have been set up for this event to tell the story of Isaac's short life, to try and show just how brilliant the teams were that looked after him, and share his strength whilst also talking about the highs and lows of training for my first marathon and the events along the way.
Thanks for reading
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