Brighton Half Marathon

Im running the brighton half marathon tomorrow (sunday) and am desperately trying to find somewhere to park/stay...updates and info afters!

I N S P I R A T I O N

Hello everybody (all 2 of you!?), well it has finally reached the point where I felt so guilty about not posting recently that I feel compelled to jump start my fund raising. Admittedly it has been a while since I last posted, and there isn't really an excuse. So, its happening!

This week I was working with an ambulance crew and we were called to a road traffic collision. I had never seen the air ambulance working at a 'shout' before. As we roared around the bend on lights and sirens, I noticed a car pretty much emmbedded in the hedgerow A few metres away was a big yellow helicopter; engines running, heat pouring out of the two engines.  A very impressive sight. 

Paramedics in red flight kits were talking to the patient in the car and providing medical assistance. Police were also on scene and directing traffic (good job Holly!)

It was witnessing this sight that I was reminded just how lucky we are in Hampshire to have such a fantastic service. It sent a shiver down my spine and I felt really proud to be involved.

For those of you who dont know, the Air Ambulance is a vital asset to the ambulance service. Its main purpose is to respond quickly to life threatening emergencies, where a conventional road ambulance may not be able to get to or be available. The aircraft can reach most locations in hampshire in around 15 minutes, land almost anywhere and get patients to hospital FAST. (for more information, see http://www.hiow-airambulance.org.uk

They go to anyone in serious trouble.

The thing is (incredibly) the Air Ambulance is paid for by voluntary donations - yeah thats right - it is completely supported by the general public. The crew consisting of highly skilled paramedics (paid by the NHS) and volunteer doctors.

The aircraft, support and kit on board are paid for by the public.

It costs £110 000 PER MONTH to run the service, or £3600 per day. Im not going to try and scare you into donating (yet!) but if you can, please do give, as (from experience) you never know when you might need it, especially for those who live/work in the countryside.

My training is coming along, on sunday I ran 15 miles in the new forest. It hurt, but im starting to develop strategies to deal with the erosive pain that just saps at any motivation you have. It seems to develop around mile 9 or 10...or about 1 hour 15 mins into my runs. The right foods, the right drinks, the right music/podcasts and singing out loud are all helping me to push my limits. This weekend it will be 16 miles. I now dread Sundays.

Please help me, i have raised £26 so far (thanks mum and dad!) and I need to raise another £974 :/
please nip over to http://www.justgiving.com/james-lawrence4 for me and donate, even if its just a little, your support will help me push through to mile 16 this sunday.

THANK YOU!!

"We are go"

We are go. We are indeed. Yesterday was the run of the 'Alresford Attack' - i got quite lost but more on that in a bit.

So, NEWS wise.... I have new running shoes - BOOM....(pic below)...the mizuno wave rider 9's. I love these puppies, they truely are my favourite shoe of all time. They look pretty weird and unconventional but they are perfect and i really dont notice running in them - overall this is the dream right!?

Supposedly they are in the post. Jebus, buying some shoes has been an absolute saga. At least i know what im getting with these...all for the bargain price of £60! (normally £110)

Runwise, here is the run i did yesterday.

Ouch. The key points to take away from this are

• It was misty and crappy outside.
• i only wanted to run 6 miles.
• i got lost and ran 9 miles.
• there were more hills than i thought, 2 cat 5's!
• there were more potholes than i thought.

overal, it hurt. Not a route im used to and I think i even vommed along part of it.

On the plus side, some lads drove past in a 4x4 and the beeped thier horn and waved - cheered me up!

slow and steady wins the race

So, below is the run I did yesterday on the 22nd December. I was using my old shoes, my trusty mizuno wave creation 9's. The poor sods - they have totally had it. I promised those shoes retirement a while back...It was yesterday out of sheer despereration i had to drag them out kicking and screaming.


The run - first really of my training was done in darkness - I really like to run in the dark because there are less people around to hear me shouting at myself and to see me pulling constipated faces as a go uphill. I also make stupid noises and talk to myself. If anyone was as weird as me and saw me run past, they would call the police. Thus, i think its better for society if i run as much as possible AWAY from society....


It was a hill. My god what a hill. I think the stats said it was about 600 feet going gently up, a quick stop at my friends house for a biscuit and a chat (and a gentle bollocking by his lovely mum coincididentally) and then back up the hill. His mum was probably right. Why make running any more 'lethal' than it already is? Point semi conceeded - I will bring a phone next time, but i refuse to wear a florrie jacket - ill just dive into bushes every time i see those slow beams of headlights sweeping though the night...i only ever see a car every half hour anyway. Im moving to southampton in January - boy will that be a change. Man I miss running along the beach in summery bournemouth - THE GLORY DAYS...
Why do marathons have to be in spring? Any answers anybody?


Overally, i think that was a nice starting run...Im thinking i should create a new schedule and also buy some new shoes just as soon as the january sales arrive. Give my old veteran shoes a chance to rest in peace!

beginnings

Munching on a slice of ambitiously balanced marmalade on toast at chateaux lawrence, I glanced at my dad looking at some some letters. I had grown used to the  disappointment of having nothing of bank statements being sent to me for the last 23 years and carried on with my mission of destroying my toast, as one does. "Here ya go" was all the warning I got before I saw the red A4 envelope spinning towards me


After fumbling with the packaging, I read the cover letter. I was genuinely surprised to read that line starting with "Congratulations!". It was the first ever entry Ive made for anything like this. What are the chances of getting in first time?! It was a super strange feeling have such a great/terrible marmalade covered opportunity quite literally land in my lap.


I remember thinking 'HOLY CRAP NOW IM ACTUALLY GOING TO DO THIS!?' Note please if you would reader, the question mark at the end of the last statement. The thought at the moment is very much the 'am i going to be able to do this' part of the statement - am I? please tell me


The word 'determination' is tossed around a lot today...but i think this could be the perfect opportunity to really put it to the test. How determined am I? Do i want it bad enough? Admittedly, i haven't trained at all as of yet. I think i am misguidedly relying on the fact that im comfortable with a 12 mile run as reason enough not to have started my training.


I have told myself January. January i will start running. Running i will start in January. definitely january. Its ok, you dont need to run today, you can start properly in january. Its too snowwy today; im sure there wont be snow in January. Yeah, january. Should probably by some running shoes in january - holy crap its almost january.


SO, as first post on here, Its probably worth stating here that my only intention is to finish the race without stopping. I think its fair to stop for a wee and maybe a drink, but that is the objective is to finish with little/no stops. I wonder if its going to make me cry? When tough bastards like Griff say they have only run a marathon once, and will never do so again then it makes me thinks 26 miles is a long way.


Better buy some shoes.