A week off work means....

Well decorating first, the plan was to put in as much running as possible, however due to the gale force winds we experience in our micro climate near the Airport this has had to be reduced to walking. I suffer from vocal chord dysfunction which has been caused by acid reflux burning them away..nice I hear you say. There is no cure only maintenance but I suffer real problems trying to run into strong or cold winds, anyone who suffers from Asthma will know exactly the problems I face. It can and does severely hamper any and all running during the winter months but on windy days it can mean that I simply run in a non windy section backwards and forwards. This plan works really well for shorter runs of maybe 3km but if I am on an 8km then it does tend to hamper my time due to boredom. So the plan for this week remains to be out in the morning the forecast is for rain but reduced winds, the remainder of the week suggests that maybe the winds will return and increase so I shall pick my space carefully.

We have seen over the last 24 hours a devastating explosion in Boston. Terrible scenes of maiming and suffering from people who were trying to achieve a personal goal. There is no political sentiment in running, we run for PB, charity for loved ones these people who have attacked these runners and their loved ones have now made the seeking of justice for those that have died and suffered a full on political motion. Our supporters who stand and wait to cheer us over the finish line in all weathers after we have made an herculean effort to challenge and to beat the voices in our head and the lead in our legs, do this with no thought to an attack like this. They cheer and applaud every single person who crosses that line because we have succeeded, we have achieved, we did it. This event in Boston shows us that we are never safe from the politics that surround our existence and somewhere, somehow there will always be that threat. The Boston Marathon 2013 will be forever remembered with great sadness, I for one will take time to remember those that lost their lives to inhuman thugs who targeted a happy day for so many. This weekend the London Marathon takes place again they run for PB, charity and loved ones, it will be a different atmosphere after the events in Boston.

To the victims of Boston I send my heartfelt prayers and thoughts.

A million reasons not to !!!

I am a 44 year old Wife, Mum of 3, Nanna of 3. I have countless problems physically that cause me problems daily. So to add to this little exciting bag of tricks I have decided to do ......The Great North Run to raise money for Sue Ryder Wheatfields in Leeds in memory of my Sister Anne who sadly passed away from lung cancer in October 2012. She always supported me whenever I did an event, so to give a little bit back to those who supported her when she needed it I do what I know I can do.

Along with many I have watched the GNR on the telly and wondered " how do they do that " ? So this year I will find out. I have taken part in quite a few events over the last 4 years, ranging from 5km & 10Km Race for Life, Leeds 10km twice, Leeds Abbey Dash (10km) twice.
I love my "plodding" I will not put my pace anywhere near a run, it does qualify as a jog but must look like a plod. I have raised money for various charities including Cancer research, Yorkshire Air Ambulance and MacMillan Cancer Support. Due to the menace of injuries and a diagnosis of vocal chord dysfunction I had no choice but to take the winter off, which means getting back in the saddle is proving a challenge of its own making . As a prequel to the GNR I intend to do the Leeds 10km for fun to gauge my pace. To help this little mind set the organisers have changed the route making for a flatter faster course, I have not done an official 10km time in under the hour so my target for Leeds is sub 55mins. My target time for the GNR is sub 2hr 15mins but will be aiming for under 2 hours.

So far my training is going okay, I am very happy with my pace and distance. Since having the luxury of a phone that works properly I can have my Runtastic app as well as my Runkeeper giving me miles and km paces. I have always run my sectors in km and keep and average of a 7min km but at event pace I can maintain a 6min or less km with a sprint finish.
My challenge will be to remain healthy and injury free, during the next couple of months, the muscle rub will be bought in bulk just to maintain the creaking gate that has become my body.

So this is my challenge for 2013 and this is my story, my name is Elaine Winterbourne and on the 15th September at 9am my dream will become a reality. As the title suggests there are a million reasons not to do this event, but there is only One reason to do it....because I can. If you would like to help me on my journey by donating to Sue Ryder Wheatfields you can follow this link. Thank you.

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ElaineWinterbourne