The Beginning of a New Love?

Okay, so I've only ever blogged when I was about 14- I've now just turned 20- So apologies in advance if I'm kind of crap at this. It's a first for me.

Anyways, moving on. Why am I doing this you may ask?

First of all, I created this blog as means to express myself, and note my progress and journey with- yes, you've guessed it- RUNNING! I'm attempting a new tactic and hoping this may help motivate myself and maybe, just maybe inspire others.

I was inspired by a guy called Andy Yu's and his Run To Win WordPress blog (I'll post his blog address at the end).

After one afternoon on my break into a tedious 12 hour shift, I began searching. You know trying to avoid human interaction and savour every free minute of rest with my sugary energy drink in hand! I then stumbled onto this magnificent blog. Andy's ability to record and analyse his runs in depth caught my eye immediately. I began to read his post on the Great Birmingham run. I signed up for 2015's, after completing my Great Birmingham 10k back in May with hardly any training, I needed some reassurance that I could in fact do this after having some serious doubts.

Great Birmingham 10k, 6/5/2015. Time: 1:12:43

I'm by no means a stereotypical runner, no, no, no! Not at all. Ive always been on the chunky side and I grew to hate running at school, being forced on the retched 12 minute cooper run of death. After just a couple of minuets into a slow jog, I'd just give up and walk the rest of the way, more than likely getting into trouble by the PE teachers, (who would stand there in their thick, warm waterproof coats) whilst we were running like robots in our PE kits, freezing cold (PE kits consisted of shorts and a polo shirt!). It was safe to say I was no Paula Radcliff! Give me sports involving ball play i.e. Netball, Football, Rounders, Irish Gaelic etc... and I was in my element- there was no stopping me.

I actually started running for a personal reason very close to my heart. Of course, you'll get the people who want to get fit and want to lead a healthy lifestyle. Anybody that runs will tell you they love this aspect, due to it working nearly every muscle in your body. I've seen somewhere that apparently going on your average 5km run giving about 6-7 for effort out of 10, you release more endorphins then spending 1.5 hours in the gym!!! Now that's saying something.

Sorry, sorry. Back on track.

On Christmas Eve of 2014, my nan sadly passed away suddenly. She was 71, at this point in time she was probably more active than my university, 1st year self (*cough* human body = 70% water... Wrong. I was probably 70% of alcohol!) She took part in my mums Zumba classes every week, as well as line dancing her heart out every Monday night! It was amazing blow, as well as a shock for me and my mums side of the family. She was my best friend, my rock, my world. Someone I'd turn to the majority of the time for help and assistance when times were tough. She had a heart of gold and always found the good in everyone she met. She'd do absolutely anything she could to help. Even if this meant she was out of pocket, giving to numerous charities.

Nan Zumbering at her surprise 70th. 06/09/2013

Me and my Nan probably about 1996/7ish

So I thought, hang on. It's my time to give something back to charity, but I wanted to challenge myself... hmmmmm. scratching my chin. I don't like heights, so there's no way in heaven or on earth that I’d be skydiving anytime soon.

Then, BOOM!

I recall seeing advertisements on the internet relating to Coventry Half Marathon, prior to this, seeing an old teacher that had taken on running and smashing the Birmingham Half in October 2014... But then I thought, 13.1 miles in under 2 month, phahaha you must be joking right? I'd run for 5 minutes and be hauled off into an ambulance with an oxygen tank! aha.

So I searched endlessly to find a half marathon in the West Midlands/ Warwickshire area for about June/ July time. I stumbled up one called the Birmingham Black Country Half Marathon in which took a short 13.1 mile straight/flat course from Wolverhampton to Birmingham, through the canal paths on July 4th. Yep, you've guessed it, click here, debit card details there, email confirmation- and there you go, I've just signed up for my first half marathon!

Then next logical step was finding a charity. It came through that my nans cause of death was an aortic heart aneurysm that bursts suddenly, like a ticking time bomb with no symptoms prior whatsoever. The British Heart Foundation (BHF) took immediate precedence when reading their website. Then I was off, setting up my Just Giving page and ready to take on all that running could throw at my mightily unfit self! 

Members of my family also found a BHF 32 Mile bike ride through Warwick (they preferred the idea to raise funds for a cycling event rather than run due to the impact of it). After this, I found my 2nd 5k in Nuneaton, for the 11th April with the name being "Run For Your Heart" another BHF event- I just couldn't resist. So there you go...

I'm exceedingly unfit, I have 3 physically demanding events coming up in the year with absolutely no clue how or where to start!!


Andy Yu - "Run to Win": https://yellowrunner.wordpress.com/