Run for a Reason: Demelza & Newlife Fundraising Page
James our CEO, and Mark our Sales Director, are teaming up to raise money for charity.
James' running journey is only 2 months young and, being a complete beginner, he is still full of enthusiasm and quite unaware of what is involved - so he has signed up to run the Battersea Half Marathon on 9th March!
Will all that gym work pay off or will it end up being a walk in the park for our CEO ? 🏃
Mark is a more seasoned runner having completed a number of half marathons - but that said has our grizzly old Sales Director bitten off more than he can chew this time?
We'll soon find out if his dodgy knees hold up and the bits of string and tape holding him together last the course as this time Mark is going for the big one.... yep he has secured a place on the starting line of the 2024 TCS London Marathon on 21st April. 😱
Both James and Mark have self-funded their places and are now turning their sweat and tears into an opportunity to support two fantastic charities - Demelza and NewLife. 🦸♂️🦸♂️
Having recently learnt about and seen what they do first hand, we couldn't help but raise money and awareness for the amazing work done by both charities.
So, if you can, please join our dynamic duo on their mission to help the inspirational teams at Demelza (the children's hospice and a local charity who AIM have supported for a number years) and NewLife - the Charity for Disabled Children.
All monies raised will be split 50/50 and we'd love to smash our target of £2500.
Keep your eyes peeled for regular training updates and thanks in advance for all your support and kind donations.
James & Mark
#SmarterGreenerCleaner
#FasterMeanerLeaner
Event Update
Sunday April 21st
Just wanted to give you all an update, and share some stats, from the big day yesterday.
First of all I’m delighted to say that I finished. I was AIMing for a time of 4:30 and crossed the line in 4:33 so pretty happy with that.
Since I started my marathon training plan on January 1st I have covered over 600km on the road, spent over 16 hours on the Peloton and swum over 20km.
I was one of 50,000 runners, representing 158 nations, who finished the 26.2miles yesterday and I was fortunate to secure my place through the ballot – one of 578,374 who applied.
Alexander Munyao from Kenya won the men’s elite race in a time of 2:04:01 – the equivalent of running a 100m sprint in just under 18 seconds – 422 times in a row.
The women’s elite race was won by the amazing Peres Jepchirchir in a new World Record time of 2:16:16.
I was very proud to be one of over of 18000 participants running for over 1700 charities, with the organisers predicting that the amount raised this year will be a new record amount, eclipsing the £66.4M in 2019. In total the London Marathon has raised over £1.2bn since it’s launch in 1981.
A massive thank you to everyone who has supported me during this challenge, either through your donations to our fundraising page or just through encouragement.
Saturday 09.03.24 -
Job done, just about..... Official finish time - 02hrs 00mins 50secs
I was so tired that I didn't even remember to film an update after the race.
I am glad that is over 😮💨 and I can now hand the 🏃♂️ baton over to Mark P. I do not envy Mark and the full marathon challenge, hats off to him.
Reflecting back on the overall day, the atmosphere was amazing, the weather was perfect and it was great to even have a few supporters come down and cheer me on along with my wife Clara and the kids, so a big thanks to Emily (and family), Lisa, Mark P and Lyndsey.
My thoughts on the race..... well, that was tough, so much harder than I had imagined.
The first 10 miles went quite well and to plan, although we possibly did go out a little too fast. But after mile 10, I was physically gone. Putting one foot in front of the next was gradually getting harder and harder.
I was running with a friend Doug and the plan was to accelerate over the last 3 miles, by this stage I was just fighting my body not to stop. I had turned to Doug and said im suffering, if I drop, keep going. At 11.5 miles I was starting to lose the mental battle. You may remember the guy a few years back that ran london in a full metal divers costume, it felt like I had his shoes on! I was struggling for breath and I had to dig deep and go to dark places to pull out the motivation and effort to keep pushing.
Thankfully my running partner, the crowd and support, spurred me to keep on going, and although I did have to stop and walk on the last lap for around 30 seconds to take on some needed water, I found the energy to get going and catch up, and myself and Doug ended up crossing the line together.
It was definitely a humbling experience, and I have a new found respect and appreciation for anyone who runs those distances, fast, or slow.
Doing it again soon I was asked?? No chance!
Saturday 09.03.24 - James's update - Battersea Race Day 09:30
On your marks, get set....... let's do this!
The day is here and I am here, after almost missing my train! At least some of that training paid off.
Thankfully woke up this morning feeling the best i've done since Tuesday, i've raided the medicine box and recorded this quick update as i'm just about to head into Battersea Park and find my running partner, Doug.
Monday 04.03.24 - James's update - 5 days until Battersea Run
Its getting real
Thats it, no turning back now, opened the post this morning and received my race number....
#excited #nerves
Friday 01.03.24 - James's update - 8 days until Battersea Run
Back in the groove
What a difference a few days can make. After 24 hours of icing my knee the swelling and pain had subsided, and I could move freely.
With a week or so to go, I had been planning to leave the knee to settle and not run again until a few days before the race. But feeling better, I was getting restless and internally I am fighting nagging doubts. I wanted to know that I could make or get close to the distance, the race is 21k and during my training I have only run over 15k once.
My attention had also turned towards the race location itself, and so I had been thinking about going to Battersea to check out the route and area beforehand. Knowing in advance the course layout and not having to worry about rushing around and getting lost on the day will help manage those pre race nerves, helping me relax and be mentally better prepared.
So with those 2 thoughts playing on my mind later that afternoon impatience got the better of me and I headed to Battersea to have a look around. As if by coincidence I also had my running kit, heres what happened next....
Monday 26.02.24 - James's update - 13 days until Battersea Run
Things don't always go to plan!
Had a long run planned for Sunday and hoped to achieve around 18k. Preparation hasn't been going exactly to plan and so this was going to be my longest run yet.
After only 6K my inner knee pain flared up again, gutted..... Thought about running through it but I have quickly learnt the hard way that when running that sometimes your body just says no, and if you don't listen, you pay, with interest!
Time to shrug it off, swallow the ego and catch the bus home.
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