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Thanks for your continued support of our adventurous challenges which allows us to raise vital funds for worthwhile charities and good causes.

Abseiling Challenge

Lewis on right

On Sunday 3rd July Chris was involved in organising a Sponsored Abseil to raise money for local Scout groups.

The sponsored abseil was conducted off the 120ft tower of St. Annes Church, Royton. Kids from various Cub & Scout groups took part in the event to raise funds for their respective groups. Chris's nine year old son Lewis was amongst the 84 abseilers who took part in the event on what was a hot sunny day. Plenty of family, friends and even passers-by came along to cheer everyone on.

The event is planned again for next year and the organisors are hoping to get over 100 people to take part.

Post Marathon Report

Sorry for the late post but since returning home from London, late on Sunday night, I've had a lot of work to catch up on.

So how did it go?

After not getting to bed until gone 01.00 I was back up again at 05.30 ready to make my way to the start line. After a quick breakfast I hit the tube system on route to my start point at Blackheath. The tube was very busy and once on the DLR & South Eastern trains everyone was crammed into the carraiges shoulder to shoulder. However, all the train operators ran the services very well with extra trains put on and plenty of station staff to assist.

The atmosphere at the runners start area was very friendly, with people chatting to each other whilst getting ready and loading their kit bags onto the trucks, to be transported to the finish area. I have to say that the logistical organisation of the whole event was second to none.

After suffering from a bout of the 'Man Flu' and missing most of the last two weeks of my training I thought that I would be running much slower than I had intended and therefore decided to put myself further back in the start line, than my allocated position according to my predicted time of 3hrs 30mins. This proved to be a big mistake as once across the start line it took a long time and several miles for the thousands of runners, who were running shoulder to shoulder, to thin out enough for me to be able to pass people and work my way up through the crowds. Eventually though gaps did appear and it was possible to start striding out and make good progress.

Once I was underway and running well I calculated that I should be able to do a 3:45 or even a 3:40 if all went well. The atmosphere was fantastic with thousands of people cheering the runners on and bands playing on virtualy every corner. Kids were everywhere wanting to 'high five' with the runners as they went by. With water stations placed every few miles I was able to take on board plenty of water, which was essential in the heat. By about mile 6 I was already seeing people lying at the sides of the road in difficulty and the numbers increased, further into the route. Quite a few appeared to be in a bad way and were being tended to by medics.

By mile 7 I was feeling quite hungry, and passing various fast food outlets I was tempted to peel off for a quick bite to eat! However, I had the Lucozade Sport drinks stations to look forward to and my usual supply of sweets, in my bumbag, to provide me with sustanance. Whoopee!!

I felt I was running well now and enjoying the whole carnival atmosphere and the miles just dissapeared without me realising it. At mile 15, around Canary Wharf, the roads seemed to narrow causing the pace to drop again due to the congestion of runners. By mile 18, and approaching the heart of the cities financial district, my legs were staring to feel it a little. However, my spirits where high and you couldn't help but be carried along by the crowd and the fantastic atmosphere. At this stage I calculated that I was on for a 3hr:45min finish which I would have been happy with considering having been unwell and the level of training I'd done.

The 20 mile mark was a significant milestone as I was now counting down the miles instead of up. After mile 23 I would now be running in completely new terroritory as 21 miles was the furthest road miles I had done during training. Entering Blackfriars Tunnel was a short welcome relief from the baking sun and once out on the other side there would only be roughly a couple of miles to go to the finish.

My pace seemed to drop off considerably at around 24 miles and I had to have a word with myself to keep moving at a running pace and not a jog. Just before the 25 mile marker I heard my son Lewis shouting out from the crowd. I spotted him at Embankment with Pam and Lucy, all out to cheer both myself and the other runners on.

With a mile to go I realised that I wasn't even going to make the 3hr 50min mark. I don't know what had happened in those last few miles but I must have slowed the pace quite a bit. After passing through Parliment Square and running alongside St James' Park, with only 800 metres to go, I passed a man who could barely stand up. He had lost all control of his legs and fell to the ground in a heap. I still feel guilty about running by and not helping him but there were plenty of medics around who would be able to offer him assisstance. I hope he is ok and hopefully he was still able to cross the finish line and receive his medal. It must be heart renching for anyone not to be able to complete the marathon but to make it that far and falter, so close to the finish, must be heart breaking, after all those months of training.

With only 400 metres to go it was time to put a bit of a spurt on.  At the end of St James's Park the route turns right passing Buckingham Palace and then turns into the Mall for the final 200 metres to the finish line. I sprinted this final 200metres (well as best you can after 26.2 miles) to finish in some sort of respectable fashion, crossing the finish line in 3hours 51 minutes and 41 seconds.

Although very disapointed with my time I had fully enjoyed the event and was happy that I'd ran in memory of my friend Ray Glazer and was able to raise money for two very worthy charities - MacMillan Cancer Support and Alzheimer's Society.

Now that a few days have passed and I've had time to reflect I suppose, as others have told me, that I shouldn't be too dissapointed with my time. After all I never originally set out to run a certain time. I ran the London Marathon because it was always something I'd wanted to do. Being a fellrunner, I only intended to run it the once and therefore wanted to enjoy the whole event whilst raising money for charity. Because I was running for charity I'd deliberalty conducted my training carefully and with caution so as not to get injured and ensure I made it to the start line. Coupled with not being to well and missing alot of my training, over the last two weeks, and starting too far back in the line-up, I suppose I can't complain.

However, I know I can run a much faster time, and as I told myself, within the first couple of miles, I will be running another to try to get a better time.

Two days after the marathon I was back out running on the hills and already formulating plans for my next fundraising adventure.

Thanks to all the people who sent messages of support and to those who donated to MacMillan Cancer Support and the Alzheimer's Society. Your donations will help to make a difference to peoples lives.

Chris M

Off down to London

This may be my last post now, before the London Marathon, as tomorrow I will be down in London doing a week's work. Things are likely to be very busy so I may not get a chance to post anymore blogs until after the marathon.

After my initial signs that I was recovering from feeling unwell I have to report that the 'Man Flu' and throat infection are still lingering though I hope I'm on the mend now. The aching joints and general feeling of weekness have passed and now I'm just left with a bunged up head & sinuses and an irrating cough. Although I have to say I have little energy still, soon get out of breath and the legs don't feel to strong.

After a couple of days running last week, after a three day forced rest, I've done no running again now since Wednesday gone. I've missed some critical tapering runs including last weekends 16 miler and todays 10 miler. Hopefully I'll get a couple of gentle runs in through the week (work permiting) which will give my legs a wake up call, ready for next Sunday.

Thanks to those who have given words of support and to those that have already donated, either on-line or in cash, to MacMillan Cancer Support and Alzheimer's Society. People can still donate using the charity links on the right-hand-side of this site.

Good luck to everyone who is running the London Marathon.

Chris M

This dam cold ...

I'm definately suffering from a cold and slight throat infection. Infact last night my voice started to go.

After not running since Friday and missing a 16 mile run on Monday, yesterday I decided I just had to get a run in. It would either kill me or cure me I thought! well I'm still here.

I went up to the running club, where the first club handicap of the summer season was being held, with the intention of just taking a gentle run around the 10k off road course. I did set off with all good intentions untill I saw people up ahead and just had to set them in my sites and at least catch up to them. with the first 3 runners overtaken I re-adjusted my sites onto a couple of other runners further along the route. Once we got onto the rougher ground, I made good progress and passed them also.

I completed the course in just over 46 minutes, which I was more than pleased with to say that I set out quite slow early on, with no intentions of racing, and didn't push it on the final stretch to the finish. Hopefully, I thought, that has done the trick?

The article which Lewis was writing for the Oldham Chronicle went in last night. Lets hope that raises some more sponsorship for the charities!

Today, although my throat has felt a bit raw and my head's all stuffed up I do actually feel somewhat better. I went for a gentle run, at lunch time, for about an hour, with Mark and Bruce, two friends from the running club. Our runs together are always enjoyable, with the conversation ranging from joking and general banter to serious in-depth discussions about anything from politics and religion to business and world affairs. Every day is a learning day!

I think if I get plenty of rest I should get over this no problem in time for marathon day.

The newspaper article generated quite a bit of interset, with various people offering to donate to the charities which I'm running for. The power of the media hey.

Chris M

Run down but not out!

With less than two weeks to go to the London Marathon I'm feeling a bit run down and fear I may have picked something up. When on the phone, to a friend (Colin) from the running club, on Friday, who is running a marathon on 10th April, he was telling me he felt he was coming down with some illness. There was me telling him it was nothing to worry about and now I'm worried about getting ill myself, so close to the big day. That's all I need now, to come down with a cold or something.

Today I was supposed to be running 16miles but decided it was best to give it a miss and rest and hope I can shake whatever this off. Hopefully tomorrow I'll feel better and can catch up on some missed mileage?

Chris M

A busy day at the office

09.00 hrs and the first phone call of the day was from a journalist who I know who, last year, covered our National Three Peaks Challenge to raise money for Help for Heroes. Once again Lewis wanted to write a story for the local paper to promote this year's London Marathon fundraising for MacMillan Cancer Support and Alzheimer's Society.

I'm raising money for MacMillan Cancer Support and Alzheimer's Society because I personally know two people who have recently received excellent support and care from these charities.

After conducting a telephone interview there was time to fit in some event fundraising admin, before going for an 8 mile training run. I'd arranged to meet up with a photographer from the newspaper, for a photo shoot, at 11.45. That meant that I'd have to break off from my run for a few minutes, on route, to meet the photographer and do the shoot.

Upon returning from my training run the phone rang again and this time I had to conduct an interview with another newspaper who wanted to run an article about the London Marathon. Hopefully all of this media coverage will help to raise more funds for MacMillan Cancer Support and Alzheimer's Society.

19.00 hrs saw me making a dash across town to attend a talk about the Alzheimer's Society, which was organised by fellow Adventure Fundraising team member and Saddleworth Runner, Howard Chambers. The presentation, which was given by a representative from Alzheimer's Society, was very imformative. I think all those who were present were very surprised and shocked to learn about a disease which is still little understood and a charity which receives very little funding, in comparrison to some other charities.

The talk generated numerous cash donations and made people much more aware of the debilitating effects of Dementia.

Chris M

Last Long Run

Yesterday (Monday) was my last long run before Marathon Day. With only four weeks to go it's now time to start tapering.

Yesterdays run was one of very few training sessions that have been conducted during day light hours. Most of my London Marathon training has been carried out under the hours of darkness, to be able fit my runs in.

I set out just before lunch time on what was a warm, sunny day with the temperature steadily rising throughout. Good preperation I thought for what, if past weather trends are to go by, will be yet again another warm day for this years London Marathon.

I deliberately kept the pace nice and steady throughout, at a pace slower than I hope to run on the day. Originally when I signed up for the London Marathon I said to myself I wasn't planning on aiming for a time but would just go out and enjoy the event. However, deep down inside I think I'd like to be able to complete it in 3hrs 30mins, though with my intentional lack of speed training, to avoid injury, and my recent dropping times, during training runs, I think I'm going to have to realistically look towards a time closer to the 4 hour mark.

After about my first 6 miles a beer swilling gentleman on a bike, who had just finished his lunchtime break in the pub, imparted his expert knowledge onto me and advised me that I should give up running. He told me that, "Running is bad for you. you should take up cycling or swimming. It is bad for your f...ing joints. You'll be f...ed if you keep it up!" I thanked him for his expert advice and continued to run past him, allowing him to finish eating his pastie while riding his bike (very slowly).

Over all the run went well and I had no real problems throughout. My training schedule was for a 23 mile run but with my left Achilees starting to pull a little I decided to limit it to 21 miles. I figured it was best to cut it short by a couple of miles rather than risk an injury at this stage and not be able to make it to London at all.

Chris M

Running Pack and Number has arrived!

Upon returning home from a weeks work I found my London Marathon Entry Pack and Running Number behind the door. Relief at last. Altough I had a garaunteed club entry, up until now I've been doing all my training wondering if in fact my posted entry had actually reached Marathon HQ and whether I had a place or not.

Over the past week my legs have felt increasinly tired and sluggish and my pace seems to have dropped off considerably. I just hope I've not peaked too early and now on a slippery slope, as Marathon Day is now only four weeks to go.

Sunday is planned as my longest training run (23 miles) before tapering starts in preperation for the big day.

Chris M

Edinburgh Running

I've just spent a week working in the beautiful city of Edinburgh. It's a city I always enjoy visiting, with plenty of history and a vibrant atmosphere.

All of my running this week was done through the city streets and around Holyrood Park. Normally when I'm in Edinburgh I run on the small but beautiful hills of Holyrood park. However, though tempted and almost sucumbing to the desire to be on those little hills my will power prevailed and I settled for doing circuits of the park instead. Whilst running on the roads around the park I would gaze jealously up to the hills and Arthur's Seat, watching the head torches of fell runners make their way around the many tracks and trails.

It was upon Arthur's Seat that I met, and ran with, Eddie Izzard when he was on his 'Marathon a Day' challenge to run around Britain raising money for Sport Relief. At the time, as we ran together and chatted, I had no idea who he is was. It was only later that evening that I learnt his identity.

Normally work commitments prevent me from being able to maintain a regular training routine. However, whilst I've been training for the London Marathon I've found that I've been getting in more quality training runs, whilst working away, than when returning home!

Whilst I had a garaunteed entry for the Marathon, through my running club, I have to say I'm getting a little nervous now about whether or not I've got a place as, to date, I have still received no confirmation that my entry has been received or had any joining instructions. I hope they arrive soon so that I can go ahead and make travel and accommodation plans etc.

Chris M

Late Night Runs

With only six weeks to go untill the London Marathon the date seems to be drawing ever closer at a quicker pace than I can run!

On the whole the training seems to be going ok, if not a little sporadic due to work commitments etc. All my training runs take place late in the evenings and on occassions it's not uncommon for me to be out running the streets at gone 11.30pm. The shorter weekly runs I'm managing to get in without much problem, however, I'm still keeping my longer runs below the distance I should be doing, at this stage, in a bid to remain injury free. I just hope this plan doesn't fail me on the big day! Being a fell runner I do very little road work these days, so there's always being the worry of getting injured as a result of switching back to the roads and trying to do high mileages on hard surfaces at a constant cadence.

Whilst I love running up in the hills I have to say that I've been pleasently surprised to find myself enjoying being back on the roads again, on a regular basis, after so many years absence. I had forgoten just how simple it was just to slip on your road shoes and step out of the door and go for a run. I vow to continue with regular road runs, as part of my training, after the Marathon.

One thing that has shocked me though is how much road speed I have lost through spending all my running time on the fells and neglecting the road work. I used to train at 7 minute mile pace and now find that my training pace has dropped to over 8 minute mile pace. I know I'm older now but I do think alot of it is down to the lack of road work.

Still can't beat being out in the hills though!

Chris M

London Marathon 2011

With the success of last years National Three Peaks Challenge, which raised a substancial amount of funds for Help for Heroes, I've decided that this year I will enter the London Marathon to raise money for more Charities and good causes.

I have several good causes in mind but I will deffinately be looking to raise money for the Alzheimer's Society after a friend of myself and fellow SRC runnning club members was diagnosed with the condition some time ago.

I'll keep you posted on how the training and fund raising are going through the pages of this blog.

Chris M