Why I’m putting myself through running 13.1 miles

Update May 2020: The London Landmarks half marathon has been cancelled because of Covid-19.

SO, I’ve signed myself up to run the London Landmarks half marathon.. I know I can’t believe it either and it’s in 9 weeks. I’m writing this like I’ve just signed up, I officially registered in June last year unfortunately I wasn’t successful in the ballot but I brought a place to run for charity and that charity is Blood Cancer UK If you didn’t know I’m a patient ambassador for them and I wouldn’t have wanted to run it for anyone else, I feel so proud to be running for them.

The question is though why am I putting myself through all the training and 13.1 miles? Well there’s a few reasons.. I have always wanted to run the London Marathon so this is a good starting point, right? It’s always been a dream of mine to run through London taking on the 26.2 mile course, I’ve watched it on BBC1 for years and years and every time I cry at everyone running, I just find it so inspirational. I mean just imagine crossing that finish line knowing you’ve just ran 26 miles. Hopefully one day that will be me.

Obviously the London Marathon is a couple of years away yet and it’s not the only reason why I’m running. It’s mainly because I want to raise funds and awareness for Blood Cancer UK and challenge myself. I honestly didn’t know how much work Blood Cancer UK did until I was diagnosed with blood cancer in January 2014 which seems like a world away now. They put so much funding into cancer research. Their research for blood cancer helps find a cure for other cancers as well, saving the lives of so many people.

When I started running regularly around the end of 2018/beginning of 2019 I would never have thought I’d love running like I do, it’s brought me so much and helped in my recovery a lot. I don’t think I’d be as healthy or as fit as I am now so I’m running for me, I want to challenge myself and my body to see what I can do. My body has been through a hell of a lot in the past few years but I’m now in much better health than I have been for years and years taking into account all the months of chemo and surgeries I’m doing better than ever.

I know running 13.1 miles isn’t going to be easy but after going through something like cancer not once but twice, having my hair shaved, being pumped full of drugs daily making me violently sick, having a central line fitted right next to my heart and watching friends lose their cancer battle is heartbreaking and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve cried over the years. Why did I make it when they didn’t? The survivor guilt is real and raw. When I’m running through those hard parts in the race, I’ll be thinking about them and I’ll make them proud. I won’t give up on them or myself.

How’s my training going?

Oh yeah.. Training. Well, actually it’s going okayish. (I know that’s not a word but that’s how I feel about it). I’m following a half marathon training plan but as I wasn’t well at the start of January I technically missed the first week and to be honest I’m not strict on myself if I miss one day because I’ll just make up for it and do a few more miles on my next day of running. My plan is 4 days of running/cross training and then 3 rest days, I do my long runs on a Sunday which are actually going better than expected. I don’t know what it is but I always feel like I run better on a Sunday, maybe it’s just me.

Training in the winter months isn’t easy, guys. The cold is just horrible. The other day I had just got ready to go out for a run only to find the weather had turned and it was tipping it down. Normally rain doesn’t bother me but this rain was torrential so I had to change my plans and do 6 miles on the exercise bike instead which I didn’t mind obviously, I’d just got my head into running mode so I was disappointed. Me? Disappointed about a run? Yep. I know I’ve changed.

The longest run I’ve done is 4 miles on my training plan but it went well and I felt alright. Considering I spent half of last year injured and lost most of my fitness I don’t think I’m doing too bad. I just need to keep putting the miles in and I’m sure I’ll be fine. If you want to keep updated on my training runs I normally post them all over my social media.

Yeah so I’m running the London Landmarks half marathon & when I say your donation makes a difference I really do mean it. Without people supporting what Blood Cancer UK do, I wouldn’t be alive today giving back to the charity so I would love any donations wether that’s £1 or £10 ANYTHING helps. Thank you!

DONATE HERE

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