I Did It....And it Nearly Killed Me!

Well that was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do in my life! It was an emotional run and I shed a few tears when I completed the race from sheer exhaustion and happiness that I had completed the distance. It was even more special as I had Raf, Amelia and Fox as well as my Mam and Dad to cheer me on at the finish line which is somewhere I never thought I would get to after the week I had with illness and injury. But I am glad that I was stubborn and completed the distance even though I am in so much pain today! I have since been to the doctor and am on painkillers and anti-inflammatories to help with the muscle sprain below my ribs and am aiming to be out running again in the next couple of days. It has got me slightly terrified about the marathon which is only three short weeks away as I don’t know where I am going to find those extra six miles from. But I will do it, I have no doubts about that. Even if I have to crawl across the finish line!

And did I mention that I have upped the challenge from 200 to 300km? I never like to make things easy for myself but felt like with a bit of extra effort I could reach 300km. So the challenge is ON!

Thank you to the following people who have donated in the last month and who have helped me reach 25% of my target:
Kay Aird, Ash Forsyth, Aaron Harrison, Russ Botfield, Murf, Claire Smith, Corrine, Ina Morris and Mam and Dad.

If you think that my ‘20 Miles of Magic’ is worth a sponsor then please visit my fundraising page and help push me to 50% of my target
https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/HelenFrancis10

KM Complete 78
KM To Go 222

Comments

It was raining.....

I completed the first 5k of my challenge on Saturday at Bedford Parkrun. It was raining....a lot! So I managed to drag my freezing cold and wet behind around the course in 29:24 placing 233rd out of 418. Not my best time but definitely a good place to start. I am planning on doing the Parkrun every month this year and hopefully with some more training and some better weather I will look less of a mess than I do in this picture! Please visit my fundraising page and help support me in this challenge. I am still looking for that first donor to get me started. Will you be the first?? https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/HelenFrancis10

Half Marathon Success

Slightly red faced after the Hampton Court Half Marathon This morning I had the pleasure of getting up at 5:30am and travelling to Hampton Court for my first half marathon of the challenge. It was absolutely freezing when we arrived but by the time the race started the sun had come out and it was perfect running conditions. Despite arriving only thirty minutes before the gun went off and navigating my way through the insanely long lines for the toilets, I was ready to go at 8:30 am and start my run around the Thames Ditton area accompanied by a slightly wheezy Batman and a gentleman who loudly shouted encouragement to himself when things got tough! The first half of the race was fairly sedate but I managed to push through the second half and storm down the finish coming in at 2:03:32 which was over ten minutes faster than my current PB. Woo hoo! It only got better when I looked into my goody bag and discovered a Tunnocks Caramel Wafer! That made all the pain worth it. The hour an

Wish Me Luck, I’m Going to Need It!

It has been a really tough month in my marathon training and I am hoping my luck will change NOW! After the success of the Hampton Court Half Marathon I unfortunately had to take nine days off training due to a bad cold. Whilst I was annoyed that I was ill I thought “Well at least I am getting the illness over with now” I was wrong! Raring to go after my forced rest the Beast from the East had me running in -4 temperatures and forcing me into the gym to run on the treadmill which I absolutely hate. I managed to get out and run 16 miles once the snow had melted before being hit with the flu on Mother’s Day. We are 13 days on from then and I still have a chesty cough and have managed to pull the muscles around my ribs from coughing which is painful to say the least. Tomorrow is the Bedford 20. ‘20 Miles of Magic’ supposedly although I am currently sceptical! So what do I do? Should I withdraw from the race because running probably isn’t the best idea right now or should I give it a go

300km for Dementia UK

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