The blog post where I beg for money!

So, here I stand now. On the verge of completing this marathon task I set myself some 3 months ago now. And I’m starting to look back now; not just over the course of the last 5 days but over the last 3 months and even beyond that.

As a new born baby I was very ill and in fact I came very close to death. Had there been a Donna Louise Children’s Hospice service back in the 70s I’d have most likely been one of its residents, though for me the story is a happy one as I’m now a fit healthy man who has so far lived a great life full of happy time’s ands great adventures.

Though for many children they will not be so fortunate and the Donna Louise Children’s Hospice is there to help make the time they have with us the best it can be.

They help to make every moment of a sick child’s life special.

The work they do is inspirational to me and its what I think about each day when I put on my running shoes and run 13.1 miles every day for the past 5 days and its what will fire me up to do it again tomorrow.

Please if you read my blog then I’d ask you to donate to the Donna Louise Children’s Hospice Trust at http://www.justgiving.com/6townsrun

It means so much to me to be able to help them continue the work they do and to enable them to open the hospice for more days.

Currently they only have funds to open 4 or 5 days each week.
Thanks.

So here’s a quick status update on my body and how it’s holding up.

2 black toe nails, Achilles Tendonitis in both legs, left ITB seems ok today but has been stiff for most of the runs otherwise I’m champion!

So you can see that I’m now running in some pain and I risk injury and all this is to try my very best to raise funds for the hospice so please give what you can. Sorry to go on about it but I’m not doing this for the fun of it.

On the 4th run through Burslem I was joined by my running mate from the club Jacquie who met up with me on mile 3 and ran the rest of the day with me. She also helped to keep me company on the second run in Longton.
It was quite a cold day with a bit of rain so I put my base layer on under the racing top.

We had a good run and I felt really strong towards the end. I said to Jacquie “I’m feeling better now (on mile 10) then when I started out over 2 hours ago”. Proof if it was needed that I’m mentally unbalanced!
We did come across a rather odd sight on mile 11 though

We came across two horses chained up in Bycars Park behind Port Vale FC.

Nether seemed in good condition.
So we reported it to the RSPCA and I’m pleased to say they have been intouch and have spoken to the horse’s owner and are getting some veterinary treatment now and the inspector will monitor the situation.
From 6 towns charity runner to animal rescuer is there no end to my good deeds this week… Hehe!

Then today’s run came and went in a blur of pain.
I was met at the start my Pete Morgan from the BBC Radio Stoke Breakfast show for a quick interview and then I was off.
As it was just me running today I thought I’d try to speed up plus I only had parking till mid day. A runner has to get motivation from some where and there was no way in hell I was paying a parking fine this week.

So the race was on! I still only managed a less then impressive 2 hours and 29 minutes. Though that is my best time on a 6 towns run so it’s not too bad.
The pain in my legs slowed me down from about mile 10.
I think I’ll have to take tomorrows run at a steady pace now.

I’ve done well and when I look back over the last few months of training and all the runs on my own through the long cold winter I’m grateful I did put the time in.

Last Saturday I went on the BBC breakfast show with Lamont Howie. At the end of the interview he said I was about to go off and have the best week of my life. Well he was spot in. This has been great. Yes I’m surfing a bit but this has been one of the best weeks of my life and I still have 1 half marathon and the 2010K to finish off this fund raising event.

I’m hoping for a big turn out to support me at the 2010K race in Stoke this Sunday.
The more runners the better.

Thanks and well done if you’ve read to this point. Sorry this blog was so long.


Bye for now. The 6 Towns Runner.

Thanks - Phil