Wow… what an incredible day to be part of… I can’t really explain it as there was no real prep. Safe to say that when such an amazing opportunity is given to you, for such a good cause, even if it makes no sense, you just have to grab it and work out what will happen along the way.
So with that I did just that, powered and support by Bounce Balls UK (the official sponsor) I headed to the O2 Arena for 7am yesterday morning, press interviews, photos and a general buzz filled the air, combined with a great sense of anticipation and nerves. I was ‘only’ running a marathon…. the Core Team will be running, rowing, cycling and hiking all the way to the top of the Matterhorn, taking around 3 weeks to do so and covering 1,500km, awe inspiring. You can read more about Sam Branson & the Team’s challenge and follow their adventures here: https://www.strivechallenge.com/
There were about 50 runners for the first day…. and it was certainly going to be a hot one! We set off just after 10am, Clara from Bounce Balls & I, plus a couple of others, ‘bouncing’ along, setting a comfortable, steady pace to ensure we made it all the way. I had not done any real running since my Sierra Leone Marathon adventures in May (you can read my blog about that here, it’s a long one by I’m told a worthwhile read if you fancy it: https://blog-kimingleby-co-uk.stackstaging.com/kim-ingleby/sierra-leone-journey-street-children-marathon-encephalitis) due to neurological tests, so it was going to be a challenge. But I thought, it’s just a long day Kim, pace it, quietly, quietly and you will get there…. think of what the Core Team are doing, and just get on with it!
And get on we all did…. trundling along the roads, following the yellow signs… I had no real idea where I was, or how long I had been running for. A couple of extended diversions where we took the wrong turn, copious bottles of water and a few bounce balls and I found myself heading towards the Great Western Hotel and,the finish line, around 5hrs, woo hoo! 3.5hrs faster than Sierra Leone… okay, so I’m not quick but my brain was happy 😉 Yippee. The absolute best and most inspiring bit was meeting Eve Branson, what an incredible lady. She started the race, and then was at the finish line giving out water, rubbing legs and generally checking everyone was okay. I feel privileged to have been a tiny part of something incredibly special, something that really will make a difference to many lives and to have met some pretty special people during the 12 hours I was there.
Eve Branson has a Twitter feed and she shares this great advice, pretty good I think…. Follow just one of her pieces of advice and you will be enhance your life and those around you.
1. ‘If you don’t want to have regrets later then now is the time to do something about it. Now. Not tomorrow. Not next month. Now.’
2. ‘Whatever you can do to help others, do it. Do it without fear that it isn’t enough, that it takes too much time or that you can’t afford it’
3. ‘You can choose whether to be negative or positive, so why choose to be negative?’
4. “If you set your mind to it you can do it. Whatever IT is.”
So there’s my crazy day off round up!!
A huge Thank You to all of you wonderful people who picked up on my crazy challenge and donated, so close after asking for donations for Street Child & Sierra Leone I am truly grateful and touched, we have nearly hit the target in 24hrs! Team Energised & friends, you rock. If you feel inclined to donate you still can here, and my big biggest thanks are being sent your way http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/energisedperformance
Thank you to Bounce Balls UK for asking me to be part of their Team, wonderful. Check out their yummy range of energy balls here: http://www.bouncefoods.com/. My No1’s are the Peanut, Cacoa & Spirulina – what are yours?
I ran in my Mizuno Wave Riders, Sweaty Betty Run Capris, Shock Absorber Run Bra… and was refuelled with Green’s Powder, I find it is pretty good stuff 🙂
You can read more about my decision to take part here: https://blog-kimingleby-co-uk.stackstaging.com/kim-ingleby/westrive-can-marathon-sam-branson-friends-thursday
Who know’s what I will do on my next day off last minute….?! But for now, I’m resting up, concentrating on getting my neurology even more stable, developing some great things for Energised Performance this Autumn, and celebrating the wonderful successes of Team Energised at the Summer Meal.
My next blog will be about Being Stuck in Yourself… and how to get UnStuck 🙂
My next adventure is travelling to NYC to Judge the Global Life Fitness Awards & Shoot Charli Cohen’s kit.
#empower others to be their best
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