An insight into the soreness to come!

Well, we clocked up 48kms yesterday in race near Botany Downs (not far from home). And we were thrilled as we have already raised $1000 for Alzheimers NZ.

Sorry to our UK readers who are under water but it was sunny and about 20 degrees - a lovely spring day for a run. The course was an 8km lap, of which Claire did 2 laps and I did 4. Claire clocked up a great time and I think she definitely feels like the half marathon is very achievable now. She has already been running the odd 16km distance as part of her training but for me, 32kms was the furthest I have ever run. Being on the go for not quite 3 hours is a mental and physical challenge to say the least. For some reason the first 8km lap felt like I was towing a caravan behind me and I was thinking "how on earth am I going to get round another 3 times?" Then a quick squirt of an energy gel and a swig of powerade and it all changed. Laps 2 and 3 were almost enjoyable. Bantering with others as I passed them or they passed me and getting spurred on by the marshals, who to their infinite credit stand there for hours in the sun and still throw out a few encouraging words when you pass by. It reminded me that the joy of running in a distance event with thousands of others is not just the achievement but also the camaraderie and support given and received; and also the good folks of Auckland who come out to line the streets with their foldaway chairs and a flask to applaud complete strangers along the way at 7am on a Sunday. That's worth a few kms alone - at least I hope it is.

Much stretching, an ice bath, three games of Croquet with Liam (I needed that!!), a steak pie, steak fajitas, several beers, some red wine, half a tube of Rolo's and an early night later and I am sore. Off to find a massage!

Until next time, Mr H 

 

 

 



http://www.givealittle.co.nz/member/ClaireHuxley

Shy bairns get nee kets!

Firstly, can I say a big THANK you to all the lovely people who have already donated their hard earned cash to this cause, we can't believe that we have nearly raised $700 already in sponsorship. My Nana has the 'give a little' page on her favourites and is checking it more than I do :)

To all my family, friends, Twitter friends, Facebook mates and anybody who has ever emailed me can I just say this SORRY. I am sorry for emailing you all, blogging, tweeting, Facebooking and going on and on and on about our fundraising. Hence, the title of my blog today, what on earth is that rubbish you are probably thinking? Well, it is a well used Geordie turn of phrase which means, "shy children get no sweets" in other words, if you don't ask you don't get. And as much as it pains me to ask for your hard earned cash, if we don't ask then, you well and truly don't get do you?

I've had the most touching emails from people sharing their stories about Alzheimer's and how it affected their families. And one lovely lady who has worked with Alzheimer's Canterbury for 2 years said my blog explained in a nutshell how most families feel. That really did make me cry. What I do know now though is at least a few people (who have read my blog) will understand the hideous disease a little bit more and might understand the huge impact it has not only the person with disease but on all the family and friends involved. And it's just about the money is it?

In running news, I did do a small run today, just 5km in the wet and drizzle. I listened to some marvellous new tunes from Mumford and Sons new album (how old do I sound??) Babel, nothing like banjo playing to make you run really, really fast!! Well, OK not that fast. Saving the legs tomorrow for a 16km race on Sunday at Sir Barry Curtis Park, MrH is doing 32km!! Don't forget the clocks do something weird on Saturday... forward isn't it?? You best check, I am useless..

Have a lovely Friday everyone. x


http://www.givealittle.co.nz/member/ClaireHuxley

Why running???

Let's explain what it is we are doing perhaps.

Jonny here (or MrH as I seem to have been christened by Claire).  I'm typing this on an email for Claire to upload as I'm a bloke and can't be trusted with another login and password to forget.

I was with Claire throughout the very tough times that were watching her beloved Grandad Bill slowly and uncontrollably descend as a result of this cruel disease.  We would drive about 10 miles from our home to his care home on the top of a windy hill in County Durham and invariably the journey back was in stunned silence.  Bill was a good man and I'm sorry that I hardly knew the Bill that he would have wanted me to remember. I was proud of Claire then for the way she handled watching this horrible situation unfold and I'm just as proud of her now for the way she has hit the streets!  She's lost heaps of weight, got really fit, gained confidence, proved to herself and others that exercise is free and that even the busiest people in the world (of which she is one) can do it.

So what are we doing exactly? Well, we are doing a couple of "firsts."  Claire is doing her first half marathon and I am doing my first full marathon.  In total on October 28th, we will starting off at picturesque Devonport, weaving our way around the street and hills of the North Shore of Auckland, over the iconic Harbour Bridge and then into downtown Auckland (with a cheeky 21km extra loop along beautiful Tamaki Drive to St Heliers and back for me).  

Claire and I are training a lot now and both grappling with niggles, chest infections, soreness, blisters and the odd Chalfont.  Having competed in a 21km and 10km race last weekend, we are in a 32km and 16km race this weekend.  So I hope you can see that its so much more than putting yourself through a bit of discomfort on one given day.  As someone with wisdom (my brother) once said, "the challenge for any distance run is getting to the start line" and he wasn't referring to Auckland's road system!  So we are not just asking you to sponsor us for completing the race.  Please sponsor us for the months of commitment it has taken to get us to the start line.  If we have done that right, then hopefully the race will look after itself!  We have undertaken this in the name of a special cause that is relevant to us and our family.  Any donation, small or large, would be wonderful.

Until next time

MrH

http://www.givealittle.co.nz/member/ClaireHuxley

 

Claire, Grandad and Alison

First running blog

Well hello there internet world!


The one thing I said I would never do, and here I am doing it, writing a blog.

I am not at all talented in the old writing department, MrH is the skilled one in that area, but I said I would do this, so here is my very first public attempt.

So why Alzheimers New Zealand? Any why running and not baking a cake or something more civilised??

10 years ago, my much loved Grandad died after having Alzhiemers disease for at least the last 4 years of his life. He suffered with all our family watching it, whilst he slowly slipped further and further away. This, for all of us was heart breaking, not to mention we never really knew if he had any sane moments and would question where he was and why he wasn't out for a walk, reading the Daily Telegraph or swearing at Terry Wogan on TV (his favourite past time!!).

Dealing with this disease was just very sad, with no light at the end of the tunnel, no treatment, no respite and above all else, no happy ending. After spending your lifetime with someone who laughs at all your jokes, smiles when you walk in a room and let's you sit on their knee (no matter how old and BIG you are!) to then walk into a room and they don't even know who you are, is just the most gut wrenching feeling. With many illness, you have hope, the chance to grieve and discuss it together. Alzhiemers takes all this from you.

It is so very hard to understand where they have gone and why is has happened to them? You can't talk about treatment, getting better or even sometimes explain what it is that they have to them. And the endless appointments and visits to get a diagnose are even harder for some.

There are so many worthwhile causes out there, this one is just very close to my heart and it doesn't just affect the old, there are cases of people in their 30's being diagnosed with this disease.

I'll answer my other pondering questions later, together with a full blow by blow account of me and MrH training regime and how intensley dull we really have become.

Thanks for listening, xx

http://www.givealittle.co.nz/member/ClaireHuxley