The QNI's London 10k Runners:
Matt
QNI Communications Manager
"Well, we finally did it and we've got the medals to prove it! Photographs to follow. It was a beautiful sunny morning but there was a breeze so it wasn't too hot. It was amazing to see 27,000 other runners getting ready in Piccadilly. I did it in around one hour ten minutes, which is a lot slower than the winner, who did it in around thirty minutes, but that was not the point. I was not overtaken by a banana or any other form of fruit, I'm glad to say. It was very motivating to know I was doing it to raise money for a good cause and I hope to do more events in future. Thanks to everyone who sponsored me!!"
You can still sponsor me online: http://www.justgiving.com/matthewbradby Thanks!
01/07/09
"I confess I've hardly been to the gym in the past month, I've been so busy with other things. Worse luck my training partner Sebastian has sprained his ankle. However we are going for a training run tonight, so wish us luck..."
04/06/09
"I can now jog for four kilometres though I have not been able to train as often as I really need to over the past few weeks - why is life so busy? A friend in San Francisco who sponsored me said they have a 10k charity run there called 'Bay to Breakers' for which she 'trained' for six weeks, after which she managed to 'shuffle' the whole way. She also said she was passed during the race by a very old man 'walking very quickly' and a woman running in a banana suit. Well, I have just five weeks remaining to make sure this doesn't happen to me! Wish me luck! And thanks to everyone who's sponsored me - I'm nearly at £500."
27/03/09
"I'm having difficulty improving on the 3km achievement but what I am noticing is that I can run faster than I could before. I can now reach the dizzying speed of ten kilometres per hour, which feels quite unsafe on a treadmill. A few pounds around the waist have been shed. It's almost like the action of running shakes up the adipose tissue and encourages it to disperse and be metabolised. Sebastian is back on his feet again and we'll be running in the park again very soon."
13/03/09
"I can now jog for an incredible 3 km on a treadmill - I think I could possibly run even further if I was being pursued by something horrible. I have been out training in the local park with Sebastian, at least until he was knocked off his bike the other day and 'popped his ankle' so he has to rest up for a week or two. Alcohol definitely does not help physical endeavour which means that I've had to limit my visits to public houses recently, though last night was an exception (ahem). I hope to report further progress soon."
28/01/09
“My first sponsorship pledge has been received from a shocked family member who cannot believe that I intend to enter this race. I explained that I’m not really thinking of it as ‘race’, more of a ‘getting from A to B in one piece’. I have been going to the gym regularly but I’m not convinced that my knees have fully woken up to what is expected of them. They still seem just as stiff and unwilling each day as they did the day before. I am wondering whether more protein in the diet might help. I am steering clear of fat and carbs in order to reduce the amount of surplus baggage that the knees will have to transport over the ten kilometres. Will it also help to shave my hair in order to reduce wind drag? It’s got to be worth a try. I was also told that drinking alcohol does not help if you are trying to improve strength and stamina as it dehydrates muscle and other tissue. Fascinating what you learn…!"
7/01/09
"I have never participated in a race before, at least not since school when cross country was not an option. I was one of the weak-kneed mud-hating chubby kids who vied for the coveted 'last' position but was always thwarted by cheats who hid in the rododendrons and rejoined the race at the end when everyone else had finished. This time my Polish friend Seb has threatened to train me by taking me on jogging circuits of Lordship Lane recreation ground in Tottenham (which must be well over 1k). Today I am going to make a start by going to the gym and trying the running machine. Usually I go on the exercise bike because it means that at least you're sitting down, and you can read the paper while you're at it. But that's not going to help me run the London 10k. So I'll try and do five minutes on the running machine and increase it from there, three times a week. I think it's really liberating to be able to run and I'm looking forward to it."
Jules
IT Technician
"Please excuse the lack of updates, having just become a dad for the first time, training went by the wayside... although I made up for it in the last few weeks with last-minute-panic-induced training! Fortunately that seemed to be just enough to get me through the 10k. The run went surprisingly well considering, and I actually found myself enjoying parts of it, which I had not expected. So who knows.. I might be back for the 10k 2010?"
19/01/09 - 5 months and 23 days before D-Day
"Having seriously overindulged during the Christmas period, I'm hoping this run will help shed some of the excess from around my waist! Unfortunately, I can't say that I've been the biggest fan of jogging/running and this will be my first "serious" run. Most of my exercise comes from a Monday night game of 5 a side footy, and a few of my fellow players will hopefully be joining me for the run. One in particular who has done a few of these already has suggested getting round in less than 45 mins! I think I'll be happy enough to just get around in one piece! Well, I'll let you know how I get on as soon as I start training (yes, I haven't started yet. Oh dear!)."
Joel
Marketing Manager
Please sponsor me! Just click on the link http://www.justgiving.com/joelgriffiths
8/4/09 - 3 months and 3 days to go
"This is my first time training for a 10k run. I’ve done a bit of running in the past, but mostly up and down a football pitch. So it’s going to be a new experience for me. I think the main difference is probably going to be the pace – I’m not used to doing longer runs, more short bursts. And I’m hoping no one minds if I tackle them while we’re jogging through the streets of London...
I have to admit I’ve not been particularly regular with my training. I’ve dodged the dogs and prams on Tooting Common a few times, but I definitely need to up the anti. The fact my girlfriend is organising the run for the QNI means at least I’ve got someone at home nagging, sorry, encouraging me to get my trainers on! I’ve promised that I’ll make more effort once the football season is over…"
11/06/09 1 month and 1 day to go
Right. I seriously need to get a move on with this. The football season is over and I have no excuses anymore. I’m still smarting a bit from coming second in the league. We were confident we would win the cup final but it seems we were pipped to the post by a team who were the best part of ten years younger than every player in our team. Not to be put off, I have focussed my competitive energies into the run. I’m running 4 miles comfortably at the moment (about 6.5k) and I’m confident I can do a 10k without too much trouble. The problem is, I’ve got a time to beat. Last year my very good friend did a 10k in 51 minutes and if I don’t beat her time, I’ll never live it down. So stop watches at the ready…
