Has Santa been yet?
No, that wasn’t the first thought when I woke up on Christmas Day. It was in fact, “I’m going to go for a run!” Marathon training really does do crazy things to people, but I thought that if I went for a run, just a little one, I might be able to eat a few more pigs in blankets. So, I put my Santa hat on and off I went. Round the lake, seeing only 3 other runners during my 4.5 miles.
After completing the London Marathon in 2011 with my Dad, taking on two in a week (London and Paris) is surely going to push me harder and definitely test me. All the hours and miles are adding up as we enter the beginning of the year. January is almost over now, and only 3 months to go until the Paris Marathon. One of my biggest worries is the heat. April is a funny month, you never know what the weather will be like, last year we ran in the scorching heat of 22 degrees in the streets of London. Which is a shock to the body after training all winter.
Raising money for the second time round makes it tougher to get people to donate. Especially when most of your friends are poor students. Which is the reason why my cousin and I are organising a fundraising event at our local cricket club in February. The whole idea is to give something back to those who have supported my family and I over the past 2 years. It will be a great opportunity to get everyone together, have fun and let people know why we are doing it and who we are doing it for! Fingers crossed the night is a great success and we raise lots of money!
Training is going well so far, 13 miles is now a comfortable distance. Being able to train with one of my best friends Beth, makes the running so much more relaxed and enjoyable. A huge difference compared to last years training in one of the worst winters up in Newcastle, many long, cold, night-time runs on my own was not the best way to get yourself motivated.
Since I started running with my Mum, Dad and our dog Eli in the park in my younger years I have always enjoyed it as a way of keeping fit and getting out of the house. Even though you go through so much pain, develop injuries, aches and twinges, and not forgetting the biggest blisters known to man… I still enjoy running. And I’m not sure why?
All I know is, that since my Aunty Laila died 2 years ago it has given me some sort of boost. It made me realise that life really is too short. You need to make opportunities for yourself and take every one that presents itself to you. Raising money for a fantastic charity like RAFT and getting everyone you know involved is a great feeling. Running marathons is just a small thing that I can do to help generate and raise funds that will change lives. The pain my Aunty went through when she was battling with skin cancer is a far cry from my feet telling me to stop running at my 18 mile wall. When it comes to it, I wouldn’t be where I was today, living this hectic student life with marathons to train for, if it wasn’t for the inspiration and drive from my Aunty Laila.
Sarah Bull
