Training run at Alcossebre, Castellon, Spain.

Ran early and the scenery was pretty special. Here are a selection of photos from my 8km run today. They describe the coastline here far more eloquently than I can. 

Children’s Hospice South West

For more than 25 years, Children's Hospice South West has been caring for children with life-threatening conditions. The charity is dedicated to making the most of short and precious lives at each of its three hospices – Little Bridge House in Devon, Charlton Farm in Somerset, and Little Harbour in Cornwall.

Last year, it was able to provide care for 537 children with life-limiting conditions and their families across the South West. There were 11,975 family night stays and 326 emergency care nights. The charity welcomes referrals from anyone and last year, there were 76 new referrals.

The care offered is wide-ranging and includes respite and short breaks, emergency care, palliative care and end-of-life care. But it’s not just about medical and nursing support for sick children.

Children's Hospice South West was established to enrich the lives of the children and their whole family. The charity offers a home from home where families can take a short break to re-charge their batteries in a homely, warm and welcoming environment. It aims to help each family wind down in the way that suits them. Some families take advantage of meals being prepared for them and telephones being answered so they can spend more time with their sick child, take well brothers and sisters out, enjoy leisure activities or just catch up on sleep!

There is a sibling service for brothers and sisters and a bereavement service for as long as it is needed.

Families talk about the 'treasure chest' of precious memories they build to carry into the future... a future which will, sadly, be without their much-loved child or children.

It costs around £10m a year to keep the three hospices open, which is raised almost entirely by supporters.

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-portal/fundraiserPage?pageId=997635

Somerset County Cricket Club supporting me raise funds for Children’s Hospice South West

I’m extremely grateful for the support of Somerset County Cricket Club in this venture. 

In December I was joined by players and officials to launch the fundraising. 

I have a training run coming up with the 1st team squad shortly and will share some photos and video from that event. 

Joel Tratt who heads up the Club’s Strength & Conditioning team will be putting me through my paces as well as dispensing some handy hints as I train for the event. I must be his oldest student by a country mile! 

Running the London Marathon for Children’s Hospice South West

Hello and thank-you for reading my blog. It’s for a wonderful cause. 

In 2018 I stepped down after 14 years service to Somerset County Cricket Club. To mark the end of my service the Club have agreed to support me in trying to raise £26,300 (a £1,000 a mile) for Children’s Hospice South West by running the London Marathon on April 28th. I’ve never been a runner so I’m doing this from scratch and in October after six months training I completed the Royal London Parks Half Marathon. I’m somewhat daunted by the challenge of doubling this in April which will be only a few weeks away from my 62nd birthday! 

CHSW provide the most incredible support for children with life-limiting conditions and their families. They have built and run 3 hospices across Cornwall, Devon and Somerset entirely funded by voluntary donations. Their annual running costs are ca £10m so they are heavily reliant on fundraising to sustain their service. 

If you’re able to support me in this quest I’d be extremely grateful. There are a few ways in which people and companies can help:

1. I’m looking for more corporate sponsors - I’m grateful so far to The Mission Marketing Group plc, Bray Leino Ltd, Somerset County Cricket Club, NBA Ltd, Vaultex Ltd, Greenslade Taylor Hunt, The Friends of Taunton Titans RFC and the Cheddoners Society for their generous support. 
2. Donate items or experiences we can list and sell on the Hospice’s eBay site
3. Straightforward sponsorship to my page https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?pageId=997635
4. Providing publicity through media channels which link back to my fundraising page
5. Networking. Any individuals or companies you’re able to introduce me to. 

Anything you’re able to do would be hugely appreciated. 

I’ll be blogging regularly as my training progresses and the event draws near. 

Thank-you 

Andy 

Running a marathon from scratch

Running a marathon from scratch. 

I’m someone who used to be winded running for a bus so to set about running 26.3 miles is a terrifying prospect. I shall be almost 62 on April 28th so some are justifiably looking at my quest with raised eyebrows. 

Having decided to go for it I took guidance from some pals who are very keen runners. Steve Denison the former Chairman of Yorks CCC is an avid runner and a lunch with him was instructive! 

Dylan Bogg a colleague at the Mission Marketing Group who is an extreme sports enthusiast was another. He introduced me to the walk / run method ie run for 10 minutes and walk for 1. Surprisingly this really does help you eat the miles up. 

My middle daughter Ginny has been a tower of strength. She gave me my initial training plan for the Royal London Parks Half Marathon in October and crucially agreed to accompany me on the run. She’s a veteran of the 2017 London Marathon and to be frank it was her achievement that inspired me to do it. Watching her on the day was an extraordinary experience. The GPS trackers all runners now wear means you can follow their progress and plan to meet them at certain fixed points. We had a large inflatable panda balloon so she could pick us out in the crowd at various mileage points we had agreed with her in advance. 

If you’ve watched a marathon you’ll know just how emotional and stirring an experience it is. If you’ve never watched one I’d strongly recommend it. Seeing so many characters and teams pounding along for so many brilliant causes raises the hairs on the back of your neck. It’s a very emotional day. 

I was amazed at the speed of the leaders who were sprinting as far as I was concerned. In many ways watching those who were finishing in ca 5-6 hours was the most moving. They’d given their all and were plainly in bits at the finish. Ginny said the experience surpassed anything else she’d ever done and we were all unashamedly moved to tears as she finished. 

So to the training regime. There are many ways to train but I went for twice a week with the Park Run (now the world’s single largest mass sorting event) being an anchor. I’m indebted to my wife Linda and Jos Buttler’s sister Joanne who both advocated the Park Run. The other run was the longer run and I started at 3 miles and with every week gradually extended it. If you’d told me in March last year I’d be running 10 miles comfortably within 6 months I’d never have believed you! 

So after six months the Half Marathon came and I was over the moon to finish albeit my daughter must be credited with dragging me around. The phase from 9 miles to the finish was especially challenging. Icy rain lashed down which was particularly unwelcome. 

On finishing the first thought was how the hell could I do that again ie run another 13.2 miles! I still shudder at the thought. 

After that run I took a month off and in November returned to training. The Park Run remains an anchor but now I’ve added two more: one at ca 4/5 miles and one long one. I’m up to 12 miles now on the long one. And it is getting easier although I hobble every single morning getting out of bed with stiffness and some pain. I need to wind the long run up to 20 miles over the next four months. I wince as I write this. 

Another facet is the Half Marathon training took place over March to October so the summer conditions helped as did some really memorable runs in Canada and the US where we were for my son’s wedding and a holiday. 

The problem with the Marathon training I now realise is it’s November to April and through the worst the UK winter can muster. Like many things the mental challenge is probably greater than the physical one and when it’s cold, windy and raining heading out for a ten miler while it is still dark requires one to have “a bit of a chat” with oneself! 

As I write this I’m in Spain and the conditions have been somewhat kinder and the coastal scenery spectacular. That does help. From Saturday I’ll be back to the UK and the cold and rain. 

I’m planning some training runs with some interesting parties in the months ahead and I’ll blog about those as they occur. I hope these will attract some publicity to support the fundraising. 

Somerset County Cricket Club are supporting me in this quest as it’s my valedictory having served the Club for ten years as Chairman. Their head of Strength and Conditioning Joel Tratt is due to give me a few pointers. I doubt he’s ever had a client of my vintage! 

Undoubtedly one thought that sustains me in training is the awareness that what I’m putting myself through pales into insignificance compared to the hardship of those who the Children’s Hospice South West support. I can’t imagine a hardship greater than that borne by a family with a child fighting a life-limiting condition. I’ve the greatest respect for the children and their families and regard it as a huge privilege to do my bit for them. 

Thank-you for following my blog and if you’re able to support my fundraising for this cause to any degree I should be massively grateful. 

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-portal/fundraiserPage?pageId=997635