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Week 22 Challenge
Run in the Great Midlands Fun Run
To say that I am not a runner is one of the world's biggest understatements. If you give me the choice between (a) cleaning the windows and (b) going for a run; despite the windows thing being about as unappealing as you can get, it would probably win out over the run.
I started to run a bit, though, at the beginning of last year in order to lose a pound or two - a bit further each day, until I built up my distance to about 5km at a time. I might not enjoy running, but it has the advantage of being both free to do, and is (literally) on the doorstep. I put my name down for the Great Midlands Fun Run as a motivator - got to keep it up or I would drop dead whilst trying to slog round 8.5 miles.
My big brother most certainly is a runner. He is a gym-every-morning-before-work kind of guy who would feels most miserable if he can't run - so after last year's run (after which I hung up my trainers with a great deal of pleasure), he asked if I was going to enter again this year, as he would also like to have a go.
I may have alluded to sibling rivalry previously, so when this gauntlet was thrown down, there was no going back. My training this year has been what you might charitably call patchy, until I got back from holiday at the beginning of last month and panicked - the four week intensive training schedule was on!
So in today's event, big brother beat his own target and come in after an impressive 1 hr 6 mins (he'll be in the top 300-400 finishers out of 7,000 in that time); and I came in about halfway down the field in 1 hr 40 mins.
At the start (courtesy of the Birmingham Mail)
And after we finished...
I may not have broken any records, but I ran the whole course non stop, and have therefore completed my week 22 Challenge!
Run in the Great Midlands Fun Run
To say that I am not a runner is one of the world's biggest understatements. If you give me the choice between (a) cleaning the windows and (b) going for a run; despite the windows thing being about as unappealing as you can get, it would probably win out over the run.
I started to run a bit, though, at the beginning of last year in order to lose a pound or two - a bit further each day, until I built up my distance to about 5km at a time. I might not enjoy running, but it has the advantage of being both free to do, and is (literally) on the doorstep. I put my name down for the Great Midlands Fun Run as a motivator - got to keep it up or I would drop dead whilst trying to slog round 8.5 miles.
My big brother most certainly is a runner. He is a gym-every-morning-before-work kind of guy who would feels most miserable if he can't run - so after last year's run (after which I hung up my trainers with a great deal of pleasure), he asked if I was going to enter again this year, as he would also like to have a go.
I may have alluded to sibling rivalry previously, so when this gauntlet was thrown down, there was no going back. My training this year has been what you might charitably call patchy, until I got back from holiday at the beginning of last month and panicked - the four week intensive training schedule was on!
So in today's event, big brother beat his own target and come in after an impressive 1 hr 6 mins (he'll be in the top 300-400 finishers out of 7,000 in that time); and I came in about halfway down the field in 1 hr 40 mins.
At the start (courtesy of the Birmingham Mail)
And after we finished...
I may not have broken any records, but I ran the whole course non stop, and have therefore completed my week 22 Challenge!
I couldn't run any distance (can't run and breathe at the same time 
) so I'm full of admiration for anyone who can complete one of these races
Seriously, well done you. I don't run, in fact, I can barely manage a waddle nowadays - just not built right, see! 
First day today; supplements taken, full-fat Atkins brekky scoffed, and I'm about the get the tape-measure out 
. 
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