Philanthropic For Ectopic

I'm so not cool

2009-05-13T09:28:00.001-07:00

So the closer the run gets the more down hill my training goes! I’m currently suffering with a horrible cold, which I’m also trying not to give to the rest of the team (although if they do get it maybe they won’t be able to run as fast). Is that cheating?

So far I’ve done one 6 mile run and it took me over an hour. From someone who used to play sport nearly everyday I’m pretty embarrassed! And getting pretty fat.

This week I hope to sweat my cold out with some good long runs.

The style of my jogging seems to change every time I run... I can just see me tomorrow, the snot running down my face my head bobbing, arms waving and all I’m worried about is my boobs moving or hitting me in the face.. This is NOT a cool look! Running isn’t cool…I’ve come to this conclusion. I often see people beeping at runners, but not me, not one bloody beep. I’m just not cool when running.

Anyway cool or not…I will update you on my running on Friday.

Steph

House revenge

2009-05-11T03:42:00.000-07:00

This weekend proved to be a bit manic so I could only fit in two smaller runs around a nearby river. Lots of very cute ducklings and less cute barking geese, arching their wings and plodding towards anyone that stepped on the grass (the power of Christ compels you!). Other unexpected exercise included the running from the kitchen to the garage to get rags and such to soak up the water from a suddenly leaking washing machine and scrubbing the carpet after dropping a carton of milk on it. All this and a broken washing line. I am starting to think that I am not a domestic goddess…however I can make good cheese cake.

Christine

Sore knees…

2009-05-05T03:30:00.001-07:00

So I decided this weekend was the time to turn up the training a notch. On Saturday I ran 4 miles, a mile of which was over a cow pat filled field. I really don’t know why they decide to do their business on the dented path but it meant that I had to do some funky jumpy dance type moves to avoid my feet being swallowed up to the ankle.

On Sunday I managed 6 miles and felt very pleased with myself. However I now have very sore knees (perhaps not helped by funky jumping over cow mess).

Christine

Running impressions...

2009-04-27T03:14:00.000-07:00

Well, after the thrill of being mentioned in the local newspaper and the cascade of sarcastic texts that followed I was geared up for my run on Saturday. This was spurred on by the scary teenagers ripping up the mud on their bikes by the relief river and making clearly hilarious impressions of me running. Cheeky sods – I certainly do not sway my arms like that!

My plans to run on Sunday were scuppered by an impromptu trip to Chessington World of Adventures. A great deal of walking and indeed running ensued – so really a day of training only interrupted by a bacon and cheese burger at lunch time...

Christine

Road Run - 22/4

2009-04-23T02:56:00.000-07:00

So the excuse is that I ran this after work, and didn’t eat anything energy boosting pre-run. Not toooo bad though I guess.

View Road Run - 22/4/09 in a larger map

Colin

Angel Delight

2009-04-21T08:23:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since my last post but rest assured I have been running! I managed 3 runs over the long Easter break which almost made up for the chocolate and angel delight gorge!

Lack of a pedometer and any maps that go through the area I run (a relief river) it is difficult to measure just how far I’ve been going. I tend to run for around an hour and have been trying to increase it as the weeks go by. At the weekend I actually yelped at the woman that suddenly appeared from around a corner wearing a big purple puffa jacket – then I obviously had to pick up the pace out of embarrassment and this resulted in a stitch accompanied by hiccups. A good effort I think.

Christine

Inconstancy is my very essence

2009-04-17T07:09:00.000-07:00

Training has slowed down recently due to illness, Easter, catching up on work and the wet weather. I managed to do a couple of 5Ks last weekend which went really well – I found a nice country route which does go past a disused canal, but it’s better than the roads and breathing in car fumes. This weekend looks to be a busy one again, but if I leave early enough tonight I’ll try and get a quick one in, plus Sunday is wide open (at the moment). I do intend to intensify the frequency but obviously there are a lot of conflicting factors involved!

Matt

Road Run - 12/4

2009-04-17T02:39:00.000-07:00

View Road Run - 12/4/09 in a larger map

Activity	Running
Start time	12.04.09 11:48
Duration	24 min 26 s
Distance	4.62 km
Speed (average)	11.3 km/h km/h
Speed (max)	22.0 km/h km/h
Pace (average)	5 min 17 s per km
Pace (max)	2 min 43 s per km
Altitude (min)	88 m
Altitude (max)	121 m

Colin

No Hills for Donna!

2009-04-15T01:22:00.000-07:00

Have been working hard this weekend and am now paying the price! Started out on Saturday with a small run around my parents village, literally didn’t go far enough to class it as hard work. So hit London on Saturday night and agreed with my personal trainer to set the alarm for 6.59 on Sunday and hit the streets for a 3k run. Inevitably I ended up going on my own with Bobby trotting along beside me! Sunday was even better when I managed 5.6k in Marlow, again with the help of Bobby, although I couldn’t quite bring myself to run up the hills :) I am hoping the more I train the easier it will get. If I could move my muscles I think I would give myself a pat on the back!!

Dance Training

2009-04-08T06:48:00.000-07:00

Well I didn’t manage to go running the weekend as I headed to see a friend and then spent the weekend shopping, eating, chatting and dancing badly in a club. Actually I consider the hours of dancing and shopping as exercise so I guess it wasn’t too bad a weekend’s training! Just have to ignore the chocolate croissants and various other goodies…

I intend to do a lot of exercise over the coming long weekend and try to avoid the chocolate pile forming in the front room! Heading to salsa later and hope to try a Capoeira (Brazilian martial arts) class next week.

Christine

Pure Vitality

2009-03-30T03:13:00.000-07:00

So I took Thursday off and headed to London (very scary London drivers) to attend the Vitality Event at Earls Court. Lots of pampering and spending ensued and at one point we ended up watching a pole dance routine performed by men. Well I say men – one was a (we decided post op) woman. Very big hands. Either way I was very jealous of her legs (not as good as Robert Webb’s but still) which I am now using as running ammunition. I went running both days of the weekend, foolishly on Sunday I went out in the midday sun which was surprisingly warm and made things slightly tougher. I guess it’s all part of obtaining man legs.

Christine

Power walking...

2009-03-27T05:59:00.000-07:00

So since my last post I have only been on one run! I visited my parents on Sunday for Mother’s Day and had a relaxed jogged along the Ridgeway whilst they were walking the dogs, my Dad asked if he saw me bent over being sick, I replied with a ‘no’ that was just me trying to catch my breath and not collapse. Since then the only exercise I have had has been the 20 minute power walk to work and back every morning which involves BF speeding on ahead and me tottering behind in my high heels trying to keep up! Big runs planned this weekend of course…..

Dons

Odds and Sods

2009-03-26T10:19:00.000-07:00

I have noticed a pattern in my runs. The even numbered ones are terrible; the odd numbered ones go really well. Last night’s was an even numbered one, therefore I was stiff, had an aching knee, had no stamina and had to keep alternating between walking and running and to cap it all I got ear ache from the wind.

Compare this to Monday’s run where I ran 4K without stopping, no aches or pains and felt really good afterwards. Weird. Hopefully tomorrow’s run will carry on the pattern and it’ll go really well. I’ll also have a running buddy; my friend and neighbour is doing the Bupa 10K so we will try and spur each other on/see who can run further and faster. If the latter option is indeed the case, I think I’ll only run with her on the odd numbered jogs!

Matt

Multi Training Methods

2009-03-24T02:24:00.000-07:00

It’s not all about running you know… last night was my first soiree onto the football pitch after undertaking this training regime. All was well until the calves started cramping up, but at the time you just have to run through it or let the team down!

Where it started to get really interesting was after I’d driven home and sat down for 5 minutes. All of a sudden movement was nigh on impossible. The cure? ICE BATH time. Cold cold cold, enough said!

Colin

Training – week 3

2009-03-23T03:27:00.000-07:00

I set out on both Saturday and Sunday really not in the mood for a run – that’s the laziness kicking in. I have now joined the key castanets club with Dons and all the others that run while clutching a set of keys in a hand.

I ran past a pub which was cooking up chips which smelt amazing – there was also a baby in the window stuffing them in a mocking fashion. Darn children and their smugness.

On Sunday when I reached home I had to take Mum out for Mother’s Day and successfully hobbled around Windsor gaining thoughtful gazes from those that thought I had been in an accident. I reckon it got me a free sample of fudge from the Fudge Kitchen – every cloud and all that.

Christine

First training session

2009-03-19T06:41:00.000-07:00

Hello sports fans,

On Monday I went for my first run of about 2K. The first K went extremely well; in fact, it felt like I wasn’t doing anything at all. However, I then reached the bottom of the downhill slope and realised the only way back was to jog up an increasingly steep hill. I managed it though and found I had got a pretty good workout from that part of the run. I walked the last few minutes back where the ground evens out so I could cool off, but after speaking to Steph she recommends doing some stretches afterwards as well as before exercise. This is probably obvious to everyone in the world except me, but at least I know now.

I was planning to go out again yesterday, but after DJing til 3am the night before then working a full day I just crawled in to bed instead. Instead I’ll go out straight after work tonight and do a slightly longer route. My Facebook group is now active at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=70678628707 – I’ve invited everyone on my friends list to join it. Hopefully everyone will sponsor me!

Matt

Lost in London!

2009-03-18T02:41:00.001-07:00

Due to Birthday celebrations at the weekend (which to be honest with you didn’t consist of much celebrating) I only managed a little jog around my parent’s village which some would say isn’t really worth it! So last night I got kitted out my new funky trainers and went out for my first run around London. Its actually a good way to train, I was so scared of all the drunken St Patrick’s Day men wondering around I ran faster than I had planned. Had to turn around a couple of times due to not having a clue where I was but eventually found my way home. I’d say I was at least out roaming the streets of London for a good 20 minutes but boyfriend claims I was only gone for 2…..he couldn’t possibly be right?!

Donna

Morning Training Session

2009-03-18T02:32:00.000-07:00

What a great morning for training, bright, sunny, warm but not too hot.

So this morning I set a new personal best! Oh yes I did! What did I achieve I hear you ask… I devoured a Large Bacon, Sausage and Egg (with Brown Sauce) Roll in around 3 minutes.

It’s going well people!

Colin

About The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust

2009-03-17T10:07:00.000-07:00

The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust was established in 1998, in memory of Sophie Winter, a young actress who died tragically at the age of 34 years from a misdiagnosed ectopic pregnancy, it is still potentially a life-threatening condition. For many others it involves considerable emotional and physical pain.

Ectopic pregnancy affects 1 in 80 pregnancies in the UK, with an unknown number of women being admitted to hospital or treated in Early Pregnancy Units and Emergency Gynecology clinics every year. There are at least 6.500 emergency admissions for the condition in England alone, and from anecdotal evidence, some believe the number of cases of ectopic pregnancy, may number more than 30.000 per year in the UK.

The Trust believes that deaths and trauma associated with ectopic pregnancy should be prevented. It seeks to relieve the emotional and physical distress of women experiencing ectopic pregnancy, and provide ongoing support to them when they are ready to try for another baby or to those unable to conceive.

The Trust's overall aim is to raise awareness of the risk of ectopic pregnancy amongst women of childbearing age, and amongst the medical profession and general public

Podger Podger...

2009-03-16T08:54:00.000-07:00

As you can see, the team are trying to be much more healthy now that they are training for the run! Donna tells me chocolate cake is part of her new diet- she aims to eat one a day for the next 10 weeks! The team decided to help her eat her first one (and also celebrate her birthday!)

Katie

Training continued…

2009-03-16T04:41:00.000-07:00

Well the weekend meant attempting the dreaded run again. Armed with my new adjusted MP3 armband (thanks mum!) and clippy earphones that click behind the ear I looked awesome…

I headed off and attempted to pace myself this time - I think I did pretty well on Saturday although what to do with my arms during running is still in question. I either go down the route of the dude from terminator 2 with choppy hands or worse trying to dance along with just my hands to whichever track is playing. Sunday’s run was not as successful probably due to my legs killing from the day before. I struggled out the house and was promptly overtaken by some Jet from Gladiators type character with a six pack. I then drowned my sorrows (and jealousy) in a large Nando’s meal and a bottomless frozen yogurt. Great Success!

Christine

Meet Colin!!

2009-03-13T02:37:00.000-07:00

Name: Colin

Occupation: Relationship Manager at 1000heads

How fit are you: In my younger years very, then I unfortunately discovered beer and girls and everything went downhill. A few K on the treadmill is no problem, 10K on roads will be interesting.

How far can you run: How long is a piece of string (?) because I can run about that far...

Have you ever ran before: I have always ran around like a scampish child, never anything official like this, once got signed up for Race For Life until they told me it was only for women.

Reason for running: I would love to put something deep and meaningful, simply running to raise money for a good cause and in support of Barry (Steph).

Col gets into the spirit!!

2009-03-12T09:51:00.000-07:00

Good news! We have just been told that The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust can offer another place to us for the 10k! This place is to be taken by Colin who was feeling a little left out of all the preoperational excitement (and clearly jealous of all the swimming, running and drinking which goes into our athletic training plan)! This means that we will be able to raise even more for the cause which is great news all round! Nice one Col!

Day 1: Skills of the wrong kind!

2009-03-12T03:36:00.000-07:00

So Day 1 of training didn’t go too well. As I have recently moved to London and am keen to meet some new people so I took the opportunity so do some socializing in the form of drinking with the London office boys! Yes, not a good start. Although I was pretty impressed with my Guinness drinking skills and the fact that I managed to watch the whole Man United game and extra time with penalties in the Arsenal match without getting massively bored! BUT to be fair I did walk to work and back from the pub which was 20 minutes each way so it’s not like I didn’t do any exercise…..that counts right? Anyway on a positive note I am now the proud owner of some funky (some won’t agree) new Nike trainers so I literally have no excuses!

Dons.

Day 1: Does the jacuzzi count?

2009-03-12T02:37:00.000-07:00

The new fitness regime continued last night when I went for a swim at the local pool. I went to an adult’s only session in the hope that the pool contained more water then wee.
I hadn’t swum for a few years and I forgot how tough it can be especially on the arms. It was also a challenge avoiding crashing into people as without glasses or contacts I am pretty blind!

I swam for about an hour before heading to the empty Jacuzzi which was next to one with a few odd men with very hairy chests – they appeared to be conducting a meeting. Managed to resist the vending machine on the way out which I am very proud of. Slept well due to being pretty knackered although still smell slightly of chlorine – I rushed washing my hair as there were naked women in the showers! Put it away girls!

Christine.

Day 1: I might as well of walked!

2009-03-12T02:33:00.000-07:00

So after cooking and eating steak, mushrooms, grilled tomato and chips, I decided that I would do my body justice by going for a gentle jog. Gentle being the operative word!

So I set off on about a mile jog to the shop and back. Bearing in mind I haven’t done any exercise for over a month this seemed to be the longest jog in the world. I was jogging at what seemed to be a walking pace, you know those people you see and think “What’s the point? They may as well be walking!” That was me!

So the jog took me 10 minutes - I don’t think that’s too bad for a first attempt! However, I can safely say that my body is sore this morning! I don’t think I will jog tonight. I think a swim is in order.

Steph.

Relationships Team to Run Bupa 10k

2009-03-11T12:04:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

As you may or may not be aware the four of the Relationships team have agreed to run the Bupa 10k run on behalf of The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust. This comes after the events of the last few weeks in which I found myself going through the traumatic experience of an ectopic pregnancy.

Now that I am on the mend we have decided to take the positive step of running the 10k so that we can help other women and their families that go through this devastating experience.

The Trust does an amazing job and has been a huge support to me over the last few weeks. The link to the donation page will follow shortly.

Meet the Team!

2009-03-11T10:12:00.001-07:00

Name: Stephanie J

Occupation: Relationship Executive

How fit are you: Well that is a good question!

How far can you run: I’m not sure yet… I guess time will tell. Hopefully 10k!

Have you ever ran before: I’m sure there are occasions where I may have run, maybe for the ice cream van?

Reason for running: I suffered from an Ectopic pregnancy at the end of January this year. I had a lot of support from the Ectopic trust, and feel this is a great way to support the charity and help raise awareness.

Name: Christine

Occupation: Relationship Executive

How fit are you: I’m not as healthy as I’d like to be!

How far can you run: Probably to the corner shop and back...which is a whole 3 mins or so.

Have you ever ran before: I had to a few years ago but have managed avoid it since!

Reason for running: To support a great charity that helps a lot of people

Name: Dons

Occupation: Relationship Manager at 1000heads

How fit are you: At the minute not very!

How far can you run: Mmmm at the minute not very far!

Have you ever ran before: I pretend I like going jogging but will pretty much come up with any excuse not to go!

Reason for running: I am running this for Steph, a very special young lady. We want to raise as much money as we can for The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust to support women who have been through this traumatic experience

Name: Matt Whittle

Occupation: Relationships Linguist

How fit are you: Pretty damn unfit

How far can you run: Depends on the motivation – pretty far if a man with a machete is chasing me. Less far if not.

Have you ever run before: Used to do some jogging but fell out of it. Never done an official run before.
Reason for running: To support Steph and the Ectopic Trust so they can continue to help women through Ectopic pregnancies.

Name: Katie

Occupation: Logistics admin and PR lady for
philanthropic

How fit are you: Not at all

How far can you run: I prefer swimming

Have you ever run before: never

Reason for not running: I am going to follow the guys every step of their grueling training programme, from their exercising attire to any dietary changes (I hear Donna is on the steroids?!) I will be updating the blog with photos and videos of the team and will also be following them all on the big day!