Running 4 Women » Personal Stories

I Like The Way You Feel

Peter — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:18:59 +0000

‘Making you feel good through exercise’ is my aim during training sessions: Feeling good about yourself, within yourself and looking and feeling good to others.

Whether it gives you increased confidence, elation as you cross the finish line, or the opportunity to wear the clothes you always dreamt of, exercise can make you look and feel great on so many levels.

It not only energises, provides enormous health benefits and will assist with weight loss, but it does wonders for self-esteem, provides a sense of purpose and achievement and creates emotional highs after a great workout.

Have you ever been asked for some of ‘What you’re on’? Have you ever wondered how some people manage to look a certain way, create energy around them, and have a positive attitude towards life and what it brings? I’ve certainly met people who have just that – the ability to keep going no matter what: Whatever the conditions and individual scenario, they keep on running and finish the race. No matter how tough their circumstances, they keep focused on their goal and stick to it. And no matter how unattainable the standard set, they strive to meet it and succeed.

Some of the toughest men and women I’ve trained with in the Military have done just that: Physically tough selection processes for the toughest of jobs, hard core relentless training to be the very best they can be. Each of them pushing themselves to beyond their perceived limits, overcoming the obstacles and achieving the unthinkable. And how’ve they done it? They’ve trained and they’ve stuck with it, never losing sight of the end, never giving up.

And more recently I’ve come across amazing people who’ve used exercise to deal with some of life’s hardest situations: bereavement, separation, loss and illness. No matter how old they are or what their circumstances, they’ve chosen exercise, and they’ve used it to not only cope, but to win. And as a result, they look and sound strong with an inner confidence which seems to somehow make them more positive, appear younger, more vibrant and feel better about themselves and their situation. In fact, often this inner self belief is so life changing, it’s harnessed to assist others overcome similar issues and in turn, realise their full potential. And imagine having been through such an experience yourself, how rewarding it feels to use your skill and inner strength to then help others.

How many of us look in the mirror and hate what we see? Both physically and mentally, we rip ourselves apart, from our appearance to our shape, our size and even our age. Some of this we can do little about, since we can’t turn the clock back or alter our basic body type and there’s only so much height we can add with a pair of killer heels. Yet we still berate ourselves for just being us. How many of us hate what we see when we’ve finished the box of chocolates only to fail to go out for that run we promised ourselves? How many of us are our own worst enemy when it comes to self criticism, lack of confidence, low self esteem and lack of motivation?

The bad news is, we’re stuck with ourselves, and having the enemy ‘living within’, isn’t ideal. The good news is, we can fight back: There are things we can learn to change about ourselves which will have a positive effect on how we feel and look. For instance, pretty much anyone can start exercising, learn to set goals and think about healthier eating. Training yourself to stick to the plan will then see results: Exercise will deliver weight loss, increased energy and the longer term effects of feeling and looking better. All you need is to find some self-motivation and self-discipline!

If your life’s stressful, then the adrenaline outlet that exercise provides will help reduce stress levels, control blood pressure and provide you with a more positive outlook. If it’s a case of the blues or anxiety you’re experiencing, take some exercise to get the ‘Endorphin high’ from a cardio workout (the body’s chemical response which makes you feel so good). Just imagine then, how good it would feel to continuously get those highs day after day? Wouldn’t it be great to actually feel happy about yourself? To be someone who radiates confidence and self esteem? And imagine how big your smile would be when people think you look ten years younger than you actually are! And if it’s a challenge you need, then use exercise to find an endless list of personal goals you could set yourself and achieve.

Want some proof? Take it from me, exercise will make you feel better because, I, and many others have been there. So why don’t you get out there, do it, and see for yourself!

Annie Jack

www.personaltrainingworks.co.uk

The Final chapter – It’s Just as Well we Can’t See Into The Future …

Peter — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:30:37 +0000

Into 2010 and I took part in the following races – Silverstone Half Marathon in March; Good Friday, 2^nd April, the Easter 10(miles) held in Maidenhead; 16^th May, the Staines 10K; May bought the BUPA London 10K, the first time I had taken part in this race. What an absolutely fantastic experience! Running through the streets of London, past famous landmarks, superbly organised and although a big race, friendly. And I set a new 10K PB – 57:45.In July I completed the New Forest 10(miles), a race in a beautiful setting but it was very hot, finishing in 1:52:55.

As the end of the school summer term approached we were looking forward to a family holiday to the USA, a couple of days in Washington for sightseeing and then on to the Gulf Coast for a relaxing ten days in a rented villa.

But, at the beginning of August, three days before we were due to leave, life bought me back down to earth with a huge bump. A lump had appeared in my left breast, out of the blue, nothing one minute and a lump the next. I made an appointment to see my GP who said I would have to be referred to a specialist and would have to attend a hospital appointment within the next 14 days. I explained we were due to leave for our holiday and she agreed that she would get me an appointment the moment we were back. She did say though that it more than likely would be cancer, given my history.

I really did not understand why I would have a cancer again. In a very weird way it was easier to cope with a second time around – it was almost as if I had been waiting for it to come back in some form.

You can imagine that our holiday wasn’t what it might’ve been. My emotions ran all over the place, I was very low and despite trying to hide it from our two children my teenage daughter knew something was wrong. So, I tried to explain to her about the lump and what it might mean. She became very distressed and we spent some time just crying and hugging each other.

I saw the oncologist on 23^rd August, almost a year to the day since we had buried Mum so an emotional day. I had taken the decision not to tell my Dad about the cancer, I figured he had been through enough. On 31^st August I was told that I had two different kinds of cancer, both invasive and would need surgery. In fact, if the lump hadn’t come up the other cancer would have gone unnoticed. This would mean some time out from running again and I would have to miss my two favourite races, the R4W Windsor 8K (although we did still go and watch the 8K – I wasn’t prepared to miss out completely!) and the Great South Run.

After more tests and scans I had surgery on 16^th September to remove the lump and some nodes to see if the cancer had spread. I then had to wait for the results which I received on 28^th September, the day after my son’s 11^th birthday. I was so, so lucky – they had got it all, the cancer hadn’t spread and although I would need a course of radiotherapy I would not have to go through chemotherapy. The relief was indescribable and still is. I still get very emotional when I think back to that day.

We had a few days away in Cumbria in the October half term to rest before radiotherapy started.

On 31^st October I was back racing! A friend of mine was taking part in a 5K in Basingstoke, some of which was inside the shopping centre there and asked if I would like to take part. An unusual race to say the least but I was overjoyed to be part of the running community again.

At the beginning of November, I started a course of 18 radiotherapy sessions at St Luke’s in Guildford, finishing just a few days before Christmas. My husband was with me for almost every session and I was so grateful for his support. I thankfully received no side effects from my treatment and finished ten days before Christmas feeling extremely well.

I got back to running regularly, booked races for 2011 and got life back on track. Since then I have done a number of races and am now lucky enough to work for my favourite running club – Running4Women of course!

People think it’s strange when I say I am lucky but I think I am, I’ve had two cancers, both of which have been caught early by the NHS and my running fitness has helped me to recover quickly. My children still have their mum and my husband his wife, and my Dad his daughter.

People tell me I’m an inspiration – I don’t think I am, it’s just that you fight and get on with life or you go under. I chose life. I had the support of the most wonderful network of family, friends and R4W. If I am an inspiration and have inspired just one person then telling my story has been worth it. I have never shied away from my cancers and if people want to ask me about it I will always answer the best I can.

If you think I can help you in any way, if you want to ask me anything, please contact R4W and I will be more than happy to get in touch. Thank you for taking the time to read my story.

ou can also follow me on Twitter – @CarolR4W.

TV Star Phoebe Thomas – “Does This Sound Familiar?”

Peter — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:59:12 +0000

Does this sound familiar?

This is the year that I am going to become a runner. I can’t believe it, yes I was the one who stood on the school sports field refusing to run and pretending my asthma was bad. I hated running and dreaded every PE lesson.
Yet at that New Years eve party as the clock struck midnight I found myself thinking that this has to be the year when I finally get fit and get into shape.

Some of my friends run 5ks, half marathons, marathons and seem to have so much fun. They all look great and seem so full of energy.

Any of the above ring a bell?!

Well the good news is that we all had to start somewhere. I really do remember my first run and it wasn’t pretty. My dad was a PE teacher and a runner who raced for Wales. What a nightmare I was for him…the daughter who refused to ever run a step. My acting career was going well and I had plenty of rock ‘n’ roll friends but something was never quite right it seemed.

However, the years passed by and I needed to become something a little different. Before I knew it I found myself secretly lacing my retro trainers and leaving the door in a trendy baggy tracksuit and T-shirt with hoodie around the waste. If anybody spotted me I could pretend I was off to starbucks I thought.
I walked around the corner and towards the park. I was out of sight from anybody in my road and suddenly found myself jogging…OMG!!

It lasted about 10 minutes and I had to stop and walk at least once I think, but I was alive. A whole loop of the park completed (a pretty small park obviously) but before I knew it I was sneaking back through the front door. Nobody knew I had been out and I had just become a runner.
I then discovered my brother’s girlfriend wanted to get fit through some running… great! I had a running buddy. Not so embarrassing now and easier to share the pain with a friend!

Amazingly I kept this going several days a week and found myself soon able to run for 15 minutes, then 20 and then the magical 30. It had taken about 6 weeks and I now needed a challenge. Sure I was feeling slimmer, full of energy and great but how about that local 5k that dad had said I should always go to. Hundreds of people there, many would spot me from TV and I am sure to embarrass myself aren’t I??………

WRONG – what a day! I turned up and there were hundreds and hundreds of women and most were first timers. We were part of a team that had made the decision to get fit through that sport I had always thought could only be mega boring and painful.The banter was great and any nerves soon became laughs.

The gun went and we were off. I ran the whole way, clearly going off too fast, but that’s what all keen novices do right? I was hooked and eight years later I now look back having run 5 marathons, loads of half marathons and having made many new friends. I have become the shape I always wanted and am now a running coach, personal trainer alongside being an actress. Yes that’s right, the girl who never ran a step in PE and ‘forgot her kit’ most weeks.

Go on, take the first steps and I promise running will change your life……….

2009 – A Year of Highs and Lows!

Peter — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:31:52 +0000

My first race booked for 2009 was the Reading Half Marathon on 29^th March. I ran regularly to train for the race and the day dawned sunny but cold. This is one of my favourite races and I crossed the line in what I thought was 2:19:02 but then realised that was the gun time. My actual chip time was 2:10:49 – I had managed to take almost ten minutes off my previous half marathon time!

In May I did the Bedfont Lakes 5K, its inaugural parkrun at this venue, and finished in a time of 27:52

2009 was the year of the very very hot summer and my next race was on 14^th June, the Southend Half Marathon, in Shoeburyness. All the family came with me and we met up with my mum-in-law, who lives near Southend, and my sister-in-law. I do love having family support at races, it really makes a difference. The race started, a two lap course out and back along the sea front. I have to say that the heat really made this race a struggle, there wasn’t even a sea breeze and I did not enjoy the race at all. I saw many people being treated for the effect of the heat and was grateful to get to the end! I finished in 2:20:05, which given the circumstances I wasn’t too disappointed with.

On 20^th June I took part in the Bedfont Lakes parkrun again and recorded a time of 27:21.

I then had two weeks to go before my next race. I had booked to do the Cranleigh 10K, only about 40 mins drive away, on 5^th July. Come race day it was still very warm. I can thoroughly recommend this race, it takes you through some beautiful countryside and two farms – probably not good if you’re allergic to animals though! Everyone was very friendly and I was pleased to finish in just over an hour, at 60:04.

We had another family outing in July to the athletics at Crystal Palace, really enjoyable and an outing I would really recommend for any age.

I felt good about my running, and life in general, my family were well and everything seemed to be going to plan.

But that wasn’t going to last.

In early August 2009 my dear mum suffered a heart attack and despite best efforts doctors were unable to save her and three days later her life support was switched off. She and my dad had been together for almost 60 years and to see his utter devastation was heartbreaking. But, being the gentleman that he is, he told my sister and I that our lives must go on and we musn’t make changes to accommodate him. But of course we did but he was absolutely insistent that I didn’t stop running. In fact, it helped me enormously. I went out for my first run again about two or three weeks after mum died and it helped me put everything back into perspective, as did a refreshing day trip to Lulworth Cove at the end of August.

My next race, on 6^th September 2009, was the Harry Hawkes 8(miles), in Thames Ditton. This was only a few miles from Dad’s house so he came along to watch and I could see the pride in his face as I headed towards the finished line at the end, in a time of 1:16:52. He said Mum would’ve been so proud of me.

The children had returned to school and me to work as a Special Needs Teaching Assistant and life slowly took on some sense of normality again. My sister and I obviously gave Dad as much support as he wanted but, being of his generation, he is very independent and never wanted to, and still doesn’t want to, ask for help with anything, despite being nearly 80 years old.

The R4W Windsor 8K (5 mile) was next, on 26^th September. I’m biased of course, but this has always been one of my favourite races. Everything is superbly organised, plenty of facilities and everyone is always really friendly. And, somehow, the sun always shines brightly! I was very pleased with my time of 46:34.

My next challenge was to be the Great South Run on 25 October. I had promised to run for a local charity set up by two close friends of mine who had both lost children at a very early age. The charity, Heavenly Stars, aims to provide support to those families with life limited children and so is a very worthy cause. The children held a cake stall at my son’s school to start the fundraising which was great fun. Race day arrived and we travelled once again to Southsea in plenty of time. But despite that, I still managed to forget to put my timing chip on my shoe! I finished in a time of around 01:40:00. Altogether we raised about £600 for the charity and I was slightly embarrassed to be presented with a certificate and flowers at a school assembly just afterwards and was asked to tell the children about the race.

We then went off for a very much looked forward to family break to Cumbria for five days. Visiting the Lake District always invigorates and refreshes me and I really think if I could go and live there I would!

So that was all my races for 2009. I carried on running regularly through the Autumn and Winter to prepare myself for 2010 and my next race, the Silverstone Half Marathon.

Next time – the final chapter

A Very Personal Story of Courage – Part 5

Peter — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 07:44:43 +0000

Onwards!

Losing my friend gave me a renewed energy for life and for running.

After my PB Parkrun at the end of June my next challenge was the New Forest 10 (miles) in July 2008. My son took part in the children’s race there and got his very first medal! This really is a most beautiful race, set right in the New Forest – we ran past the wild ponies and through the kind of scenery that makes you feel glad to be alive. It was quite a warm day and I was pleased with my finish time of 1:33:24.

I was feeling really well and looking forward to the school summer holidays with my children. One special trip out we had was to the Crystal Palace Athletics. These were held at the end of July, so not long before the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. It was a brilliant meeting, we saw some of the biggest names in athletics, including Usain Bolt, who really made the meeting come alive, what a showman! Whether you like him or not he really knows how to work a crowd – my son thought he was great!

At the end of August 2008 I had my yearly appointment with my Colorectal Nurse – once again everything was fine, my blood tests were clear and I was in good health.

My next race was an absolute favourite of mine, the R4W Windsor 8K. The weather is always glorious for this race and set in the backdrop of Windsor Great Park I never fail to enjoy taking part in it. And sometimes its good just to have ladies in a race! Another finishing time that I was pleased with – 45:20, which stands as my PB for that race.

Before my next race we had a lovely occasion to go to. We have some very special friends in the Lake District and they were getting married on 4 October. We decided to make a long weekend of it and travelled up North on the Thursday evening to stay at the hotel where the wedding would be taking place. The hotel had a gym and pool so I made use of the treadmill and did a 5K run while the family made the most of the empty swimming pool. Unfortunately despite the weather having been fabulous on the Friday the wedding day was grey with very heavy rain. It was still a lovely occasion, we were on the same table as two other very special friends Liz Yelling and her husband Martin and we had a lovely relaxing time. It was such a happy occasion as the year drew to a close.

Autumn was drawing in and I was ready for my next challenge – the Great South Run. I ran for Cancer Research, what with my own cancer and losing my father-in-law to the awful disease. Cancer Research included a short article on me in the Great South Run magazine to help highlight their work. The day of the run was quite chilly and very blowy being by the seaside. My husband, son and daughter were on the Cancer Research Cheering Bus which is always stationed on the route and it was such a lift to have them, and the Cancer Research supporters, cheering me on. It always humbles me when I take part in the Great South Run, there are so many people running for so many different reasons. I can’t remember precisely but I think I raised about £500 for the charity.

After the Great South Run I had an appointment of a very different kind! I used to have to wear glasses for just about everything – I didn’t wear them out running but knew that I probably should! So, I decided to have laser eye treatment. This was booked for 30 October. I t was unbelievable the difference it made. I’ll admit it was quite a pain the first week or two, I had to put drops in every couple of hours or so and wear sunglasses, even on the cloudiest of days, to keep any irritants out of my eyes. I also couldn’t run for a couple of weeks but it was worth it. I still need to wear glasses for computer work/reading but don’t need them for anything else, not even driving. Freedom from opticians bills as well!

I was back running as soon as I could and as the winter drew in I reflected on another year past and looked forward to the New Year.

Next time – more races and another PB!

A Very Personal Story of Courage Part 4

Peter — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 08:30:01 +0000

New challenges and more heartache

With a number of 5Ks done I set myself the challenge of a 10K, the SheRunsHeRuns 10K at Bluewater, 12 August, 2007. What a hilly race – I don’t like hills and will avoid them at all costs if I can! Liz Yelling was doing this race and I was so lucky that at about the 500m to go mark she came running to find me and encouraged me to finish. The announcer said my name as I crossed the line and said that I was finishing with a smile on my face! I was – I had finished in just under an hour, was absolutely ecstatic and so proud to be wearing my running4women vest. Thank you Liz, you will never know how much your encouragement meant to me that day.

My next race was a Cancer Research 10K at Bowood Park, near Chippenham, in September, which was hilly and very crowded with runners. I finished in 1:04:41.

Finally for 2007 I entered the Running4Women Brighton 8K in October. The family came to cheer me on and to help give out the medals and drinks at the end. I loved this race along the seafront in brilliant autumn sunshine. I was surprised to see my mum and dad cheering me, having travelled down from home. I finished in just under 46 mins so was very pleased. This was the last time that R4W was able to hold this race and I feel very privileged to have been able to take part in it.

So, that was 2007 done running wise. By the end of the year I really felt like me again, running was a huge part of my life – and I had filled in some more pages of my photograph album!

In the New Year I decided I wanted to run another half marathon – I had only done one before, just before my op, so was eager to see if I could do the distance again. I booked a place for the Reading Half on 2 March.

I love running through the winter months and going out early in the morning. The world is such a different place then, less cars, less fumes, beautiful sunrises and, even though I live near to the M25, we do have a few parks and woodland to run through and to see the birds and animals early in the morning is such a lovely sight. My training went very well and race day soon came round.

My family came with me to Reading – what a fabulous atmosphere! I had never taken part in a race with so many runners before, it was brilliant! Local people were cheering us round, offering jelly babies and snacks and keeping our morale up. The course had a few hills in it, but nothing too challenging. I finished in 2:20:30 and promised myself that I would return the next year and better my time!

A week or two after the Reading Half I met up with a girl I had made friends with in hospital. We had kept in touch after we left hospital and supported each other – she had to wear a colostomy bag as well and we used to call each other bag ladies! She had been in hospital for ovarian cancer and had had major surgery and was such a positive person – she was back in the gym before I started running again. Little did I know that when we met in March I would never see her again …

A couple of weeks later she rang to tell me that on her birthday her hubby had taken her to London to see a show and she had tripped up in a restaurant beforehand. She had a very bad back and was having to use a wheelchair as she was in so much pain. It was only after more tests at the hospital that they told her her cancer had returned and spread and they had very little hope of being able to stop it. She had a young daughter, and husband – life really was unfair.

I was determined to keep running, for both of us.

My next race was a local one, the Staines 10K in May 2008. It was good not to have to drive miles for a race, this was literally 10 minutes from home. It was sunny but not too hot. I finished the race in 57:53, my 10K PB! After that I did some parkruns and managed to set a PB of 26:27! (If only I could do that time now!)

Early in June I had my yearly CT scan and everything was fine. Later that month I took part in the Bananaman 10K in aid of Leukaemia Research, held at Kempton Park. It was so windy that day – for every step I tried to run forward I got blown back 3! I finished in 1:01:56.

Losing a friend

My friend’s husband had been letting me know how she was doing – she didn’t want visitors so I respected her wishes and didn’t push asking to see her. Towards the end of June she was moved to a hospice … she was there for less than a day before she lost her battle. I felt so much for her family. Regrettably, her husband didn’t let me know that she had passed away, I didn’t even know when her funeral was. It was only that I happened to ring him and he said he was looking for me at the crematorium and that I was mentioned in her obituary that he realised I wasn’t there – and wondered why. He was absolutely distraught that he hadn’t told me. I tried to tell him that what had happened had happened, in times of such heightened emotions things do get forgotten but I really regret that I wasn’t able to pay my respects to her on the day.

But I remember always how proud she was of me for getting back to running – its funny how someone you know for a relatively short period of time can have a profound impact on your life. Losing my friend reinforced to me how short life can be and I promised myself I would keep running, for us both.

Next time – more races and a much happier end to 2008!

A Very Personal Story of Courage Part 3

Peter — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 08:34:16 +0000

Feeling like a runner again!

January 2007 – love that date – it was when I started running again. I followed Liz Yelling’s 30 Day Walk to Run programme. It was like being a complete beginner again but even the walking days of the programme felt wonderful. When I got to the run days of the programme I was so happy – a couple of minutes at first, building up until the last day of the programme, 30 minutes of running. Those 30 minutes marked a real turn in my life, I knew I could still run and that cancer hadn’t taken away one of the things I loved. I was back doing my part time job at school and people there seemed amazed that I was running again – “but you’re running again” and “how can you still run?”. Simple answers – because I wanted to and I could, my legs and the rest of my body still worked – besides, had everyone expected me to stop because I had cancer?

In March we went away for an extended and much needed family holiday to the USA, I was only too aware of how much strain my cancer had put on my husband and two children and to spend time with them away from hospitals and worrying was very special. We returned home mid-April and my mind returned to my running.

In early May I had to have a scheduled CT scan to check on my progress, something I would have to do once a year for the next five years. Everything was fine.

Something that I keep and that is very special to me is a photo album of my running – maybe that sounds big headed but it shows me how far I’ve progressed, I have photos and times of each of my races and it really motivates me. But, it had a very big gap in it – no photographs since May 2006 and it was now 2007. This needed sorting!

Some of the staff and older girls from school had signed up to take part in the Race for Life at the Old Deer Park, Richmond on 19^th May so I decided to join them.

Before then though our family had to face another heartbreak. My darling father-in-law, who had been battling a cancer related illness for a number of years, lost his battle and died just before then. He was a gentleman, one of the old fashioned kind and although we knew how ill he was it was still an awful shock. I said to my husband that I would pull out of the run but he didn’t want me to, Dad wouldn’t have wanted me to either.

So we set off to Richmond Park on the day, my excitement though less than it had been. My daughter did the race with us so it was a lovely family day and I felt I was back to where I wanted to be, on a start line with like minded people. My son made himself a special ‘number’ to wear to remember his Grandad. I finished the run in about 28 mins.

I wanted to get some more races booked to keep motivated.

I had, and still have, problems with my tummy after running for any amount of time. Having had my rectum removed my body has nowhere to store waste, it just went straight to my bowels. I know this sounds really repulsive and I’m sorry if it offends anyone but there it is. I have never shied away from talking about my bowel cancer, have always answered people’s questions and always will. So I had to learn to get some control back of what my body was up to in its new form! I spoke to my Colorectal nurse who said that I should try taking Imodium or something similar before I ran as this would slow everything down. And it worked – I felt more confident to run knowing that I wouldn’t have to look for a toilet while I was out.

In June I had to attend hospital for a scheduled colonoscopy, for which two days before I had to stop having anything other than clear fluids and then the day before had to take some really horrible stuff which completely clears the system out. I was told a small lump had been found – so once again I was back to worrying and waiting for test results. A couple of weeks later when my Colorectal nurse told me the lump had been nothing to worry about I just cried with relief. Life certainly was putting me through every kind of emotion possible!

I booked some more races – I did a 5K in June 2007 at Bushey Park and another Race for Life in July at Kempton Park, remembering my father-in-law and how lucky I was to have received such speedy treatment from the NHS and to have had such a positive outcome.

So I was back running but needed some new challenges ….

next time – upping the distance, and more heartache

A Very Personal Story of Courage Part 2

Peter — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 08:30:55 +0000

My Recovery and……Impatience!

I wanted my operation over and done with. The weekend before my operation I watched the Great Manchester Run take place on television, a very close friend was running and seeing her on the TV made me even more determined that the operation was not going to put a halt to my running.

I went into hospital the day before my op for all the preparatory tests, was prodded and poked and felt frightened out of my life. If I had had my trainers with me I would most likely have run away there and then! I remember my husband having to leave me in the ward, I cried and cried when he left, I felt so alone and was already missing my two children. I had been told that I would recover in the High Dependency Unit due to the serious nature of my op. The morning of 24^th May arrived, the day of my op – I was first on the list for theatre – we had been told the op would take several hours. I remember being wheeled to theatre … the next thing I remember is my consultant standing by my bed saying everything had gone to plan and I was doing really well. My hubby visited that evening but I was completely out of it on painkillers and anaesthetic.

The next day I realised that I wasn’t in the HDU – the doctor on the ward round told me that the operation had gone so well they didn’t need to put me there, but that I would be recovering on a normal ward. So, a positive in all this! I recovered steadily, was shown how to deal with my colostomy bag, which I had been told I would need for about 3 months when it would be reversed, after my bowel had healed from the surgery. I met some lovely people, patients and NHS staff, during my stay, including a girl I made friends with. We became very close but she died from cancer in June 2008 – she always told me how proud she was of me for getting back out there and running – she remains in my thoughts and is an inspiration to this day.

We had been told that I would need to be in hospital for 12-14 days. Two days after my operation I was walking up and down the ward and the hospital corridors – I had taken some running magazines in with me and these helped to keep my motivation to get better going. On day 9 after my op my doctor said “what are you doing lying on one of our beds? You’re well enough to go home!” He said my level of fitness had helped enormously and I would be better off at home. I was so, so happy and left hospital that day armed with a stock of painkillers that would have sunk a battleship! Oh – and a warning from the doctor not to try running too soon!

It was such a wonderful feeling to be back home.

The next day the District Nurse came to remove my staples – I had a very large wound running from just above my navel all the way down my stomach and of course my colostomy bag. I slowly started eating again, and was also given some special protein drinks to help build me up – I had lost a lot of weight during my time in hospital – I had not been allowed to eat two days before I went in and only started eating again the day before I came out – that’s a long time without food!

I had some lovely summer weather to sit in the garden and recover. I wanted to run but just didn’t have the confidence to.

The biopsies had shown the cancer had been removed before it had a chance to spread!! In July I saw my consultant. I would have to go for a special x-ray to make sure my bowel had healed properly, they would then remove the bag. I had the x-ray at the end of August and had to wait for a date for the op to remove the bag. In the meantime I had returned to work part-time. I was given dates, twice, but both times the operation was cancelled, which was so, so frustrating – getting back to running seemed to be getting further and further away.

Finally, at the beginning of December I went in for the op. It worked! I have never seen a nurse so pleased that somebody was passing wind – it meant my bowel was working properly! Back on sick leave from work, (I was working as a Special Needs Teaching Assistant), we spent a quiet family Christmas. I had been scared that I wouldn’t see Christmas - no matter how much the doctors tell you everything will be OK when you been told you have cancer there’s always a lingering doubt.

My thoughts turned to the New Year and getting back out running. I had really missed it, felt restless and was totally envious if we went out and saw people running and just wanted to be doing the same thing. Hubby told me to be patient – not easy when you haven’t be able to do something you want for 8 months! But I had no choice.

Come the New Year, 2007, I needed a plan. I have a very good friend in Olympian Liz Yelling and with the support of R4W, my family, friends and a training plan from Liz, dusted off my running shoes and was ready to go!

Next time – getting back out there!

A Very Personal Story of Courage

Peter — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 10:13:16 +0000

The story of an everyday woman … if it inspires just one person it will have been worth sharing.

My name is Carol, married, mum of two and heading for my big half century in 2012! I have been running for about 7 years now and a member of R4W for most of that time. I started running because I kept thinking “I wonder if I could?” and, having started, wished I had done so many, many years ago! I love running – it’s my “me” time, time to think about life and look back on how my life has changed over the last few years. It is this story,that started in August 2005, that I would like to share with you.

In October 2005 I took part in the Great South Run, running for the World Cancer Research Fund. At that time I had never really had to face cancer in my family, or amongst friends. Little did I know ….

In the August of that year I had visited the doctor as I was experiencing some unusual bleeding: he referred me to hospital. In February 2006 I had a polyp removed from my bowel, a CT scan and, two days before my 44^th birthday in March was given the news no-one wants to hear. The polyp showed cancerous changes. Cancer had crossed my mind but to be told is different. I lurched from tears to well, its happened, lets deal with it, to “why me?” I don’t drink or smoke, eat reasonably healthily and am fit. I would need an MRI scan and an operation to remove the part of the bowel that the polyp was attached to – it would take me about 8 weeks to recover. I would also have to wear a colostomy bag during my recovery, which filled me with dread.

And this only about 5 or 6 weeks pre-London Marathon, for which R4W had given me a club place, and which I had been so excited about. Liz Yelling,Olympian, had become a close friend, as she was helping to train me and two other club members who had been given places.

My consultant told me I was very fit and young to have to go through this but it would be like an insurance policy, to make sure everything was gone. This did not have to stop me running – it would help me to recover quickly if I stayed fit. My husband supported me in my decision to carry on running. I wasn’t ready to quit so why stop? It made me more determined. I wanted to do the Marathon and had a couple of other races booked before then. I did a 10K in March, another in April and kept up my regular training.

My family and friends at work were fantastic and ran the Battersea Race for Life in my honour. I was truly humbled by what people were willing to do for me.

I was asked many times how I kept cheerful, how did I keep going? It was very hard. But you can’t give up, especially when you have children – I have a son and a daughter, and the most wonderful husband in the world.

I saw my consultant on 18^th April, less than a week before FLM. I set my mind to doing FLM and wanted to hang on to my precious marathon place.

But, try as I could, the day before, packed and ready to go to London, my courage deserted me. I went to pieces. My family did their best to make me believe I could do it but my self-belief had gone, shattered I guess by the pressure of the past weeks. My disappointment was total.

Enough was enough. NO MORE FEELING SORRY FOR MYSELF! I needed a new goal, to regain my self-belief.

A friend told me she was doing a half-marathon in Richmond on 14^th May, 2006 so I decided to join her. It was my first half-marathon and I finished in about 2:18. The strength and belief it gave me back was immeasurable. It gave me the strength to believe I could achieve whatever I wanted.

My operation was booked for 24^th May, our wedding anniversary. I would then have to wait about 10 days for the results of the biopsy …!

Next time – my recovery and my impatience and frustration at wanting to get back to running!

The Blonde, The Brunette and Their Blisters

Peter — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 11:40:25 +0000

Part 7 Cont

It took 20 (long) minutes to shuffle over the start line. As we had given ourselves a predicted finish time of four hours, we had been landed in the most congested pack of people, something that would later prove one of our biggest obstacles.

We started running to the sound of Frank Sinatra singing ‘New York, New York’. It was the most beautiful Autumn morning and the sparkling sun was bouncing off the water below. We were moving … this was it. There was no turning back. I beeped my stopwatch into action and totally wound up from the anticipation, burst into tears with relief.

Conserving energy was our primary tactic, but it was hard to resist the temptation to speed up as we passed the first crowds. We left the bridge and turned the corner into Brooklyn to a rapturous welcome. One of our most successful brainwaves was to have our names emblazoned across our matching t-shirts, and for the next four hours all I heard was crowds of people chanting our names. I felt like a star. As we ran along, the kids jumped up to give us ‘high fives’, and the more restrained shouted, clapped and cheered …

The course takes in all five boroughs, winding through a diversity of ethnic communities, each with a distinct, fascinating character. There were big bands on every street corner, pumping out motivational favourites such as ‘Eye of TheTiger’ and ‘YMCA’. There were water stops every mile and Gatorade stations every two. As the sun was warming quickly we took full advantage and refuelled wherever possible. This, combined with the sheer congestion for the first half of the race, was to prove critical to our target time. By the time we crossed Queensborough Bridge we knew we weren’t going to make four hours, but had settled into a steady rhythm and felt strong.

Psychologically, turning into Manhattan was the toughest part of the course. First Avenue stretched ahead as far as the eye could see … four miles of tired runners bobbing up and down and the end nowhere near. The crowds were immense. Five men deep, we couldn’t even spot the British Heart Foundation reps, the only people we knew out of 2 million supporters! But it didn’t matter. By this stage the road had widened and we had the space we needed to go at our true pace … we ended up running the second half 20 minutes faster than the first … I don’t think that’s normal!

Before the race started we had ear marked certain games and conversation topics for various milestones. At 5 miles we had gone through our families and detailed what each person would be doing back home. At 10 miles we had planned our Christmas shopping. The brunette said she had something special saved for the 18 mile point, the moment when the pain starts to kick in, and as we entered Harlem for the first time we startedsinging. ‘Guess the tune’ was our favourite running pastime. One person startshumming a well-known song, ranging from 80s pop to TV themes, and the otherperson has to join in when they know what it is. Before long we were singing atthe top of our voices. ‘Keep on Runnin’ took us to 19 miles, ‘Don’t StopMoving’ guided us through the Bronx and ‘The Bare Necessities’ saw us re-enter Harlem at 22 miles.

By this point we had entered a silent race with Scooby Doo who we kept overtaking and being passed by intermittently. Determined not to be beaten by a cartoon character, our competitive spirit took us to the start of the park at 23. I remember the brunette mentioning her sore quads at this point and trying to black out my own pain. We have a strict rule not to discuss ailments whilst running, but this comment triggered awareness throughout my body that tiredness was starting to take over. This was compounded by the steady ascent that took us from 23 to 24. I had vague flashback to my dad warning me about the undulations of Central Park, but after almost 4 hours of solid running, the hill beneath my feet felt like a mountain. At 24 we entered the park gates and I felt the brunette accelerate. It was hard not to. There were runners collapsed with fatigue at either side of the path, every step of the way, but we were flying through. The crowds were going wild and as we ran beneath the 25 mile banner for the second time that weekend, I allowed myself, for the first time, to think about that medal.

The finish line was like a magnet pulling us forward. We grabbed each others’ hand and made a last-minute sprint (well, that’s how it felt) for the finale.

After a stagger and a deep gulp for air, choking on my own tears and feeling my legs wobble and give way, reality started to kick in. We had done it. We had run 26.2 miles in the greatest road race on earth and we were still alive … just. The rest is a blur. There was a medal clanking around my neck and a shimmering cloak of silver wrapped around my shoulders, but the marathon was over. It was time to celebrate …

26.2miles. 4 hours 16 minutes, all-over body ache and too many calories to count!