5,4,3,2,1...

I am undertaking the challenge of completing 2 marathons, a half marathon and a triathlon over a 5 week period. My aim is to raise at least £1234.50 for what I consider to be 3 very worthy charities. The three charities I am raising money for are Claire House, Touraid and SCARD (Support and Care After Road Death and Injury) /CADD (Campaign Against Drink Driving). Local people will be well aware of Claire House and the fantastic job they do in caring for children with terminal illnesses and supporting their families. I was moved by the work done there when I took a group of pupils to deliver some money they had raised. Touraid is a young charity created to promote the mental, social, cultural, educational and physical development of children from disadvantaged backgrounds and to provide them with support by the healthy participation in physical recreation through playing rugby. Touraid tours will help forge links between schools and rugby clubs in the United Kingdom and those overseas thereby providing children in the United Kingdom and those from underprivileged areas overseas opportunities for development through playing rugby. Kingsmead, the school at which I work is committed to raising £7000 to bring 10 boys from Botswana over to stay with some of our pupils in September. The third charity and the one I have the most personal connection with is SCARD/CADD. Ever since my sister-in law and baby nephew were killed by a drunk driver in 1998 I have wanted to raise money for a charity that supports families who have to go through the trauma of losing a loved one. I also wanted it to be a charity that tries to educate people against the potential consequences of drink driving. SCARD and CADD are one and the same charity and this is the reason I have chosen to raise funds to support them. I hope to raise as much as I can to support their efforts by completing the London Marathon on 25th April, Harlech Triathlon on 9th May, Chester half marathon on 16th May and Chester Marathon on 31st May. Please give generously! You can donate online to Claire House and SCARD/CADD by following the links I have provided on this page. To contribute to Touraid I can pass cash or cheques (Payable to Kingsmead School and with "Touraid" written on the back) on and these will go into a specific account set up for this project.



Thank you for taking the time to read this!

Monday 31 May 2010

Job done!!



Well, I have now completed the 4 challenges I set myself, crossing the finish line of the Chester Marathon in 3hours 24mins and 31 seconds. This is me about a minute after finishing! Going against the advice of my parents who said just take it easy, don't push yourself (I don't really think they expected me to heed that!) I set off at what I thought was an appropriate pace only to find I had completed the first mile in just over 6 minutes! A quick adjustment of pace and I was back on between 7 and 7 and half minutes a mile! It was a glorious morning and the run followed a cycle path that i didn't know existed going from Chester down to Queeensferry and the half way point at the Dee.
Julie, Helen and the kids were there to cheer me on yet again, I can't thank them enough for the encouragement, help and patience they have had, which has enabled me to complete this. Particularly Julie who has managed to get the kids to every event and support me along the way, THANK YOU!
The route back followed the same route and as I was at about 16 miles, there was a guy pushing a friend round in a wheel chair, what an amazing effort that is! I kept up quite a consistent pace but at 20 miles I felt a blister on my foot and the legs started to tire and I started clocking just over an 8 minute mile. The 25th mile was a real killer, almost all up hill and took me over 9 minutes! But with end in sight I speeded up and completed the run almost 3 minutes quicker than London. I was very pleased as that meant I have set a PB in every race I have done! My sister Becky, Julies' Mum and Dad and Vicky had turned up to see me finish, for which I was very grateful. My Mum and Dad would have been there if they had not been galavanting around Italy! My toes are a bit of a mess now and I will spare you a picture but I think they will take a while to recover!
The guy with the wheel chair finished to rapturous applause in 4hours 50minutes-amazing!
Thank you for all your support both by way of encouragement and through your generous donations. I am up to about £1800 now and it would be great to get to the £2000 mark so if you were waiting to sponsor me until I had completed it, now is your chance! I will post one last blog in a week or so when i have a final total!
Thanks again,
Matt
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1 comment:

  1. Ritchi W6 June 2010 at 13:57

    Well done Matt , must now be five big events next year to keep the challenge going maybe anglsey marathon September ? Well done £1800 fantastic amount of money you must be very proud

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