Archive for Motivation

Running Charity Round-Up…

June 12, 2009 Cands 2 comments

It seems the final numbers are in…

All pledges were honoured and with Ryan’s efforts in Canada coupled with mine, it seems we have managed to raise about R10 860 – that’s 17 kids whose school fees will be paid up for the entire year!!

I also want to thank a few people who had a huge impact on this little endeavour of mine:

  • Everyone who was so generous and managed to spare some cash, especially since we’re all feeling rather pinched at the moment – Ryan’s friends (you know who you are), Shaun & Nicola, Ariane & Mdu, Brendan & Rebecca, Andy Duncan, Collin Budge and Russel Mackintosh (Russ was the one who said he’d double his pledge if I beat him, I came in 8 minutes after him!!).
  • Ryan, for your enthusiasm and encouragement
  • Craig for running the whole way with me and waiting for me when I needed to make pit-stops, that is what I call running-friend-loyalty!!
  • Dad for maintaining your title of Worlds Best Second
  • Mom for being my greatest fan and for all your support
  • Barry for flying down to surprise me on the route (and for sending all the race updates on Twitter) – sorry I couldn’t stop and chat :)
  • Stuart the bus driver who did a fantastic job of getting us all over the finish line in under 11 hours

Thanks to everyone who donated, wished us well, followed us on the day, sat through blow-by-blow accounts of the race and supported us every step of the way.

I’m thrilled with the positive response I’ve had regarding this project, I’ll keep everyone updated from time to time on how the little guys and girls in Red Hill informal settlement are doing.

The little guys and girls from Red Hill

Comrades Marathon, Fund Raising, Motivation, Reluctant runner

Running Theory

June 3, 2009 Cands 5 comments

I have a little confession to make…  You know when I wrote about Ostriching and that as a running strategy it is probably sub-optimal – weeelllll…

Since January I have been keeping a log of all my training and race kilometres, I’d decided to do this just so that I’d know how off track I was, but as it turns out I only ever plugged data in, I never actually looked back to check how far off I was – yes, (head hung low) I was ostriching it because I had a sneaky suspicion that my training wasn’t anywhere near where it had to be.

Of course the story doesn’t end there…  The day before the race when I met up with other runners from my club, everyone was comparing how many kilometres they’d logged in training which ranged between 1 000 and 1 200km’s since Dec/Jan – I stealthily stayed out of these conversations because when I thought back to my training calendar I remember it being rather sparse…

SO, this weekend I decided to count up how much I actually did and finally go cold turkey on the ostriching,  an exercise which made me realize that luckily I did ostrich with this particular thing because as it turns out I had to round up – to 600km’s!!!!

No really, I’m not joking I even counted again to make sure which has lead me to start thinking about this whole training thing.  Do we train incessantly for the Comrades (or any longer race for that matter) to help our bodies or our minds?

My theory is that mental training is totally separate and has nothing to do with running or how much you have trained.  Sure if you know you can do a marathon then you’d be more confidant to tackle an ultra, what I’m talking about is the fact that on most of these races I’ve found that it is my mind which determines how well my race is going to go, not my fitness…

I’m going to think about this a bit more, what is your theory?

My Comrades medals for 2009

My Comrades medals for 2009

Comrades Marathon, Motivation, Reluctant runner, Training

20 Hours and 58 Minutes…

May 23, 2009 Cands One comment

Ok everyone so we are within a day of the Comrades Marathon and I’m about to head off to Durban.  If you want to keep track of me you can find out here.

I (ok not me, but someone who I’ve asked) will be updating my Twitter and Facebook status with my progress.  I’m not sure how much time I’m going to have this afternoon so if I don’t manage to get online – See you at the end!!!

Comrades Marathon, Fund Raising, Half-marathon, Motivation, Reluctant runner, Training

How many kids??!!

May 22, 2009 Cands No comments

So in my post about Running Charity partnerships,  I told you about my friend Ryan over in Canada joining forces with me in raising money to send some kids to school.  Today I got the final amount he was able to raise  – CAD 1,155 which is around R8,400 which translates to almost 13 kids, YES that is 13 children who will now be able to go to school because of Ryan, which brings the total to about 19 children in our efforts so far!!!

Thanks everyone who has donated up until now and for those of you still contemplating it, here is some motivation…

Yip, looks different from this angle...

Yip, looks different from this angle...

"Classroom"

"Classroom"

girlbaby

Comrades Marathon, Fund Raising, Motivation, Reluctant runner, Training

Keeping in Touch…

May 20, 2009 Cands One comment

For those of you who would like to keep in touch with my progress on race day, the Comrades Association has this rad thing where you can sms my race number to them, and every time I go over a timing mat (I think there are about 6 throughout the race) you will get a message with my location and time.  This is unfortunately only open to South African residents and costs R10 per sms (which goes to charity), so be warned….

My Race number:  43099

SMS: 38132

Alternatively (this is for those of you who want to keep track from of me from other patches of this world) I will hopefully have someone receiving these sms’ and posting them onto Facebook and Twitter, how’s that for a free alternative :) (the R10 you saved on the sms can get donated to my “Let’s send some kids to school” campaign…)

OR, I know the options just keep coming – you can go to the Comrades website where you will be able to see the finish line live on the day (if you can’t actually be in front of the TV).

I’d like to say that those who were crazy enough to sit in front of the TV the entire day last year, were rewarded with a whole 3 second shot of me right at the end (you know who you are) and NO there was no flashing or anything of the sort going on, I had just been running for 11 hours and about 10 minutes at that stage so if you plan on making a date with the TV for Sunday, don’t get your hopes up :)

michelangelo-creazione-di-adamo-7600064

Comrades Marathon, Motivation, Reluctant runner

Running Paranoia…

May 19, 2009 Cands 2 comments

Paranoia seems to be setting in…  Everyone in my office is sick and so far all I’ve gotten is a runny nose but with the Comrades on Sunday, I’d be devastated if I got the flu and was unable to run…

I even considered coming in to work with a surgical mask on, or asking my operations manager (who is also running so is as nervous as what I am) if I could work from home this week.

I hate this feeling…

surgical-mask

Comrades Marathon, Motivation, Reluctant runner, Training

Running Charity Partnerships…

May 18, 2009 Cands 2 comments

For the past couple of months I’ve been in email contact with Ryan, a South African living abroad, who is running the Comrades Marathon for the first time this year.  It’s been great chatting to someone who is going through exactly the same things I went through last year (what am I talking about, I’m going through the same stuff THIS year)…

Anyway last week Ryan informed me that he is also raising funds for running the Comrades and instead of trying to find a charity at this short notice, he has decided to join me on my mission to send children in the Red Hill informal settlement, to school!!

I am so excited for this joint venture!!  Let’s see how much we can raise…

For updates on all the donations and pledges, go to my Facebook Group – Let’s send some kids to school…

Help send him to school

Comrades Marathon, Fund Raising, Motivation, Reluctant runner, Training

8 Things you can do with your race medals

May 16, 2009 Cands No comments
  1. Re-gift: It is a recession after all… Just remember that the karmic wheel is small, what goes around comes around…
  2. Diving weights: they even come with a handy ribbon to go around your neck, or just stuff into pockets for the desired effect.
  3. Ornamental Display: This can be used as a conversation starter, although you have to take note of who you bore to death with your running tales, or expect a sharp decline in friends!
  4. Use as a weapon: If you take the biggest medal (I have a pretty big and heavy one, complete with the profile of table mountain on it) and keep it in a handy place, when an intruder strikes, swing said medal above the head until desired momentum is achieved (you may yell here like the Highlanders used to) and aim for the head. Beware; this could lead to imprints of whatever medal you have used, so try not to do it as a joke…
  5. Table Stabilizers: When you have a table that rocks because it is on an uneven surface, use a medal – not as cheap looking as a piece of cardboard and can double up as #3
  6. Tooth Mouse/Fairy gifts: Again in keeping with #1, the alternative to money is sitting right there in front of you. Note: you might have to explain to Junior why he can’t put it in his piggy bank for the iPod he’s been saving up for.
  7. Pocket Money: Times are tough and you put in many hours and hard work for that medal, it is as valuable as money (in your mind anyway).
  8. Accessorise: My medals come in all shapes and sizes, you could start a new trend and pare a medal up with an outfit – see how the people in the office react. Note: again could be coupled with #3, especially if there were people at work who didn’t even know about that run where you got a cramp 30 minutes into the race and then needed a number 2 after 45 minutes…
My Medals

My Medals

Comrades Marathon, Fund Raising, Half-marathon, Motivation, Reluctant runner

International First Love Day…

May 15, 2009 Cands 4 comments

Today is International First Love Day and I felt like I wanted to contribute…

When examining what qualifies someone or something as a “First Love” I was rather shocked to discover that running ticked all the boxes!

Love is about sacrifice – we all know about this when training for a specific race, I for one can’t even remember what my surfboard looks like or which way to put on my wetsuit, don’t even mention my friends (I have to write their names down to remember them).

You spend most of your time with those you love – don’t even get me started on how much time I spend running, thinking about running or planning a run.

First loves are like prized possessions – well we all know what I think about in times of crisis…

In all honesty though there are things about running which would qualify it as a first love, for me anyway.  These are the things I love about running:love-day

  • An early morning run through a beautiful place, when it’s quiet and nobody is around
  • The feeling of crossing the finish line of all of my races
  • Having people come up to me at a race and say ‘Hey, aren’t you the Reluctant Runner?”
  • The fact that it serves as a platform for me to give back in some small way
  • The knowledge that I can do anything I put my mind to

I keep saying that after this Comrades Marathon I’m going to be putting running on the back burner and taking up all those other things which I enjoy doing, but in the back of my mind I  wonder – will anything else be able to compare with that feeling of running across the finish line of the Ultimate Human Race…?

Comrades Marathon, Fund Raising, Motivation, Reluctant runner, Training

Running Inspiration

May 13, 2009 Cands No comments

Note: I have sorted out my PayPal issues, so donating is going to be as easy as pressing SEND :)

I also found what I’m going to be using as my inspiration for when I’m feeling dog tired and ready to keel over (other than all you folks who have donated).

I first heard about this father and son team from my friend Glen, check out the video, you won’t be disappointed!

Comrades Marathon, Fund Raising, Motivation, Reluctant runner, Training
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