Hello!

This post is the first of a few about the Great North Run, now why does this have any relevance to Lia you ask? Well, me being me, stupidly signed myself up for it in a moment of pure madness. I was really struggling with an assignment for uni (it was stats, I hate stats) and had so many crying sessions on the floor because I cannot handle that stress and about a dozen “THIS IS IT I AM DROPPING OUT” moments and it was just a very unpleasant time so when I had finally completed this report, I was feeling on top of the world and all “pow pow I can do anything” and that is when it happened. I was scrolling through some form of social media and came across and advert for the Great North Run and thought “ah, can’t be that bad” and suddenly that was it. I was signed up for the Great North Run. I’m going to do various posts about my preparation for the Great North Run and this is the starting point.

What is the Great North Run?

Well to be honest, to someone who doesn’t run (hi me) it sounds like hell. It’s the largest half marathon in the world, bom bom bommmmm, where you run from Newcastle upon Tyne to South Shields and typically takes place in September.

Why am I doing it?

I explained my mad reason up above but a plus side to this decision of mine is that I get to raise money for a charity and I have chosen Bowel Cancer UK. Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and every year almost 42,000 people are diagnosed with it. It is treatable and curable, especially if diagnosed early but more than 16,000 people die from Bowel cancer in the UK every year, making it the second biggest cancer killer in the UK. Bowel Cancer UK is doing amazing research into the treatment and understanding of this awful disease and I encourage you to read about their current projects here, including improving treatment for chemotherapy resistant bowel cancer, understanding more about the genes involved in bowel cancer at a younger age and looking at changes in gut bacteria and how that impacts under 50s likelihood of getting bowel cancer.

I am passionate about fundraising for Bowel Cancer UK because they do incredible work that can really change lives. Unfortunately I have seen the devastating impact that bowel cancer has on an individual and it really is an awful disease. I lost my Nan to bowel cancer in 2015 and it was the hardest thing I have ever had to go through. I was very lucky because I got 16 wonderful years with my great grandmother but now, nearly 4 years on, 16 years feels so little. I lost her on my second day of sixth form and the day before she wasn’t really there and that was the first year that I couldn’t ring her up and tell her how my first day of the school year had gone and inevitably complain about my timetable. Since then I have had my first day of year 12, my first day at university, my first day of second year and countless other little moments where I would love to have the chance to ring her up and tell her, or pop in for a cup of tea and four biscuits and talk for England. But I can’t, and I know that people don’t last forever and for one reason or another we lose people but I hope that by raising money for Bowel Cancer UK I can contribute to helping other people get a chance to live longer and make more happy memories with their relatives. I like to think that by doing this mad run that I’m making my Nan proud, wherever she may be.

If you could spare a pound to sponsor me then I would be truly grateful and will send you virtual hugs and cookies, the link is here.

How is training going?

If we are being honest in miles talk I haven’t got that far yet, but mentally I have made progress because I can actually force myself to go for a run now and feel kinda good when I have finished. Instead of when I first started when I turned into a monster because everything hurt, my head was going to fall off and I was ready to throw a huge strop. Lia throwing a strop?! Never. But I am making progress and I am pushing myself and this week I have actually been for a run 3 times, so in the words of a typical Lia phrase…I’m getting there.

I had to buy new running shoes which was stressful but they’re actually quite comfortable. I’ve tripped up numerous times which isn’t a surprise. I’ve swallowed a fly…best not to ask. I’ve been hugely intimidated by youths sat in car parks giving menacing stares whilst I’m there looking like a beetroot about to collapse on the floor. I’ve also found that a playlist with songs from musicals is very helpful, especially The Greatest Showman.

I have a long way to go, but I’m ready to face the challenge. Let’s go!

Also, a big thanks to Mummy G who accompanies me on runs as I am a child and do not like going out alone.

Until next time,

Lia x