Chilling & Doc for overnight donations taking me upto and beyond my goal setting target.
Thank you so much both, and to everyone else who has helped me to get there.
I was reluctant at first to go for it, but the support has been in-saneeeeeee. I was expecting (and prepared) to throw in 250-300 myself to reach the goal, but the support has gone way past what I expected, from thread and forum regulars and part timers to people I've never heard of and didn't even know followed the thread.
Thanks so so much to everyone for everything, from myself and everyone at the Mayflower Sanctury in Doncaster.
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Also thank you to TK (and the bonk +1) for the very kind words above.
You've both 'known' me from my very first day on sky poker, and have seen me at my worst and at some pretty shocking low points.
Without sounding too cliche'/soppy theres not alot I can do about the millions of mistakes I've made during that time, can only make sure the future is different
The comments mean alot, thank you.
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The Morning !
Unreal sequence of events tbh.
I woke feeling ok, very tired but come on what's new.
The stomach felt a little iffy but settle at least.
For now.
Roll on a cup of tea, a citolorpram, 1 spoonful of porridge and 30 minutes later and I need the toilet.
Standard.
1 more minute I need the toilet again.
Not so Standard but it happens.
Again...
Again...
Again....
5 times inside 5 minutes.
And apologies to anyone eating their dinner in the next hour or so but it really was eye of a needle stuff.
ugh.
That's ok....
8am and time to set off for a steady 40 min drive to arrive 45 mins before the start.
Nope.
Car wont start.
Well it will but it wont move.
Panic again.
Oil top up, fiddly stuff under the bonnet, praying to the mechanic gods, dunno which one of them worked but 25 mins later we were off.
It's ok we allowed for plenty of time.
Everything on course now.
Approaching the race start, huge backlog of traffic.
Come onnnnnn.
Sat there stressing about my fitness, my preperation, my guts, the heartburn that'd starded suddenly, my nerves, and now I'm sat in a huge static traffic jam watching people who've gotten out their cars running past me in their proper gear to make it on time.
I DONT HAVE ENOUGH ENERGY FOR 13 MILES NEVERMIND 14. ffs.
It ok, we're moving now, and we arrive @ 9.25 for a scheduled 9.30 start.
But many others in the same boat, so news of a slightly delayed start was welcome, 20 mins to get my number and warm up.
Number gotten.
Warm up?
Guts have other ideas.
8 mins till the race starts and i have to decide between a proper stretch or a visit to the toilets.
Not really a choice given my preperation, show me the portaloos xxxx
Start Line, finally.
AMAZING.
HUGEEEE field of runners, absolutely massive. The noise!!! From the conversations, literally made the atmosphere buzzing.
Its just a shame I couldn't enjoy it a little more, get there earlier and feeling good about the race ahead rather than full of doubts and fear.
But still a great experience.
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THE RUN.
Absolutely fine.
Ran every inch of the 13.2miles and abit more on top for good measure.
I was surprised at how many people didn't run the whole distance btw. So many people using a walk/run strategy, in the early stages i overtook and was re-overtaken by 1 chap like 10/15 times.
And towards the end i was jogging past so so many people who just looked like they were having a walk in the park chatting to their mates.
Like they ran as much as they could then walked the rest?
Anyway we got there, in 1 piece, without any accidents or stoppages.
I expected to be way way more emotional than I was at the finishing line but I was just so exhausted and relieved to have gotten there that none of that kind of thing has kicked in yet. Hopefully it will.
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My time was around 2h35minutes I believe.
Which to me means nothing, I'd rather run it all in 3 hours than walk/run it in 2.
The goal when I decided to face up to and tackle my alcoholism, depression, obesity, agorophobia and anxiety back in May 2015 was to run a half marathon by Great North Run day (11th Sept) 2016.
Many congratulations JJ, you're an inspiration to us all.
Just one gripe though. Please stop calling yourself obese. You're not even overweight so if you class yourself as obese then I must be on the verge of a heart attack or stroke!
The achievement, not just today, but since the very first day you decided to do something about your life can never be over stated. It truly is an inspiring story. From not being able play 2 minutes of darts without needing a lie down to running a full half marathon in such a short space of time is incredible. To do all that while still suffering with extreme fatigue issues is astounding. I've spoke to you pretty much every day throughout and know how tough a lot of the days are with the tiredness, it's took a lot of strength to power through.
Truly epic day after a truly epic journey and a journey that helped inspire me to change aspects of my life along the way with you so thanks. Well played again pal and congrats. Enjoy it.
Can't congratulate you enough. Some of those challenges you've mentioned I can fully associate with, and I can only admire what you've achieved in overcoming them.
Seriously well done. And when people ask "Do you run?" you can confidently answer "Big time!".
Anyway, I'm becoming distracted by a picture of french fries on your links.
I hope won by the way? I had a few quid on it......
Thaks so much yet again for all the nice comments, I can't reply to everyone but there are some really kind words above that mean alot.
Readers here have played a massive part in getting me accross the line. And have also almost singlehandedly taken me above and beyond my fundraising goal, with donations from the Splashman & Rocketman taking me to £550.
From 31 different supporters.
That's actually mind blowing that so many different people care enough to donate. Unreal.
Thanks so so much
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Ill leave the link up, half because I don't really know what the line is with it, and half because early tomorrow morning (or whenever my legs let me) I'm away up to Scotland for a weeks holiday, something I've been looking forward to for a long time now. (although the drive, not so much)
When I'm home a week on Monday i'll tot everything up and take it down and get the offline donations over to Jennie at the Sanctury.
I'm hoping to break my live poker duck this week in Edingburgh.
If there are any locals who know anything about nice/friendly low stakes tournaments or low stakes cash games in any of the many Edingburgh casinos it'd be nice to hear from you.
Maybe even meet up for half an Irn Bru before we go to war on the baze.
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Allowing myself 4 'first of the year' treats this week as a self reward for being good.
Used 2 of them today.
- Bacon (obv)
- Ice Cream (dubious decision given the options available)
Plans for the other 2 atm are takeaway beef chow mein.....(undisputable selection)....
And the 4th is up in the air.
At the mo the favourite is a large battered sausage with curry sauce.
Comments
So much to write!
But first the important stuff,
Chilling & Doc for overnight donations taking me upto and beyond my goal setting target.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Also thank you to TK (and the bonk +1) for the very kind words above.
The Morning !
Unreal sequence of events tbh.
1 more minute I need the toilet again.
Not so Standard but it happens.
Again...
Again...
Again....
5 times inside 5 minutes.
Well it will but it wont move.
I DONT HAVE ENOUGH ENERGY FOR 13 MILES NEVERMIND 14. ffs.
But many others in the same boat, so news of a slightly delayed start was welcome, 20 mins to get my number and warm up.
Guts have other ideas.
And towards the end i was jogging past so so many people who just looked like they were having a walk in the park chatting to their mates.
And I did it
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wowser
I'm hoping to break my live poker duck this week in Edingburgh.
- Ice Cream (dubious decision given the options available)
Plans for the other 2 atm are takeaway beef chow mein.....(undisputable selection)....
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Going to sleep for 15 hours