Off The Island + Running For Charity

Well, we're getting serious now. Ran 18 miles on Friday (well, walked 2 of them but had to get off the island as the island is only 12 miles in circumference) and the plan was to run 20 this week. However, my wife has decided to give me her lurgy so I'm not feeling up to anything at the moment. Anyway, good for weight loss as I sweated buckets last night (urrgghh!) as the good guys (white blood cells) waged war with whatever is trying to undermine my efforts to finish this marathon in one piece. That reminds me of how all this started:

It was mid October 2006 and I was lying there, soaking up the last of the summer sun in the south of France. We'd had a sumptuous lunch of local cheese, crusty bread and the obligatory bottle of red wine. I was just about to doze off but something was blocking my view – my stomach!! In fact, if we'd been on the beach Greenpeace would have tried to put me back in!! Over 15 stone and 5 foot nine shouldn't belong in the same sentence but that is where I was, technically obese.

I also couldn't run a mile.

It was in that moment I decided I had to do something about my 'growing' problem.

"I think I'll run a marathon" was just one of 12,000 thoughts I had that day but it has led to number 41750 running around the inner London suburbs on April 22nd, all 26 miles and 385 yards of them! In fact, it has led to a whole lot more than that and I am now in training proper. I also ran in a half marathon at Silverstone (see below) so with that, I was just about halfway there.

It's not all about my stomach though and I'm hoping to raise £4,000 for Mencap (helping people with learning disability), a school in Ghana (can't afford a padlock, let alone books and desks) and the homeless in Colchester (why are they so?).

This is where you come in. On Friday I ran/walked 18 miles and there was nothing left in the locker. What with jogger's nipple and other delicate parts becoming far too delicate to mention, I was struggling. My legs had given way and my puff was gone. I'll be 49 this year, I'm just too old and too unfit to do this and I need your help to get me over the finishing line. I know by the time mile 20 comes, all I will be thinking of is how much money I'm raising by doing this. Literally, those thoughts will fuel each staggered step. So, please find below a donation button and just do what you can. 100% of the proceeds are going to the above causes so please ask friends and family to help if you want to. Please complete by April 14th so I have an idea what's at stake, especially for those last 6 miles.

Finally, let me say a big THANK YOU in advance. I really do appreciate your help and I know I won't make it without you.

Thanks again and all the very best, Allen

100% Of Proceeds To Charity

Allen Jesson Beats Nigel Mansell At Silverstone!!

If you know anything about Formula One racing, particular the UK racing scene, you will know that today's headline is a little far fetched. But it's true! Yes, on Sunday 18th March 2007 I ran in the Adidas Silverstone Half Marathon (13.1 miles). So did Nigel Mansell (3 times winner of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone) and I beat him!! I came in at 2 hours and 33 minutes (don't laugh, it's the taking part that counts :o) and Nigel was somewhere behind me. Eat my dust! Seriously, I felt very pleased with myself because I ran most of the way. So I'm half way there and I have just over 4 weeks before the big one. Wish me luck!! Friday will see my first attempt at 16 miles.

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Die Trying

It's official! I am now a globe trotter! I have trotted, or jogged, in the UK, China, Australia, South Africa and now back in the UK. China was very interesting, so a big thanks to Tim and Emma for hosting us in their Shanghai apartment for a night. I managed a short run around Century Park but I must admit the smog was a little heavy and it felt like I'd smoked 20 cigarettes when I'd finished. We then went on to sunny Australia to renuite with my beautiful children and before I knew it I was running along the sandy shores of the NSW South Coast, Lake Conjola and Wollongong in the main. Then on the way back to the UK we jogged around Joburg and finished with a few days in spectacular Camps Bay, Cape Town. Along the way I've struggled with this calf muscle so I am nowhere near where I wanted to be with only 7 (gulp) weeks to go before the main event. Today I ran 8 miles and it really hurt and I know there wasn't another mile left in the locker, let alone another 16 miles. But even if it kills me, I am going to run that marathon on April 22nd. That got me thinking, I wonder how many ideas just wither on the vine because of lack of determination, or the lack of will? I wonder how many opportunities get missed? Because it occurred to me, that to die trying is a much better way to go than to live a life that is not lived at all. Much better to fail in one big swoop than to fail a little bit every single day. Worth thinking about? I bet my life on it.

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