Back to page

Running against strokes

  • I did it!!

      17 February 2019
    Main image

    Well today was the day, Round the Bays day!

    It was a beautiful morning, it started at 7:45am and took us to the other side of the Miramar Peninsula and back.

    I DID IT! I finished the Round the Bays half marathon! I'm so pleased with how it went, my time was 2:02:12. As you can see from the attached pic, running 21km makes you look a little haggard haha.

    I've raised more than I could have hoped for in Dad's memory for the Stroke Foundation. This page will remain open until the end of the month in case anyone else wants to donate, then off goes the monies.

    I just hope that wherever Dad is, he's proud. I did it for you Dad, love you <3.

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Training Update #9

      6 February 2019
    Main image

    We are now less than two weeks away from Round the Bays, and my training is going well. As you can see from the picture attached, I've now hit a new landmark - 18km! Running that distance is great because it means hopefully I'll be able to run 21km on 17 Fen with no problems.

    I'm starting to wind down a bit on the running, to save up my energy and what not for the big day. I don't want to do myself an injury prior to Round the Bays because I was stupid and tried to do a massive run! So I'm sticking to a handful of 10km and under a few times a week.

    My home town newspaper, the Stratford Press, did a wee article about my running to raise money in memory of Dad. It got published today, and luckily it came out well (I'm always a bit iffy about this sort of thing cos of the stories you hear about someone being misquoted etc). I'm not sure if it'll be published online, but I'll try and post a picture of it on here :).

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Training Update #8

      20 January 2019
    Main image

    Okay, it's been a wee while since the last update, and my knee seems to be getting better since visiting the physio, who gave me some exercises to strengthen my right side.

    Thank you so much to everyone who's donated to my fundraising, it means so much to me.

    I took a week off trying any long runs, and this week got back into my usual training. I managed 25:56 in yesterday's parkrun, which is good because it means I'm keeping up with my plan of focusing on speed in the shorter runs, while focusing on stamina in the longer runs.

    This morning was great because I managed to run 15km! It was a beautiful morning in the Hutt so a run up and down and around the river was great. I'll try and build on this by 1-2km next week :). Less than a month to Round the Bays now!

    This coming week will be hard as 22 January will be the one year anniversary of Dad passing away. I know Dad wouldn't want me to dwell on things, but I can't believe it will be a year since he died, it still makes no sense. I'm going to try and distract myself with work and other things, while also looking back on all the great memories of Dad I have <3.

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Training Update #7

      6 January 2019
    Main image

    Hello there! It's been a wee while, but what with holidays I think I can be forgiven for a delayed update on my training :).

    I'm pleased with how things are going, over Christmas break with family in Taranaki I managed to run 14km, yay! I also ran that distance on New Year's Eve home in Lower Hutt, which is great. I've been keeping up with parkrun and now that I'm back into the swing of things at work I'll be able to fit another run in and get back into my routine.

    HOWEVER, I ran into a problem this morning - I was about halfway through a planned 15km run when the tendons on the outside of my right knee decided they'd had enough, and I ended up with quite a bit of pain and limping which meant no more running for me, and I had to walk home. Not ideal at all, but making sure I don't do myself any further damage is important, so I'm planning to see a physio this week to get things sorted and see if there are exercises I can do to help with this issue.

    Onwards and upwards! :)

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Training update #6

      20 December 2018
    Main image

    This update is a bit delayed, sorry! Coming up to the holidays I had things to sort out - mostly presents :P.

    The past week of training has been good. I got a new personal best at the parkrun, yay! I've also found the pace at the treadmill which gets me to 10km in an hour.

    This past Sunday I also got to a new distance record - 13km! yay! I've read that if you can run 15/16km comfortably, you can run a half marathon, so that's what I'm aiming for.

    I'm off to see family for Christmas tomorrow, and will be sure to get some training runs in while I'm there :).

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Training Update #5

      9 December 2018
    Main image

    This week has gone well training-wise. I think sticking with 3 days running, 3 days strength and cardio training is working well for me so far. Mixing it up so it's not constant cardio seems to be good - making sure my endurance is increasing and my muscles can hack the pace is important!

    I managed a new personal best in the Lower Hutt parkrun - 26:04 :D. And I ran 12km today and shaved a few minutes off my first 12km time, which is great. Working on my pace and so far so good, if I can ensure my split pace is 6:20 and under I will get a good time for the half marathon.

    On a personal note, this month is a bit weird and bound to get weirder. Reason being, it's coming up to the one year anniversary of my Dad being admitted to hospital following his stroke. I'm trying to focus on good memories, and my work towards the half marathon, as well as Christmas with my family.

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Training Update #4

      2 December 2018
    Main image

    This week has gone well training-wise. I think I've gotten into the groove of running 3 times a week, and am trying to push myself on my Sunday run to increase my distance bit by bit.

    Today (2 Dec) I ran 12km and am really pleased with my time and split pace. I think I'll stick with 12km next Sunday too, and then build the distance km by km.

    With Christmas holidays soon upon us I've been planning running routes on my running app for when I'm staying with family - got to keep up with training even while on holiday!

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Training update #3

      26 November 2018
    Main image

    Well this weekend was a big one for me.

    This past week I stuck with my usual treadmill run at the gym for 1 hour, and then the Lower Hutt parkrun on Saturday (new personal best: 26:43!).

    Yesterday (Sunday) I took part in the Pelorus Trust 10km run in Lower Hutt. The course was good, took a bit of getting used to the gravelly track on the way up the Hutt River. And I managed to get quite sunburnt - oops!

    BUT - I reached my goal and ran the 10km in under an hour! My official time was 57:59, YAY! The pic in this week's update is a very sweaty and disheveled me with my sweet medal, haha.

    Completing the 10km run in under an hour is a big achievement for me, and I'm really pleased. It means I'm on track with my training I think, and am able to run pretty much half of a half marathon now!

    Next step is to start building up my Sunday runs by a km or two at a time till I reach 15/16kms. If I can run that distance, I think I'll be set for the half marathon :).

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Training Update #2

      18 November 2018
    Main image

    First off I want to thank the lovely people who have donated so far - thank you so much, it makes me so happy that people are donating and want me to do well in the half marathon!

    This week I did three training sets. I'm trying to do one treadmill run and two road runs per week. I ran 9.21 kms in one hour at the gym - the main goal of the treadmill runs is to build up the time I can run consistently without stopping. So far, so good :).

    Yesterday at the Lower Hutt parkrun I beat my first time by over a minute, which I'm stoked about - this week was 27:19 :). And today I ran 10km for the first time, in preparation for next week's Pelorus Trust 10km. I ran down the Hutt River and back up through Petone and Alicetown, and did the 10km in 1:01:49, which is a good time I think - I'm aiming to do the Pelorus Trust 10km in an hour or under.

    So far so good with training, and now I know I can run half a half marathon, pretty much :P.

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Training progress update 1

      13 November 2018
    Main image

    I've made a pretty good start on my training I think. I'm running the Lower Hutt parkrun and my first go at it ended with a 28 mins 53 sec time, not bad!

    I'm also working towards the Pelorus Trust 10km at the end of the month, I think it's a good way to build up my distance running. I started with 8km this past Sunday, and am pretty pleased with my time. I'm aiming to run the 10km in under an hour so have a bit of work to do, looking forward to it though!

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment