So in my last blog post I mentioned this week was about hard work, I wasn't kidding and it's only Wednesday!
Monday morning I came home from my night shift and for some strange reason whilst driving home I had the urge to go for a run...yeah I know, what's with that?? Anyway I got home, changed and informed a very bemused Rich I was off for a run. My last outside run (and my first training run) I managed 2.57 miles in 38:29 minutes, 1 mile of that was non stop running and my overall pace was 14:56. I was pleased with that as my pace for the last half marathon I ran was 15:21 so I was already feeling chuffed. I remember when I started training last time, I couldn't even make it 100 yards without collapsing in a heap gasping for breath! Monday's run was 2.73 miles, post night shift so no sleep, in the snow and I managed a pace of 14.08! Sure, it's not going to brake any world records but it's improvement and that is what i'm striving for. I managed to run 1.5 miles this time without stopping, that felt great, made up for the slightly frostbitten fingers 😂😂😂.
Another major step this week was contacting a personal trainer. You may remember my previous post about jumping my first hurdle? Read it here. Well last week I put on my big girl pants and contacted her again, after all I first made contact with her because I was impressed with her results and her clients raved about her. Out of all the trainers I looked out, she was the one that stood out. I arranged a PT session for this afternoon and off I went. It was cold, about -2 when I arrived at the park but I think I was sweating from nerves! Half 4 came and she arrived as arranged, that was a relief, well for a short while anyway!! It was tough, it was cold and I may have forgotten how to breathe a few times but I survived. Again it's not the biggest achievement in the world but more me it's huge progress and taking steps to not just improve my fitness for the half marathon but just in general. So an hour of running to collect cones, making waves with stupidly heavy ropes, slamming medicine balls into the floor (I liked this haha) and squats. I completed each task set, have always been a stubborn bugger!
The work does not end there though, when i'm not running or having training sessions I am working at home. The focus, drive and determination is there, I CAN DO THIS!
Wednesday, 28 February 2018
Saturday, 24 February 2018
Why Paul Satori?
It is a beautiful sunny day here in Pembrokeshire today, the perfect day to go out for a run but alas I am stuck indoors looking after my poorly man who has a nasty dose of flu, still, its the perfect time for me to sit and write this blog post.
When I have previously asked for sponsorship for my crazy ideas it has usually been for a well known national charity such as Cancer Research or the Lymphoma Association. Charities that are foremost in our minds and have huge media campaigns behind them in order to keep them there.
When mum was diagnosed with cancer I looked to all the different charities to see what help and support they could offer our family. Macmillan had a specialist nurse who was available to offer help and guidance when I could get hold of her, Marie Curie didn't offer any help in our area, there are no local hospice service to help when with respite care when things were getting tough. That left us with one option, Paul Satori.
Having spent time with the charity during my nurse training I was aware they offered a "Hospice at home" service. I contacted them when mum was ready to come home from hospital and within days they had delivered and set up a hospital style bed for mum to use when she came home, a listening device, similar to those you use with babies when they go into their own rooms and a 24 hour number for help, support and advice. They also offered a sleep in service, this has to be one of the most invaluable services ever provided by a charity. For 2 nights (sometimes more) a nurse or health care assistant would stay overnight meaning I could go home, sleep in my own bed, get a full nights sleep without worrying that I wouldn't wake if I was needed. I cant begin to tell you how amazing that was, especially when running on empty. The staff were amazing, they would always be on time, were keen to help in any way they could. Each time they came they would sit and have a chat with me so I could "handover" anything they needed to know, discuss medication with them, offer solutions to any problems we were having and just listen to my worries. They would send me off home with a smile and a wave and I knew that mum was safe and well looked after. She would enjoy having someone new to chat to and soon became very fond of her "ladies" as she called them. It also gave her someone to confide in. We knew that she had worries that she didn't want to burden her family with, perhaps she thought talking about her final wishes would upset us or she just simply couldn't face it. She knew the ladies who came to her had experience in these matters and would be able to sit and listen without judgement or emotion, this was just what mum needed.
Whilst the statutory 2 nights were a life saver, there were often times when I would need perhaps an extra night like when I was floored by a cold and needed that night of unbroken sleep, or when the kids had something on and I needed to be home. I only had to pick up the phone and ask for help, if they had someone available then they came, no hesitation. There were also nights where they had a cancellation and I would get a phone call asking if I would like someone that night, it was always gratefully accepted. I can honestly say without Paul Satori there is no way we could have managed to keep mum at home as long as we did.
I am however aware that we only used a small amount of the resources this charity has to offer. A brief look at their website HERE shows that as well as home care and equipment loans, the charity offers a clinical nurse specialist in palliative care, a physiotherapist to enable palliative patients to maintain independence and dignity in their own home, complementary therapies such as aromatherapy, massage, Reiki and reflexology for both patients and their families, bereavement counselling, advanced care planning and education and training for medical professionals. Best of all, all this is offered for FREE!!! So how much does this all cost? Their website informs me that in 2016 the cost of running their clinicaal service was £900,000. That is a pretty astounding figure and must be quite a daunting task for their fundraising team, can you imagine having to raise that amount of money each year? This is why, in a fleeting moment of madness, I decided to do the Cardiff Half Marathon and raise as much money as I could for this fantastic charity.
But don't just take my word for it, here are some comments from other people who have been supported by Paul Satori:
Vicky: When dad had pancreatic cancer they provided all the equipment from bath hoist to bed, wheelchair etc. Not to mention emotional support they offered.
Rachel: we used Paul Satori when my mum was ill, they were fantastic. If we needed anything we only had to phone and they would deliver it straight away. We nursed mum at home which was hard work and at night she would become very restless because she was scared to sleep so Paul Satori sent someone out to us to stay at the house overnight so that my dad could get some rest.. I don't think we could have kept mum at home with us to die her own home if it wasn't for the brilliant ladies.
Sam: When I lost mum I had nowhere to turn. Being an only child and losing dad many years ago meant everything was down to me. With their help and support I was able to provide first class care to mum when she needed it the most. Whats more they helped me come to terms with my loss through their amazing counselling service. It was such a relief to have someone to talk to who understood how I felt and didn't try and tell me how I should feel. They really made a difference.
So there you have it, whilst Paul Satori isn't one of the "big boys" in the charity world, they are certainly one of the best. Any dent I can make in their own target will be a huge help and I know will go towards providing care for a family just like me or yours.... If you would like to sponsor me please pop across to my Justgiving page HERE GO ON! YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO!!
When I have previously asked for sponsorship for my crazy ideas it has usually been for a well known national charity such as Cancer Research or the Lymphoma Association. Charities that are foremost in our minds and have huge media campaigns behind them in order to keep them there.
When mum was diagnosed with cancer I looked to all the different charities to see what help and support they could offer our family. Macmillan had a specialist nurse who was available to offer help and guidance when I could get hold of her, Marie Curie didn't offer any help in our area, there are no local hospice service to help when with respite care when things were getting tough. That left us with one option, Paul Satori.
Having spent time with the charity during my nurse training I was aware they offered a "Hospice at home" service. I contacted them when mum was ready to come home from hospital and within days they had delivered and set up a hospital style bed for mum to use when she came home, a listening device, similar to those you use with babies when they go into their own rooms and a 24 hour number for help, support and advice. They also offered a sleep in service, this has to be one of the most invaluable services ever provided by a charity. For 2 nights (sometimes more) a nurse or health care assistant would stay overnight meaning I could go home, sleep in my own bed, get a full nights sleep without worrying that I wouldn't wake if I was needed. I cant begin to tell you how amazing that was, especially when running on empty. The staff were amazing, they would always be on time, were keen to help in any way they could. Each time they came they would sit and have a chat with me so I could "handover" anything they needed to know, discuss medication with them, offer solutions to any problems we were having and just listen to my worries. They would send me off home with a smile and a wave and I knew that mum was safe and well looked after. She would enjoy having someone new to chat to and soon became very fond of her "ladies" as she called them. It also gave her someone to confide in. We knew that she had worries that she didn't want to burden her family with, perhaps she thought talking about her final wishes would upset us or she just simply couldn't face it. She knew the ladies who came to her had experience in these matters and would be able to sit and listen without judgement or emotion, this was just what mum needed.
Whilst the statutory 2 nights were a life saver, there were often times when I would need perhaps an extra night like when I was floored by a cold and needed that night of unbroken sleep, or when the kids had something on and I needed to be home. I only had to pick up the phone and ask for help, if they had someone available then they came, no hesitation. There were also nights where they had a cancellation and I would get a phone call asking if I would like someone that night, it was always gratefully accepted. I can honestly say without Paul Satori there is no way we could have managed to keep mum at home as long as we did.
I am however aware that we only used a small amount of the resources this charity has to offer. A brief look at their website HERE shows that as well as home care and equipment loans, the charity offers a clinical nurse specialist in palliative care, a physiotherapist to enable palliative patients to maintain independence and dignity in their own home, complementary therapies such as aromatherapy, massage, Reiki and reflexology for both patients and their families, bereavement counselling, advanced care planning and education and training for medical professionals. Best of all, all this is offered for FREE!!! So how much does this all cost? Their website informs me that in 2016 the cost of running their clinicaal service was £900,000. That is a pretty astounding figure and must be quite a daunting task for their fundraising team, can you imagine having to raise that amount of money each year? This is why, in a fleeting moment of madness, I decided to do the Cardiff Half Marathon and raise as much money as I could for this fantastic charity.
But don't just take my word for it, here are some comments from other people who have been supported by Paul Satori:
Vicky: When dad had pancreatic cancer they provided all the equipment from bath hoist to bed, wheelchair etc. Not to mention emotional support they offered.
Rachel: we used Paul Satori when my mum was ill, they were fantastic. If we needed anything we only had to phone and they would deliver it straight away. We nursed mum at home which was hard work and at night she would become very restless because she was scared to sleep so Paul Satori sent someone out to us to stay at the house overnight so that my dad could get some rest.. I don't think we could have kept mum at home with us to die her own home if it wasn't for the brilliant ladies.
Sam: When I lost mum I had nowhere to turn. Being an only child and losing dad many years ago meant everything was down to me. With their help and support I was able to provide first class care to mum when she needed it the most. Whats more they helped me come to terms with my loss through their amazing counselling service. It was such a relief to have someone to talk to who understood how I felt and didn't try and tell me how I should feel. They really made a difference.
So there you have it, whilst Paul Satori isn't one of the "big boys" in the charity world, they are certainly one of the best. Any dent I can make in their own target will be a huge help and I know will go towards providing care for a family just like me or yours.... If you would like to sponsor me please pop across to my Justgiving page HERE GO ON! YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO!!
Tuesday, 20 February 2018
Half Term Lurgy
You know how it goes, it's half term, lots of things planned with the kids, runs scheduled and BANG.....the half term lurgy hits. I can cope with a runny nose and a headache but the inhalers have been working hard this week just in order for me to breathe so running has been out of the question. I am also struggling with my jaw pain which has meant taking extra Dihydrocodeine which in turn makes me sleepy and lethargic, not a great mix when you are already feeling rubbish!
I'm also happy to admit that this has been a tough week mentally. The 18th marked a whole year since mum passed away. I cannot begin to understand where the last year has gone. It's been busy, i'll grant you that, April I had my hysterectomy, June we went to Glastonbury, Jade had GCSE exams, summer holidays, Panto, Christmas and Jades 16th birthday, all things mum would have relished, although I remember the eye rolling and exasperated gasps when I told mum I had secured Glastonbury tickets 😜😜😜. I have tried to fill my time with as much as possible so that my mind is occupied but im often caught off guard when I go to pick up the phone to tell mum exciting news or when we picked postcards when we were on holiday. There is a definite void in all our lives that no matter what we do we are not going to fill.
However, as much as I would like to just sit and veg on the sofa and wallow in self pity, I know this is not going to help me in October so I dusted off the yoga mat, cleared a space on the bedroom floor and invested in resistance bands and 3kg dumbbells. I've managed to get an hour in most days so far which im pleased about. I must admit I was dubious about the resistance bands and wondered if they were a faddy thing but as they were only a couple of quid from Aldi I figured I didn't have much to lose. I printed off a chart from the internet and off I went. It took a while to get the tension right and I did almost decapitate myself a few times 😟but with persistence and a few naughty words I got there in the end. I woke the next day feeling like id been run over by a bus!! I think its fair to say they do the job.
I have also spent the week looking up different stretches to help with shin splints. I developed these last time I ran and did HIIT training so i'm mindful I dont want to repeat this as they are sooooo bloody painful! I have been working on these before and after workouts to try and stave off any pain, so far so good. If anyone has any other ideas on preventing and treating shin splints i'd love to hear them.
Fundraising wise, I am half way towards my first target of £100. I have a bigger target in mind but im trying to work in small chunks so it does not seem such a giant leap. I would dearly love to make as much money as possible for Paul Satori so I can play my part in helping more families to experience the help and support that was afforded to us. If you are reading this then please consider donating, click on the tab at the top if you want to know more about them. Donations can be as little as £1 (less than a Costa!!) by text and its very simple, you just text SATO47 then the amount (e.g.£1) to 70070, SIMPLES!!
I'm also happy to admit that this has been a tough week mentally. The 18th marked a whole year since mum passed away. I cannot begin to understand where the last year has gone. It's been busy, i'll grant you that, April I had my hysterectomy, June we went to Glastonbury, Jade had GCSE exams, summer holidays, Panto, Christmas and Jades 16th birthday, all things mum would have relished, although I remember the eye rolling and exasperated gasps when I told mum I had secured Glastonbury tickets 😜😜😜. I have tried to fill my time with as much as possible so that my mind is occupied but im often caught off guard when I go to pick up the phone to tell mum exciting news or when we picked postcards when we were on holiday. There is a definite void in all our lives that no matter what we do we are not going to fill.
However, as much as I would like to just sit and veg on the sofa and wallow in self pity, I know this is not going to help me in October so I dusted off the yoga mat, cleared a space on the bedroom floor and invested in resistance bands and 3kg dumbbells. I've managed to get an hour in most days so far which im pleased about. I must admit I was dubious about the resistance bands and wondered if they were a faddy thing but as they were only a couple of quid from Aldi I figured I didn't have much to lose. I printed off a chart from the internet and off I went. It took a while to get the tension right and I did almost decapitate myself a few times 😟but with persistence and a few naughty words I got there in the end. I woke the next day feeling like id been run over by a bus!! I think its fair to say they do the job.
I have also spent the week looking up different stretches to help with shin splints. I developed these last time I ran and did HIIT training so i'm mindful I dont want to repeat this as they are sooooo bloody painful! I have been working on these before and after workouts to try and stave off any pain, so far so good. If anyone has any other ideas on preventing and treating shin splints i'd love to hear them.
Fundraising wise, I am half way towards my first target of £100. I have a bigger target in mind but im trying to work in small chunks so it does not seem such a giant leap. I would dearly love to make as much money as possible for Paul Satori so I can play my part in helping more families to experience the help and support that was afforded to us. If you are reading this then please consider donating, click on the tab at the top if you want to know more about them. Donations can be as little as £1 (less than a Costa!!) by text and its very simple, you just text SATO47 then the amount (e.g.£1) to 70070, SIMPLES!!
Friday, 9 February 2018
Time to get my backside into gear....
When I signed up for the half marathon I was very complacent about having a whole year to train! That was more than enough time, no need to rush....now here we are in February and i'm not as complacent anymore! The reality of the task ahead has hit and training has officially begun.
The excuses began early on, ah i'm working nights so i'm too tired to run, my medication is making me sleepy, the weather is terrible today, I can'd find my running socks, it's too early, it's too late etc etc etc. I am an expert at procrastinating when there is something to be done, I learnt that during my degree when my house was spotless just before an assignment was due in because anything was better than doing what I was supposed to be doing!! So I woke up Monday morning and had a word with myself, time is flying by and I have made a commitment to not just myself but Paul Satori too.
So Monday morning, I donned my running gear and hit the pavements. I was not expecting amazing things, after all its been a looooooooooong time since I did any serious training and despite having a treadmill in the garage, had not ventured anywhere near is since maybe early 2016! I loaded up my Mapmyrun app, turned on an audio book to distract me and off I went, before I knew it that annoying woman from the Mapmyrun app was telling me my time, pace and distance, mile 1 was complete. Now last time I ran (and I use that term loosely) the half marathon I started off not being able to run for more than 5 minutes before my legs and lungs blatantly refused to work. Training then had been ridiculously hard, especially when I joined a running club and the other runners were walking at my running pace, still, I struggled on and completed the Half Marathon. This time I have a starting advantage, i'm already at 1 mile non stop so its just a matter of improving and pushing that little bit further.
I returned home after 2.57 miles and thought "What the hell am I doing???" I hated every second of the run, my legs hurt, my feet hurt, my lungs hurt and for the first time in a while I had to dig out my inhaler, but then I thought about this time last year (I refuse to believe it's been a whole year) the days and nights full of exhaustion and frustration, the emotional rollercoaster our family was on. I was struggling beyond belief but like the typical stubborn person I am I ploughed on. I remembered feeling so full of cold that I could hardly keep my eyes open and was desperate for a full nights sleep but had no one to sit with mum that night, in desperation I phoned Paul Satori and explained the situation, they had already stayed their allocated nights that week so I was hesitant to call but almost immediately they set to work to find a member of staff who would come and within minutes called me back to say they had found someone, I cannot begin to explain the relief, infact I think i sobbed down the phone to the poor lady who called back. Thinking back I got through those 4 months with sheer grit and determination to do my best for mum and that is what I need to draw on now, I need to harness that stubbornness, grit and determination and get out there more often.
With this in mind I returned to my treadmill yesterday whilst the wind was howling and it was chucking down with rain outside. Bad weather is no excuse when I have a treadmill so that's one excuse crossed off the list!! This week has been about easing myself into things gently (HA!), next week will be about stepping up a gear and working on distance. Wish me luck!
The excuses began early on, ah i'm working nights so i'm too tired to run, my medication is making me sleepy, the weather is terrible today, I can'd find my running socks, it's too early, it's too late etc etc etc. I am an expert at procrastinating when there is something to be done, I learnt that during my degree when my house was spotless just before an assignment was due in because anything was better than doing what I was supposed to be doing!! So I woke up Monday morning and had a word with myself, time is flying by and I have made a commitment to not just myself but Paul Satori too.
So Monday morning, I donned my running gear and hit the pavements. I was not expecting amazing things, after all its been a looooooooooong time since I did any serious training and despite having a treadmill in the garage, had not ventured anywhere near is since maybe early 2016! I loaded up my Mapmyrun app, turned on an audio book to distract me and off I went, before I knew it that annoying woman from the Mapmyrun app was telling me my time, pace and distance, mile 1 was complete. Now last time I ran (and I use that term loosely) the half marathon I started off not being able to run for more than 5 minutes before my legs and lungs blatantly refused to work. Training then had been ridiculously hard, especially when I joined a running club and the other runners were walking at my running pace, still, I struggled on and completed the Half Marathon. This time I have a starting advantage, i'm already at 1 mile non stop so its just a matter of improving and pushing that little bit further.
I returned home after 2.57 miles and thought "What the hell am I doing???" I hated every second of the run, my legs hurt, my feet hurt, my lungs hurt and for the first time in a while I had to dig out my inhaler, but then I thought about this time last year (I refuse to believe it's been a whole year) the days and nights full of exhaustion and frustration, the emotional rollercoaster our family was on. I was struggling beyond belief but like the typical stubborn person I am I ploughed on. I remembered feeling so full of cold that I could hardly keep my eyes open and was desperate for a full nights sleep but had no one to sit with mum that night, in desperation I phoned Paul Satori and explained the situation, they had already stayed their allocated nights that week so I was hesitant to call but almost immediately they set to work to find a member of staff who would come and within minutes called me back to say they had found someone, I cannot begin to explain the relief, infact I think i sobbed down the phone to the poor lady who called back. Thinking back I got through those 4 months with sheer grit and determination to do my best for mum and that is what I need to draw on now, I need to harness that stubbornness, grit and determination and get out there more often.
With this in mind I returned to my treadmill yesterday whilst the wind was howling and it was chucking down with rain outside. Bad weather is no excuse when I have a treadmill so that's one excuse crossed off the list!! This week has been about easing myself into things gently (HA!), next week will be about stepping up a gear and working on distance. Wish me luck!
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