what about the following?
And suggestions for attention grabbing thread title greatly appreciated
Would you like to shed a few Christmas pounds and help a really worthwhile cause at the same time? But do you shudder at the thought of your lycra-clad body setting foot outside? We have all been there.
In just over 12 weeks time, there is a MN fundraising event to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Care ? no matter what your current fitness level, you can do your bit to get fit and raise money.
If I can do it, then anyone can! Until just over two years ago, the very thought of running made me quiver. It brought back memories of cross country at school and green polyester running knickers and trying to hide behind a tree during the first lap waiting to re-join the rest of the girls during the third lap.
So when a work colleague encouraged me to join her to run 5k for the Race for Life, I very nearly laughed in her face. My first ?run? was an 18 minute session where I walked two minutes then ?ran? 1 minute and repeated six times. I clearly remember frantically checking my stop watch in the ?run? segment and wondering how on EARTH I would manage to run a further 40 seconds before I could walk again .
However, something in me rose to the challenge and, in as little as 12 weeks, I went from ?running-phobic? to ?3.1 miles in 26-ish minutes without stopping?. This year, I ran the Great North Run in a little over two hours. Needless to say, the friend who gently persuaded me to run back in May 2007 transformed my life and, by default, helped to transform the lives of those who I have raised money for over the last few years.
In just over 12 weeks time, we are organising a ?MN Marathon Relay? in honour of an amazing Mumsnetter, Twink, and her DH, fondly known on our running thread as Mr T. During the early stages of organising this event in aid of Macmillan Cancer Care, Mr T sadly passed away after a really brave fight against cancer. This secured in our mind that we really wanted our MN Marathon to go ahead to remember Mr T.
Here is how it works. You pledge a distance you can run ? 5k (3.1 miles) is perfectly doable in 12 weeks for a complete running novice. You get put in ?teams? who together run a collective marathon between them. Teams are just ?virtual? ? you don?t meet up but the camaraderie and support you will receive will spur you on. You encourage people to sponsor/donate money via a collective Just Giving page. On the weekend of 27/28 March, you run your distance having been out regularly (and followed one of the couch to 5k training plans that we are going to post shortly).
MNHQ have pledged a team who will cover 26.2 miles between them. We already have approximately twenty runners taking part from our regular running thread but would really like to invite anyone who wants to get rid of the Christmas ?spread? or would just like to get healthy in the New Year to join us whilst raising money for such a worthwhile cause.
You don't even have to run the full 5k - Run-walk-run is perfectly respectable and many marathon runners use this technique tactically - and we have a training plan that you can follow for this too.
More practical training pages, fundraising details, blogs and personal stories to follow. But please sign up below if you think you would like to participate in this event for a very worthwhile cause which Twink, and many other Mumsnetters, have had great support and help from during extremely difficult times.