Katie's Story
Well I'm sure you all know how much I love Running and New York City, thats part of my story but not what I'm going to bore you with today!
You've probably already guessed a lot of my story is to do with my sister, to do with my desire to run the marathon to my full ability after last year and to do with the difference I want to make for children who are unable to make it for themselves and to encourage and enable those to share in my passion for running.
Before I went to New York last year I already had one sister signed up, having recently started running a few miles with me Emily had got the bug and couldn't wait for me to run the New York marathon out of excitement for me and because she wanted me to get back so we could go out running again! My second sister Yvonne who came with me was soooooooo excited perhaps more so than me when I got back to the hotel she said there and then she wanted to run and to experience this for herself. So when I got back from New York they both started training more with me. Both of them doing extremely well. When Yvonne found out she was pregnant I was happy but had mixed feelings as it meant NY would be put off for a year and I would be running with Emily and unable to race again. Nevertheless I was still ecstatic with Emilys progress and am now as she's run 12 miles so far and will be runnig 14 with me on Monday.
When talking to Wai Ling my personal trainer about this he offered to run with Emily so I could race, it took me a while to process this! I knew she would be in safe hands and it would mean I would get the chance to run the marathon at the pace I trained for last year but didn't achieve due to a chest infection. A week later it was agreed and I was even more excited than ever, a little nervous due to the pressure of now achieving what I set out to but excited nonetheless! I've now stepped up my training adding more shorter intense runs to my long distances and recently including dynamic stretching and core training to enable me to run smoother and faster.
Running to raise money for children with leukaemia is important to me and I am really enjoying being daft and running round in costumes etc as it is really rewarding knowing the difference we will be able to make even though behind the scenes the planning going into all of our fundraising events is hard work I really want to help those and their families who really need it.
Having gone through a scare with my nephew and being able to think of nothing else, struggling to deal with my own emotions and trying to support my sister at the time I can only start to imagine the hell these families are going through and the strength they must have to be able to cope and stay strong for their children.
And on a lighter note! I love that I can encourage others and have the ability to enable them to make a difference to their lifestyle increasing fitness levels, and overall happiness and wellbeing. Starting an informal ladies running club on a Sunday morning it's great to see others with the same enthusiasm I had years ago realising that they can actually do it and achieve something is a great feeling.
Also running with my friends and family on a one to one basis is great and I can't wait to start back with those who want to join me after I've finished focusing my training on New York :-)
You've probably already guessed a lot of my story is to do with my sister, to do with my desire to run the marathon to my full ability after last year and to do with the difference I want to make for children who are unable to make it for themselves and to encourage and enable those to share in my passion for running.
Before I went to New York last year I already had one sister signed up, having recently started running a few miles with me Emily had got the bug and couldn't wait for me to run the New York marathon out of excitement for me and because she wanted me to get back so we could go out running again! My second sister Yvonne who came with me was soooooooo excited perhaps more so than me when I got back to the hotel she said there and then she wanted to run and to experience this for herself. So when I got back from New York they both started training more with me. Both of them doing extremely well. When Yvonne found out she was pregnant I was happy but had mixed feelings as it meant NY would be put off for a year and I would be running with Emily and unable to race again. Nevertheless I was still ecstatic with Emilys progress and am now as she's run 12 miles so far and will be runnig 14 with me on Monday.
When talking to Wai Ling my personal trainer about this he offered to run with Emily so I could race, it took me a while to process this! I knew she would be in safe hands and it would mean I would get the chance to run the marathon at the pace I trained for last year but didn't achieve due to a chest infection. A week later it was agreed and I was even more excited than ever, a little nervous due to the pressure of now achieving what I set out to but excited nonetheless! I've now stepped up my training adding more shorter intense runs to my long distances and recently including dynamic stretching and core training to enable me to run smoother and faster.
Running to raise money for children with leukaemia is important to me and I am really enjoying being daft and running round in costumes etc as it is really rewarding knowing the difference we will be able to make even though behind the scenes the planning going into all of our fundraising events is hard work I really want to help those and their families who really need it.
Having gone through a scare with my nephew and being able to think of nothing else, struggling to deal with my own emotions and trying to support my sister at the time I can only start to imagine the hell these families are going through and the strength they must have to be able to cope and stay strong for their children.
And on a lighter note! I love that I can encourage others and have the ability to enable them to make a difference to their lifestyle increasing fitness levels, and overall happiness and wellbeing. Starting an informal ladies running club on a Sunday morning it's great to see others with the same enthusiasm I had years ago realising that they can actually do it and achieve something is a great feeling.
Also running with my friends and family on a one to one basis is great and I can't wait to start back with those who want to join me after I've finished focusing my training on New York :-)