Pound for Pound - are you in??

*Hands up* I am the overweight member of the group Im about haf way though my journey still a long way to go though, so with January right around the corner and the last christmas goodies finished its time to knuckle down.

Its hard during the cold winter months to get motivated and to carry on the motivation for any length of time when you look outside and the sun of summer seem so far away - but how about losing weight for a good cause??

Doesnt cost you ANYTHING apart from a commitment to lose some weight but could mean the world to others.

The Biggest Loser have thrown down the challenge : for every pound in weight we pledge to lose until May 31st 2011 they will donate 11 cents to Feeding America (enough to secure 1 pound of groceries on behalf of local food banks) to a maximum of $1,040,000

As you know we are not in the US but ours still counts as does ALL pounds pledged from wherever you are - we are raising for the Central Boston area Food Banks

http://www.pfpchallenge.com/ here is the link to the page - join a team - register yourself and your pledges if we all use the same zip code of 02108 which will link you into the Central Boston area food bank and search for team name 'DOING IT FOR THE KIDS' and it will join you in with other team members

Together we can do this - great motivation - New year - cruise in May

Come on Blockheads what have you got to lose - when families will gain so much - together we can do this x x x x

Christmas???

So, Christmas - a tough time for us dieters!!! I had to stop running here 10 days ago due to the icy slippy pavements, but, while I was away for Christmas Eve-Boxing day I ran in the fields near where I was staying - that felt good, jogging along snowy tracks on Christmas day morning!!! I got through Christmas day without too much over-indulgence, but Boxing day included an entire Chocolate Orange - big oops. Annoyingly the gym I use is shut until the 4th January, but I'm hoping the pavements thaw out asap so I can get back to running, and I'm doing some band workouts in my flat in the meantime! I'm going to start planning my New Year New Body regime this week - in with veggies, pulses, whole grains, lean meat, plenty of fish and out with the crisps, chocolate and too much coffee!! In with a sensible daily workout and out with the crazy irregular bursts of over-activity. Let's hope that the lovely training diary I got for my birthday will help me stay on track!

back on the wagon

Well Ive managed to flag down the wagon and Im back on again !!

Just been weighed this morning too see what the damage was and to my surprise I have only put 2lb on - not bad considering all the junk I have been eating - maybe chocolate IS one of the main food groups after all ??!!

So anyway Ive faced the music - which is always the hardest part I think, when you have taken a hiatus and had a few weeks off for whatever reason (in my case cold that lingered and lingered.....) but you have to think - Right it is what it is get back on track and onwards and upwards -

I know some people dont agree, and I know its not the healthiest way to go - but Me personally I am better if I feel myself waivering on the diet, training to take a break completely and then come back to it fresh when you are in the right frame of mind rather then carrying on half- heartedly and getting nowhere.

I already know that my training has taken the knock and it will take me a bit to get back to where I was before but I am postive that it is easier and better mentally to take a break, be a little out of condition and improve than run the risk of injury or even worse starting to resent the training and dread getting your trainers on - which if I have come this far I really dont want to do because Im really starting to love the training and the changes I can see - even if you had asked me a year ago I would have laughed at you !!

So here's to the wagon and all who ride on her !!!

Back and on a new regime!

Well, I'm back, and am annoyingly 6lb heavier than I was when I left. I had a good trip, but did have some sad news while I was away, which came to it's (rather tearful) end when I went straight home to my parents to attend my Grandads funeral after I got back to the UK from Egypt.
But, time to move on, and time to shift those pounds, and get back to fitness. While I was away I did manage 3 weeks of a 20-30 minute run every morning, then started travelling so spent hours sat in a car - eating junk snack food. Not good.
I've devised a new meal plan, and a new workout plan which STARTS TOMORROW........!!!
Soon I'll be setting some 2011 event goals (aiming for at least one half marathon and a minimum of a sprint distance triathlon or two).

While the cats away Lol

Well we are down to 1 man (or woman) at the moment - Maz is tied up in family life, Joesgirl has shimmied over to Egypt to work - although its funny how she has to work as soon as the weather turns cold over here - hmmmmmm????

Only joking -

So its only ME at the moment and so I thought I would have a little spring cleaning (to go with my new years resolutions!) and to get some organisation to the blog (and before anyone notices !!).

Which when you think about it is what many people tend to do with diet and exercise - start off with a basic plan and then as your body adapts to the changes you constantly tweek the plans and improve them to hopefully get the maximum results.

Which leads me back to the blog - we started this as a personal account to see how far we have progressed and to look back and smile - It also helps US to all keep updated to what the others are doing we live near each other but not near (if that makes sense??) and with juggling life, jobs etc its hard to catch up as much as we would like sometimes- we have email-text-phone-twitter but this is somewhere that we can all refer back to, But now we are starting to make some progress and we have some readers to join us along the way - time to get organised.

As you can see the background has changed in preparation for a slightly different format and in the new year this will be followed up with tabs across the top so if you are interested in the races, all our posts relating to that will be there same with training etc.

so to co-incide with that we are going to try and cover certain topics on certain days so we will have:

Monday : Diet
Tuesday: Exercise/Training
Wednesday: Teamwork/Races
Thursday: Dreams/Aspirations
Friday: any magazine articles/tips that we have picked up along the way.

small print ! - subject to change !!!

SO thats the plan of action so far, bear with us and stick with us -

A journey begins with a single step

Keep on running (and swimming and cycling)!

Ooo it's been a long time since I posted!!! I made it through my very first Triathlon in one piece (just about) and then 3 weeks later ran a 10k race IN THE POURING RAIN!!!
Now - time for a month working on my physiotherapy, then back to the newly updated and revised winter training schedule. I've had some expert advice and am inculding some more Tri-specific training sessions.

New Years Resolutions ..........In OCTOBER ???? - - - Continued .....

Ive had a think and here we are on 5th October 2010 and Im sorting out my New Years resolutions (cue streamers and drunken rendition of Auld Lang Syne !!!) - some achievable for next year some I know will take time - so maybe they should be classed as ambitions?? either way they will be in black and white so here they are, some fitness, some life in general - in no particular order:-

1. To continue with the fundraising - Ive given myself a target of £1000 for next year - not too sure on either one particular charity or to spread it out over various?

2. To continue on the healthy living track ( I hate the 'go on a diet on Jan 1st') if I waited and only did it once a year Id get nowhere ! - and I know that it is going to be a long, long road which will never end otherwise I'll end up back where I was which I am determined not to do.

3. To carry on supporting my friends in life, races, etc - this one is self explanitary

4. To Run a 1/2 marathon and FULL marathon - eeerrrrmmm.........I'll work on the full one, that one I'll give myself until im 40 so I have 3 years to build up to that one... the 1/2 I think will be achievable by the emd of next year ......if I give myself until Dec 31 st LOL!!

5. To Visit America - OK its not working or Living there but it's the next best thing - this one I know is achievable in 2012 as we are saving frantically for a NKOTB cruise for that year - assuming there will be a cruise that year so if I dont make this resolution it wont be on my part !

6. To continue on with my studying - I started an Open university degree in Social Care and due to medical problems missed a year, and then never got back to it so challenge is to go back and finish it.

And that is it to date if I think of any more Ill let you know, so as I said maybe not New Years Resolutions but that is my plan of action so far to fit in before I am 40 (3rd December 2013) - even though it sounds like im either having a mid-life crisis - OR trying to fit it all in before the BIG one !!

New Years Resolutions ..........In OCTOBER ????

Yes I know it is only October but 2 things happened this weekend .... nothing serious but just made me think.

1. I went to see the play Calendar Girls at the Liverpool Empire - Fantastic play - all about the antics of the members of a Womens Insitute posing nude for a calendar to raise money for a sofa in the relatives room of a hospice where one of the women' husbands died from Leukemia.

2. When waiting for the play to start I was chatting to my mum about my sister and what she is going to do when she finishes University in 2 years time - and she said that she wants to go to America to Work.

These 2 together made me look at my life ..... I no means regret anything that has happened in my life, I believe that things happen for a reason ... but it was ALWAYS me that wanted to live and work in America or Canada - even had the opportunity to go to the American College in London with the option of a placement in the States at the end, but I never took the opportunity and now my chance has passed, and I will have to now only visit.......

As I said everything happens for a reason, If I had gone I wouldnt have met my husband and had my children, who dispite having their 'moments' are the best thing to happen to me - but what else do we put off because we dont (for whatever reasons)take the chance or seize the opportunity??

In my case it was confidence....and years on I still have to work on my confidence but am all to aware of how quick time flies.

So thats where the resolutions come in..... What 5 things would I do dream as big or small as you can and thats what I m going to aim for....... so If I do my resolutions now I can get all the groundwork sorted with a timescale then come January 1st 2011 Im ready to Rock n Roll rather than thinking of them on the 1st then spending the next 6 months planning on what to do or just charging in like a bull in a china shop.......

So as soon as Ive made my list and plan of action i'll let you all know ......

x x NO REGRETS x x

Day of Rest ??

Late night, 40th Party last night, in early hours..... still got up...

I start my duathlon training properly tomorrow but I thought before I even consider the training for the bike bit, Id better make sure I can still ride, havent riden a bike for years so I took myself off to see if I could at least stay upright without making a fool of myself!

Went to the local park that I normally do my running/jogging round to which is fairly flat ....and do you know what......its like riding a bike - you never forget !!

I managed to do 3 times round the park which is the eqivilant of 10k legs were a bit like jelly at the end and what started as a slight incline was a vertical climb at the end along with the headlong wind that I was riding into

But I stayed upright which was the aim of the game, and my training doesnt start at 10k it only starts off gentle and we have 20 weeks to do 16k in 1hr or less

At least I have all the cycling uniform so if I fall off at least I'll look the part !!

Training tomorrow let you know what im up to as regulary as I can

x x

5 Brothers and a Million Sisters xx

The Picture says it all - but just incase......

I feel so lucky to have found my team-mates, maybe not the most conventional way of meeting new friends through the NKOTB reunion, but how lucky am I that I did !!

5 Brothers and a Million Sisters Forever x x

@ddubsgirl4life

Whats been happening?

well to be honest since the last post .......erm..... not a lot !!

Joesgirl has completed a tri-athlon, I couldnt even begin to tell you about that one so you will have to wait for her to update you, she is also started a course in fitness training so again she will keep you posted on that one.

What we have decided to do is to slightly change the content of the blog... yes we still be findraising for various causes which is the reason we embarked on this fitness quest and blog in the first place - nothing changed there, but,

We thought it may be more interesting for you, the reader, rather than seeing we did blah, blah, blah race and we raised £xxxx we thought you may like it if we turned it round and you joined us on our fitness journey.

As you can see from previous pictures I am NOT an athlete I am average Joe Bloggs who has put on a lot of weight through having 3 kids and lifestyle choices - not an excuse I know I had choices - - I made the wrong ones (and lots of them- many of the chocolate variety!!) but Im here Ive lost 3 stone so far - still about a billion to go though - but I'll share my journey with you, with the fundraising side and the fitness side- by NO MEANS professional advice - and please check with doctors before starting any fitness/diet campaign- just me bimbling through losing weight, getting fitter and pickingup snipets as I find them.

SO all that said whats next in line ??

Well we have a December Team Santa Dash in Liverpool - A truly bizarre sight of 1000's of Santas running through the streets in order to beat the world record - Las Vegas beat us last year by about 40 - so this year there will be 3 more santas !!!

And then....

*hands up* I know in the middle of winter I can think of more important things than jumping onto my treadmill or out on the bike - ITS WINTER the majority of the animal kingdom slows down or goes into complete hibernation ........ what do we do........ sign up for a duathlon in MARCH !! - so that means no let up for training :(

I'll be the one training on the bike with the hot water bottle stuffed down my front dodging the ice patches......ho hum the things we do

Speak to ya next time

@ddubsgirl4life

Why do we do it?

Why do Team Lets Fight This do what we do?

We are NOT elite athletes by any stretch of the imagination, and sometimes we ask ourselves why we are doing it when it would be so much easier to succum to the lure of the chocolate and the couch.

Then you would be reminded of someone who has been touched by Cancer or is in the middle of the Fight either themselves or family members, and it brings it all home to us WHY we do it.. because WE CAN, and WE MUST.

If we only raise £1 in sponsorship then that is £1 towards a cure,

During the Race 4 Life on Sunday it is so humbling reading the dedications as to why people are doing the same thing - although sometimes it is hard to run when there are tears in your eyes, but it really hits home how MANY people are affected by Cancer.

This was our first Race 4 Life (not Joesgirl74 shes a veteran !) but I can assure you it will not be our last.

I know a few of the team-mates said that their legs were sore and stiff on the Monday but when you think about it - to be fit and strong enough to DO the race in order to suffer with the stiffness the next day - WHAT AN AMAZING FEELING

Coming soon we have a guest blog post from 'across the pond' and her personal experience of the Komen for the Cure events

Guess who's Back ??!!

Tadahhhhhh - Team Lets Fight This did it again and this time with a new member to the team!

We have all been training for the Race 4 Life 5k in Sefton Park Liverpool - the only one that we could all get together for (and in my case the latest one to give me more time to train lol !)

but we battled against, families, work, illness (not good in the week leading up to the run) and we did it !

Opened the curtains on Sunday morning after having the worst nights sleep EVER looked at the weather and thought it would be so much easier to crawl back into bed - but I didnt it was one of those 'fake it till you make it mornings' so on went the positive attitude along with the Lets Fight This team shirt and dont forget the Pink grass skirt all topped off with pink flower garlands - under normal circumstances I wouldnt be seen in a pink grass skirt - not unless I was under the influence ! so it must have been for a good cause.

Then came the next decision where to position ourselves? Joesgirl74 was fine she knew she was in the runners..... the rest of us...erm???? no we aren't runners so that was that category out.....are we joggers??? or are we walkers??? as far as we could see they didnt have a half/half flag to stand by and we figured that we were fast walkers/slow joggers so we stood in the middle ! and then we were off

Joesgirl74 finished in an amazing 26min (and that was with a wardrobe malfunction too!)

The rest of us....... We walked/jogged our way around the course, cursing every branch and exposed tree root on the ground - this along with the sprints that we put on for show when we saw any family members - lol

and we finished in 39 min (no wardrobe malfunctions for us!)

Then to the important business of the day .... Tweeting the results !

We had the BEST day ever, raised money for a GREAT cause and spent some time together as a team

Team mates together,
Blockheads for Life,

Friends forever x

RETRO NKOTB INTERVIEW UP FOR GRABS!!!

For a donation of at least £3 to my Race For Life page you'll recieve a copy of an hour long interview show with Joe, Jordan, Jon and Donnie (Danny was back in the USA with his broken leg) and Simon Mayo from the 1990 Hangin' Tough Tour.
Want to hear them doing an impromptu rap to Madonna Vogue????? Then donate £3!!!
THANKS!!!!
Donate then email me - the address is on the donation page!!

http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/clairemalleson2010

We did it!!! (again!). @munchkin75 and I completed the Lupus Superheros walk/run in Greenwich park. It was a great event (in the main) and the sun came out for us. Here we are as Lupus Superheros -with wings!

I'm really pleased that I met my target of £300, Lupus is such a nasty condition and it does not get much attention really.
So - onwards from here. Next event - Race For Life. There will be exciting news on here soon regarding fund-raising for that! Training? Well, I did the Lupus 5k with the beginning of a really horrid cold that is really not shifting, so I've had a
week off. Hopefully I can ditch it this weekend and get back into the running shoes!

sharp reminder

If ever I had a sharp reminder and a dose of reality on why I am doing the Race for Life it happened this week - My friends mum was diagnosed with Breast Cancer on Tuesday and is in fact going in for her operation tomorrow - the scary thing is though as an older woman she never checked herself monthly and the lump was only found by accident by her grandson banging into her by accident when they were playing and it hurt, all hats off to the health service though for their quick response - but it brought home to me how many women (and men ) STILL DON'T check themselves regularly -

so PLEASE, PLEASE read the information provided by the link to NHS Uk below and be aware of any changes and see a doctor AS SOON as you notice anything - I personally would have written on my medical records 'She's here AGAIN' rather than 'Didn't come early enough'

This has got nothing to do with increasing traffic to the blog or getting more readers/followers but PLEASE forward this blog page onto as many women as you can

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1740.aspx?CategoryID=60&SubCategoryID=182

Once again I cant emphasise enough the importance of getting this information to as many people as possible

Love to you all x

Make the most of every day x

Many apologies Ive been ill for a while - nasty illness bug that i couldnt seem to shake but We (not me !) have been keeping up with our training I PROMISE YOU !! and we have some great items coming up - one of which is a guest post from one of our followers doing the Komen 3 day Challenge- Amazing- but for now I have a lovely passage for you reminds us to make the most of every day and to live it to the maximum x x

Time Waits for no-one

See the Second Hands move swiftly

And the minutes speeding on

Then the hours passing quickly

All too soon the day has gone

Always moving, sure and strady

Certain as the endless tide

Father time is not your master

Let him always be your guide

Think of those whose days go slowly

Those whose moments creep along

Think of all the lost and lonely

Offer hope to make them strong

Watch the minute hand still moving

As the hours slip away

Use each precious moment wiselyMake the most of every day

Dear Danny

Wow, how excited was I to see the latest news from Danny?? Fabulous idea... he's certainly our inspiration!
I'm going ok with the training, I rashly signed up for a 10km race on the 30th May, but, perhaps, as it's making me work a bit harder, it was a good idea!! Munchkin75 and I started new training journals this week, a consolation-for-not-being-on-the-cruise present! I've filled in all the planning pages, chosen my 'target' races and set out a Plan for the nest few months. The great thing is that it includes diet too, so I log the number of grains, nuts, proteins, fruit, veg and sweets/fried foods I have each day. Made me realise that I eat a lot of nuts/beans and not much veg!! Fundraising for the Lupus run is going well, I'm just over halfway to my target but I have an idea up my sleeve - watch this space for a 'memorabilia' sale!!

Flunning anyone????

Flunning is apparently for my single friends amongst you is a new craze of flirting while running hence - flunning - hmmm

Obviously not me being married, but got me thinking about this, it seems an obvious place to meet people, it used to be you met people in work because that is where you spend the majority of your day, I suppose that if you are both running you have healthy living in common,

For me though I'm thinking, Im walking/running got mp3 plugged in with some automated voice (that I have nicknamed Max cos he reminds me of Max Headroom) telling me what to do, Im bright red, puffing and blowing away, sweaty, and knowing my luck Max will tell me to start running just as he stops to speak so I'll just look rude and run off, so Im thinking, that should I be on the market it is not the impression that I would want to give a potential suitor, although if he still fancies you looking like that fair play to him !!

For me though, I would much rather do the flirting in the gym cafe, after a workout, after a shower, after make up applied, and looking like I always look like this after a workout - doesnt everybody??

Tink - oh then I'm back to reality and I'm back to Max shouting at me to run, run, run for 3 minutes !!

Week 3 day 2 - doing great so far

each day is a gift x

picture courtesy of european blockheads

OH YEY!!! Danny knows about us!!!

confession time....

I love the companionship and the motivation that I have and share with my two other team mates but along side the 5k training I also have my own personal challenge.

Confession time...

I am the most overweight of the team, and my personal challenge is to lose 50lbs t(o start off with ) from August 09- August 10- I picked August because that was the last time I had my picture taken before I started healthy eating, pretty attainable you would think..

I am a typical yo-yo dieter and would love one day to wake up a size 10 (uk size) but it aint gonna happen,

I dont know what it is but I feel 'ready' for it now, in the past I have tried both weight watchers and slimming world with varying - limited sucess, whether it being, willpower, or not fitting into family meals ( I cant expect the whole family to have red/green days - Slimming World peeps will know all about them !!) or having to take a calculator around with me on the weekly shop to work out how many Weight Watchers 'points' are in each item.

So I am doing it the old fashioned way and calories in v's calories out - and to be honest I am not even counting calories I am aware of them and know roughly my intake but I really dont want to be one of those people with a photographic memory who can recite the exact number of calories per ounce of every single food item -

I also dont want my daughters to see mummy constantly dieting and counting calories and eating seperate 'diet' food - I personally think that kids these days have enough pressure on them through the media without the comfort and safety of family to fall back on.

Admitidly it is coming off slower but I have noticed that with the exercise I actually look better because it is toning up

BUT it REALLY gets me when a friend of mine ( and yes there is a small part of me that is jealous!) has gone on a really restrictive diet of 500 calories per day (food replacement) and has lost 11lbs in her first week - I am pleased for her though although she knows what I think of the diet !!

I'll keep you all posted on how Im getting on - whether or not you are interested !!! lol and of course also let you know about my Race for Life training - 1st post coming tomorrow

I just have to remember the old Aesops fable about the tortoise and the hare and in true 'Lets Fight This' tradition -

Its not the winning - its the taking part that counts !

The Next Step

So, Where do I go from here? (!!).
Well, I managed to raise a total of £171 for SHINE - a bit short of my target, but as most of that was from a large collection of £1 and £2 donations for raffle tickets it's not too bad!!
MY next step, with @munchkin75 is the 5km Superheros walk/run in Grenwich park on June13th. We both doing the event in aid of the St.Thomas Lupus trust, and I am to got BIG on the fund-raising for this one!
I'm planning to run it, and beat last year's 5k times (so - i need to do it in under 27 minutes), and training is already in progress. Yesterday I hit the Gym for an 'Active Core' class - lots of aerobics followed by about a million squats, then in the evening I made a very happy return to my running club. I made it around the course, and had a wonderful time chatting with my chums (that is - until I ran out of breath and they zoomed off into the distance!).
Onwards and upwards!!!

Where do we go from here??

So the big event has come and gone, tweets & texts have been flying back & forth checking if we are all ok and comparing ailments - none of us seemed to have faired to badly - aches and pains but recovering well.

I figured that walking/running a marathon must be like childbirth you forget how painful it was as soon as it is over and start planning the next one ......

Which is exactly were we are at now - We have already committed ourselves to doing next years moonlit marathon (albeit with a few tweeks in tactics/training) but we loved it so much we are looking to ways that:

1. We can keep our fitness up

2. Still keep meeting up as a team for fun (along with the promise of lunch afterwards !)

3. Still keep raising awareness/funds for causes that are close to us.

So at the moment we are gearing up as a team to do the Race for Life 5k in Sefton Park, Liverpool July 18th a womens only fun run in aid of Breast Cancer Awareness.But before that @joesgirl74 is doing a 5k in London in June supporting the Lupus charity which I know is a cause close to her, so for the time being @joesgirl74 will be multi-tasking in true women fashion and using her training for the Lupus 5k to start and continuing on to the Race for Life.

Never let it be said that blockhead are lightweights !!

Well, WE DID IT!! Here are my pics......



We got there in good time, and before going in we had to pin on our numbers.....

Once inside Manchester Central (aka the GMEX) the athmosphere built up and there were THOUSANDS of Balloons!!







Outside we were standing in the queue for what felt like ages, but considering the number of people it was not too bad really!!!


















We made the first 13 miles easily, if a bit slowly and frustrated at having to dodge the crowd, by mile 13 it thinned out a bit, then by mile 21 we were all in pain and longing for the end.... which by Mile 25 was delightfully in sight!!

So.... we made the last stretch, then collaped on the floor and enjoyed bacon rolls and cups of warm brown liquid....



Then we dragged ourselves to the station - managing to go the wrong way and walking MUCH further than we needed to!!! Just what we needed!!!









We made it back to Lime St.... Medals around our necks, sore feet, aching limbs but really happy. We had a GREAT experience, despite the pain, and we're already planning more walks as training for next year!!!

and we lived to tell the tale !

I have officially never hurt as much as I did on Sunday !!!

There I said it and got it out the way..... now for the fun bit recalling the past few day's events...

Although it has taken until now to get some sort of recollection back, caught up in the moment or blocking it out ? not entirely sure all I know is that I keep getting flashbacks .... some good... some bad.....A LOT painful !!

but here are my memories of the day....

Team 'Lets Fight This' arrived in Manchester at approx 8.00pm then had to find our way to the start....

Went inside to see what we had to do, and to put bags etc in storage, and that all important loo stop (while they were still semi - hygenic !)

Everybody was given water and survival blankets to take with us and a helium balloon with a light in blue, pink, or white, - we actually ended up with 1 blue and 2 white so I swapped with a very manly man who had a pink one ! so we had one of each

then we waited...

Until 10.00pm (ish) and then we were off, through the streets of Manchester through a big Arch with flames out the top, then it was o-oh here we go - see you on the other side !

We reached the first pit stop reatively for another toilet stop and more water, then onwards, we then came to one of the bigger pit stops at I think 7 miles?, where there was some sort of light ceremony where (as Ive since found out) you could buy a lantern and have it lit in memory of someone these were all on the ground and spelt out SHINE - we could also pick up apples, water, or a hot drink - we all thought that it was very civilised and that wouldnt be as bad as we thought - hmm famous last words ....

Balloons were popping all over the place or getting tangled up - still attached to backpacks - funniest thing EVER was when you saw balloons sticking out of toilets OR people coming out of toilets and being pulled back because their balloon was still trapped inside.... not so funny when you are walking behind somebody and you have to keep batting their balloon out the way - I dont want to see another balloon for a VERY long time !

Then we had to contend with 30,000 people all along the pavements as none of the roads were closed, so either go slow or play chicken with the cars - most of the time we chose chicken - find a gap and go, go, go - and of course not forgetting the banter from all the pub goers !

And on we walked, and on, and on ....through various miles and pit stops till we had gone in a big circle and were back at the major pit stop again.. this is where our first strength of will power came in - we literally came to a crossroads

<- 26miles .......... 13 miles->

AGHHH it was so tempting - theyd never have known ! but no we didnt dwell on it just dont think just turn left and keep going - **but we could be home in 2hrs ** - no head down ignore the signs - keep going.

And then we were off on the road again, one of the great things we found out is that although the team had all trained, we had done it seperately never together but we all seemed to gel really well and had all seemed to have trained at similar paces and so no-one was struggling or slowing down - one thing we didnt account for was training with back packs on !

And we walked, and walked, physically we were ok we had some pains and strains but were managable, although Maz kept threatening the dawn chorus if it didnt stop - nothing worse than walking ALL night without being reminded of it by birds twittering !! - I dont think it helped mentally that we hit a really, really long road and were all exposed around the Trafford Centre and industrial factories that were all closed up just as dawn was breaking and although we were walking with others it just felt (to me) we were very isolated and in the middle of nowhere.

The toughest part mentally and physically was to come at around 21 miles though...

I had heard of the wall but thought that because we were 'only walking' it wouldnt affect us... boy was I wrong - we hit 21 miles and all 3 of us went quiet ! the pain that we had managed to keep at bay hit BIG TIME and mentally it was 'I cant do it' and all 3 of us agreed that we darent stop for the last pit stop at 23 miles or it would be so hard to get going again - all you could hear from us was ughhh, ahhhh, hmphhh as we were tring to get up and down kerbs or even taking a longer detour so we could go up the sloped bit, cars had no chance - it was a case of ' we CANT stop so you will have to ' funny - hurting- but funny..

and then for some reason we got to 24 miles and BAM we were away again final burst wouldnt say that it was a sprint or that it was a scheme from Chariots of fire- wouldnt say we picked up the pace any quicker but we mentally brought ourselves out of it and then .......TADAHHHHHH we were HOME .......WE FINISHED .......YEAY .......
we ran (or walked) the whole gamet of emotions, 21miles it was NEVER AGAIN, at the end it was THANK GOD THATS OVER... Sunday night despite having to crawl up the stairs the tweets were already flying discussing tactics for next year ... so its a DEFINATLY MAYBE... why... I dont know... suckers for punishment... and do you know what I CANT WAIT !

and just take this opportunity to say thank you to all of the SHINE TEAM they did a fantastic job and for a 1st event it couldnt have gone any better - obviously a few tweeks cant be helped but we had a BLAST thank you, thank you

HERE WE COME

Wow, I cannot believe the time is almost upon us. As ddubsgirl says, we've all been through a lot, plagued by silly accidents and injuries, but here we are, ready to go. I have a wedding to go to during the day tomorrow, so here's to hoping I don't sprain an ankle or develop a blister in my nice new shoes!
I'm really excited and so proud to be doing this!
Keep posted after the walk for other events - we're not stopping now!!!!
LET'S GET THIS!!!

honoured to be walking with my blockhead sisters x x

1 day to go - doesnt sound too bad if you say it quick - but think -



1 day....... 24 hours.........1440 minutes........86,400 seconds...... its like the opposite of waiting for Christmas..



but then you think - how should I be feeling now ? should I feel ......





nervous?


scared?


calm?





Or in my case all of the above? although it is more nervous than anything - its the first time any of the team have challenged ourselves to this extent - although Joesgirl has done running before



In the paperwork it says - for the last few days take it easy and try and get as much rest /sleep as you can - so taking all the advice into account where was I Wednesday night - all tucked up in bed early ....... NO.... in A&E with my daughter until 2am who had an allergic reaction to something and came out in a rash....



I was smiling to myself and still am (and no its not due to lack of sleep) .... because if you think about it , what the whole team has had to go through over the past couple of months, Maz and myself are mothers with young, young children, and joesgirl has been posted over to Egypt for 6 weeks during our training time...



In an ideal world we could put our all into the training plan - but life happens, work happens, family happens with somehow trying to fit in training



And still we are here... waiting for the big day we have done as much as we can.. we are still friends (although ask us Sunday Morning on the train on the way home see if we are still speaking !!lol ) - all of us walking together along with thousands others in aid of one common cause..



I am honoured to be walking alongside my fellow blockhead sisters and wouldnt want to do it with anyone else x

LETS GET THIS LADIES !!!

Rest if you must...But dont you quit

Ive always loved this inspirational poem - but now it seems more relevant.

Dont Quit

When things go wrong

as they sometimes will

When the road your trudging seems all uphill

When the funds are low

And the debts are high

When you want to smile

but you have to sigh

When Care is pressing you down a bit

Rest if you must

But dont you quit

Sucess is failure turned inside out

The silver tint on the cloud of doubt

and you never can tell

how close you are it may be near

when it seems afar

so stick to the fight

when your hardest hit

Its when things seem worst

that you must not quit

Doubting Thomas

Not long to go now, and I must admit that the self doubt is starting to set in now, I went on my last LONG training session on Monday and you know that self doubt that creeps in when you least expect it, thinking - 'what have I done?!' and 'Im not going to be able to do it' I really wasnt in the right frame of mind to do any training, so I thought what do I do?

Do I go OUT and train and miss the last day that Hubby is off work with it being Easter Monday and I was in work on the Tuesday - but have the distraction of the outdoors

OR

Do I stay IN and train on the treadmill? still technically with the family albeit stuck in the kitchen, and watch a couple of films?

I chose the latter, 5 hours I was on the treadmill for covering a total of 30k I WAS NEARLY IN TEARS AT THE END - I thought the films would distract me for however long they were on for - diddnt work just reminded me when it finished I still couldnt go anywhere - I had watched Donnie in Southie, and then Spy Kids, followed by actually a really inspiring documentary showing how introducing a classical music programme in deprived areas can improve academic performance which just happened to be based in Liverpool

- BUT

I was still on the treadmill so no improved performance here and no, not even Donnie could distract me!

then ironically after watching tv when on the treadmill, after having a shower and changed, I then sat infront OF THE TV !!! because I couldn't move - I was laughing at this point (and not because it was funny either!)

So.... what do I do?... I knew it was going to be hard, I knew it was going to be tough.

I asked Mark how he felt whe he was running marathons and apparently it is a phase that you go through - He said, It doesnt matter how much training you have done, you can cover the milage and more but you can still walk up to the starting line and not 'feel right' more of a mental issue rather than a physical matter.

I felt a bit better after that, at least I knew that it wasnt due to lack of training and that I can physically do it, although sometimes I think it is easier for it to be a bodily problem at least you can see and feel any changes - attitude is something else completely

On a better note, since then I have been feeling better and am feeling more confident, think to be honest it was more of a blip than anything serious, probably just the nerves starting to kick in ... at lease I hope so !

14 days to go

14 days to go,..... if you say it quick enough it doesnt sound too bad ! but then something springs up to remind you ..... today it was in the form of our smiling postman delivering our team t shirts and banner... Now all Ive got to do is avoid the Easter eggs for the next two weeks, which for a house with 3 kids it is SO hard... but after the marathon - look out eggs IM COMING FOR YA !!!

HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY !

Who is more fool, the fool, or the fool, who follows the fool?

Still plodding along merrily, but it can be soul destroying having to go out in the rain, hail etc, dont mind if it starts raining when Im out, but when I have to force myself to go out and it is already raining, and I could stay in the nice warm house... I'm walking (or stomping ) round in a bad mood, and looking at all the cosy houses - I feel like tiny Tim at Christmas looking at all the festivites with his face pressed up against the window !

but then I think the way the weather is at the moment at least we will be prepared if we do have adverse weather on the night - which for the UK is highly likely -

and is of course nothing compared to the stuggle for the people & families who are being diagnosed with all forms of illnesses worldwide daily.... because of the cause we are all doing this for and as the date gets nearer, I personally find myself thinking more and more of the people we are trying to help and hope that the money we raise can do some good.. and it is this that pushes me through the bad weather ...

I still moan all the way round,and I WILL TRIP UP the nex jogger/runner that sails past me with a spring in their step and I look like a drowned rat..just keep thinking of that hot cup of tea at waiting for me ...hmmmmm !

Take care @ddubsgirl4life x x

one of our inspirations x

There's an angel that waits for me x x

http://www.rememberbetty.org/

19 days to go

Had a bit of a reality check the other day, got so wrapped up in kids finishing school for Easter, baby finishing playgroup, letter home re-opening playgroup on 13th April.... oh ok then no problem

BUT.... WAIT....THE 13th ..... BUT THATS THE WEEK OF THE MARATHON.......But it can't have crept up that quick surely...but yep here we are 19 days to go including today..

starting to feel a bit nervous/excited about it now.... t shirts are ordered, and despatched...Diet is good .. due to giving up Chocolate for Lent... (that was another good idea at the time!) ..

*note to self* - dont give up chocolate if you do the marathon next year - because it has now in fact been promoted to one of the main food groups...

training has been stepped up..now up to 13miles which includes 2 rounds of the couch to 5k (week 2) running programme (thanks to ktsummer and the running blockheads) to increase the intensity, and have now included core stability excercises and rowing machine...wow I could even pass for actually knowing what Im taking about - but alas no for my training I have my long suffering supportive husband who has worked most of it out for me - I LOVE YA MATEY x x x

We got another one!!!!

Team Lets Fight This are still going strong - its hard to Blog and Walk you end up tripping over things !!! only joking -

Its been a busy time, families, Work, Life in General -Joesgirl74 is over in Egypt at the moment for work and has to take her life in her hands just to cross the street so the majority of Joesgirl74's training has been on the treadmill

Im still here in sunny (not!) England trying my best to fit in training with kids being off, then hubby being off, fitting in work - Ive said it before and I'll say it again - this training lark is great its just life that gets in the way! - Ive been trying to step it up a bit and mixing long walking outside alongside the couch to 5k programme on the treadmill, so hard the first time I did it but gradually/slowly making progress - I must admit I am starting to feel the benefits and look forward to some 'me time' (even if the 'me time' at home on the treadmill involves and audience with the family and after I have cleared the treadmill daily of cars- because apparently it hakes a good race track ?) and do have a sense of accomplishment and do feel better when I have finished apart from the aches so much so that I am starting to look past the marathon onto my next challenge - I'll let you know about that at a later date

So enough of me and Joesgirl74 - we have some other good news - we have another team member @MazNkotb - welcome to the team Maz great to have you on Board x x x x

Im sure that once Maz has got into the swing of things she will be posting on here too.

Speak to you all soon x x @ddubsgirl4life

Thought of the day

had a bizarre thought today when out and about.....

I was doing my long walk as part of my moonlit marathon walk training, did my route, worn out, legs aching,- getting funny looks off people then realising that Im singing along out load to my mp4 (not good at the best of times ! lol ), then getting home, having a bath, getting changed and then................having to go back out AGAIN in the car along the SAME route to find out how far I had gone so I could update my training log - how bizarre and I was wondering how many other people have to go through all this ..........hmmmmmmm that thought has kept me entertained all day - walk went well by the way 5 miles just over 1hr up to 8 miles next Sunday

Personalised T Shirts

With the new tour and cruise coming up what better way to get yourself noticed than with a personalised t-shirt and also help a good cause..... 100% OF PROFITS GO TOWARDS OUR FUNDRAISING GOALS. so I'll take you through it .... Step by Step !!

Step 1 - Choose your required size s, m, l, xl, xxl - ALL SIZES ARE £ 15.99 (inc. P&P in UK)

Step 2 - e-mail over your chosen picture over to letsfightthis@talktalk.net with the message that you want printed

Step 3 - Payment via paypal, (we will request the payment then you pay in normal way)

Step 4 - Please allow 3-4 weeks for delivery (UK) orders will be put in once per week (mon) to keep costs down as much as possible so if you order tuesday onwards order wont be put in till the following monday - overseas delivery can be arranged prices to be confirmed

Step 5 - PLEASE remember that all profits from the sale of these t shirts are going to charity so dont limit yourselves to NK pictures ANYTHING can be printed with any message (within reason !!)

If you have any questions please dont hesitate to contact us via the blog or email letsfightthis@talktalk.net

PLEASE HELP @joesgirl74 and @ddubsgirl4life raise as much as we can for Cancer Research UK

LETS FIGHT THIS

#note: this is totally unofficial and has no links to NKOTB - all pictures email to be used in printing are assuming that we have the permission of the original owner - due to t-shirts being personalised no returns are accepted unless damaged

Signed Shaymin CD's

So... as part of the fundraising effort we have signed Shaymin CD's for sale. If you would like one please donate at least £6 to joesgirl74. Put a comment that you'd like a CD and send me a twit, I'll follow you and get your address for mailing. LET'S FIGHT THIS

BACK IN TRAINING!!

Where have I been you might wonder? Will I took another tumble at the beginning of December - while out training I tripped over. It put me out of action for WEEKS, I have just started back again with some brisk walking a very easy little jogs. So, we only have 11 weeks to go..... please start sponsoring us on our pages ... mine is http://www.sponsormetoshine.org/joesgirl74
THANKS!

Sisters together

A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day,drinking iced tea and visiting with her Mother.

As they talked about life, about marriage, about theresponsibilities of life and the obligations of adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance upon her daughter.

" Don't forget your Sisters,' she advised, swirlingthe tea leaves to the bottom of her glass. 'They'll be more important as you get older. No matter how much you love your husband, no matter how much you love the children you may have, you are still going to need Sisters.

Remember to go places with them now and then; do things with them.''Remember that 'Sisters' means ALL the women...your girlfriends, your daughters, and all your other women relatives too.

'You'll need other women. Women always do..

'What a funny piece of advice!' the young woman thought. Haven't I just gotten married? Haven't I just joined the couple-world?

I'm now a married woman, for goodness sake! A grownup! Surely my husband and the family we may start will be all I need to make my life worthwhile!'

But she listened to her Mother. She kept contact with her Sisters and made more women friends each year. As the years tumbled by, one after another, she gradually came to understand that her Mom really knew what she was talking about.

As time and nature work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman, Sisters are the mainstays of her life.

THIS SAYS IT ALL:Time passes.Life happens.Distance separates. Children grow up. Jobs come and go.Love waxes and wanes.Men don't do what they're supposed to do.Hearts break.Parents die.Colleagues forget favors.Careers end.

BUT.........Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you. A girl friend is never farther away than needing her can reach..When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at thevalley's end.Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you...Or come in and carry you out.Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters, daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers, Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended family, all bless our life!

The world wouldn't be the same without women, and neither would I. When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead.

Nor did we know how much we would need each other.

Every day, we need each other still.

There are more than twenty angels in this world.Ten are peacefully sleeping on clouds. Nine areplaying. And one is reading this at this moment.

Motivational Quote

Life has no limitations - except the ones you make

yeay go me !

I know its not Friday, but thought i'd do a round up before hitting the training, I went back - with apprehension I must admit ! - to the gym, first time since before Christmas, and I must admit I was dreading the scales, and tadahhhhhhh I have actually lost 8lbs since my last weigh in and that is over Christmas and no exercise so YEAY - GO ME !!! so came home and celebrated with ........ a doughnut lol !

Ive also start at the gym on 1st February a 30 day challenge, and the yummy mummy with no tummy challenge on my other blog, so for me there is NO ESCAPE !

But we have now turned into 2010 and am on a countdown until the moonlit marathon so onwards and upwards, the tv adverts have also started for the Race for Life so that is my next challenge to run a race , which I think I should be ok in a few months, because technically running is only walking - but a bit faster !!! try telling that to joesgirl73 who hasnt been able to run recently

will start posting more often now, and still to come I will - when I am feeling brave post a picture so that you can hopefully start seeing a before and after difference

keep safe

ddubsgirl4life x x

Festivities over - Back to the grindstone !

Well its 2010 and Happy New Year to you all x x x

Both of us have fallen off the bandwagon towards the end of the year, Joesgirl has fallen over and injured her knee, and I was ill, so couldnt exercise, and then kids were off and with all good intentions and with the best intentions in the world it is not possible to fit it all in with activities, work and visiting, but - onwards and upwards, new year new start and back to the training, I have got the kids involved (Indirectly) by walking to school each morning (as long as its not raining) which is 1 mile then Ive got to walk back which is 2 miles per day and depending on what time hubby gets home from work (although he is a postie so feel a bit lousy after he has walked 7 miles at work to make him walk to school again )we can walk home from school which in total is 4 miles per day but at least I can do my bit in the morning 2 miles plus numerous health benefits and financial benefits and environmental benefits - so triple result !!!

Until Next time I'll try and keep healthy !!!

ddubsgirl4life x