Running4Rwanda

I spoke too soon - I came down with a chest infection, and missed almost 3 weeks of running, so am only just getting back to running. After my last post, I had a couple more runs - one on Tuesday and one on Thursday, but the last one was a real struggle, and I didn't run again until yesterday. I even had blood tests, and got sent for a Chest x-ray, but there was nothing too serious, so after 2 courses of antibiotics, got the all clear. Hopefully, if I take it easy over the next couple of weeks, I should be back to decent training, and possibly racing within a few weeks. I have now closed the fundraising - a grand total of £417 was raised which has gone towards midwifery training, midwife support and safe motherhood projects in Shyira, Rwanda. Thanks to everyone who sponsored me - your generosity is appreciated, and has helped countless women and children unable to help themselves.

So far, so good - I've started running again, with no ill effects. I had a few days rest, and started running again on Friday, and have been out again today. I'll try to get our every other day, but run very easily for the next couple of weeks, just to recover fully, before starting serious training or racing again. On a fund-raising note, it looks like I may get to about £400 - the latest figure will be updated via a Twitter update on the right of the screen.

Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow - I wish I lived in a bungalow ! If I thought it hurt yesterday, it hurts even worse today - especially going up and down stairs ! The picture on the left shows me going through Hawkshead, at about the 4 mile mark. At this point I felt comfortable, although I had probably started too fast - I was to suffer later ! I intended to run at 8 min per mile, which would have given be a finishing time of about 3 hrs 30 min. My first 2 or 3 miles were quicker than this, whereas I had intende d to start more slowly. In fact, most of the first half was run faster than target pace, but then when I did slow, I slowed with a vengeance, and I was counting off the last 5 or 6 miles. As it happened, the final time of 3:38 was quite reasonable, and I didn't feel too bad at the end (see right). If someone had suggested 3 months ago that I could run that time over that course, I would have laughed. Maybe I could do a half decent time over an easier course, and then maybe I'll co...

All the training's done (almost), and there's less than a week to go, so I'm getting a bit nervous. I haven't done a marathon since the mid-Nineties, so how hard can it be ? I'm sure it will be OK on the day, but I won't be making any rash predictions, other than the fact that I will get round it, even if I have to walk. I'm sure it won't come to that, but there's a lot riding on it, so I'll get round no matter what it takes. Sponsorship currently stands at over £200, which will go a long way in Rwanda, but I'm hoping to get about double that before the week is out. See the Twitter feed on the right for the latest situation. As always, all money raised will go to Midwifery, Maternity and Safe Motherhood projects in Rwanda. We are committed to raising £10000 over the next 4 years, to pay for the training of the next midwife. The maternity extension will cost over £20000, but at the other end of the scale, £15 will pay for a Caesarean section, ...

Well this is what it's all about - raising funds to train a midwife. And the picture shows the first fruits of our fundraising. Robinah was the first recipient of the scolarship set up to train a nurse, and this is her pictured after her graduation ceremony. She has now returned to Shyira to work, but because she is the only qualified midwife, she works long hours and is on call 24 hours a day, so the training of the next midwife is crucial. Please help us to raise £10000 over the next 4 years - support my appeal by clicking here Thank you for your support - any donation is welcome, no matter how big or small, and every penny received by Shyira Trust is used for the projects supported.

It's not just me - someone else is Running for Rwanda! James Partridge has kindly volunteered to run the Manchester 10k on May 17th - the same day that I run the Windermere Marathon. We are both running to raise funds for Shyira Trust, in particular raising funds for Midwifery training, the extension to the Maternity Hospital, and other safe motherhood projects. We are committed to raising £10,000 over 4 years to pay for Midwifery training. The Maternity extension will cost over £20,000 - over however long it takes. At the other end of the scale, £15 will pay for a Caesarean section, and £1.50 will pay for a normal delivery. Every penny received by Shyira Trust goes to the projects it was intended for, so please be generous. Even a few pounds can save a life - small change makes a big difference. To support James, in his first ever race, please click here . To support me, celebrating 25 years of running, please click here . Thank you for your support

I've just realised - Monday was the 25th anniversary of my first run! I did my first run (actually run-walk-jog-walk-stagger) on 20th April (Good Friday) 1984. How did I miss that ? But more to the point, how should I celebrate ? Maybe the Windermere Marathon is my belated way of celebrating. If you want to help me celebrate, join in by sponsoring me to run here or use the 'my appeal' widget on the right - all the money is used for Midwifery training and Safe Motherhood projects in Shyira, Rwanda

I'm leaving behind the flat training runs around Formby, to take part in one of the hilliest road races in the country – the Windermere Marathon on May 17th - and hoping to raise funds for Shyira Trust, for their work in Shyira, Rwanda. In particular, helping to fund the training of a new midwife, the extension of the maternity hospital, and other safe-motherhood projects. When the new maternity hospital was completed in 2004, there were still no midwives, so Jane set up a scholarship to train a local nurse. The first recipient of this scholarship was Robinah, and she has completed her training and is now working back in Shyira, but she needs the support of more midwives. Jane has just returned from attending Robinah’s graduation, and spent a week working alongside her in the maternity hospital. The maternity is always full to capacity, so needs an extension. Also, Robinah is working on her own, and is on call 24 hours a day, so the training of the next midwife is also a priority. ...