tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40783984764039707312024-03-08T03:29:03.525-08:00Challenge 1000I have two passions: Running & Motor Sport. So in memory of my Grandfather and for all of us who have had someone important to them die I have pledged to run 1000km in 2012 to raise money for the Child Bereavement UK & Cancer Research UK.
My runs are taking me to many exciting places, including many motor racing circuits of course!!!
virginmoneygiving.com/Challenge1000VictoriaKYounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09435200534498177609noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4078398476403970731.post-88020828704575504292012-12-31T03:12:00.000-08:002012-12-31T03:14:19.641-08:00No more km's left to run!<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In the beginning....</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sometime back in December 2011 I remember thinking to myself if I should run 1000km or not. I had two worries which were; Will I have the time and will anyone sponsor me?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I then thought about the reasons I had for taking on 1000km. I wanted to run them simply because I know how hard it is to come to terms with cancer, for an entire family, and how hard it is when someone dies. These are things that happen day to day for people across the world. So I thought if I could just raise some awareness, and a little bit of money at the same time, that would be a very good thin</span>g.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8qYWrEJy-xE/TxsHTD4vjzI/AAAAAAAAABw/YBZ7TPLOTPU/s1600/january+2012+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8qYWrEJy-xE/TxsHTD4vjzI/AAAAAAAAABw/YBZ7TPLOTPU/s320/january+2012+002.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the end of my first run</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The circuits.....</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Getting motor racing circuits involved was something I was willing to try and achieve. I would like to thank my husband for helping me email and enquire around the circuits. When I was unable to run Spa he who contacted Circuit Zolder, who at the very last minute welcomed us to run the track.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I was
so pleased to discover that a lot of circuits were willing to help me
out and let me run on their tracks. I would like to thank the following
people for their help in this;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Pat Blakenly at Thruxton Motor Circuit, Pascal & Yves at Circuit Zolder, Anne Mich & Suzzane Schmitz at <b>Rad um Run</b>
at Nurburgring, Kate Wingfield at Goodwood, Carol Watts at Silverstone,
Sarah Thomson at Rockingham Speedway and Jen Darby at Donnington Park.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">You
are all fantastic people, representing really beautiful circuits. To
run on ground where racing legends have been meant so much to me, and my
Grandfather would really have marvelled at this. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_qtyXd4OYJ8/TxsHsr1zJYI/AAAAAAAAAVk/313mfvB-Ofo/s1600/thruxton+21st+Jan+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_qtyXd4OYJ8/TxsHsr1zJYI/AAAAAAAAAVk/313mfvB-Ofo/s200/thruxton+21st+Jan+003.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thruxton</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bGRNIJSY9rs/T28b27ZtjiI/AAAAAAAAATA/74irZEbbTKU/s1600/goodwood+cold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bGRNIJSY9rs/T28b27ZtjiI/AAAAAAAAATA/74irZEbbTKU/s200/goodwood+cold.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goodwood</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D5CpAsleyKw/T1kSPIBdCZI/AAAAAAAAAPg/Hqm9Lm71d7s/s1600/podium+wing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D5CpAsleyKw/T1kSPIBdCZI/AAAAAAAAAPg/Hqm9Lm71d7s/s200/podium+wing.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silverstone</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uoTtSjsUKRQ/T6ULJYcloEI/AAAAAAAAAbc/tHEKxWnDQZk/s1600/zolder+podium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uoTtSjsUKRQ/T6ULJYcloEI/AAAAAAAAAbc/tHEKxWnDQZk/s200/zolder+podium.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zolder</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FX_jBwM1svE/T9B4-rxHOeI/AAAAAAAAAo0/FqdoKRn8eds/s1600/podium+rockingham+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FX_jBwM1svE/T9B4-rxHOeI/AAAAAAAAAo0/FqdoKRn8eds/s200/podium+rockingham+2.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rockingham</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LsNsOPUkzfI/UETkFjjSvMI/AAAAAAAAA3k/86FUaVuoEFQ/s1600/the+start.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LsNsOPUkzfI/UETkFjjSvMI/AAAAAAAAA3k/86FUaVuoEFQ/s200/the+start.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Nurburgring</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-922s6gvlWzc/T_FalXkxYFI/AAAAAAAAAtw/PHqRqx6kJtc/s1600/donington+podium.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-922s6gvlWzc/T_FalXkxYFI/AAAAAAAAAtw/PHqRqx6kJtc/s200/donington+podium.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Donnington</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" 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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>The hard parts....</b></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I3DOnhqcCgs/T0qX31KlgXI/AAAAAAAAALc/1WCO9b2aq9g/s1600/challenge+1000+beach+run.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I3DOnhqcCgs/T0qX31KlgXI/AAAAAAAAALc/1WCO9b2aq9g/s320/challenge+1000+beach+run.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">All of<a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank"> Challenge 1000</a> was hard however some particularly difficult moments were; mild hypothermia at Goodwood - thanks to a sudden drop in temperature, running in the heat in Portugal and nearly fainting at the end of each run there, those hills round the Nurburgring and the knee and toe pain. I think my knees are pretty damaged, hopefully they will have time to mend now that they can rest a bit more! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Getting the word out to the national audience.....</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It was great to have articles written about <a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank">Challenge 1000</a> by local and national sources. These include The Bucks Free Press/South Bucks Star, Cookham Crier, The Link Magazine, Lacey Green Windmill, Runners World and MSN Online <a href="http://cars.uk.msn.com/news/woman-to-run-1000km-on-racetracks" target="_blank">http://cars.uk.msn.com/news/woman-to-run-1000km-on-racetracks</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Thank you to all of the above for your support. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Also a big thank you to my Twitter buddies for RTing my tweets about C<a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank">hallenge 1000</a>, and for their kind sponsorship. I would like to thank Tom Ingram and Jack Goff for helping me to spread the word to their many followers also. Best of luck to you both next year in all your racing ventures :-) </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">@VictoriaKYoung </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>How did it end??? </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank">Challenge 1000</a> ended with a 10km run on a dark winters night on Sunday 23rd December. I ran round my local area, which is Cressex in High Wycombe. It was certainly no motor racing circuit, scenic beach or amazing countryside.....but for the final km's it was lovely to finish them back at my front door. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">There were no tears or elation.....in fact this feeling is only just happening for me now. All these once in a lifetime experiences have come out of pure hard work and I am so proud of the support I have received. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The result......</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">£839 at <i>minimum</i>, seeming as people can still sponsor me up until March 2013, will be split 50:50 between <a href="http://www.childbereavement.org.uk/" target="_blank">Child Bereavement UK</a> and <a href="http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/home/" target="_blank">Cancer Re</a><a href="http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/home/" target="_blank">searc</a><a href="http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/home/" target="_blank">h UK</a>. During the time I have been running Child Bereavement UK and Cancer Research UK have seen many positive developments and have helped and supported even more people. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Thank you to all of my sponsors - you have been amazing. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>The final plea......Please help me to reach £1000!!!! </b> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">If generosity comes into your New Years Resolution </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">if you could help <a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank">Challenge 1000</a> reach £1000 so each charity can be awarded £500 I would be most grateful. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sponsor me via <a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank">virginmoneygiving.com/Challenge1000 </a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #351c75;">Remember to share the link to my blog with your Facebook friends and your Twitter followers. </span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />VictoriaKYounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09435200534498177609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4078398476403970731.post-31312503512875152922012-11-01T01:46:00.001-07:002012-11-01T01:46:52.517-07:00Halloween 5 Nite run....I hear drumming in the woods......<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Last night at 8pm I took part in the </span><a href="http://www.halloween5niterun.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Halloween 5 Nite run</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> held at the Wokingham Waterside Centre on the Thames Valley Park near to Reading. For those that live in the area I would recommend it for next year!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I would like to thank in advance to this blog the race director, Cliff Hilton, for his mention about </span><a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Challenge 1000</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> over the PA system and a big thank you to all the runners for the clap and cheer for me!! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Last night for Halloween in the South East we had windy and rainy conditions. I was so pleased to see this did not dampen the spirits of any of the runners, the marshals or the race organisers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Lining up by the river, with the swans waiting and being directed back into the water by marshals was pretty spooky. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LiUfjIEPiZU/UJIyBp17BjI/AAAAAAAAA5M/0wXLspgE9BQ/s1600/spooky+swans.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LiUfjIEPiZU/UJIyBp17BjI/AAAAAAAAA5M/0wXLspgE9BQ/s400/spooky+swans.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spooooky!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I liked the creativity of the decoration of the race HQ too. This race is really in the spirit of Halloween and I felt like a child again. Out in the wind and rain, with scary music playing and people around me all dressed up. And of course well done to all those who carved the magnificent pumpkins, they were brilliant!</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AepT5ahFPDc/UJIymRF0x0I/AAAAAAAAA5Y/xhNnNtl_yjA/s1600/pumpkin+poo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AepT5ahFPDc/UJIymRF0x0I/AAAAAAAAA5Y/xhNnNtl_yjA/s400/pumpkin+poo.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The race itself was ideal for Halloween with the track marked by glow sticks and marshals. Also while running around in the woods there was a group of people drumming and making spooky noises, and you could hear yourself running closer and closer to it. It was very dramatic and gave a real boost to the run. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">For all the drummers who were stood in the woods in the cold and the wet, hats off to you. Thank you very much. From what I could hear other runners around me were commenting on the drumming, they really liked it too! I also really liked the ghosts in the trees. I couldn't stop to take a picture...as it was pretty damn wet and I wanted to get back to the lovely pumpkin soup waiting for runners back at HQ!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I finished the race feeling incredibly childish, wet, muddy, worn out and on a high. Thank you to Cliff for checking I had made it. That I certainly did. I really enjoyed the warm pumpkin soup. I was so cold and it warmed me up straight away.</span> </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RVIAhu9ELv0/UJIzt1d3vZI/AAAAAAAAA5g/Wkp7-31Atp0/s1600/pumpkin+soup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RVIAhu9ELv0/UJIzt1d3vZI/AAAAAAAAA5g/Wkp7-31Atp0/s320/pumpkin+soup.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It was nice to stand with all the other finishers eating soup and cheering the other runners coming in. Seeing the long trail of headlamps arriving from the distance was rather surreal! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">All in all this race was great fun. I would love to come back next year for another run in the dark!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I am about 940km through my 1000km challenge now. So Challenge 1000 is nearly over. However people can of course still </span><a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">sponsor me</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">, and it would mean so much to me if you could. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Happy Halloween! </span></div>
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VictoriaKYounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09435200534498177609noreply@blogger.com0A3290, Reading, Wokingham RG6, UK51.4597487 -0.942765651.4498562 -0.9625066 51.4696412 -0.9230246tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4078398476403970731.post-52863396983582325182012-10-02T09:05:00.001-07:002012-10-02T09:05:36.924-07:00Trick or Treat?!
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kiMGXqfIDBY/UGsOcmBNFqI/AAAAAAAAA40/mWyb46r-FFo/s1600/halloween01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kiMGXqfIDBY/UGsOcmBNFqI/AAAAAAAAA40/mWyb46r-FFo/s320/halloween01.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On Wednesday 31<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup> October I will kindly be a
guest at the <a href="http://www.halloween5niterun.co.uk/" target="_blank">Halloween 5 nite run</a>
at Water Meadow, Thames Valley Park in Reading. I am looking forward to it! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s a 5km course in the dark, dressing up is allowed so I
may add a few little Halloween themed items to my running gear. I also have to
wear a head torch so I can see where I am going, which is wise as over the past
few weeks I have been rather clumsy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On a run last week I manage to badly hurt my right knee by
whacking it on a gate and then later on in the run I fell over, landing on my
left knee and also getting a cut from a flint on my palm. I have to say the
bruising on my knees left me limping for quite a few days after. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am about 900km through the 1000km now, so I am approaching
the final stages of <a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank">Challenge 1000.</a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have had a good think about where I have run, and used the
very handy world of Google mapping to create a <a href="https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=207161899911067286776.0004c8e21f4adabe82f5b&msa=0" target="_blank">Challenge 1000 map</a> of each location that I have
run across the UK and Europe for Challenge 1000 so far. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You can tell I live in the South East as a lot of my runs
are based around that area. However I have made efforts to branch out to other
areas of the country, and over the next few months I am going to attempt to do
a little more branching out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The season is changing, the leaves are becoming bare and the
temperature is dropping. It is definitely pretty windy at the moment too....and
rainy. Although I have managed not to get soaked. I think the wettest run I did
this year was at Rockingham in the summer! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is time however to get in some lovely autumn
runs and hopefully take some pretty photos. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you have suggestions of any locations or runs you have
done that look particularly beautiful In Autumn please tweet me
<a href="http://twitter.com/VictoriaKYoung" target="_blank">VictoriaKYoung</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or leave a comment at
the bottom of this blog post </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thank you!!! </span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
VictoriaKYounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09435200534498177609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4078398476403970731.post-47369007781319125662012-09-03T11:31:00.000-07:002012-09-03T11:31:27.210-07:00Running 24.4km of the Nurburgring<strong>Friday 31st August </strong><br />
Along with the other runners I reported to the participant centre at the Nurburgring. The centre was warm, compared to the cold and wet outside, and had a brilliant atmosphere. It was full of eager and enthusiastic cyclists and runners. The event also involves a cycle race around the Nurburgring for any keen cyclists. Find out about Rad um Ring <a href="http://www.radamring.de/" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bpsR8rAouDg/UETj0a-6QuI/AAAAAAAAA3M/wcD2LcDks9s/s1600/nurburgring+run+2012+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bpsR8rAouDg/UETj0a-6QuI/AAAAAAAAA3M/wcD2LcDks9s/s400/nurburgring+run+2012+006.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rad und Run!</td></tr>
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It was easy to find where to sign in, and collect your runner bib and timing chip. Everyone was really helpful and friendly. We found out there were coupons on our runners bibs that we could tear off for various freebies. One was for a goody bag, in an official Nurburgring run event green drawstring bag with lots of nice runners treats inside. The other coupons were for free pasta for dinner that evening, and a free bottle of Erdinger beer for that evening, as well as a coupon for an alcohol free Erdinger for the next day after finishing the run.<br />
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After the pasta and beer it was time to head back to the tent, to snuggle tightly in my sleeping bag and go to sleep.<br /><br />
<strong>Saturday 1st September </strong>We woke up at 6.15am. It was very cold and misty. Breakfast consisted of golden syrup flavoured porridge and about 1/2 a litre of orange squash. We headed to the ring for about 8am. There were around 1100 runners set to run the 24.4km route of the Green Hell. About 80% of them were men, with women dotted in between.<br />
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The atmosphere was exciting. Here I was, at 8.45am on a Saturday morning in September, ready to run round this world famous place. This was the place where in 1976, Niki Lauda was badly burnt when he crashed in his Ferrari, and was saved by four other heroic drivers. This was a special place that had seen many things. What a privilege to run on it. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LsNsOPUkzfI/UETkFjjSvMI/AAAAAAAAA3k/86FUaVuoEFQ/s1600/the+start.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LsNsOPUkzfI/UETkFjjSvMI/AAAAAAAAA3k/86FUaVuoEFQ/s400/the+start.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice and early at the start!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jkVGCgl0Yoc/UETjrGhKhHI/AAAAAAAAA2w/i5lHFl5kzyI/s1600/lots+of+runners.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jkVGCgl0Yoc/UETjrGhKhHI/AAAAAAAAA2w/i5lHFl5kzyI/s400/lots+of+runners.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few kms in and the sun is breaking through the mist!</td></tr>
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The first 10km of the run includes some steady inclines, and also some rather steep downhill sections. So apart from your knees taking the impact of the downhill, it's ok. </div>
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Yet, from about 11km to 16km you then have to complete hills that go as steep as a 16% incline. It's hard, it's tough but abour 3/4 of the way up the hilly part you get the reward of running Karrusel! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ztReOzRxKJk/UETjQKDhpWI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/oUqFVF5iEnE/s1600/karrussel+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ztReOzRxKJk/UETjQKDhpWI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/oUqFVF5iEnE/s400/karrussel+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> After the hills I am still smiling!</td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GVGtAQ_RqsY/UETjOyIXjnI/AAAAAAAAA2I/X2mimrUBy6o/s1600/karussel+from+behind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GVGtAQ_RqsY/UETjOyIXjnI/AAAAAAAAA2I/X2mimrUBy6o/s400/karussel+from+behind.jpg" width="300" /></a> </div>
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After the highlight of Karrusel, you do unfortunatley hit some pretty steep twists and turns, 2 pretty major ones. One around 21-22km and one at 23km. Plus looking at a straight that seems to go on forever, you just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other. </div>
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Along the way on this run there were many water statons with water, pepsi, sparkling water, sparkling apple, biscuits, banana, cereal bars etc. The drink and food stations were fully stocked if you happened to be wanting a feast. Which I have to say I didnt fancy. I have been training on having very little when I run long distances, so all I had for the whole run was a mouthful of water, 1/3 of a banana and a bite of a cereal bar. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WGa9HbnXII0/UETkEEIbtCI/AAAAAAAAA3c/PvgRCt-RIZI/s1600/the+long+straight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WGa9HbnXII0/UETkEEIbtCI/AAAAAAAAA3c/PvgRCt-RIZI/s400/the+long+straight.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The straight that just keeps going and going and going.....<br />
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It is lovely when you do a righter at the end of the straight and you can see the finish line and all the cheering people. To be rewarded with my medal at the end was just fantastic.</div>
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This was the best run I have ever done and I know it would have made my Grampy smile to know I was doing it. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jhzXezZF5a0/UETjtMWQ5oI/AAAAAAAAA28/PGctlgVNI7g/s1600/medal+and+beer+tor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jhzXezZF5a0/UETjtMWQ5oI/AAAAAAAAA28/PGctlgVNI7g/s400/medal+and+beer+tor.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheers!!! The beer is alcohol free by the way but was really really good!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cR9QgB29MnQ/UETjQsIPL8I/AAAAAAAAA2U/17HCwaunyKA/s1600/finishing+treats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cR9QgB29MnQ/UETjQsIPL8I/AAAAAAAAA2U/17HCwaunyKA/s400/finishing+treats.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A proud moment!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XODy_fWoMdA/UETkYxF8MYI/AAAAAAAAA38/2bHghBrjdYo/s1600/nurburgring+gps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="363" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XODy_fWoMdA/UETkYxF8MYI/AAAAAAAAA38/2bHghBrjdYo/s400/nurburgring+gps.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The GPS map of the run :-)</td></tr>
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It turned out I came 82nd out of 201 female runners, and I was the fastest woman representing Great Britain (even though there was just one other fellow female Brit...so I wont brag too much about it). I finished the run in 2hrs and 28mins. It was 2hrs 28mins of my life that was truly amazing for many reasons, boosted by the money all my lovely sponsors have helped me to raise and the passion I have for two amazing causes. </div>
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Yes, it is an effort to run 24.4km's (15.25 miles). But I think of all the effort the two charities I am raising money for put in to the work that they do and my 'feat' seem very small. If you havent yet, you can read all about what <a href="http://www.childbereavement.org.uk/" target="_blank">Child Bereavement UK</a> and <a href="http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/" target="_blank">Cancer Research UK</a> and their amazing work in my <a href="http://runchallenge1000.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/the-big-one-reflections-before.html" target="_blank">previous blog. </a></div>
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Furthermore, The Child Bereavement Charity is now <a href="http://www.childbereavement.org.uk/" target="_blank">Child Bereavement UK</a>. Yes, this is a charity that is growing, and you can support it by <a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=challenge1000" target="_blank">sponsoring me</a>. Go on, be a part of it!!!</div>
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I want to say a BIG thank you to my husband, Andrew (below), who has supported me and looked after me this year. Without him, this would not have happened. I have run 810km so far. But the year is not over, I still have 190km to go. </div>
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Your support for Challenge 1000 would be amazing, you can sponsor me by visiting my <a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=challenge1000" target="_blank">Virgin Money Giving page.</a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3fLEx3iQ_M4/UETitxGknMI/AAAAAAAAA1o/D0B42KPHkE8/s1600/beer+andrew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3fLEx3iQ_M4/UETitxGknMI/AAAAAAAAA1o/D0B42KPHkE8/s320/beer+andrew.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank you to my wonderful husband<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Also a final note on to the end of this blog. On the 28th August I became an Auntie to my beautiful niece, Libby, who I finally met on the Sunday after the big run. She is incredibly cute! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RZ4oLHls2xU/UET2AfSABKI/AAAAAAAAA4c/Pfijhi9ax3o/s1600/libby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" fea="true" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RZ4oLHls2xU/UET2AfSABKI/AAAAAAAAA4c/Pfijhi9ax3o/s320/libby.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Libster!!!</td></tr>
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VictoriaKYounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09435200534498177609noreply@blogger.com0Nürburgstraße, 53947 Nettersheim, Germany50.5090845 6.65669950.5040355 6.6468285 50.5141335 6.6665695tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4078398476403970731.post-12722809567251183432012-08-28T07:12:00.001-07:002012-08-28T07:12:58.498-07:00The BIG one: Reflections before the Nurburgring<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a very
special blog as I am going to talk about the charities I am raising money for
in depth, before I embark on my toughest run for <a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank">Challenge 1000.</a> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This Saturday 1<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>st</sup>
September I will take part in a </span><a href="http://www.nuerburgring-lauf.de/" target="_blank">24.4km run around the Nurburgring</a>. I will
experience some very painfully steep and long hills throughout this run. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Running is as much
about mental strength as it is physical. The mental strength comes from what
causes you to run, what fuels the desire to keep your feet pounding despite the
sweat and pain.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have two forms of
fuel; two amazing charities!!! </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So this blog will
focus on what these charities do, and their importance, and most importantly
why you should sponsor me to raise money for them! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0F0sxRFzPCY/UDzEptixzeI/AAAAAAAAA0s/JomdmW73V_g/s1600/CBC+Box+Logo+220+X+160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0F0sxRFzPCY/UDzEptixzeI/AAAAAAAAA0s/JomdmW73V_g/s200/CBC+Box+Logo+220+X+160.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The <a href="http://www.childbereavement.org.uk/" target="_blank">Child Bereavement Charity</a> is a national charity that has a big impact on people’s lives every day. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Supporting families and educating
professionals both when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, or when a
child is facing bereavement. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the UK, when a
baby or child dies, or a child is bereaved, many of those affected are unable
to access good quality support which meets their individual needs. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The money you
sponsor me for <a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank">Challenge 1000</a> goes towards;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">£10</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> pays for a call by a
parent grieving the death of their child into the Support and Information Line.
A trained professional will listen to them in confidence.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">£25</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> pays for a parent
whose child has died to meet with other parents to share their experience,
learn from others and talk in a safe environment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">£40</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> pays for a face to face support session for
a young person who is grieving the death of someone important to them to help
them to start rebuilding their life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">£300</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> pays for a child to go through a series of
groups where they meet other children who are also grieving the death of
someone close to them, so that they don’t feel so alone. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This support is much needed and makes a huge
difference to children, young people and families. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps your journey into supporting the
charity has started just by sponsoring me :-)</span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Also, if you like running, or want to start, you can continue your journey into supporting the charity by entering <a href="http://www.childbereavement.org.uk/GetInvolved/Challenges/RunningEvents/OtherRunningEvents" target="_blank">Run to the Beat</a>
on 28<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>th</sup> October 2012. This is a Half Marathon, starting and finishing at
the O2 Arena, London, with live music acts en-route!)</span></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7gdh7Ac8oOU/UDzFBzauQmI/AAAAAAAAA00/SaVikCpLff8/s1600/Cancer-Research-Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="92" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7gdh7Ac8oOU/UDzFBzauQmI/AAAAAAAAA00/SaVikCpLff8/s320/Cancer-Research-Logo.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cancer
can affect anyone of any age, of any gender, of any ethnicity. Cancer causes 1
in 4 deaths every year. </span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/" target="_blank">Cancer Research UK</a> provides patient information, funding and research and campaigns to
fight cancer. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
money I raise for them will go to achieving their goals. Which, amongst their
many are; reducing risk, earlier diagnosis, cancer information, better
treatments and improved survival.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today
more than 300,000 people are newly diagnosed with cancer each year. The overall
cancer death rate continues to fall. Breast cancer survival rates continue to
improve. Lung cancer incidence rates in men have dropped by 10 per cent since
the year 2000 alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bowel cancer
survival rates have doubled since the 1970s. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To
keep up improvements Cancer Research UK are developing new research institutes
and have five flagship institutes across the UK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 2007 the new Cambridge Research Institute
opened. The institute is home to almost 200 scientists working to understand
the fundamental biology of cancer and convert their discoveries into new
treatments.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In
2008, the Cancer Research UK MRC Gray Institute for Radiation Oncology and
Biology opened in Oxford, heralding a new era of research into ways to improve
radiotherapy for people with cancer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Their
various campaigns are vital, such as ‘The answer is plain’ to help protect
children from tobacco marketing by putting all cigarettes in standardised,
unbranded packs. </span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I
believe that research and education are all vital in beating cancer. Support
and information for those living with cancer as and when they need it is vital.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cancer
cannot be fought if it is ignored. I believe everyone should pay attention and
hopefully start to talk about it more. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This
charity is within my legacy to raise money for. So for my Grampy Fred, the
money I raise for this charity is very much dedicated to you. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So on Friday I am off to Germany to run the green hell....I will report back! </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XVOQ0FmQB4Y/UDzQoUrun_I/AAAAAAAAA1I/YAP-SQEs6zI/s1600/28-08-2012+15-00-09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="316" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XVOQ0FmQB4Y/UDzQoUrun_I/AAAAAAAAA1I/YAP-SQEs6zI/s400/28-08-2012+15-00-09.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On Saturday I will be appearing at the top of one of these many uphill sections....looking worse for wear I would think....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you to all my supporters and donors so far. I am aiming to raise £1000 so please keep the <a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank">donations</a> coming. Thank you! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span>VictoriaKYounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09435200534498177609noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4078398476403970731.post-71120771165289974572012-08-21T07:24:00.000-07:002012-08-21T07:24:22.120-07:00Running in the Algarve, Portugal <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have just returned from two weeks holiday in the Algarve in Portugal. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some people asked me "You aren't taking your running kit are you? Please tell me you're not?!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To which I replied "Yes, Yes I am." <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really couldn't afford to have a break and not keep racking up the km's for <a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank">Challenge 1000</a>. Plus the 24.4km hilly hell Nurburgring run is looming....</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cFOWAM2mth8/UDOLjNEp6uI/AAAAAAAAAzA/b6b0XqNPv3g/s1600/portugal.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cFOWAM2mth8/UDOLjNEp6uI/AAAAAAAAAzA/b6b0XqNPv3g/s400/portugal.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early start! <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gRllOcCMkMY/UDOLjF4H1II/AAAAAAAAAy8/igTN6Bfbvag/s1600/portugal+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gRllOcCMkMY/UDOLjF4H1II/AAAAAAAAAy8/igTN6Bfbvag/s400/portugal+2.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Anyone fancy an orange? </div>
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</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I used Portugal as an opportunity to mend my pretty broken knee and to do lots of swimming, as well as a few runs to keep my fitness levels up. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was fortunate enough to be able to decrease my mileage a little over those few weeks, giving my knee a chance to mend. I am very happy to say my knee is now fit and well, many thanks to pool sessions!</span> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0GMSlRZ3tO4/UDOLjFn011I/AAAAAAAAAzE/0LkBOHhmaMU/s1600/pool+therapy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0GMSlRZ3tO4/UDOLjFn011I/AAAAAAAAAzE/0LkBOHhmaMU/s400/pool+therapy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pool Therapy! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I did 4 runs over the two weeks I was in Portugal, totalling 26.19km altogether. The heat was intense even though I was up at 6.30am in the morning to do my runs. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The area we stayed in was pretty hilly too which didn't make things easy. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Also what didn't make it easy was the fact that every single domestic dog would give chase as you ran past it. We quickly learnt that we had to turn and chase the dogs back. Funnily enough the stray dogs would just stride past in a 'Bom Dias!Good day!' manner. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here are the sat nav maps of the loop runs I did. It was a good experience running in another country, amongst some gorgeous scenery.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fQQvcffhdEQ/UDOPSvdj0GI/AAAAAAAAAz8/fgoP8Q5YbsI/s1600/5.78km.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fQQvcffhdEQ/UDOPSvdj0GI/AAAAAAAAAz8/fgoP8Q5YbsI/s320/5.78km.jpg" width="280" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iDe5YnDLBgo/UDOPSvrkORI/AAAAAAAAA0A/SGjgnFOq9vo/s1600/8.9km.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iDe5YnDLBgo/UDOPSvrkORI/AAAAAAAAA0A/SGjgnFOq9vo/s320/8.9km.jpg" width="296" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">On returning from Portugal I have now run 754km. Hopefully by September I will be up to 800km and I will then be in the last stages of <a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank">Challenge 1000</a>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">For the next few weeks I will be in training for the Nurburgring run so I feel my running shoes will be spending even more time on my feet than they already are!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Please sponsor me for <a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank">Challenge 1000</a> and help me raise money for the Child Bereavement Charity and Cancer Research UK. </span><br />
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VictoriaKYounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09435200534498177609noreply@blogger.com0Tavira, Portugal37.1335906 -7.643001937.0829551 -7.7219659 37.1842261 -7.5640379tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4078398476403970731.post-29647296945667438232012-07-26T02:41:00.000-07:002012-07-26T02:42:27.387-07:00Just a little update!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are just 37 days until my Nurburgring run and </span><a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Challenge 1000</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> has been appearing in national and local news!! My local magazine 'The Link' included my feature in their July edition. A big thank you goes to them. I also had a nice surprise the other day when I saw that MSN Cars kindly included a feature on my challenge which you can read <a href="http://cars.uk.msn.com/news/woman-to-run-1000km-on-racetracks" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">here </span></a></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2OE_-zx-XlU/UBECUTuBU8I/AAAAAAAAAyM/5DhpWhRYY_U/s320/the+link+article.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Link magazine feature</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">At the moment I am focusing on keeping running and also keeping injuries at bay. I started to have problems with my right knee a few months ago. The pain happens after 8km each time I run which is frustrating, and also after I have run it hurts all through the night! So I have been using painkillers and have recently invested in a hot and a cold compress. The warm one helps to soothe it on my very few 'days off' and the cold compress works fantastically after a long run!</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FcciwPz5v0w/UBECUjLEm_I/AAAAAAAAAyQ/uly9g70XZh0/s1600/IMG-20120723-00234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FcciwPz5v0w/UBECUjLEm_I/AAAAAAAAAyQ/uly9g70XZh0/s320/IMG-20120723-00234.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cold compress....bliss....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Yet despite the knee pain Challenge 1000 will continue!!! Earlier in the year I did a <a href="http://runchallenge1000.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/from-windsor-with-love.html" target="_blank">From Windsor with Love</a> post and I am due to do the same 24.4km run this weekend. This distance matches exactly what I will run at the Nurburgring, the only difference is there are no gigantic hills. However I did my Windsor run in February only 2 months into Challenge 1000 so I will be interested to see how this run feels on my body 7 months in.<br />
<br />
Speaking of hills I have been fitting in quite a few long runs including major inclines, most of these occurring on a week night due to my ever busy schedule. This was me just before a 19km week night run.<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H_1zyhp3Jtw/UAAmy6q4NJI/AAAAAAAAAxY/3E3Wi9pMGjc/s1600/IMG-20120710-00195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H_1zyhp3Jtw/UAAmy6q4NJI/AAAAAAAAAxY/3E3Wi9pMGjc/s320/IMG-20120710-00195.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smile....you can come back and put your feet up and slob out after you have run!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I have been fitting in some extreme inclines on my longer runs in preparation. If anyone knows of Winter Hill in Cookham you will understand how steep it is, and I have been running there lots!<br />
<br />
I am off to Portugal on the 3rd August for 2 weeks, and my running kit will be coming with me. There will be a few early mornings as the heat in Portugal is immense and I don't fancy running in middle of the day heat out there. I have never run in Portugal and I am looking forward to it. There are certainly some good hills around the villa we are staying in, however running up a steep hill and then being able to jump into a nice pool is going to be awesome!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I3DOnhqcCgs/T0qX31KlgXI/AAAAAAAAALc/1WCO9b2aq9g/s1600/challenge+1000+beach+run.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I3DOnhqcCgs/T0qX31KlgXI/AAAAAAAAALc/1WCO9b2aq9g/s320/challenge+1000+beach+run.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the sand on Rhossili Bay, Wales....I must do this again in Portugal! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Again, a huge thank you to all those who have sponsored me. Please do let others know about what I am doing and spread the word, just in case they are feeling generous and want to give a little something :-)<br />
</span><br />
<br />VictoriaKYounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09435200534498177609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4078398476403970731.post-78216489826546508752012-07-02T03:20:00.000-07:002012-07-02T03:35:31.556-07:00Donington Park - Favourite circuit of legends.<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I am 617km into <a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank">Challenge 1000</a>. Only 383km to go. I </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">have raised £664.00 so far which I am really really pleased with. Thank you to everyone who has supported me and sponsored me to raise money for <a href="http://www.childbereavement.org.uk/" target="_blank">Child Bereavement Charity</a> and <a href="http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/" target="_blank">Cancer Research UK</a>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">T</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">his week has been quite a tough one in terms of my challenge. I have been suffering with stomach ailments and sickness feelings on my runs, and feeling generally worn out. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It had to come at some point!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M68ijrC2wAo/T_FvLh3ae1I/AAAAAAAAAxI/HjjeNFymDPM/s1600/flexicover.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M68ijrC2wAo/T_FvLh3ae1I/AAAAAAAAAxI/HjjeNFymDPM/s1600/flexicover.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">However there was always going to be light at the end of this tunnel this week as I travelled to run at <a href="http://www.donington-park.co.uk/" target="_blank">Donington Park.</a> I was also in good spirits as I was kindly sponsored a very generous amount from <a href="https://www.flexicover.co.uk/" target="_blank">Flexicover Travel Insurance</a>. Thank you very much to them!!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">One of the great things about Donington Park (asi</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">de its fabulous circuit) is it's </span><a href="http://www.donington-park.co.uk/about-donington/the-donington-grand-prix-collection/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Grand Prix Collection</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">! This is the l</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">argest showcase of Grand Prix racing cars in the world and it also houses the largest collection of McLaren and Williams racing cars in the world.</span> <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So before I ran I went to have a little look round. H</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">ere are a few gems I came across...</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div align="left">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qBIg-YF5SF4/T_FaGnk8IsI/AAAAAAAAAsg/3MtsFYDdFhg/s1600/senna+suit+donington.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qBIg-YF5SF4/T_FaGnk8IsI/AAAAAAAAAsg/3MtsFYDdFhg/s320/senna+suit+donington.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Senna's racing suit!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UPwUAln8jlA/T_FaF5I9o6I/AAAAAAAAAsc/9EAtvv7T6ZU/s1600/kimi+car+donington.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UPwUAln8jlA/T_FaF5I9o6I/AAAAAAAAAsc/9EAtvv7T6ZU/s320/kimi+car+donington.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kimi Raikkonen's former car</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6lvotHxmL3o/T_FaxUAeLPI/AAAAAAAAAvI/-w7_V5CX6t0/s1600/senna+and+fangio+donington.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6lvotHxmL3o/T_FaxUAeLPI/AAAAAAAAAvI/-w7_V5CX6t0/s320/senna+and+fangio+donington.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Senna and Fangio statue</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">If you are visiting Donington Park this collection is well worth a visit. You can get the sheer size and scale of all of these cars by seeing them close up. You can see more photos of my visit via my online picasa web album </span><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/112468248133374239060/Challenge1000VirginMoneyGiving?authuser=0&feat=directlink#" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">here</span></a>.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After enough time spent inside looking at cars it was time to hit the track. Typic</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ally for a race circuit run, conditions were incredibly windy but the air temperature was pretty warm. We got to see inside the race control tower to get clearance to run. There was lots of cameras on the circuit and it was nice to see what I was about to experience. </span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zLxE9Icl0I0/T_FZ8TLLbLI/AAAAAAAAArY/JAbv-2uzWRE/s1600/donington+start.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zLxE9Icl0I0/T_FZ8TLLbLI/AAAAAAAAArY/JAbv-2uzWRE/s400/donington+start.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I set off into a pretty strong headwind, winding round to the first corner and bit of downhill where the wind whipped behind me. It helped with pushing me along but <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">unfortunately</span></span> I couldnt see much as my hair was blowing everywhere, with my pony tail coming over my head and lashing me in the eyes. So f</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">or a corner named Hollywood I </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">really wasnt looking like a superstar. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">The downhill part of the circuit gets pretty steep, then heads into a </span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">fair bit of incline. Which I am happy to say I didnt find too much of a struggle and every hill I run I am building my stamina for the Nurburgring. Again it was a strong headwind, meaning just breathing was giving me epic dry mouth. After the hills a much needed slurp of drink was needed to stop my mouth from completely sticking together. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OMkyuDn2Inw/T_Fajf5mIAI/AAAAAAAAAtg/TyrsR47V-Bk/s1600/donington+spark+plug.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OMkyuDn2Inw/T_Fajf5mIAI/AAAAAAAAAtg/TyrsR47V-Bk/s320/donington+spark+plug.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note the giant spark plug to the right of the picture!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It was quite a pleasant evening </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">and we were joined by people strapping up signs around the track ready for the </span><a href="http://www.uktruckracing.co.uk/racing_overview.asp" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">FIA British Truck Grand Prix</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> that would take place over the weekend. I was</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">overtaken by a man on a bike and next to him and a man on rollerblades (</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">who </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I presumed was a driver).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">W</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">e did some ovetaking too, of a group of men walking the track who gave me some </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">nice encouragemement in the words of "Super Lap!".</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I did 2 laps of the long circuit (including the Melbourne h</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">airpin) and 2 of the short circuit totaling 14.32km and looking a little like this:</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1sOzPWWgknU/T_Fjp_BE3KI/AAAAAAAAAw0/LUCZsaawsCI/s1600/Donington.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1sOzPWWgknU/T_Fjp_BE3KI/AAAAAAAAAw0/LUCZsaawsCI/s400/Donington.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sat Nav route</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really enjoyed this circuit, our country is very blessed to have it</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. It was a real achievement to cross the finish line and to have run on a track </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">where in the '93 F1 season Senna, in his first lap, passed five cars to lead the field and win the race. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Finally, I was very grateful to be allowed up onto the podium that was ready and dressed for the truck racing.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-922s6gvlWzc/T_FalXkxYFI/AAAAAAAAAtw/PHqRqx6kJtc/s1600/donington+podium.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-922s6gvlWzc/T_FalXkxYFI/AAAAAAAAAtw/PHqRqx6kJtc/s400/donington+podium.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very colour co-ordinated!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A big th</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">ank you to Donington Park for letting me run the circuit! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">My next </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">circuit run will be on the 1st </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">September at the Nurburgring. Until then I will be getting in more km's and including lots of hills in my runs for preperation :-)</span>VictoriaKYounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09435200534498177609noreply@blogger.com0Donington Park Circuit, Castle Donington, Derby, Leicestershire DE74 2RP, UK52.830009 -1.37595252.820415499999996 -1.395693 52.8396025 -1.356211tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4078398476403970731.post-19814688751240158662012-06-25T04:10:00.000-07:002012-06-25T06:12:38.961-07:00Dash For Dad 10km<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On Sunday 17th June I took part in </span><a href="http://www.childbereavement.org.uk/GetInvolved/Challenges/RunningEvents/OtherRunningEvents/DashforDad5kand10kRun" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dash For Dad</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 10km race held at West Wycombe Park for the <a href="http://www.childbereavement.org.uk/" target="_blank">Child Bereavement Charity</a>. One of the charities I am raising money for in </span><a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Challenge 1000.</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I ran the same race last year, which was the events first year. So on 17th June I returned to take it on again. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The day was blessed with lovely weather and the whole event had a lovely feel to it. West Wycombe Park has some challenging hills, in which the running routes take in. There are three major hills on the 10km run, each requiring mental and physical strength. I was happy with my start, making it up and down the first hill in good time. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fwgr4PPSSF0/T-hAuesLK3I/AAAAAAAAAqA/ZFu4u2STgC0/s1600/tor+dash+for+dad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fwgr4PPSSF0/T-hAuesLK3I/AAAAAAAAAqA/ZFu4u2STgC0/s400/tor+dash+for+dad.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coming downhill after 2km, with the first major hill done (photo courtesy of George Mardall)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However after 5km I felt a little depleted - all the running I have done this year has finally started to take it's toll on my body. Yet the atmosphere of this race and the lovely people around me kept me running. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I finished in just over an hour. It's a very tough run but one that is very rewarding at the end. Not only because you have achieved such a tough run, but you know you have run it to support an fantastic charity based only a few miles away from where you have run.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EYHJfYp14BM/T-hBQ2u2vMI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/vhyUo5PkWC8/s1600/dash+for+dad+number.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EYHJfYp14BM/T-hBQ2u2vMI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/vhyUo5PkWC8/s400/dash+for+dad+number.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Dash For Dad races will be held again next year on Father's Day. If you live close to Buckinghamshire please consider entering. You have the option of a 5km or 10km run that will guarantee you stunning scenery and a fantastic atmosphere! I will see you there :-)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you again to all those who have sponsored me. I am nearly 600km in to my 1000km challenge and couldn't have kept going without the support people have shown me.</span> <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As you may know, I have been running lots of race tracks up and down the UK and in mainland Europe for this challenge. Race tracks are important to my challenge, as alongside the <a href="http://www.childbereavement.org.uk/" target="_blank">Child Bereavement Charity</a> I am raising money for <a href="http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/" target="_blank">Cancer Research UK</a>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am a huge motor racing fan, just like my Grandfather, who died of cancer in 2008. I have run and had exclusive access to Silverstone, Goodwood, Thruxton, Rockingham, Zolder (in Belgium) so far this year. I will be running Donington </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Park this Friday 29th June (so there will be another blog instalment shortly!) My final race track will be the Nurburgring on 1st September.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you haven't sponsored me yet and you would like to, please visit my </span><a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Challenge 1000</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> fundraising page. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Thank you. </span>VictoriaKYounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09435200534498177609noreply@blogger.com0West Wycombe, Buckinghamshire HP14, UK51.64429 -0.80586751.6344365 -0.825608 51.654143499999996 -0.786126tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4078398476403970731.post-64483918835652144532012-06-07T03:05:00.000-07:002012-06-07T03:05:12.668-07:00Somewhere over the rainbow is Rockingham Speedway!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">On Wednesday 6th June I was privileged enough to run on yet another great British motor racing track for </span></span><a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Challenge 1000.</span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.rockingham.co.uk/index.php" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rockingham Speedway</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> is set in the midst of an industrial area, however once you
are in the circuit you would never guess it. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You feel like you are in the
middle of nowhere and you constantly hear the lovely song of skylarks. I can
imagine the echoes of cars and bikes bouncing off the four corners of the oval
when racing is in action. It must be immense.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In terms of running on the track, the International Long Circuit the British Touring Car Championship runs on, has some tight corners and some undulations but
otherwise it is fairly flat. It looks great fun to drive on. <br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y0mVGKvOwnA/T9B4RroSmjI/AAAAAAAAAoI/yZZTloeSD3k/s1600/running+uphill+at+rockingham.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y0mVGKvOwnA/T9B4RroSmjI/AAAAAAAAAoI/yZZTloeSD3k/s400/running+uphill+at+rockingham.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Running uphill on the International Long Circuit</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was my intention on this aptly named speedway to be speedy. Proudly I
achieved a PB on my time to run 5km and also a pretty speedy result as I ran
through 10km. <br />
</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-55FmdfeNlG4/T9B4SAWibtI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/by5lG4Zr-GA/s1600/speed+sign+rockingham.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-55FmdfeNlG4/T9B4SAWibtI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/by5lG4Zr-GA/s400/speed+sign+rockingham.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">240 mph! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Toward the end of the run I encountered a downpour of summer rain
which was welcome as I was pretty warm. However I got pretty soaked. Rain and shine often mean one
glorious spectacle and a few minutes before finishing my time on the speedway a
rainbow appeared.<br />
</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JIQHDxOnYhs/T9B4RQzS9PI/AAAAAAAAAoM/PTCjYz8uFNQ/s1600/rainbow+rockingham.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JIQHDxOnYhs/T9B4RQzS9PI/AAAAAAAAAoM/PTCjYz8uFNQ/s400/rainbow+rockingham.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A glimmer of rainbow just above my head! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I really felt a kinship with this track, completing 3 laps of the International
Long Circuit and 1 lap of the Oval circuit. Totalling around 11km. </span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KUvY0RiKDbc/T9B3hjN3VDI/AAAAAAAAAno/K51ZBUwovFY/s1600/podium+rockingham+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KUvY0RiKDbc/T9B3hjN3VDI/AAAAAAAAAno/K51ZBUwovFY/s400/podium+rockingham+1.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pole position of course! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rockingham is very much a circuit
for fans who want to see all the action on track, without the need for
a big screen. The circuit has a tingle of racing quirkiness and speed lingers in the
air.<br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In terms of this challenge so far I have had plenty of 'drive' to support two
causes I believe in that are far bigger and more important than me, that exist
to make the heartbreaking consequences of the loss of a loved one and the
effects of cancer less isolating and painful. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
The Ch</span><a href="http://www.childbereavement.org.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ild Bereavement Charity</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and </span><a href="http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cancer Research UK</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> are these causes, you can support them by </span><a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">sponsoring me</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank
you from me, from them and from my late Grampy Fred - who I am definite would be thrilled to know I am running on all these race tracks :-)</span><br />
<br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span>VictoriaKYounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09435200534498177609noreply@blogger.com1Corby, Northamptonshire, UK52.4905789 -0.683783952.4519054 -0.7627479 52.529252400000004 -0.6048199tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4078398476403970731.post-82530925786196803782012-06-04T10:15:00.000-07:002012-06-04T10:15:21.395-07:00Breaking through 500kmI have taken advantage of this long weekend to continue to rack up the miles for <a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank">Challenge 1000.</a> I knew at the end of last week that I was close to passing through 500km and I was eager to get this done. <br />
After a nice stretchy, core strengthening session of Pilates and a Spinning class on Friday night I felt rejuvenated. I was feeling a longish run on a route that I had not done before.<br />
<br />
Back in the early winter months I ran from Bisham to Henley along the <a href="http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/thamespath/" target="_blank">Thames Path</a>. I wanted to carry on from this. Going from Henley to Sonning and back. The evening was quite nice and by the time we got to Henley most people out Jubi-drinking were tucked away in Ye Olde Pube :-)<br />
As we ran away from Henley we had to zig zag the last few crowds of people coming back from walking, after a while we were out further than anyone wished to walk and it became nice a quiet. The Thames path then meanders away from the river and leads you past some very nice houses at the back of Shiplake. One house even had it's own model railway station and miles of train track around the grounds of their house. Someone with money and a childlike sense of spending it, I liked it! <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jA22NlTv-ek/T8zXx7uukuI/AAAAAAAAAkc/eIhTEz2gDMA/s1600/mini+train+station+at+house+at+shiplake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jA22NlTv-ek/T8zXx7uukuI/AAAAAAAAAkc/eIhTEz2gDMA/s400/mini+train+station+at+house+at+shiplake.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Model Train Station<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unfortunately I did not see a little train going round which was a shame, but still it was an interesting thing to run past. I felt like a giant! <br />
<br />
Then from model railway to real railway. Soon after the model railway I had my first experience of running across a level crossing at Shiplake Station. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aqgfRZ3K6As/T8zcKwtHouI/AAAAAAAAAmA/uhrdXSCHhOc/s1600/shiplake+train+station.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aqgfRZ3K6As/T8zcKwtHouI/AAAAAAAAAmA/uhrdXSCHhOc/s400/shiplake+train+station.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shiplake Station</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The path then goes back round to joining the river, again past some lovely houses. On approaching the river there was a very pretty lock that appeared to have some 'Glamping' tents around it. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W0IbO2NPhBY/T8zY7-nTwJI/AAAAAAAAAkc/qSgOrj1g9rU/s1600/shiplake+lock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W0IbO2NPhBY/T8zY7-nTwJI/AAAAAAAAAkc/qSgOrj1g9rU/s400/shiplake+lock.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shiplake Lock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Once passing through lovely green fields, past some very sweet little cows, and following the path very close to the water edge itself the next sight see was the back of Shiplake College where we ran through their marina. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HTKIaw1em0Y/T8zYjCdlc9I/AAAAAAAAAkc/XaMWrFWZhts/s1600/shiplake+college.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HTKIaw1em0Y/T8zYjCdlc9I/AAAAAAAAAkc/XaMWrFWZhts/s400/shiplake+college.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shiplake College </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
From then on it was more narrow paths close to river to Sonning. Where, I have to say, has a lovely little bridge that I really like.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WUWWvuTMoVs/T8zXXcfhroI/AAAAAAAAAkc/-tFdCqcQEjM/s1600/me+at+sonning+bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WUWWvuTMoVs/T8zXXcfhroI/AAAAAAAAAkc/-tFdCqcQEjM/s400/me+at+sonning+bridge.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sonning Bridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V_S1vzvBzek/T8zYOsrCh3I/AAAAAAAAAkc/QeSW1rczoik/s1600/over+sonning+bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V_S1vzvBzek/T8zYOsrCh3I/AAAAAAAAAkc/QeSW1rczoik/s400/over+sonning+bridge.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Over the bridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I had a quick squeeze of energy gel, as at this point I was halfway at around 9km, and there was all the way back to go again. It was starting to get darker and rain was threatening. However it was quite a warm evening so a little bit of rain was more than welcome.<br />
<br />
I then got my head down and headed back for Henley. By the time I arrived I was drenched from the pouring rain and pretty worn out. It was 9.30pm and nearly dark - time to get home and eat some dinner!<br />
<br />
I am happy to say that this run took me through 500km. Tired, wet and sleepy I made it through. <br />
<br />
On Sunday night I opened up an OS map of Chiltern Hills North and wondered where I could run that I hadn't before. I came across the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Union_Canal" target="_blank">Grand Union Canal</a> paths. The canal goes from London to Birmingham, stretching for 220km.<br /><br />
So on Monday, after doing some much needed house cleaning it was time to run again. The route I followed went from <a href="http://www.fisheries.co.uk/tring/index.htm" target="_blank">Marsworth Reservoir</a>, through <a href="http://midsomermurders.org/bulbourneloc.htm" target="_blank">Bulbourne</a> to just past Tring Station and then turning back back again to make it up to around 10km. So not too taxing distance wise, and apart from paths up and down bridges, fairly flat.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tCP5eteD5Ck/T8zcMg28ThI/AAAAAAAAAmA/4CzjoNv3q7c/s1600/marsworth+reservoir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tCP5eteD5Ck/T8zcMg28ThI/AAAAAAAAAmA/4CzjoNv3q7c/s400/marsworth+reservoir.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marsworth Reservoir</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The weather was temperamental, cold in the breeze and pretty warm in the sunshine. However I escaped any rain. There were plenty of people about to begin with, getting less as we came further out of the main areas away from car parks and pubs. There were a series of many locks to see. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y562xYnQStc/T8zbYqnM0YI/AAAAAAAAAlc/qRn8IRqet6U/s1600/lock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y562xYnQStc/T8zbYqnM0YI/AAAAAAAAAlc/qRn8IRqet6U/s400/lock.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lock heading from Marsworth</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There was also an Ironworks alongside the canal at Bulbourne,the <a href="http://www.blacksmithonline.co.uk/" target="_blank">Hammer and Tongs Ironworks</a> established in 1988, it was used for Midsomer Murders in the episode called <em>The King's Crystal</em>. I am keen on Midsomer Murders, especially when John Nettles was DCI Barnaby. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-72CCzBi2jk4/T8zbYsJx5MI/AAAAAAAAAlc/onFyF7pvaas/s1600/ironworks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-72CCzBi2jk4/T8zbYsJx5MI/AAAAAAAAAlc/onFyF7pvaas/s400/ironworks.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ironworks at Bulbourne</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I ran on until I reached 5km, to turn back to complete the final 5km for the day. Unfortunately on this run I was not feeling my best, I had suffered from bad diarrhoea on Sunday night and Monday morning, so running this route on a Monday afternoon was not comfortable and as you can imagine I was pretty dehydrated.<br />
<br />
I now plan to rest for this evening and get ready for my 5th motor circuit run at <a href="http://www.rockingham.co.uk/" target="_blank">Rockingham Speedway</a> on Wednesday. I plan to be speedy!<br />
<br />
Thank you again to all who have sponsored me for <a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank">Challenge 1000</a> in aid of <a href="http://www.childbereavement.org.uk/" target="_blank">Child Bereavement Charity</a> and <a href="http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/" target="_blank">Cancer Research UK</a>. Putting effort and passion into raising money for two charities very close to my heart has been such an amazing experience so far. I am glad to have people backing me :-)VictoriaKYounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09435200534498177609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4078398476403970731.post-22852214679785426462012-05-28T02:24:00.000-07:002012-05-28T02:37:29.271-07:00Feeling the heatI have gained two things this week. One is a nice tan, and the other is 34.16km under my belt. This is the longest weekly distance I have done so far on <a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank">Challenge 1000</a>. <br />
<br />
A new factor for me this past week has been the heat. I have never run in temperatures this warm and if I wasn't doing a fundraising challenge I wouldn't dare to. Running in heat makes you feel like you have run double the distance you have. Everything gets heavy and you swallow many bugs.<br />
<br />
<u><strong>Saturday 26th May</strong></u><br />
I ran from Kop Hill in Princes Risborough, passed through the boundaries of the Chequers Estate, up to the monument at Coombe Hill and back to Kop Hill. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cosx-gO7H3w/T8M4UxkcwjI/AAAAAAAAAiw/0yY-qGgTiXs/s1600/120526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cosx-gO7H3w/T8M4UxkcwjI/AAAAAAAAAiw/0yY-qGgTiXs/s400/120526.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running route</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was a hilly and demanding route, through road, footpath, woodland and field. But the sights were lovely and there wasn't a cloud in the sky.....<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KyU_FstBwE8/T8M16JSR3OI/AAAAAAAAAgw/tGMI8MbH7Ng/s1600/DSCN0545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KyU_FstBwE8/T8M16JSR3OI/AAAAAAAAAgw/tGMI8MbH7Ng/s400/DSCN0545.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chequers Estate, the country residence of our Prime Minister<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t-oE7hNS8Z8/T8M3SM8u-4I/AAAAAAAAAio/jPN3DrrveLI/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t-oE7hNS8Z8/T8M3SM8u-4I/AAAAAAAAAio/jPN3DrrveLI/s400/photo.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coombe Hill Monument</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J_-PxlVOoLk/T8M2GjMz_TI/AAAAAAAAAhI/DL_tEEwHlk0/s1600/DSCN0547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J_-PxlVOoLk/T8M2GjMz_TI/AAAAAAAAAhI/DL_tEEwHlk0/s400/DSCN0547.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">West view</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--aB_ZzyOEno/T8M2Mmz8xbI/AAAAAAAAAhY/BaySTjiVXEk/s1600/DSCN0548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--aB_ZzyOEno/T8M2Mmz8xbI/AAAAAAAAAhY/BaySTjiVXEk/s400/DSCN0548.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North view</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qz-DFU9M5v8/T8M2ZDx75zI/AAAAAAAAAh0/7K5e6KJVRP8/s1600/DSCN0550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qz-DFU9M5v8/T8M2ZDx75zI/AAAAAAAAAh0/7K5e6KJVRP8/s400/DSCN0550.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where is where from Coombe Hill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It is very rewarding getting to the top of a major hill. I would recommend visiting Coombe Hill to anyone. If you want to read about it so that you can plan a walk/run/cycle there click <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coombe_Hill,_Buckinghamshire" target="_blank">here </a><br />
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<br />
<strong><u>Sunday 27th May</u></strong><br />
I crossed over to the other home county of Oxfordshire. My run took me from Goring to Whitchurch and back in the sweltering heat. Thankfully the woodland provided some much needed shade when needed, however the open field and roads were boiling hot to run on.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-osbF01GCDtU/T8M4VDVY6GI/AAAAAAAAAi0/l0-c0dIbiwk/s1600/120527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-osbF01GCDtU/T8M4VDVY6GI/AAAAAAAAAi0/l0-c0dIbiwk/s400/120527.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Goring to Whitchurch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The reason for running to Whitchurch was to run across a little toll bridge - <a href="http://www.whitchurchbridge.com/facts.html" target="_blank">Whitchurch Bridge</a>. It is one of two toll bridges along the Thames upstream of London.It's due for restoration by around 2013. But on Sunday it was being used fairly well. It is about 30p for a car to cross it and £3.00 for a lorry. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mxP50wD7tp4/T8M2fkW3a_I/AAAAAAAAAh8/05D9B9ji6po/s1600/DSCN0552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mxP50wD7tp4/T8M2fkW3a_I/AAAAAAAAAh8/05D9B9ji6po/s400/DSCN0552.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toll booth<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yo-obsnwRBQ/T8M2l3e8QJI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/xziwxaDdqic/s1600/DSCN0553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yo-obsnwRBQ/T8M2l3e8QJI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/xziwxaDdqic/s400/DSCN0553.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
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It was nice to stop and have a well needed drink and squeeze of energy gel under the shade of the trees by the bridge, before heading all the way back to Goring. I got back from this run at about 1pm. On the way back I cooled down with a tropical Solero ice cream which was very very yummy! <br />
<br />
<strong>Thank you again to all who have sponsored me so far.</strong> At the end of this week I will reach the halfway mark (500km) and my dehydrated body may get to run in some cooling showers. I also look forward to entering June as I run two more major racing circuits; Rockingham and Donington. I cant wait to blog about them :-)VictoriaKYounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09435200534498177609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4078398476403970731.post-6020441362036505882012-05-14T06:37:00.000-07:002012-05-14T06:37:38.724-07:00Keep Pushiinnnggg!!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Last night, I really pushed myself the last 850m of my run. When
I felt I didn’t have much breath left my husband said to me ‘Keep
Pushing!!’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This really encouraged me and
has stayed in my head since. I have titled this blog ‘Keep Pushing!!’ as I am a
Lotus F1 fan and this is very much their motto at the moment......</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WNPApkBRJ6U/T7EIdMPQYEI/AAAAAAAAAeo/XLox4a9RoIc/s1600/lotus+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WNPApkBRJ6U/T7EIdMPQYEI/AAAAAAAAAeo/XLox4a9RoIc/s400/lotus+pic.jpg" width="318" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cirebox live cartoons - Keep pushiinnnggg guys! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I am <strong>421.94km</strong> (262.18 miles) through my <a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank">1000km challenge</a>. Which is 10 marathons worth of distance, which I
have achieved in 40 separate runs. My longest run has been 25.9km (16.09miles)
and my shortest has been 5.35km (3.32miles).</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I want to share with everyone my ‘Keep Pushing!!’ moments so
far......</span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Back in January when I arrived at <a href="http://runchallenge1000.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/thruxton-racing-against-30mph-head.html" target="_blank">Thruxton</a>, my first motor racing circuit of the year to run on, I was greeted by
horrendous headwind. 30mph winds are pretty darn strong to run in! (In the Runner’s
World article on me they put it at 60mph – yes this was a misprint.) However 30
or 60mph, I think this early experience toughened me up for what was to
come.....</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
At <a href="http://runchallenge1000.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/british-weather-is-something-to-be.html" target="_blank">Goodwood </a>in March I suffered mild
hypothermia due to a sudden dramatic drop in temperature and already being
soaked through due to the rain....that turned into sleet....that turned into
snow! On my last lap, when I had to get back to the finish line, it took my
every strength to keep running, even though I was petrified because everything
was so cold it felt like a thousand shards of ice were running through my body.
There were tears amongst the pushing... believe me! </span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">In February, when I
did my run to <a href="http://runchallenge1000.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/from-windsor-with-love.html" target="_blank">Windsor castle</a> and back, I ran further than
I ever have before. I ran 24.40km. Previously to this I had run half
marathon pace. I was pretty much ok up until 22km...for the last few km’s my
legs just wouldn’t work anymore and I felt so tired it was untrue. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
And for the 25.9km run this included a lot of
hills. I wanted to see how I would do on my <a href="http://runchallenge1000.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/green-hell.html" target="_blank">Nurburgring</a> run
in September which is 24.4km and involves some brutal hills. I live in the
Chilterns, and the hills around here are brutal. </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YH5NMqTYudw/T7EFlvzLcxI/AAAAAAAAAeU/V5Wij9fceiY/s1600/25.9k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YH5NMqTYudw/T7EFlvzLcxI/AAAAAAAAAeU/V5Wij9fceiY/s400/25.9k.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This run involved getting to
the top of Winter Hill in</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Cookham....locals reading this will know how steep
this is!!! The last 4km of this run saw torrential rain, torrential head winds
and yet again another steep hill to get home. At this point I was limping up
the hill....my head kept me going I am quite sure as my legs didn’t even seem
connected to my body anymore. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">There are many more runs to come, I hope by the end of this
month I will be closer to half way through my 1000km.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
So far I have raised £544 for <a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank">Challenge 1000.</a> The Child Bereavement Charity and Cancer Research UK are very close to my. A big
thank you to all 39 donors so far who have sponsored me. It means so much to
me. I have also been thrilled to receive some sponsorship from people I have
never met who are also motor racing fans – thank you to these truly lovely people! heart</span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">My aim is to raise £2000. I am going to’Keep pushing!!’ so I hope you will to by being a
fantastic, amazing, wonderful individual by <u><a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank">sponsoring me</a></u> <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>VictoriaKYounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09435200534498177609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4078398476403970731.post-5055283788888600812012-05-05T07:15:00.001-07:002012-05-08T08:44:54.653-07:00Dank uwel Circuit Zolder! Thank you very much Circuit Zolder!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I woke up at 3.45am on Tuesday 1st May and boarded a DFDS ferry from Dover to Dunquirke at 7.50am. Eleven hours later, and quite ready for bed, I arrived at </span><a href="http://www.circuit-zolder.be/en" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Circuit Zolder</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> in Belgium. The weather was like a summers day and I got a little buzz of excitement to over-ride my tiredness when I saw the main entrance to the circuit. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This circuit, bathed in sunshine, was a real F1 'golden' oldie to arrive to. We were greeted by the people at the circuit, who made sure we were all ok for the start of our run. Everyone was incredibly friendly and I want to say a big thank you to them for taking time out of their schedules to welcome me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oMDTzKTKMFw/T6ULZ1dBcdI/AAAAAAAAAbk/jyUJOHUT41o/s1600/zolder+start.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="300" mea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oMDTzKTKMFw/T6ULZ1dBcdI/AAAAAAAAAbk/jyUJOHUT41o/s400/zolder+start.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">On the start finish line</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Now a little bit about this fantastic circuit. The pit straight and spectator area alongside are awesome. Fans can really get up close and personal to all the racing action. The circuits undulations are beautiful, with the challenges of downhill chicanes and short sharp uphill bursts. It's setting is also stunning, green and leafy for most. Plus inside the first 'bocht' (corner) - the Kanaalbocht - there are huge solar panels which are quite spectacular to crane your neck up to look at and very eco friendly! For me, even though I loved each part of this circuit, the part I seemed to enjoy most each time were the GillesVilleneuve Bocht/Terlamenbocht. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--Szb50JV-qs/T6UJvtWipAI/AAAAAAAAAbU/7OQnGp2TxHU/s1600/zolder+a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="400" mea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--Szb50JV-qs/T6UJvtWipAI/AAAAAAAAAbU/7OQnGp2TxHU/s400/zolder+a.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">My fave section! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I did three laps of this little gem of a circuit, and in my sleepy state I think think I did pretty well. Thank you to my husband for contacting Zolder when we found out I was no longer able to run round Spa Francorchamps circuit. I have to say I didn't feel let down one bit. Spa Francorchamps is a wonderful circuit and so is Zolder!!! The Belgians seem to have a real talent in creating amazing racing circuits.</span> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uoTtSjsUKRQ/T6ULJYcloEI/AAAAAAAAAbc/tHEKxWnDQZk/s1600/zolder+podium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="400" mea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uoTtSjsUKRQ/T6ULJYcloEI/AAAAAAAAAbc/tHEKxWnDQZk/s400/zolder+podium.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">On the podium! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This weekend Zolder is hosting Clean Week 2020, which I spoke about in my previous blog. I had a preview of some of the vehicles.... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AP_i2bBjElc/T6UMAc8kebI/AAAAAAAAAb0/fi19OPNRLWk/s1600/electrocar+zolder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="400" mea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AP_i2bBjElc/T6UMAc8kebI/AAAAAAAAAb0/fi19OPNRLWk/s400/electrocar+zolder.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I want this one....so cute! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">As you can probably tell I am a fan of Circuit Zolder - Ik vind het tof (i really like it)! Plus on arriving back from Zolder I have received a further £57 of sponsorship for </span><a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Challenge 1000</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> which has made me really really happy! Thank you to all those who have sponsored me, my body is so sore and knowing others are recognising the causes I am running for means a great deal to me.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">I am going to keep on racking up the km's for now and am about to go for a run now. In terms of motor racing circuits my next stop....Rockingham!!! I will keep you posted. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></div>VictoriaKYounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09435200534498177609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4078398476403970731.post-23121546330062220512012-04-28T07:51:00.000-07:002012-04-28T07:58:19.187-07:00Zolder to the Rescue!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This week I had the very disappointing news that my run in aid of <a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank">Challenge 1000</a>, due to take place at the Circuit de Spa Francorchamps, could no longer go ahead as I found out that the race track itself will be in use the day I arranged with them to run on it!!! Grrrrr! </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I had booked travel to Belgium and accomodation in advance and it looked like the trip was going to be for no reason......</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">However..... <a href="http://www.circuit-zolder.be/en/content/home" target="_blank">Circuit Zolder</a> came to the rescue and kindly invited me to come and run on their race track. From 5-6th May the circuit is holding its annual <a href="http://cleanweek2020.be/" target="_blank">CleanWeek2020</a> event. Clean Week 2020 aims at providing an annual review of future oriented technologies in the fields of mobility and environment, blended into an appealing mix of sporty, educational, technological and recreational elements.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">In the 1970's and 80's Zolder hosted the F1 Belgian Grand Prix. On May 8, 1982, Gilles Villeneuve died after an accident during the final qualifying session for the <span style="color: black;">Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder.</span> I will be running this circuit a week before the 30th anniversary of his death. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">His son, Jacques Villeneuve, was the F1 World Champion in 1997. The Grand Prix circuit in Montreal is named after his father. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In 2008 the Top Gear team visited this circuit, with Jeremy Clarkson racing one of my favourite people of all time - the awesome Sabine Schmitz -to do a Top Gear vs The Germans challenge racing Mini Cooper Hatchcbacks. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Already I feel a great fondness for this circuit and I am looking forward to getting to know it a little better :-)</span></div>
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<br /></div>VictoriaKYounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09435200534498177609noreply@blogger.com0Belgium50.503887 4.46993649.211200999999996 1.9430804999999998 51.796573 6.9967915tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4078398476403970731.post-76844429947802977872012-04-20T02:25:00.001-07:002012-04-20T02:25:21.578-07:00Next stop circuit de Spa Francorchamps!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
As you may know by now i</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">n 2012 I am running 1000km to raise money for charity. I
will be running in some very special locations, including motor circuits in the
UK and abroad that are known across the world. I am running in memory of my
Grampy Fred who died of cancer 3 years ago. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On 2nd May I am off to run around the famous F1 circuit of
Spa Francorchamps. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This circuit is very special to me as it is my favourite
circuit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I went to see the F1
Belgian Grand Prix here in September 2008. My Grampy Fred gave me his special
Ferrari Michael Schumacher (yes, he loved him!) t-shirt and Ferrari cap to wear at this Grand Prix.
These are treasured items to me that I regularly get out and look at every day.
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-giRwXCfoLC4/T5Ejse-O5uI/AAAAAAAAAXY/MJy_6lMnX_U/s1600/spa+picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-giRwXCfoLC4/T5Ejse-O5uI/AAAAAAAAAXY/MJy_6lMnX_U/s400/spa+picture.jpg" width="275" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am looking forward to taking them with me again on this
run. The circuit is challenging and hilly for a runner; I aim to do around 3
laps of it to make it up to a half marathon length. <br /><br />Yesterday I was so pleased to have an extra £22 from some very kind supporters! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So please sponsor me what you can!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://virginmoneygiving.com/challenge1000">virginmoneygiving.com/challenge1000<o:p></o:p></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Or you can donate by TEXT to <strong>70070 <o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Enter <strong>KVWN78 </strong>followed by the amount e.g. £1 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/112468248133374239060/Challenge1000VirginMoneyGiving?authuser=0&feat=directlink">https://picasaweb.google.com/112468248133374239060/Challenge1000VirginMoneyGiving?authuser=0&feat=directlink</a> - Check out my online photo album to see where I have been....</span></div>
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</span></div>VictoriaKYounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09435200534498177609noreply@blogger.com0Francorchamps, Stavelot, Belgium50.4543456 5.952213950.413906600000004 5.8732499 50.4947846 6.0311779tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4078398476403970731.post-68106073823956203752012-04-13T07:53:00.000-07:002012-04-13T07:53:19.074-07:00My adventures at Thruxton, Goodwood and Silverstone.<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I have recently joined Twitter (@VictoriaKYoung) in order to get the word out about my own personal challenge to run 1000km in 2012 to raise money for <a href="http://www.childbereavement.org.uk/" target="_blank">Child Bereavement Charity</a> and <a href="http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/" target="_blank">Cancer Research UK</a>. I am hoping others will retweet this in the aim of helping me to spread awareness.</span><br />
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I keep finding it hard to believe that so far this year I have run 4 laps of Goodwood, 4 laps of Thruxton and 3 laps of Silverstone. What thrills me even more is that soon I will be heading to Spa Francorchamps (2nd May) and the Nurburgring (1st September). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A little bit about the charities I am raising money for before I talk race tracks. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Cancer Research UK is special to me as it's the charity that donations went to at my Grandfather's funeral. My Grampy Fred was a complete F1 addict, and I am proud to continue this tradition. At his funeral he had a Ferrari F1 car made out of flowers, to represent his favourite man <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- <span dir="auto">Michael Schumacher</span>.</span> He also had Fleetwood Mac's 'The Chain', the memorable guitar solo used by BBC for F1 coverage.Thanks to the work Cancer Research UK my Grampy was given extra months in which to live due to amazing developments in drugs had a pain free and peaceful end to his life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">The Child Bereavement Charity supports families when a child has died or when a child is bereaved. When someone important to you dies it's often difficult to know where to turn and this charity offers a glimmer of light at the end of what can be a very dark tunnel. I am very proud to be the Youth Worker for this charity. Not only do I see them as so special that I put my heart and soul into working for them, but I also want to raise money for them so they can continue to do their amazing work. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Now onto race tracks!! The huge open space of a racing track only means one thing. You are completely open to the elements. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Thruxton - My mental and physical strength was tested. Running up Woodham Hill in a 30mph headwind I have never sworn so much in my life. But what an awesome little track it is. Fun doesn't seem the right word for it possibly immense would do it justice. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Goodwood - I encountered a -6oC Celsius drop in temperature while out on the track. Thanks to the rain I was already soaking wet. I ended up not being able to feel my hands and eventually most of my body, even though I was still running. I ran in a state of delirium. What was worse is that I was testing my mind to see if I was ok by doing times tables, but that was a bad idea because my maths is crap. I ended up shivering and shaking for a few hours after this run while trying to warm up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Silverstone - Finally no extreme weather challenges faced me, apart from a bit of a headwind along Hangar Straight. The weather was gorgeous, the temperature was decent and the track was beautiful. They were so friendly at Silverstone too, just lovely! Thank you again to them and for tweeting about it at the time :-)</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On pole position at Silverstone.....</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">You can view all photos from my runs via my Picasa Web album </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/112468248133374239060/Challenge1000VirginMoneyGiving?authuser=0&feat=directlink">https://picasaweb.google.com/112468248133374239060/Challenge1000VirginMoneyGiving?authuser=0&feat=directlink</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">I cant wait to update everyone on my Spa Francorchamps run. I hope all goes smoothly on my arrival at the track on 2nd May. It just seems so unreal that they have granted me access that I still cant quite believe that its happening. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">I will keep running for what I believe in, and I swear, when I am at Spa I will kneel down and kiss that gorgeous track!!!!! It is my absolute favourite, and I keep getting really infuriated when people say to me they have never heard of it! Arrrggghhhh! Things like that get my goat...like last year when DC was interviewing Sergio Perez at Silverstone and some silly English lady said on TV she didn't even know who he was. Come on people!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Anyways, I am making a big hullabaloo by running in famous places that catch people's attention to raise as much money as I can. Just by sponsoring me with a little amount you are giving me mountains of support. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">So wether you are reading this through a Facebook, Twitter, Virginmoneygiving or GtPlanetForum please show your support. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">You can donate via my <a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank">Virgin Money Giving</a> page where there are many options to donate, including text donating. Thank you. </span><br />
<br />VictoriaKYounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09435200534498177609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4078398476403970731.post-23906613175383937332012-04-07T08:09:00.000-07:002012-04-10T02:23:54.262-07:00Further travels along Route 61<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">My alarm went off at 8am this morning. I had pretty sore legs from the day before's physical activites (including a run just under 7km). I got up, had a bowl of cereal, a slice of toast with peanut butter, a cup of tea and set off. I have run cycle route 61 before in a run I did to Windsor Castle earlier this year. However the route also follows directly to Heathrow, so I thought I would get as far along as I could depending on how much fuel I had in my tank. Which was not a lot today. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />For the first 8km of running I had to fight the urge to throw up. I just wanted to puke my guts out! To say I felt empty was the understatement of the century. I wouldnt advise doing a body pump class, followed by a spinning class, followed by a run the day before a half marathon distance run. Bloody knackering!<br /><br />Yet amongst the pain there were some lovely distractions on this run. The Jubilee River is really pretty. There are plenty of parks, countryside and greenery, a beautiful clean river which is home to many swans and cormorants. Different views of Windsor Castle are a prominent feature. Plus if you are an aeroplane fanatic, you will always see many in the skies above! <br /><br />Just before crossing the bridge over to the nice little village of Datchet you get to run through Ditton Park. The park dates from before 1086 and it covers about 80 hectares. It did look like it would be a nice home for deer but I didn't see any. Reading up on it, lots of deer had a home there once upon a time. The park is now owned by Computer Associates Ltd. who have set up it's European Headquarters in the form of quite a nice large glass building within the park. This company kindly opened up the land to the public and route 61 not that long ago. Within the park is also Ditton Park House, a moated country house, which seems purely an ornamental aspect of the park. Today the planes were coming in to land over it. </span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bikHC3VMTSI/T4BPjS_c3_I/AAAAAAAAAVM/jHBHy4vi_mo/s1600/Ditton+House+Route+61.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bikHC3VMTSI/T4BPjS_c3_I/AAAAAAAAAVM/jHBHy4vi_mo/s320/Ditton+House+Route+61.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Crossing over a bridge across the M4 just before Junction 5, entering the edges of Datchet going in to Colnbrook, I arrived at a nice halfway stop point. The Queen Mother Reservoir is home to lots of sheep and their lambs. I managed to get a good shot of one incoming aircraft.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">At the half way point I had run just over 10km. So by the time I got back to the car the run would be over 20km. I was feeling a little less sick at this point. But I was running like a rag doll, all over the place and limp! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">By the time I got back to my car it had just started to rain properly. I have to say my legs felt so broken on stopping at my car (Christine the Citroen C1) I had to lean on her!! I had run 20.47km. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So this week I have run in total 27km. I would like to do a 30km week at some point, but I am going to rest and gather the strength first. I am looking forward to tomorrow, it has been a while since I have had a Sunday where I haven't run. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">For those reading who have yet to sponsor me you can now do it via text!! I have set this up for those who just want to donate a little bit. Remember, every penny counts and good things come in small packages :-)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It is free to sponsor me by text. All you need to do is send my unique fundraising code <strong>KVWN78</strong> followed by the amount you want to donate <strong>£?</strong> to <strong>70070 </strong></span><strong>e.g. To: 70070 </strong><strong>KVWN78 £1 </strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Or to sponsor me online <a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank">click here.</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Happy Easter to all, thank you for your continued support :-)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></div>VictoriaKYounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09435200534498177609noreply@blogger.com0Dorney, Buckinghamshire SL4, UK51.502782 -0.66359351.492898000000004 -0.683334 51.512666 -0.643852tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4078398476403970731.post-31695872744026185982012-04-01T10:21:00.000-07:002012-04-02T02:01:44.577-07:00My Local 'Roots': A week of 26.2km<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">My reason for running 1000km this year is so I can raise money for two wonderful charities. If you are reading this and have not sponsored me because you think I will make it to my £2000 target easily, think again! As of yet I have contacted many local and national organisations and companies to seek sponsorship. All have so far told me they have either used up their charity funds, or have just not replied to me. I am not going to give up and I am going to keep trying. However without the support of individuals, I cannot raise these funds. So please sponsor me for <a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank">Challenge 1000</a>. Whether it's £2, £5, £10 or £50 - it is your support and kind message to me that really counts. Thank you :-)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong>Tuesday 27th March, 6.45pm</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>Cressex to Booker and back.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">7.39km</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">I aimed to run 10km on this lovely spring evening. However about 5km into the run I experienced some extremely bad stomach pains. It was evident I was suffering from 'runners tummy'. I had to clench certain areas pretty tight, and had the inevitable quality time spent sat on the loo when I got home. Not great fun, but I managed to run just over 7km. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><strong>Saturday 31st March, 6.30pm</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><em>Circular route: Cressex, Booker Common, Booker Woods, Adams Park, Lane End Road, Booker Common and back to Cressex.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">9.3km</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">I first ran this route for the first time in 2011, a few weeks after getting my first trail shoes. This was when I first started some more off road running. I had run the Wycombe Half Marathon in July and I was getting bored of road running. My husband knew of a mostly off road run he had done with a friend before (who is training for the Milton Keynes marathon this year, we wish him all the best of luck!). The route has helpfully been mapped out through a series of orange arrows painted onto trees by people who work at the Johnson and Johnson European Headquarters, based in Cressex. The first time I ran it I found it very difficult, and I even had to stop and walk for a few moments at the top of quite a long stretch of hill.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">When I ran it last night I didn't have to stop once, and kept a steady pace up the long stretch of hill. I still found it tough but I was able to manage it a lot better than the first time I ran it. It's a really good run, and it's nice and close to home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><strong>Sunday 1st April, 10.30am</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><em>The Rye, past Kingsmead, through Loudwater, back along the London Road to Loudwater and Kingsmead again, to the Rye, ending with a lap of The Dyke.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">9.53km</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">It was warmer than expected outside for my run today and I was wearing a long sleeved top. About 2 minutes in I started to boil and sweat! This run is round an area I know really well and that I grew up in. I used to go on bike rides with my sister and my neighbours on these roads and paths. The route also takes in running very close to the cemetery where my Grandfather has been laid to rest, and near to the house he lived in. I like the area due to these connections. I will always support Cancer Research UK. This was the charity he chose for people to give donations to at his funeral, so I feel it is only responsible to continue this. The spot he is laid to rest overlooks Wooburn Green (where my Granny lives), Loudwater and High Wycombe. The view is stunning. This was the area he was from, and the same area I was born and bred in. The Chiltern hills surround the area, which is dotted with villages. The River Wye meets the River Thames, giving the area some lovely riverside locations. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The name Wycombe comes from the river Wye, and the old English word for a wooded valley, combe. Which describes the look of the area perfectly.</span> </span></span> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OF9T8Njv0F8/T3iJ6vhPa_I/AAAAAAAAAUo/dW611PBQpAA/s1600/honeymoon+account+pics+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OF9T8Njv0F8/T3iJ6vhPa_I/AAAAAAAAAUo/dW611PBQpAA/s320/honeymoon+account+pics+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">My husband, Andrew and I in 2010. We are both carrying a little more weight than we do now due to all the running! This was taken before we were married and we are posing for our honeymoon account picture. We are at a small fishing lake in Bourne End. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Those were my three runs this week, now I am off to rest before starting off on another active week. Body pump and Spinning classes tomorrow - a must for building strong bones and increasing endurance. I am officially into some serous training for my Nurburgring 24.4km hilly hell run in September!!! Hopefully I will be way on my way to 1000km by then :-)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Thank you for reading and Happy Easter to all xxxx</span>VictoriaKYounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09435200534498177609noreply@blogger.com0High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, UK51.628611 -0.74822951.589183999999996 -0.82719300000000007 51.668038 -0.669265tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4078398476403970731.post-69163977804727961642012-04-01T09:14:00.000-07:002012-05-08T08:45:22.384-07:00Thruxton: Racing against 30mph head winds<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Twenty One days into <a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank">Challenge 1000</a> (January 21st 2012) and before I started writing this blog, I ran four laps of <a href="http://www.thruxtonracing.co.uk/" target="_blank">Thruxton motor circuit</a> in Hampshire. </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d0XP18w8X_s/T3h8Gt060wI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/14NssVckaGg/s1600/thruxton+21st+Jan+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d0XP18w8X_s/T3h8Gt060wI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/14NssVckaGg/s320/thruxton+21st+Jan+002.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In my Child Bereavement Charity vest</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DjylBdSWEfY/T3h7y6V6ACI/AAAAAAAAAUI/RtS_sJpq3Iw/s1600/thruxton+21st+Jan+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DjylBdSWEfY/T3h7y6V6ACI/AAAAAAAAAUI/RtS_sJpq3Iw/s320/thruxton+21st+Jan+001.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In my Cancer Research UK t-shirt</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Situated inside the circuit is <a href="http://www.westernairthruxton.co.uk/airfield.htm" target="_blank">Thruxton Airfield</a>. W</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">e had to report to the people at traffic control before and after running the track. <span style="font-size: x-small;">A man in ATC kindly said they would put a poster about about my fundraising challenge in their restaurant area ready for the start of the season. </span></span> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yNFt8u5DRXs/T3h7C0jQ7KI/AAAAAAAAAUA/kittSJ4Yu3E/s1600/Thruxton+aerial-view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yNFt8u5DRXs/T3h7C0jQ7KI/AAAAAAAAAUA/kittSJ4Yu3E/s320/Thruxton+aerial-view.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thruxton from above</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Thruxton is a fairly small circuit. It's around 3.8km for one lap. However what it lacks in length, it makes up for in speed. It's a lovely circuit and must be extremely fun. It has quite a bit of a hill in the last 3/4 of the track. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">It was this part of the track that was really difficult to run, seeming as I had to run against a 30mph headwind. To have to do that 4 times was a real test of will power. It was incredibly tiring and lots of foul language escaped from my lips. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">While we were running a few helicopters landed. However not many planes were coming to and from, perhaps the windy conditions were not ideal for flying!</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">After four laps of running this circuit I was pretty pooped. I couldn't resist going up to the podium and taking 1st place on the podium. Having raced against the wind, victory was mine!</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MlTAmMsKwd4/T3h9H4jcuvI/AAAAAAAAAUY/weNSpHOtySY/s1600/thruxton+21st+Jan+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MlTAmMsKwd4/T3h9H4jcuvI/AAAAAAAAAUY/weNSpHOtySY/s320/thruxton+21st+Jan+004.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>VictoriaKYounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09435200534498177609noreply@blogger.com0Thruxton, Hampshire SP11, UK51.209403 -1.585993951.1994555 -1.6057349 51.219350500000004 -1.5662529tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4078398476403970731.post-13101669945171258442012-03-25T07:58:00.000-07:002012-03-25T08:09:11.272-07:00British summertime begins!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Apart from my run on the beach in Wales, this weekend has been the first of my warm weather runs. I am sure the temperature will drop back down again soon, but running with blue sky and sunshine has been a real treat. However it has involved lots of sweating and panting, I am not used to anything apart from freezing cold and windy conditions. It seems I will have to adjust to this new weather I am experiencing...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u><strong>Run 1 - Saturday 24th March </strong></u></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Location: Buckinghamshire</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Route: Saunderton to West Wycombe, up to the Golden Ball and back to Saunderton </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Distance: 9.34km</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Notes: Hilly, sweaty</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The Golden Ball, West Wycombe Hill</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span> <a href="http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/west-wycombe-hill-and-village/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">West Wycombe</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> is a small village </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">three miles west of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. West Wycombe Hill is the site of The Mausoleum and Golden Ball, built in the mid-18th century. These are two local landmarks that dominate the village and local landscape for miles surrounding.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">To run up to the Golden Ball I had to run up West Wycombe Hill. It is a long climb and in the warm weather it involved lots of sweating and panting. Once reaching the ball the path followed into the National Trust woods which continued the climb. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It was nice to see through the gaps of the trees the building of </span><a href="http://www.theclarefoundation.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The Clare Foundation</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> appear, knowing we would soon be heading downhill. The Clare Foundation is a 'Charity Hub' set up by Mike Clare (a serial entrepreneur and founder of Dreams ). The building houses local charities based in Bucks, Berks and Oxfordshire for subsidised rates. The offices of the </span><a href="http://www.childbereavement.org.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Child Bereavement Charity</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> are housed within this hub. For <a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank">Challenge 1000</a> this is one of the charities I am raising money for. Before being based here this the charity was based in Aston House in West Wycombe. So West Wycombe and Saunderton is the home territory of the charity. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong><u>Run 2 - Sunday 25th March</u></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Location: Buckinghamshire/Oxfordshire</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Route: Horsendon (Bucks) almost to Towersey (Oxfordshire) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Distance: 10:21km</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Notes: Very warm, lots of cyclists! </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LKvkcKsJvwQ/T28mmJO0kxI/AAAAAAAAATY/1JYQYNgZ22E/s1600/phoenix+trail+run.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LKvkcKsJvwQ/T28mmJO0kxI/AAAAAAAAATY/1JYQYNgZ22E/s320/phoenix+trail+run.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.sustrans.org.uk/what-we-do/art-and-the-travelling-landscape/Art-Trails/phoenix-trail" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Phoenix Trail</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">was launched in early 2002 and comprises a series of 30 artworks sited over 5 miles between Thame and Princes Risborough. The trail is surrounded by the Chiltern Hills. I managed to enjoy the views while stopping briefly to go for a wee in some bushes. I don't usually need to wee while running but today I did. There is a first time for everything!<br />In the picture above I am surrounded by 3 copper figures designed by an artist called Lucy Casson. Here they are closer up...</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MDoqZJvVQJw/T28n9ncKcfI/AAAAAAAAATg/3nUHBPu63wo/s1600/phoenix+tral+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MDoqZJvVQJw/T28n9ncKcfI/AAAAAAAAATg/3nUHBPu63wo/s200/phoenix+tral+3.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9fHwbbjG2hU/T28oaxMGB3I/AAAAAAAAATo/Kq8eKQ1PwkU/s1600/phoenix+trail+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9fHwbbjG2hU/T28oaxMGB3I/AAAAAAAAATo/Kq8eKQ1PwkU/s200/phoenix+trail+2.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k_nsZjMVG2g/T28ocPAjd9I/AAAAAAAAATw/CrSUVdV_VwM/s1600/pheonix+trail+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k_nsZjMVG2g/T28ocPAjd9I/AAAAAAAAATw/CrSUVdV_VwM/s200/pheonix+trail+1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">My husband told me they reminded him of me...he is great at compliments. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">On such a lovely day like today, there were lots of people out using the trail. Most of them were on bikes. It is a nice flat stretch, ideal if you are fed up of hills...a bit like I was today. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">On the final stretch of the run we saw an interesting train go by, and the man operating the level crossing kindly let us run through the gates just after he had closed them. It's always nice when people are considerate :-)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Including my run on Thursday at Cookham, I have run 24.92 km (15.48 miles) this week. My weekly target now the days are lighter will be 24 km until it starts to get dark again. At the end of March I will be 3 months into the challenge. I am taking Omega 3 in an attempt to take care of my joints, especially my aching knees that sometimes wake me in the night. I may even have to try out some knee support soon. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">You may ask - Why am I putting myself through this? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It's simple ....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1. To raise awareness of two fantastic charities - Child Bereavement Charity and Cancer Research UK</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">2. To raise money for them...ideally £1000 each!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I cant reach this target without your support, so if you are reading this and haven't yet sponsored me please do. And if you have sponsored me and are checking in on my progress a big thank you to you :-) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Please help to spread the word about </span><a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Challenge 1000</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> :-) xxx</span></div>
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</h3>VictoriaKYounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09435200534498177609noreply@blogger.com1High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, UK51.628611 -0.74822951.589183999999996 -0.82719300000000007 51.668038 -0.669265tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4078398476403970731.post-71995032039026719072012-03-23T10:02:00.000-07:002012-03-23T10:02:52.373-07:00Challenge Update: Speedwork, Runner's World and Spa Francorchamps.It's official, the more I run, the quicker and fitter I am becoming. My heart rate is becoming less while my speed and endurance are improving. I can also put this down to taking three spinning classes a week and two body pump classes. <br />
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I did a 5.38km circular run yesterday evening at Cookham in Berkshire. The route follows the River Thames for a while, and then goes into fields and woodland. Cookham was recorded as Britain's second richest village by the Daily Telegraph in 2011. <span id="goog_2099828146"></span><span id="goog_2099828147"></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qgqSk_No8nQ/T2yq2-wJLyI/AAAAAAAAAQk/YZPIAvD9mzg/s1600/840739-cookham-sign-with-daffodils.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qgqSk_No8nQ/T2yq2-wJLyI/AAAAAAAAAQk/YZPIAvD9mzg/s200/840739-cookham-sign-with-daffodils.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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This running route is around a 15 minute drive from where I live, house prices in the South Bucks area are on average £529,184...not that my one bedroom house in Wycombe matches up to anywhere near this price of course. In and around the home counties, there are some really wealthy people. I must find these people and ask them to sponsor me....<br />
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Back to my run round Cookham. The whole run I pushed myself, there was not a moment when my breathing settled. Even though at the end I felt sick and that I couldn't push my body anymore, I was able to manage a sprint finish. Apart from stopping to open and close various gates while running I would definitely have run my quickest ever 5km, of which this route is slightly over. I was quite proud of myself and congratulated myself later that evening with 3 large scoops of Ben and Jerry's ice cream at the cinema :-)<br /><br />In this past week I have two bits of very good news!!!<br />
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National magazine 'Runners World' will be including a feature on me and Challenge 1000 in the July edition of their magazine. This will be out in shops in June. I will be featured in the Real Runners section for inspirational runners. It is so nice of them to support me by doing this. <br />AND</div>
I have confirmed with the lovely Event Manager, Chantal, at Spa Francorchamps that I will be able to run their circuit on Wednesday 2nd May. I am very excited!!! It is my favourite motor racing circuit, and it is in such a beautiful location. I am looking forward to blogging about my run there! <br />
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As you can see I have lots going on and <a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank">Challenge 1000</a> is taking me to many places. I am experiencing some great runs and meeting new people. However in terms of fundraising things are going quite slowly. <br />
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When I first started this Challenge I was a little naive and I thought people would be happy to sponsor me. However to get sponsorship from those you don't know you really have to push people, and pushing people does not come naturally to me. It's hard work to run all these km's and encourage people to sponsor you, on top of working full time. I am working my bum off to put it bluntly. I am happy to do so for two charities I care lots about - Child Bereavement Charity and Cancer Research UK.<br />
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So if you are a family member or a friend of mine who hasn't sponsored me yet please do. It will really help to keep my motivation up more than you know. <br />
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Also, please SPREAD THE WORD to your own friends and family members and see if they will sponsor me. I would be so grateful for your support. <br />
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To sponsor me go to <a href="http://www.virginmoneygiving.com/challenge1000">www.virginmoneygiving.com/challenge1000</a><br />
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Thank you to all of my sponsors so far. You are all amazing! xxVictoriaKYounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09435200534498177609noreply@blogger.com0Cookham, Windsor and Maidenhead, UK51.558437 -0.70774151.538688 -0.747223 51.578185999999995 -0.66825899999999994tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4078398476403970731.post-83194061736159101992012-03-19T01:38:00.002-07:002012-03-19T04:58:43.263-07:00A Sunday morning in the Chiltern Hills.....<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Yesterday I broke through the 200km mark of my </span><a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1000km challenge</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">. On Friday afternoon I tried to think of a good run that would take me through the first few hundred km's. I was not able to travel anywhere far so I looked into doing a local run in Buckinghamshire. </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">The run started off from Saunderton, lead me up an incredibly steep hill towards Lacey Green, over to Speen and back to Saunderton. </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iMYRyp_-Gmc/T2bvFX3KfNI/AAAAAAAAAQc/ySfR1N6ZaCs/s1600/lacey+green+windmill+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iMYRyp_-Gmc/T2bvFX3KfNI/AAAAAAAAAQc/ySfR1N6ZaCs/s320/lacey+green+windmill+002.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">At Lacey Green we made a brief stop off at the windmill there. The windmill dates from around 1650, making it the oldest smock windmill in the country. Since 1971 it has been restored back to working order by members of The Chiltern Society. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">If you live local to Buckinghamshire and you didn't know of this windmill this is where you can find it <span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.laceygreenwindmill.org.uk/">www.laceygreenwindmill.org.uk</a> <span id="goog_425457387"></span> <span id="goog_425457392"></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">If you are a walker or a runner this area provides some lovely routes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">The particular route we took was incredibly hilly, with both steep up and downhill sections. So if you are in training for any hills this is a good route. I feel this run will be a good one to practice for the incredibly hilly 24.4km Nurburgring run I am doing in September. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">On a Sunday morning after a hectic week at work I found I had very little energy. So warming up took a while, but once I was feeling a little more awake and into my stride I was able to fully enjoy the surroundings. The weather up on the hills in Bucks was bright and sunny, but in the area we were running it was misty and fairly cold.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">All in all it was a lovely run, with some pretty quick kms and some pretty slow ones. However I can safely say I am no longer scared of hills, I have learnt to get on with it and run up them!</span>VictoriaKYounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09435200534498177609noreply@blogger.com0Lacey Green, Buckinghamshire HP27, UK51.6947199 -0.80551351.684877400000005 -0.825254 51.7045624 -0.785772tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4078398476403970731.post-81231533749882018092012-03-16T01:48:00.001-07:002012-03-16T03:35:24.300-07:00The Sun Rises (Sale el Sol)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wtm2ZKJ_4us/T2L-F-lRF6I/AAAAAAAAAQE/ek51LmdgPHM/s1600/honeymoon+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wtm2ZKJ_4us/T2L-F-lRF6I/AAAAAAAAAQE/ek51LmdgPHM/s320/honeymoon+024.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ok this is a sunset in the Maldives...but isint it just gorgeous?!</td></tr>
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There is a song I love by Shakira called Sale el Sol (The Sun rises) and there are a few lines in it that go<br />
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<em>Y un día después de la tormenta<br />Cuando menos piensas sale el sol</em>Which translates into </div>
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<em>And a day after the storm<br />When you least expect it, the sun rises</em><br />
So in this rather cold and hard weather we have had at the start of this year, my run last Sunday around Dorney involved plenty of sun. It was incredibly warm. It was nice to feel the sun on my skin!<br />
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However I quickly went from sun to darkness again. On Tuesday evening I did a 10k run around my local area. It's never really that fun running in the dark around residential areas. There is not much to look at. You get to see lorry drivers bedding up for the night in their cabs on the industrial estate, bad drivers not stopping at pedestrian crossings, running past a stinky kebab van.....<br />
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This Sunday I will break through the 200km mark so I will be 20% of the way there. From this point I will be putting up my running distances per week over the next few months. I am finding it hard to fit it into an increasing work schedule, but I am committed. <br />
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I don't go out running because I have to, I do it because I want to. I want to raise this money and support these charities and I want to show people it is worth backing what you feel is a good cause, and help others to recognise these good causes. <br />
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Bereavement and Cancer, they are not the happiest of subjects. But they are ones we all live with day to day. It doesn't help anyone to shy away from these subjects. By raising awareness of them, we can help those experiencing them. Let's help bring others a glimmer of sunshine. <br />
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Thank you for all those who have sponsored me, and thank you to those of you who will :-)<br />
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<a href="http://virginmoneygiving.com/challenge1000">virginmoneygiving.com/challenge1000</a></div>VictoriaKYounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09435200534498177609noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4078398476403970731.post-28593701445803148982012-03-08T13:07:00.000-08:002012-03-09T06:20:02.288-08:00Rule Britannia at Silverstone<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Today I was lucky enough to have the Silverstone track all to myself, and of course I shared this with my husband who throughout this challenge has run every km with me. I tell him that he doesn't need to however he has taken on the official role as Challenge 1000 manager. Between us we have been approaching different racing venues, and getting this circuit was down to all his doing. So thank you very very very much to him.</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6MH9ouyE-rc/T1kcxMzOMAI/AAAAAAAAAP8/XQsEH4VwNKg/s1600/silverstone+podium+close+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6MH9ouyE-rc/T1kcxMzOMAI/AAAAAAAAAP8/XQsEH4VwNKg/s320/silverstone+podium+close+up.jpg" width="240" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the crowd goes wild!!! <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gjcrEwPrDPc/T1kccLE0xUI/AAAAAAAAAP0/c_sjDwRso5U/s1600/podium+wing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gjcrEwPrDPc/T1kccLE0xUI/AAAAAAAAAP0/c_sjDwRso5U/s320/podium+wing.jpg" width="240" yda="true" /></a></div>
New podium @ Silverstone</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">We drove right up to The Silverstone Wing. Which is their international pit and paddock building which incidentally looks like a giant wing. When we drove up we saw Cal Crutchlow (Moto GP rider) driving away, then we saw Steve Parrish (Moto GP commentator for BBC) and Matt Roberts (Moto GP presenter for BBC) packing stuff into their boots and driving away!!! For those who watch Moto GP you will know who these people are. For those that don't you wont have a clue - sorry. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A lady called Carol greeted us at the wing. She made us feel like VIPs. She asked about what charities I was raising money for and also asked if she could take a photo so they could tweet about <a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank">Challenge 1000</a>. This was the warmest and best reception we have had so far. Thank you to Carol at Silverstone.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2nvEX7mAkEY/T1kYLLPJ4EI/AAAAAAAAAPs/3KpGAnjV1Ic/s1600/silverstone+start.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2nvEX7mAkEY/T1kYLLPJ4EI/AAAAAAAAAPs/3KpGAnjV1Ic/s320/silverstone+start.jpg" width="320" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the start line</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">It is a bit surreal running on a race track. You can see all the tyre marks, bits of loose tyre rubber, dents and scrapes where crashes have happened. At Silverstone today I got to see every bend, bump and elevation of each bit of the track. I can see why this circuit is such a great one.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">I ran 3 laps in total. As we were finishing at the end a workman who had seen us go by lap by lap asked us "Are you tired yet?".....well we had run 17.3km (10.75 miles)....so erm yes I was.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">So far I have raised over £300 for the Child Bereavement Charity and Cancer Research UK. I have £1,700 to go. Let's keep it coming! Click <a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=Challenge1000" target="_blank">here</a> to give what you can. Thank you. </span>VictoriaKYounghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09435200534498177609noreply@blogger.com1Silverstone, Northamptonshire NN12, UK52.091477 -1.028060952.081720999999995 -1.0478019 52.101233 -1.0083199