Last Monday a friend mentioned to me about the Sierra Leone Marathon that was taking place in May this year and wondered if I fancied doing it as I’ve been wanting to improve my running. Well, when I say running, I mean my attempted “interval training” on the gym’s treadmill. As my jaw dropped in disbelief at the word “Marathon”, she quickly mentioned that there were two other options: a half-marathon and a 5K run. I kinda liked the idea of a 5k run, even though I’d never managed it before without stopping. And so the seed was planted.
However, given that a 5K wouldn’t really be THAT much of a challenge and really… how could I fly all the way from London to West Africa for that… that seed sprouted into the idea of doing a half-marathon. I think I’m still in shock that I’m actually going to go and do this.
So, the basics! This is for Street Child:
As stated on their website:
“The children who eke their survival only by stealing, working for pitiful sums in often hazardous and/or demeaning conditions, or selling – often selling that which no-one should ever have to sell?
The children whose sum possessions are usually the rags you see on their bodies.
The children who sleep on the street in lorry parks, market stalls and other public places, hopelessly exposed to disease and predation.
The children with no hope of medical care when they inevitably fall ill.
The children with no secure or safe place – who can never relax.
The children more often viewed with hatred than concern in the places they live.
The children exposed to gangs and drugs instead of school and food.
The children with no visible prospect of education or development, condemned to parasitic life.
The children with no one to look after them.
The children whose life is almost certainly condemned to being brutish, short, and dangerous.”
A pretty damn worthwhile charity don’t you think?
Add to that the personal challenge from only being able to run a 4.5km on a treadmill in 25 minutes and getting myself fit enough in the roughly 12 weeks that is available, but also to fit it in around what is an already hugely packed schedule; not forgetting that as a life coach I have to be able to motivate my clients, so motivating myself should be a doddle right? Not so. After all, how many people find it easier to help others change things in their life, than their own! Coaches (and counsellors) are no exception!
The aims:
*** to raise money and awareness through social media and blogging for Street Child (thereby helping others to eventually help themselves);
*** to blog updates showing the highs (and no doubt lows, hopefully not too many) of this personal challenge;
*** to get fitter;
*** to be able to complete a half-marathon;
*** and maybe, hopefully, inspire others who may be finding their current path a bit hard to walk at present.
I will also be looking at finding and utilising any resources I can, as well as listing them on the specific page I’ve created for this challenge, which can be found here!
If anyone has any questions, tips or thoughts… please do comment and share them. I will endeavour to respond as soon as I can, either by comment reply or in a blog post.
Please do share and help me get Street Child’s message out there into the world. For twitter users, the hashtag is #SLM13. And for anyone that fancies joining in and running either a 5K, half-marathon or full marathon, please hop on over to their Marathon Page for more information, which can be found here.
My fundraising page can be found here and I will be adding that to each blog post I write.
I look forward to sharing this journey with you.
Namaste
Michelle
© 2013 Michelle Payne
Dreamweaver Consulting 