End of week 19....The end??

I want to do it all again now (well, not exactly today!) but in a much better time. It is all a bit addictive, and after saying I just wanted to get it done and raise as much money as possible for a great cause, now I'm full of 'what ifs'! So, how did yesterday go?

Being so organised I only made a final outfit decision when I got up. I did make the tram for 10am, and Debbie did manage to get on the same tram. I was sat at the front and couldn't see anyone else, but she did point out that everyone else on the tram was dressed sensibly (I peeped and she was right!). We got into Manchester and made our way to the Charity Village at GMex. There were loads of charity stands giving out emergency bananas, drinks and chocolate, as well as supporters banners and inflatable sticks, flags etc. The people manning the Christies stand were busy painting their runners with blue paint to make them into smurfs! It was quite touching seeing all the different people running for their causes.

After keeping warm in the GMex for a while we made our way to Portland Street where thousands of runners and thousands of spectators were already. The fast runners had already finished their race, after starting at 10.30am. My pink wave, for people expecting to complete in over 90 minutes, didn't set off until 12:20pm. I lost Debbie as I joined the others for the warm up, but I'm very jealous that she was standing next to Rick Astley for the start. We had a song from a famous opera singer called Shaun something or other, then the starting guns went. It took ages to get to the start as there were so many people in the wave. Bez was also at the start waving us off.

The MS cheering stand was at almost 2k and they kept me going for a bit with their support. Some pink wave people were clearly going to be back in under 90 minutes, but others were doing it just to raise money and were struggling quite early. There were spectators all along the way, but it was great when you ran past a group as they would cheer you on (I had my name on my vest which helped). As we ran past Man Utd I noticed a block of portaloos so decided to have a 'natural break', which probably took 10 minutes with the queue! That was at about the 4k mark. Going past the Imperial War Museum I ran with a huge caterpillar for a while. There were loads of people running in it (there must have been at least 20), running for the 'When You Wish Upon a Star' charity. I'm ashamed to say the caterpillar was faster than me and I had to drop back! I'd run the first about 3k then did a mixture after that, but I could walk as fast as my very slow run.

At 7k I realised at I may be at 9k before 2pm, and that was where my supporters were going to congregate. I phoned Debbie and found that they were all in Costa Coffee having a cuppa. It caused a bit of a stir as they all had to rush their brews and leave to find somewhere to watch. She phoned me at 8k to say they were at the finish line. The last 2k was great, as there were loads of people cheering. At 9k the Bupa team had a PA system and I got a chorus of Hey Jude to help me along. When I got to 800m from the end I phoned to see where my 'team' was. I wouldn't have missed them! They were just past The Hilton waving all their MS flags and inflatables.

The technology was great. We all had a chip attached to our shoe that was activated when we went past the start line and again at the end. As I passed the finish line I heard the PA say "Judith Kelly from Bury has finished" - all very clever. I then got interviewed just past the finish line so my team got to hear that. Yes, I could still talk! I got my medal and goodie bag and managed to find my great team. And my time? I was right to be in the over 90 minutes wave, and I'd put myself in the 90-110minute section. I did it in 90 MINUTES AND 9 SECONDS! The first 5k was done in 45 minutes 33 seconds, which surprised me until I remembered the loo stop!

We made our way to Spinningfields and had a well deserved beer sat in a deckchair (mum had Pimms!). We then went to China Town and had a great meal. Next one of my 'things to do before you die' ambitions was fulfilled - a trip to The Temple. The pub was a public toilet under Oxford Road and I have been curious for a while. It was pretty much as you'd expect, small, and full of people who had run (a bit smelly too)! By the time we left there only myself, Debbie and Glenn were remaining. We decided on a spot of culture and went to the northern quarter (by now I was a bit achy) to see if we could find the bit of art discovered this week that could be a Banksy. We got a few photos then went to find a pub to settle down in. It was really busy and we were struggling so instead we got the tram to Prestwich and had a couple of bottles of house red in a pub there. I was home for 9:30pm ish in time to upload my photos and have a hot bath.

I thoroughly enjoyed my day. I was a bit miffed about the 9 seconds over 90 minutes - I spent that long waving to my team just before the finish line! I could easily have shaved 10 minutes off the time by not going to the loo, and I could also have pushed my self more. If I hadn't had so many disasters in the past month that meant I couldn't train who knows what a whizz time I could have done? I'd love to do it again next year, but I don't think I will do. I have had tremendous support from everyone. To run for the charity I had to raise £150. I thought that might be difficult, but I have currently raised...wait for it...£600 exactly! People have been very generous, but I'm not sure I'd like to ask every year (feel free to disagree!).

I woke up this morning and even lying perfectly still I hurt. Getting out of bed was a struggle. This week Harrison's school is having a 'walk to school' week. A lot of schools are participating and there are prizes at stake. I would have felt awful driving him, so off I set. I felt much better by the time I got home (I was even tutting at the slow walkers in front of me).

So, is this now the end of blogging as we know it? I've had a suggestion that I could do an anonymous blog, and that way I could actually write in everything else that is going on (honestly, you couldn't make it up!). For now though, that might be it. I'll miss my weekly updates and am quite sad it has come to an end. Thanks for reading, doing this has kept me going. Petitions for me continue gladly accepted.

Signing off now xxx

End of week 18....The Final Countdown!

Oh heck, oh heck, oh heck, oh heck.

Why did my life turn traumatic at the time when I needed to be doing other things, i.e. training? Nothing has been done, yet again, this week. On one hand, I'm really sorry folks, but you won't get to see me run 10k, but on the other hand, we are almost at the £500 mark! The dosh is much more important than the speed.

So, what have I been up to this week? Bank Holiday Mondays always get the week off to a good start. I also had Thursday and Friday booked off. Thursday was because H's school was closed, and I had an appointment on Friday so took the full day. On Tuesday I bumped into Tony Blair in Bury. Unfortunately I didn't have my sponsor form with me or I'd have tried to relieve him of some of his millions. On Wednesday H and I went to a meeting/party in Bury, and H got his photo on Twitter for the first time. On Thursday H and I spent the day fighting the cause. By 10pm, after over 11 hours on the telephone, I could hardly speak! My age must be getting the better of me as I turned down the Unison party that started at 10pm and wasn't expected to finish before dawn, and I came home, via the off licence where I bought the only sherry they had - QC. I thought it would be good for my throat, but it was disgusting! I had to open wine instead. I then couldn't face going to bed, so spent the night on the sofa with my duvet, checking the TV and Twitter every so often. I had high hopes for our own Maryam Khan and I'm sure she'll be back in the (hopefully near) future.

Talking of age, my article was in The Bury Times, and they printed 'an age!' I never told them an age, and if I had have done I wouldn't have picked that age.

On Friday I had 2 year old A for a couple of hours and he was pure joy! We had a great time playing football in the house and going to the park. Then Friday night was Girls Night Out for Phyllis's birthday. A great time was had, and thanks to Phyl for donating her birthday collection to my sponsorship! The night finished sedately, with Debbie's home made sloe gin - lovely.

Saturday was brilliant. It is months since Paul and I had a night out together, so we made up for it. Both children were sleeping elsewhere so we got the tram to Manchester. Our plan was to have a Chinese before heading to Peter Kay. I couldn't understand why Paul insisted on getting off at Victoria but we ended up in The Marble Arch on Rochdale Road. What a great pub. The inside reminded me of Victoria Baths, all lovely tiles. The pub brews it's own beer so we had quite a few samples. In fact, we had so many samples that we couldn't walk to China Town and ate there instead. From there it was to the MEN Arena, where I had View tickets to see Peter Kay. The View bar was great and was limited access so it wasn't crowded and we had a table. We got champagne on arrival, then I made for the cocktail list. We also ordered drinks for the interval, that were waiting at our table for us. Rick Astley was the support, and he was great! Peter Kay has lost nothing and did a full new set that had everyone hurting with laughter. It really was a fab night.

And so to Sunday again. A trip to the Farmer's Market and an afternoon doing the ironing while watching Dad's Army Christmas specials! I know how to live. I'm a bit bothered about what I've done to upset Kath though. She bought H a synthesiser drum kit, which is very loud!

I may not be able to write, or do much else for that matter, this time next week! I WILL complete the 'run' one way or another, and I am hoping to get to £500 in sponsorship. I am now up to £477, £410 online.

OK, that's it folks! Wish me luck and don't let me do anything like this again.

End of week 17, yikes...

What on earth was I thinking of back in January when I thought this was a good idea? Whatever it was, I didn't think I'd be on the way to £400 in sponsorship! A big thank you, and the current total is £352, excluding gift aid. There is also the £55 raised from Cake Break so altogether it is over £400.

I did have a bit of motivation this week and went out. I've been out twice on the normal, non-moving ground. On Saturday I did a LONG run, or so I thought. When I got back I'd only done just over 4kms. Still, it was all running. It wasn't fast but as both feet were off the ground together it was technically running.

I seem to have had a very busy week with loads going on. I had a surveyor round this week who spent ages measuring my rooms and poking his head in my loft space. He then went outside to survey the gardens. He was half way across the front gardens when it all started to go in slow motion. I realised too late that he was going to walk straight in front of the motion activated garden sprayer. Paul set it up to stop cats going on the plant bed. He only wanted to scare the cats off, not harm them, so the water was aiming above them.....just about person height. It got him full on. I hid inside for a bit and hoped for the best. I thought it might not be too bad. A while later the doorbell went. I answered it with a straight face, but the surveyor, dressed in very posh suit, had wet hair and water dripping off the end of his nose. I think the value of our house plummeted.

I've also been interviewed by The Bury Times this week so hopefully I'll be in this week or next. All publicity is good publicity and anything that may get a few more sponsors is very welcome.

Before 'End of week 18' is written Paul and I will have been to see Peter Kay. It is ages since we've had a night out together and we are determined we will go, whatever disasters happen at home this week! The reviews show he is still great, and if the warm up I saw is anything to go by it will be brilliant. I've got good seats too.

As usual, this link is in for people reading on facebook (others can donate by clicking the link above). Donations can be made at:
http://beatms.mssociety.org.uk/netcommunity/judesmentalmoment

End of week 17:
Running: about 10kms or so
Walking: another about 4.5kms