Author Topic: 1000 Miles for Mind - DONE!  (Read 16618 times)

Offline AJ

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1000 Miles for Mind - DONE!
« on: January 23, 2017, 03:27:48 pm »
Hi everyone.

Over the course of 2017 I'm fundraising for Mind - the mental health charity.

http://www.mind.org.uk

In a nutshell, Mind provide support services for those suffering with mental health illnesses. As an increasing number of us very sadly realise, this can literally be the difference between life and death.

I don't want to tug on the heartstrings too much but, for anyone who doesn't know me personally, I'm very fortunate to be able to say that my sister is still here today. She still fights a battle every day with her mental health but with increasing levels of support from people, such as those at Mind, the battle gets more manageable.

Following on from last year, when I ran Chester Half Marathon for Mind, my challenge this time around is to run 1000 miles over the course of this year. So far I've run 78.95 miles since the start of the year, and all is going well, but there's a long way to go yet!

If you're able, and are willing, to contribute financially to my cause, that would be very much appreciated. However, just as - if not more - important (and free & easy to do!) is sharing what I'm doing. Making more people aware of the services that are available to them when times are hard can save lives. Helping support people who want to remove the stigma that surrounds mental health illnesses will save lives. To that end, all updates on my fundraising contain the hashtag #1000MilesForMind on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram - any shares/mentions/retweets etc would be just as gratefully received.

Finally, I just want to say that I'm here for anyone that needs someone to talk to. I'm no professional, I can't fix your problems for you, but sometimes just talking about your problems can release some of the struggle you're having. You might not want to pour your heart out to some stranger on the internet, and that's fine, but drop me a PM and I'll let you know who you can get in touch with who can help. Please don't suffer in silence.

I'll keep this bumped after each run for those of you that are interested in my progress (and aren't bored to tears of the many social media updates :lmao).

Thanks for reading.

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AntonyRunsForMind
« Last Edit: December 17, 2017, 10:10:13 am by AJ »

Offline Claire.

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind
« Reply #1 on: January 24, 2017, 12:28:59 pm »
That's brilliant, AJ, best of luck :)

Offline AJ

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind
« Reply #2 on: January 24, 2017, 12:35:34 pm »
That's brilliant, AJ, best of luck :)
Thanks very much for your support, Claire!

Offline AJ

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind
« Reply #3 on: January 24, 2017, 02:32:47 pm »
Completed: 84.33/1000 miles. Thanks for the support!

Offline AJ

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind
« Reply #4 on: January 25, 2017, 08:48:13 am »
Completed: 90.39/1000 miles. Thanks for the support!

Offline AJ

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind
« Reply #5 on: January 30, 2017, 01:18:33 pm »
Completed: 95.61/1000 miles. Thanks for the support!

Offline AJ

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind
« Reply #6 on: January 31, 2017, 08:56:41 pm »
Completed: 106.58/1000 miles. Thanks for the support!

Offline AJ

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind
« Reply #7 on: February 1, 2017, 09:33:37 pm »
Completed: 119.27/1000 miles.Thanks for the support!

Offline AJ

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind
« Reply #8 on: February 2, 2017, 08:17:15 am »
No update on mileage (yet!) but just wanted to point you all in the direction of a couple of important articles that I've read recently that are very relevant to what I'm doing.

Firstly, this excellent piece - written by our very own Kristian - which highlights the drastic effect that running (or indeed any other exercise) can have on improving your mental health: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/i-lost-nearly-10-stone-12538805

Secondly is an initiative from England Athletics and the charity I run for, Mind, called #runandtalk. The campaign encourages people to use running to help improve their mental health, something that we've seen really does work in Kristian's article.

http://www.englandathletics.org/clubs--community/mental-wellbeing/runandtalk

This seems particularly relevant at a time when I've just read a thread on another forum about a lad who's recently had two of his mates kill themselves. Whilst I don't know, or pretend to know, the circumstances surrounding those tragic losses of life, what I do know is that, for those suffering with mental health illnesses, the reality is that they often view suicide as the only way out.

That has to stop.

With all of that in mind, if anyone ever wants a chat, whether as part of a run or not, let me know. Don't suffer in silence.

Thanks again for all of the support, I really appreciate it.

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind
« Reply #9 on: February 2, 2017, 08:29:17 am »
Just donated Anthony. This is a cause close to me and happy to help support it.

Keep up the good work!
You appear to hve mistaken 'the funny photo thread' for the 'pointless, pre-pubescent nonsensical not even porn but "look, look, it's a girl" thread'

Offline AJ

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind
« Reply #10 on: February 2, 2017, 08:31:43 am »
Just donated Anthony. This is a cause close to me and happy to help support it.

Keep up the good work!
Thanks very much for your donation mate, I really appreciate it.

Tragically, this is becoming something that is closer to more and more of us.

I hope, with the help of charities like Mind, that will change.

Offline AJ

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind
« Reply #11 on: February 2, 2017, 08:52:20 pm »
Completed: 128.92/1000 miles. Thanks for the support!

I'll give you all an update-free day tomorrow whilst i treat myself to a day off!

Offline AJ

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind
« Reply #12 on: February 4, 2017, 10:07:58 am »
Completed: 133.32/1000 miles. Thanks for the support!

Offline AJ

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind
« Reply #13 on: February 12, 2017, 11:11:14 am »
After an 8 day lay off with injury I'm finally back!

Completed: 137.03/1000 miles. Thanks for the support!

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind
« Reply #14 on: February 12, 2017, 06:04:36 pm »
It is a great thing you are doing here and I wish you the very best of luck with it.      :)

Offline AJ

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind
« Reply #15 on: February 14, 2017, 11:27:25 am »
Thanks very much Paul, appreciate the support.

Update coming this evening, hopefully after another injury free comeback run!

Offline AJ

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind
« Reply #16 on: February 14, 2017, 09:09:10 pm »
Completed: 143.57/1000 miles. Thanks for the support!

Offline AJ

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind
« Reply #17 on: February 16, 2017, 08:39:50 pm »
Completed: 148.66/1000 miles. Thanks for the support!

Offline AJ

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind
« Reply #18 on: February 19, 2017, 01:48:08 pm »
Completed: 162.48/1000 miles. Thanks for the support!

Offline AJ

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind
« Reply #19 on: February 20, 2017, 07:35:53 pm »
Completed: 167.45/1000 miles. Thanks for the support!

Offline AJ

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind
« Reply #20 on: February 21, 2017, 09:11:08 pm »
Completed: 175.38/1000 miles. Thanks for the support!

Offline AJ

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind
« Reply #21 on: February 23, 2017, 08:41:56 pm »
Completed: 180.42/1000 miles. Thanks for the support!

Action shot from the weekend's half marathon attached.

Offline AJ

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind
« Reply #22 on: February 26, 2017, 07:24:51 pm »
No running update, but today I cycled 50 miles in a separate Mind-related challenge. The idea was to do something in February, themed around the number 5, that you wouldn't normally do.

Prior to today I had cycled 7 miles in 15 years, all since I picked up the bike I was using today on Thursday.

Managed to do 51.2 miles in 4 hrs 12 mins, well inside my expectation of 5 hours! Arse is fucking ruined now though.

The organiser will soon be posting a donation of around £1500 to Mind from this month-long challenge - excellent work!


Offline AJ

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind
« Reply #23 on: February 27, 2017, 08:01:13 pm »
Completed: 184.42/1000 miles. Thanks for the support!

Offline Claire.

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind
« Reply #24 on: February 28, 2017, 08:24:37 am »
Keep it going AJ! :D

Offline AJ

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind
« Reply #25 on: February 28, 2017, 09:16:49 pm »
Thanks Claire! In response to that...

Completed: 192.42/1000 miles. Thanks for the support!

Offline AJ

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind
« Reply #26 on: March 2, 2017, 09:20:23 pm »
Completed: 197.43/1000 miles. Thanks for the support!

Offline AJ

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind
« Reply #27 on: March 4, 2017, 10:19:54 am »
Completed: 200.85/1000 miles. Thanks for the support!

Offline Chris.

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind - 200 down
« Reply #28 on: March 4, 2017, 09:02:03 pm »
Good luck, sounds like your well on target. Last year I did 1000 KMs challenge for the year, managed it by beginning of December, was a bit of a slog - miles obviously tougher, it gets easier once the clocks go back with longer daylight hours.

Offline AJ

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind - 200 down
« Reply #29 on: March 6, 2017, 11:00:45 pm »
Nice one mate. Any challenge of this kind is going to be a slog, a lot can happen in a year! I've already had to shuffle things around a few times for injuries, which was always my main concern. I know I can handle the required weekly/monthly mileage, just all about being able to maintain it for a whole year. I'm a bit ahead of where I need to be at the moment so happy so far, just wish the (literal) pain in my arse would go away!

Offline AJ

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind - 200 down
« Reply #30 on: March 8, 2017, 10:00:47 am »
Update from Jungle Aqua Park in Hurghada!

Completed: 209.87/1000 miles. Thanks for the support!

Offline AJ

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind - 200 down
« Reply #31 on: March 9, 2017, 07:06:34 pm »
24 degree heat and tempo sessions are not a good combination!

Completed: 215.11/1000 miles. Thanks for the support!

Offline AJ

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind - 200 down
« Reply #32 on: March 10, 2017, 10:08:18 pm »
Takes it out of you this running in the heat lark! Few pints tonight and a lazy day round the pool tomorrow I think!

Completed: 221.33/1000 miles. Thanks for the support!

Offline AJ

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind - 200 down
« Reply #33 on: March 12, 2017, 09:59:56 pm »
Completed: 228.55/1000 miles. Thanks for the support!

Offline AJ

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind - 200 down
« Reply #34 on: March 15, 2017, 12:06:05 am »
Completed: 233.76/1000 miles. Thanks for the support!

Offline AJ

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind - 200 down
« Reply #35 on: March 20, 2017, 01:48:31 pm »
Completed: 236.89/1000 miles. Thanks for the support!

Offline Alf

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind - 200 down
« Reply #36 on: March 20, 2017, 02:19:03 pm »
Just made a donation.

Offline AJ

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind - 200 down
« Reply #37 on: March 20, 2017, 03:03:27 pm »
Just made a donation.
Thanks very much mate, I really appreciate it.

Offline AJ

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind - 200 down
« Reply #38 on: March 21, 2017, 10:09:04 pm »
Completed: 245.37/1000 miles. Thanks for the support!

Offline AJ

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Re: 1000 Miles for Mind - 200 down
« Reply #39 on: March 23, 2017, 09:08:42 pm »
Completed: 250.49/1000 miles. Thanks for the support!