Thank You!

I just wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone who sponsored me to run the Manchester marathon, Friends of the Dogs Wales and I really appreciate it.

Knowing that I was fundraising for such an amazing cause helped me get through some of the toughest training runs I've ever done, they were brutal but I did it! The Manchester marathon was my first marathon and an amazing experience, I still can't quite believe that I've done it (my write-up is here).

So far you have helped me to raise £468.03 (including gift aid) which is incredible and will help so many doggies who don't have their forever home yet.

Yeah you are!!

My fundraising page is open until 10th July so if you haven't had chance to sponsor me but would still like to then please click here.

Thank you again!!

I'm Back! In Your Face Injury!

After 2 & 1/2 weeks of no running and 3 sessions with my amazing physio Carolin at DTR Clinic in Cardiff I am back running again. In your face injury!

Physio session number 2 included more of the zappy machine and ultrasound.

Carolin then massaged my calf. I say massaged as that's what she called it but I would probably refer to it more like inflicting punishment as though my calf had hugely offended her. It hurt like **** but all I could do is laugh. I laughed through the pain and willed it to be over.

Apparently my calf is very tight so I have to heat it and then stretch it every day. I was then taped up and sent home.

Session 3 was more of the zappy machine and then my foot was wrapped up in a hot blanket, it was like a day at the spa.

Until Carolin decided to "massage" my calf again. Hello pain! Hello uncontrollable laughter! I think I might be a bit weird.

Carolin then scared the pants off me by saying that she wanted me to do a short run (no more than 20 mins) at the weekend to see how my foot goes. She warned me that it would flare up again but to just rest and ice it afterwards.

You want me to do what??

I got up and put my running kit on then set out for my first run. My foot felt ok, I had a bit of discomfort but then OMG my lungs! They felt like they were on fire!

Am I dying? I think I'm dying!

My run was a total of 1.45 miles and I had to walk twice. TWICE! My foot felt pretty good but my fitness must've upped and moved out.

First post injury run

Carolin had said that if my first run was successful then I was to get back on with my marathon training. My next run was supposed to be a Pegasus club run on Wednesday night but it was chucking it down with rain so I wussed out and hit the treadmill instead.

The dreadmill... how I loath you!

I did a very easy 5k run and had no pain in my foot! My next run was planned for the weekend but first I needed to go running shoe shopping!

My new bad boys!

Winston was clearly impressed!

On Saturday some of my Pegs had planned a 12 mile run and I decided to join them for the first 4 miles. They altered their planned route so that we could do a 4 miles ish loop for me and then they would drop me off and carry on with the rest of their run.

I was pretty scared about doing the run as I wasn't sure how my foot would hold up so was relieved to be doing it with friends. We did a total of 5.5 miles and apart from a few twinges my foot held up nicely. My fitness was better but still not great and the 5.5 miles felt like 15. I know I'll get it back quickly enough though so I'm not too worried.

Pre-run selfie!

Being part of a running club has been the best thing to happen to me and my running. I get to spend time with a group of people who all love running and who also love to support each other. They are awesome!

They kept in contact when I was injured and helped me get back to running when I was scared. I honestly don't think I could've got through this and still feel confident for my marathon without them.

It's only 81 days until the Manchester marathon so now my life is back to running and trying to raise some money for Friends of the Dogs Wales, the work they doing is amazing and saves so many dogs lives. If you can spare some pennies then please click here to help the puppies!

Run 26.2 Miles and Help The Puppies!

I have finally set up my fundraising page for Friends of the Dogs!

I know, right!

For those of you who haven't read my Marathon Madness and Puppy Dogs blog, I am running my first marathon in April 2016 and have decided to keep myself focussed by raising money for Friends of the Dogs.

Awwwwwwww!

I need all the help I can get, my training isn't going very well right now. Today's run started at 6am and it was raining that drizzly, soak-you-in-a-second kind of rain. I was miserable, cold, wet and wanted to quit before I reached the end of my road. I spent the whole run chanting "think of the puppy dogs... think of the puppy dogs" and it helped, I completed the run.

If you would like to help me raise as much money as possible then please go to https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/saramorgan4. Every penny helps and will be greatly appreciated.

Marathon Madness and Puppy Dogs!

Way back in April I entered the ballot for the London marathon after an amazing run with my club Pegasus. I hadn't even run a half marathon yet, or even more that 10K for that matter, but decided to do it anyway.

Yes I probably am!

I was 99% sure I wouldn't get a place as it's virtually impossible these day and I was right, I didn't get in. A lot of people found out by receiving one of 2 magazines, either the bumble bee for accepted or Spiderman for rejection. I received neither. Nope, I''m not worthy of a magazine apparently! Booooooooooooooooo!

I decided to say sod it to the London marathon and hello to the Manchester marathon on 10th April 2016! As it turns out, quite a lot of my Pegs didn't get into London either and are doing Manchester instead so it's going to be a club weekend away.

ROAD TRIP!!

I have already drafted a marathon training plan that has me running 4 times a week plus cross training once a week, I'll do either yoga or spin or both depending on how busy my week is.

I've also decided to raise money for charity and have chosen Friends of the Dogs (www.friendsofthedogs.org.uk). They work closely with Cardiff Dogs Home, local rescues and other animal welfare charities to help stray and abandoned dogs in Wales find their forever homes. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm crazy about dogs and wish I could rescue many more but I can't so want to raise money for them instead.

Awwwwwwww!

So this is where you come in kind people who read my blog! I shall be setting up a charity giving page in the next couple of weeks and will start to promote my fundraising. I will be eternally grateful if you can spare some pennies to help me raise money for this amazing charity. Your reward will be hearing me moan about my marathon training, how much it hurts and how hungry I am from now until 10th April 2016!

I shall keep you updated on my marathon training progress and how my fundraising is going. Any donation, no matter how small, will be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.