Blog

On March 23rd 2013, Michelle took part in the Centurion Thames 100 mile Challenge to raise money for Pseudomyxoma Survivor and raise awareness of PMP.  The conditions were horrendous and we salute Michelle on completing the path, it is nothing short of amazing.  She tells us about the event:

All week the event was in threat of being cancelled due to the extreme weather conditions and flooding on the Thames Path.  The organisers did an amazing job ensuring the event could go ahead but they were forced to change the route - now making 103 miles!!

We woke up to snow on the Saturday morning and had some difficulty getting the car out but we made it to Richmond for the 9:30am briefing. Out of 250 entrants, 165 turned up at the start of the race.  There were strict kit checks and then we were off (well I actually missed the start as I was in the toilet but was pointed in the right direction by some slightly amused spectators and soon caught up some other runners!).

There were check points about every 10 miles and I had a fantastic crew that met me regularly to check I was ok and provide me with fuel, changes of clothes and encouragement.  I had originally seen having a crew as a luxury but in these conditions they became pretty essential.  The path wasn't always obvious and about 13 miles in, I took a wrong turn with three other runners and added a good few miles to my journey doubling back on myself which was very frustrating.

The first 50 went pretty smoothly which I completed in nine hours. Despite falling over twice, I felt really strong. The dark was setting in and I changed out of my wet kit and added some extra layers for the cold night ahead. Mike joined me at this point (in shorts!!!) to pace me through the night and my crew headed home for a few hours break... I had avoided caffeine and eaten little and often but by 9.30pm my eyes started to droop- it was frustrating as my body felt ok, I took on board some caffeine and soon perked up again.

By mile 60, my legs were beginning to feel the impact and the snow and rain had made much of the course very muddy and unrunnable for tired legs.  In the dark, tree roots and uneven ground also became more challenging and as a result my pace slowed.  Mike provided some motivational music and it made a massive difference having someone to run with, talk too, sing at and drive slightly insane!

Temperatures dropped to minus 5 at night and we wore eight layers of clothing and still never felt that warm. My crew returned at 3am and it was amazing to see them again at mile 80... This was the first time I sat down in the race and my Uncle very kindly assisted with a sock change.

The sun came up about 6am and it was liberating to take my head torch off again. By this point it was hit and miss as to whether I could do it in 24 hours - we pushed on, taking a wrong turn over a bridge into some farm land adding on crucial minutes. At mile 90 my whole body seized up and I had no idea how long it would take me to stagger through the last 10 miles - the cold and fatigue had set in and my movement range was very limited. I had no doubt I would finish, but thought it could be a very long 10 miles!! Slowly my body loosened up and I surprised myself that I managed to run again, mud made this difficult at times but as Windsor castle came into sight I speeded up and had a really strong finish running through a massive puddle up to my waist in water through to the finish line.

I finished in 24 hours 48 minutes. I came 47th out of 90 finishers and was the 4th lady. This event was all I thought it would be and more, I learnt a lot about the power of the human mind and pushing physical boundaries. The number of drop out was very high due to the extreme weather conditions and this made it more challenging than I had anticipated.

Thank you so much to my fantastic crew and friends that came out to support me and Mike for running with me for a crazy 15 hours through the night, it made all the difference and I did thoroughly enjoy the whole experience. I have had a week to recover and reflect on this incredible journey and running for such a fantastic and worthy cause was extremely motivating and made this adventure so much more rewarding.

- Michelle

You can still donate to show your support for Michelle through her JustGiving page.

Michelle is taking part in the Thames Path 100 2013 this Saturday.  The 100 mile course is a point to point race which takes runners from Richmond in South West London to the centre of Oxford.  Yes, you read that correctly, 100 miles!!!  Michelle shares her story:

So it's now just two days til the big 100!! My sister-in-law was diagnosed with Pseudomyxoma Peritonei (PMP) two years ago. When she was having her operation, I was on a run and I decided I wanted to run in the dark for the time she was in theatre and this event has spiralled from there. Catherine has shown such incredible strength, courage and determination - I just wanted to do something to acknowledge this.

So this last year I have been training hard with a lot of focus. This has included many mullti day ultras and a 50 mile continuous event going into the night. I have joined a crossfit gym which has aided my strength and recovery and played around with my diet in preparation. This last 2 weeks I have been tapering my running and cut out caffeine - hoping it will then have heightened effects in the race!!
Weather conditions are not what I had hoped for and the route may have to be altered due to flooding from the Thames - but we have been assured the race will take place on Saturday, March 23rd at 10 am from Richmond and I hope to complete the 100 miles within 24 hours. I have had great support from friends and family. It 's going to be tough both physically and mentally running for such a long duration, however it is great motivation knowing I am doing it for such a worthy and fantastic cause.

- Michelle

To find out more and to sponsor Michelle, please visit her JustGiving page.  If you are in the area of the run on the big day, please go and cheer her along!

In September last year, Lynne was diagnosed with Pseudomyxoma Peritonei. She and her friend, Sharon share their story:

We have been best friends for more years than we care to remember, we have laughed, cried and supported each other through the good, the bad and often the ugly. This year we plan to celebrate our 40th birthdays in style by raising money for Pseudomyxoma Survivor, a charity that this time last year we hadn’t even heard of but now it’s become very important to us and we want to support the good work it does.

Following Lynne's diagnosis and thanks to the fast and thorough work done by a team of experts in Basingstoke, 2 tumours were successfully removed. Why Basingstoke you might ask, well as the cancer is so rare that patients have to travel for specialist care.  There are just two in the UK, Basingstoke and North Hants hospital and the Christie in Manchester.

Following her treatment, Lynne will remain under the care of the Basingstoke team and this is why we want to raise funds for Pseudomyxoma Survivor to help support the grants made towards Pseudomyxoma Peritonei research.

So just how will we do this? Well we’ve created a bucket list of 40 things that we will do this year, some are for fun, some more serious and some are just downright scary! The most important part is that we will be raising money for a charity close to our hearts in the normal way we do things – by laughing as much as possible!!!!!!

Here is our list

1. Go zorbing
2. Go to court on a Monday (long story but apparently great entertainment!)
3. Climb Ben Nevis
4. Get on the Glasgow tour bus and have a night out in Ashton Lane
5. Have a relaxing spa day
6. Take up a night class
7. Audition for X factor
8. Have a divorce party (for Lynne)
9. Take the kids skiing
10. Have a party for our birthdays
11. Do a sponsored abseil / zipslide
12. Run a 10K
13. Go to an opera
14. Do my Chartered FCIPD qualification (Sharon)
15. Go pole dancing
16. Sing at a karaoke like in the old days
17. Go to a murder mystery night
18. Organise a Come Dine With Me night
19. Do the Great Glasgow Family Run
20. Take skating lessons - DONE!!!!!
21. Test drive a fancy car
22. Camp in an actual tent
23. Visit a personal shopper
24. Get professional make over
25. Photograph the sunrise and sunset on our 40th birthday
26. Get a good professional (sober) picture of us
27. Give internet dating a try (Lynne only – Sharon's husband might object to Sharon doing it!)
28. Get a dramatic haircut
29. Go for a midnight walk on the beach
30. Become an extra in an advert
31.  Do 40 push ups in one sitting
32. Do some volunteering
33. Go on a scary roller coaster
34. Swim with dolphins (Lynne)
35. Scuba Diving (Lynne)
36. Record I Dont Want a Lover by Texas (copies will be on sale soon!)
37. Give up wine for 1 month
38. Sharon to lose 5 kilos (nearly a stone)
39.  ?
40.  ?

Can you help us with ideas for numbers 39 and 40?

To support Lynne and Sharon's 40 for 40, please visit their JustGiving page.  There are more stories like Lynne's on our Survivors page.