40 Miles Before I'm 40!


My Running Challenge for 2010 - Denise Courtney

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Toughness is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles. Alex Karras

Why the challenge? My Story . . .

Last year I had a silent miscarriage. My baby had died and I didn't even know it, I was heart-broken.

Starting to run has really helped me cope, mentally and emotionally. At first, it was just to get out and clear my head but it's now become a bit of an addiction. When I started, I could hardly run round the block, but now I am our pounding the streets 3 times a week - injuries permitting!

So, in memory of my child I never got to know and with a big birthday approaching, I decided to set myself a challenge of running '40 miles before I'm 40' and raising lots of money for charity in the process.

I am running the Virgin London Marathon (25th April - 26.2 miles), Portsmouth Cancer Research Race For Life (18th July - 5km) and the Great South Run (24th October - 10 miles). My 40th is October 22nd, so It's not quite there but close enough and the last race will be a great finale to my birthday weekend!

I am not a natural runner and certainly do not have the so-called 'running gene' but I am determined and I will do this challenge, so please, please sponsor me.

Each race I run will be for a different, worthy charity:-

The London Marathon, I will be running for Action Medical Research for Children. This is a great charity dedicated to saving tiny lives and improving the health of babies and children. I couln't save my baby but hopefully I can at least help save someone else's.

The Race for Life, will be of course for Cancer Research UK. We all know someone who has been affected by cancer and every year I take part in this amazing race I unfortunately seem to be running for someone different. See below >>>

The Great South Run, I will run for the Alzheimer's Society to help their fight against dementia. My lovely Nan suffered from dementia and I know how hard it can be when someone you love and know so well doesn't even recognise who you are.

You can sponsor me and support my challenge several ways, so please browse through my website and make a donation however small.

Thankyou, Denise x

This year's RACES for Life

My Dad was recently diagnosed with Prostate Cancer and although the prognosis is looking good it has been a very scary few months. In light of this I wanted to do more this year for Cancer Research than run the usual 5km - so, I have now also signed up to run the 10km challenge first and then the 5km in the same morning!

My body still hasn't recovered from the shock of the marathon and training has been very hard, but Cancer affects us all and I really wanted to push myself that little bit further in the hope of raising more money this charity. Please give generously we will benefit from more research into a cure for cancer.

http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/denisecourtney