Tomorrow would have been my dad’s 65th birthday. Motor Neurone disease is a cruel disease that takes our loved ones far too early! There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about my dad. I miss him all the time, and whilst training for this marathon I think about him constantly. When times get tough, I remember how strong he was when faced with this disease. I also remember how remarkable my mum was in looking after him.
She found strength, both mentally and physically that I never knew she had! I will never forget the week before my dad passed away, we were all on a family holiday. My dad asked me to help move him, as he had lost the function of his legs. He didn’t have the strength to manoeuvre his body at all. I had seen my mum lift him many times, so I thought I would be able to do it. I could not move him at all, how my mum did every day and numerous times a day is beyond me! She is one special lady!
Last week was supposedly an easy week running-wise, but I found it so tough! On Wednesday I got the news that a very close family friend had lost her battle with Cancer. Gill was a lovely lady who will be missed by so many people.
I really had to force myself out of the house for each of the runs. When I was running I can’t say that it was particularly easy. Thursday run was dedicated to Gill. When I felt uncomfortable in my run and tired, I just thought about how much Gill had gone through. How tough she had been to fight Cancer once before.
One of my problems is that I find it quite difficult to run relaxed and slowly, unless I am running and chatting or I am tired. Also, mentally I had resigned myself to the fact that it was an easy week. So I think I felt that every run would be effortless and be over and done with quickly! The one positive that I can take from last week, was even though I didn’t want to run, I still managed to complete all my runs.
During Saturday’s long run, I managed to cover 12 miles. I was lucky to have company for 5 of those miles. It makes such a difference running with someone. I am now so glad that I booked so many half marathons to run as part of my long runs. Not only will I get to run with lots of people, but I will hopefully get a medal at the end too!
My training from here onwards scares me slightly. I am starting to go into unknown territory! I have run a few half marathons before, but I have never run further than 13.1 miles. To be honest, I have never run further than 11 miles in training. Last weeks long run was a first!
Last week’s training:
Monday 20 minutes
Tuesday 45 minutes
Thursday 55 minutes
Saturday 1 hour 55 minutes
Although my training scares me, I am also looking forward to seeing how my body copes with running for longer periods of time. When things get tough I know that Dad and Gill will push me on. I am also going to start promoting my fundraising page a lot more, as I know that raising money for such a great charity as the Motor Neurone Disease Association, potentially raising funds that could one day help there be a cure for MND will keep me going.
Happy Birthday, Dad…
I saw this today on a card ‘Loss leaves a heartache no one can heal, Love, leaves a memory no one can steal’. Do you run for a charity?
www.justgiving.com/dennismurphy1949
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I love what you have written, I’m so proud of you and I know my mum and your dad are also. But that doesn’t mean you can knock on my door at 6am wanting me to jog round the block with you hehe xxx
Come on, surely deep down we’ll always be Parkside Panthers!!