Guest blogger for this week Alex MacNeil

Part 2

Rolling with the punches

Hi Guys!

Back again this week to continue with my story and explain my reasons for wanting to run Cardiff half…
1) Celebration: I am primarily running because this is the first time in all my 38 years that I have felt that I could even consider it. Last Oct I started seeing a trainer, just once a month (they’re not cheap!) and it proved to be the kick start I needed to make lasting changes and see slow and steady weight loss that I am completely confident will stay gone. The race for me is a celebration of my new found fitness.

2) Control: My mum was diagnosed with stage 4 inoperable cancer in April. Mum is my rock, one of my best friends, and all round last person in the world who deserves it … you know the type. When I allow it to, it feels as if my life is spinning out of control. So I try not to allow it – I concentrate on one day at a time. But I’d be lying if I said that the race wasn’t my attempt to control something and bring order and planning to my life at a time when I feel completely bloody powerless. And yes … I know … trying to control things is never good in the long run (s’cuse the sad runner’s pun) but I’m just being honest.

3) St Margaret’s Hospice. Mum has worked there for the last 5 years – and wants to end things there too. So I will be fundraising for them. Not that there aren’t many other fabulous causes. But this is mine. And it matters.

4) Being led astray. I should know better. My starting mate for the race persuaded me to sign up with him. This is the same mate who introduced me to Tucker’s Tango – the simply amazing and yet perfectly lethal dry cider they serve at Tucker’s Grave. The same mate who agrees to go to the cinema with me but we end up eating and drinking instead. Really, really after 23 years, I should know better.

5) The Izzard effect. Not to be underrated. Especially his explanation that he felt he’d reached 40 healthy due to luck and cerntainly not judgement, and that 40 onwards was time to pay into the health karma account. I was profoundly moved by what that nutter did for Comic relief.

I think that’s about it. I am back on the spinning bike and weights to make sure I am not wasting the time I’m ‘offroad’. And we’ll just have to see what tomorrow brings. But I won’t worry about that right now. It’s still today after all.

Cool runnings to you all.

Alex

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