Thanks to Penny, I reached my target if £100! Also, thanks to Sophie, I've surpassed my goal! Added to the £10 entrance fee I paid and the Neurocare T shirt I bought, we've helped to raise £130, with more due to come from the guys at work!
Now, who to sponsor for the Great Yorkshire Run?
So, I finished it! In the end, it was easier than I thought, and I was actually disappointed with my time of 33 minutes and 29 seconds (my own timing was slightly quicker, probably because it was over 30 seconds after the official start before I crossed the start line)
In any case, I feel as though I ran well for myself, for Loren, for Ben and most of all of course, for Paul. I'm proud of myself forgoing from no exercise to running 5K in less than a fortnight, and I know that they will be/would have been proud of me too. I just wish I'd gone sub 30-minutes. Next time my friends, next time...
Next stop now then is the Great Yorkshire Run - 10 kilometres from Sheffield City Centre out towards my house and then back again - a run I can relatively easily practice myself as I practically live on the route. I'm still looking for ideas for a charity to benefit from my endeavours. Should I return to Neurocare, or move onto another charity. Cancer Research UK and Weston Park Hospital are just two to which I have a great personal affiliation. Let me know your thoughts! Oh, and just to remind you all. You can still give me some money (or rather, give Neurocare some money) at my Justgiving Page. I've got £85 towards my £100 target. Of course, I paid £10 to enter and £10 for a shirt, but I don't want to include that. Can anyone make up the final £15?
Yes, I signed up to the gym. This has done nothing other than prove just how unfit I've become. I did manage to run 2km, so I'm not too upset at that, but it does leave me wondering whether a 5km run a week today is just a little too soon. No to worry, it's all for a good cause, so if I have to walk the whole distance, I have to walk - it's all for a good cause! You can still support me - to head to my Just Giving page.
So, following time spent just running on the spot of the Wii Fit, I'm finally biting the bullet and going out to run. This will include the wonderful Parkrun, which runs 5k runs all over the country every Saturday at 9am (and best of all, is free). This ought to give me a good idea of my baseline fitness.
The event takes place in Endcliffe Park, just off Ecclesall road in Sheffield. I have to admit, I'm relatively nervous, not least because I haven't run this distance since I was around 15 years old, and I have a friend visiting that weekend, so I likely to be running 5k on the back of a massive Friday night bender, but such is life! At least I know that this is (hopefully) my worst, and hence a good benchmark to work from.
In other news, I'm deciding what charity to finally run for. I have already decided on a cancer charity (as it was recently rather succinctly put by a friend of mine, "cancer's a cunt"), but which one? Should I go for a national charity, like Cancer Research UK, or a more local one, such as Cavendish Cancer Care, Weston Park Hospital or Amy's Retreat? How about a hospice? Too many of my family have had to use one, but the care and support they provide is amazing, and I'd love to be able to help them. What do you think?
OK, so this was originally my blog for Lent 2011 when I decided to stop drinking in order to raise money for Sheffield Alcohol Support Service. Well, as I've recently gone on a fitness bender (last week at the parents ignored for a few moments) I've decided to go the whole hog a train to actually do something useful! Oh yes people, I present Lewis' new running blog!
I'll be training to run the Great Yorkshire Run this is a 10 kilometre run around Sheffield City Centre, taking place on 2nd September 2012. I will then be looking to run the Sheffield Half Marathon in May next year (I think May 27th this year is probably a little early to run a half marathon straight from the box), and I look to run a marathon ASAP. All this will be in aid of (mostly likely) a Cancer charity tbc. I myself have lost many family members to cancer, including my granddad not long after I was born and both my nan's had cancer at some point although it was not what finally killed them. Other members of my extended family have died from this horrible disease, and there are still more loved ones currently suffering. I'm sure you all know someone who had suffered from cancer, so please, dig deep and help me.
Had a decent end to sobriety today. Pool at the Common Room, watched Leicester's tight defeat at Forest, and then sat in the Old Monk watching snooker on the big screen in Tudor Square. Addam's of course, refused to take any money, so the Tenner I owe him is being put to SASS in his name - cheers Adds!
Seem to have missed out on this blog for a bit. Well, managed Loren & Ben's wedding fairly well, but was helpful that I was running around like a blue-arsed fly most of the time! Certainly focuses the mind on not boozing!
Out tonight with Jen, Addam and Chris. Don't think they've ever seen me sober!? Oh well, Harley, more places, then Leadmill - ought to be a laugh. Will be good not getting drunk anyway, as I need to get up in the morning to watch the Chinese GP!
Working as a Census Collector at the moment as well. My areas are West Street and Kelham Island, or, bars, bars, nice bars and real pubs... It's a challenge I can say that!
Still, all going well so-far, and only a fortnight to go. Can't wait!
Don't forget why I'm doing this - for SASS, so please do give generously!
Well, wedding, singular, for now.
Saturday was Helen and Adam's wedding (photos here by the way), the next major test of my sobriety. Have to say, it was really very odd. basically, I just felt like a lemon who couldn't dance, which probably means I can't dance, but I'm normally too pissed to care! The main difference I noticed was that I do still get annoyed by drunk people bumping into me, but now my brain can work quickly enough to stop me before I turn around and lamp someone!
Again, the major debate here is what to have instead of alcohol, although in many ways, this issue actually arises less frequently than in a pub, so perhaps a wedding is easier? OK, sitting at the table having a meal with bottles of wine everywhere (and everyone drinking them) whilst sipping mineral water was really quite odd, but once the meal is over, there's no need for a drink. In a bar, one enters the premises, orders a drink, and sits down. The session is then punctuated at regular intervals by "anyway, it's your round", "want another one pal?" or similar phrases every time someone's drink reduces to one-third its starting volume. Weddings have no issue, you dance, and then get something when you're thirsty. It's far more like a nightclub.
Following Saturday's pleasantries, we headed back home via Crookes, and watch the Calcutta Cup match with Austin, and some large frozen pizzas. Again, an occasion of possible drinking, but with Jen driving, beer wasn't even mentioned. All good!
Off tonight to see Drenge at the Washington. Should be a good night - I'm almost getting used to this sober thing!
Please though, give generously.
Then of course, the first thing I see as I enter the bar, is that poster (right) for a massive real ale and cider festival. Typical, I stop boozing, and all the good booze rocks up to the local bars! Still, I guess that there'll be a lot of tests during my sobriety . This beer festival, Helen's wedding this weekend and Loren's on 26th, Nat's birthday coming up next weekend and Sheffield Tiger's first meet this Thursday. I just have to remember why I'm doing this - to raise money for SASS, and to prove the Reluctant Vegetarian wrong ;), and of course, for myself. They'll be plenty of time for the rest of my life to get Brevity is, I feel, the daughter of tram-blogging, so brief I shall be...
So,doing well. Lent only started yesterday, and I've already been invited out for a curry and a pint. What's worse, Kristina's invited me out, and our post-work Wetherspoon Curry Thursdays often got fairly messy (not as messy as our Friday or Saturdays,but hey). It'll be weird being out with her sober. Maybe I'll realise she's actually a horrible person? I'd be surprised, though!
I've been thinking... How about if every time I go out, I add an extra £5 to the pot myself? I'd be easily saving myself more than that anyway, so I may as well chuck it in? We'll see how often I go out his Lent - I've already got three weekends and this and next Thursday planned, could get expensive.
Thanks to everyone for the help and support so-far, and especially from Josie and Michael at SASS. I shall hopefully be meeting them this week or next to sort out leaflets/flyers etc.
I have received pledges now totalling £90, and there's already £10 in my Justgiving account who Mr James Goodhew. Thanks pal - won't let you down! :)
A handy link, courtesy of Roy.
Should be helpful...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/jan/19/health-and-wellbeing-alcohol
Had a lovely couple of emails today from SASS. They've said that not only would they be happy to accept my donations, they would also be able to post my just giving page (and this blog) on their front page, they can sort me out with a visit to see some of the work that they do, and they may even be able to help me publicise my efforts with the Sheffield Telegraph!
Emails transcribed below:
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From: Josie Soutar
To: Lewis Skinner
Subject: RE: Sponsorship
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2011 10:03:59 -0000
Hi Lewis
Thank you so much for your email and thinking of us. What a great idea for not only Lent but also for really getting into the spirit of Easter and giving something back. I also think it’s a really interesting angle because even if you aren’t drinking at a problematic level it’s surprising how difficult it is to stay absent for a relatively short period.
We are happy to help where we can and I think coming in and visiting us would definitely help you to understand some of the issues that effects people with severe alcohol problems. You might have seen on our website that we run a thing called the Alcohol Recovery Community (ARC) that is all about helping people to rebuild their lives without alcohol as that is the long-term challenge. As part of this we run peer support groups and I’m sure they would be happy for you to come in and speak to them about their own struggles. Obviously if you used any of this on your blog then we would need to make sure names etc. were changed to protect confidentiality.
On the publicity front we have a couple of contacts with the local press (one being my dad who works for the Sheffield Telegraph). We’re happy to pass you email contacts once you’re up and running. Also there is a national blog site around substance misuse (http://wiredin.org.uk/) who we have close links with and would be happy to speak with them about getting your blog featured. We have our own just giving so make sure your page is linked up to that (http://www.justgiving.com/Charity/Donate.aspx?cid=190008)
Anyway, lots of room for thought and once again thank you for supporting us. Feel free to give me a ring if you need anything else such as fliers etc.
Kind regards and good luck with your abstinence! (I’m vegetarian so your girlfriends plight seems pretty straight forward to me)
Josie Soutar
Business Development Manager
(Address & phone no supplied)
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From: Michael Ng
To: Lewis Skinner
Subject: RE: Sponsorship
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2011 10:30:29 -0000
Mailer: Produced By Microsoft Exchange V6.5
Hi
Lewis
Josie passed your email onto me, I’m in charge of the SASS website and would like to link your blog to our site.
I’d like put you blog on the front page and link to your blog, but also on our donate page we could place a link to you blog, doing this method mean they would go to your page to read your blog and also use your links to donate so you can track.
If there is additional social media you would like us to advertise i.e twitter etc let me know how I can help!
Or any logo’s or flyers etc …….
Mike
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I was so pleased to receive these emails so soon after asking for their help I cannot tell you. I think it'd be a lovely thing to throw myself into something like this, see and report on the great work being done by a fantastic local charity, highlight the issues of alcohol and substance misuse on the user and their family, and raise them a little cash in doing so.
Roll on Ash Wednesday!
OK, I've decided to do this for charity now. I was shocked by some of the statistics quoted alongside the government's plans to introduce (mildly ineffective) minimum alcohol pricing.
The Reluctant Vegetarian has found me a list of charities with at least some presence in Sheffield. Any thoughts on whom I should provide money to most welcome!
The List
