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Recap:

On the 8th September 2019, I will be running the UK Fast City of Salford 10k with friends and family in aid of Brain Tumour Research.

It’s going to be an incredibly proud day for me and my family as I run in memory of my mum, Julie, who we will have sadly lost 10 years ago on the 5th September and Pidda our much loved family friend, who we also lost this year after his own 10 year battle with tumours.

I’ve got roughly 10 weeks to get into shape for my first 10K (I’m currently running 5k’s, but more on that later) and TQUK is showing their support along the way as well – some will be running, some will be sponsoring, some will be sharing their story.

10K for 10 years seems fitting.

Brain Tumour Research

The running team and I are raising money for Brain Tumour Research as it's the horrible disease that kills more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer. And yet historically, surprisingly and alarmingly, it only receives 1% funding of the national spend on cancer research.

Brain Tumour Research aims to find a cure for brain tumours, simple. They are the only national charity in the UK that is dedicated to raising funds for continuous and sustainable scientific research into brain tumours and they lead the call for greater support and action into what scientists have called ‘the last battleground against cancer.’

Go Fund Me

My family and I have set up a Go Fund Me page in order to raise funds to support the great work that Brain Tumour Research do, we’re hoping to raise £1,000 towards the cause and in memory for my mum.

I’ve never really done anything like this before but I believe in what I’m running for, the cause, the person, friends and family and the TQUK team, all of which have been great in encouraging me and pushing me to run further and train harder.

If you would like to donate to Brain Tumour Research, please follow the link below to my page. Any donations large or small will be greatly received and will push me to run that little bit harder on race day. https://www.gofundme.com/10k-for-10-years-in-memory-of-julie

Final note

I started my training a few weeks ago, increasing lung capacity, getting the legs warmed up and learning some new routes around the TQUK office for after-work runs. Now it’s game time. Over the next few weeks, I aim to, with the help of the team, keep you up to date with training, sponsorship targets and thanks and get prepared for what will be an incredible day on September 8th.

This is for you Mum. 

Week 2 – The Lonely Runners Club

With no one joining me for a Week 2 run, I set off feeling a little de-motivated on a run closer to home without any running partners. It was another cloudy, but strangely warm and humid evening, making breathing a little bit more of a challenge with mugginess in the air. I hadn’t run for 10 minutes and I was sweating through everything.

I decided early that this was to be a slow 3 miler this evening, a lung and legs building exercise if you will, without really pushing on for distance – I just couldn’t!

Pace 11 minutes. 8 weeks till race day. Running past the local pub surely didn’t make it easier either…

Looking for run buddies!

Week 3 – Heat Wave Run

I don’t know whether you’ve noticed, but the weather has been mad recently. What started as one-week rain, one-week blazing hot sunshine has now tripped over to one-hour rain, one-hour blazing hot sunshine. I can’t keep up, with the weather and my runs!

Week 3 was a heatwave week in Manchester, needless to say, I struggled once more. It was hot sitting in the office, let alone running around Sale. The downside of this outrageous 34-degree heat was that we cancelled run club for the week, I say ‘we’ loosely, as again – I’m still searching for dedicated and committed partner runners week in week out. 7 weeks till race day.

Fingers crossed for some better (running) weather next week.

Week 4 – Monsoon Run, Again

The Heat Wave is over, monsoon weather has returned! Remember when I said the weather couldn’t make its mind up at the moment? I hate to be that guy that blames the weather for a lack of training, but I’m being that guy.

Part of my route tonight was actually flooded so I only made it to 2.61 miles, 55 minutes activity time similar to my run in week 2. Thoroughly soaked, off to dry my trainers, 6 weeks till race day 

Weather prediction – heatwave for Week 5

Thomas Concannon (TJ), TQUK Junior Graphic Designer