Marathon Post #3

More about Mind.

Mind are a wonderful charity that are committed to the ongoing support of anyone suffering with a mental illness. Please do click the below image to go straight to the Mind website to learn more!

They campaign to improve services, raise awareness, and  promote understanding of mental illness, and to empower those suffering or who have suffered. Here is a breakdown of their goals from the website:

Staying well: Support people likely to develop mental health problems, to stay well.

Empowering choice: Empower people who experience a mental health problem to make informed choices about how they live and recover

Improving services and support: Ensure people get the right services and support at the right time to help their recovery and enable them to live with their mental health problem

Enabling social participation: Open the doors to people with experience of mental health problems participating fully in society

Removing inequality of opportunity: Gain equality of treatment for people who experience both mental health and other forms of discrimination

Organisational excellence: Make the most of our assets by building a culture of excellence.


 Presided by Stephen Fry, Mind has a high profile following that helps enormously to promote the cause, but they must still rely on donations to continue their work.

I decide to apply for a Golden Band place with Mind after failing to get a ballot place. Knowing that Mind would have been my chose charity had I got a ballot place it was logical to apply direct. The golden band place mandates that I raise £1750 - I know I can do it!

First run this week was a dip into interval training. I have heard that interval training is extremely effective for overall marathon training - especially if aiming for a time around four hours. Though I haven't yet decided on a target time for my first marathon, I wanted to see what the fuss was about.

It was hard work. The green parts were my 80% sprint nestled between a normal jog pace. Really tough, I felt like my lungs were on fire and as a result did not make it very far (had to walk home!). Still, after seeking advice from the guys on the Mind marathon 2016 Facebook page, I have decided to stick with them once a fortnight - and they will probably be a once a week mainstay in my January-marathon day regime.

Second run this week (just a couple of hours ago) was a more successful run with two friends, Ryan and Burton. Burton took us on an all terrain route in the pouring rain, which made it a bit more interesting. A nice pace.

This week I have had my first two smoothies. Only a basic concoction of banana, apple, yoghurt, milk and jam (I know right) and  I felt good going into the run today - if a little hungry.

Post run lunch today was more fried tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach, and tuna; with scrambled eggs. The same high protein meal helped my recovery last weekend so I thought I would stick with it.

Overall feeling really positive about getting into shape in the run up to the new year. I think I need to do some weight training to strengthen my legs and core - shame I recently cancelled my gym membership!