London Marathon

Poodlecrazy

Hi!

Well I have finally decided to do something dramatic! I have signed up for the London Marathon this year and I am running for AMREF (African Medical and Research Foundation) https://www.amref.org.uk. One of their main priorities is to ensure that communities receive training so that they can begin to provide their own people with basic medical care that we take for granted.

Some of you here seem to have so much experience at fundraising I thought I would pick your brains for some ideas on the best way to raise funds and awareness?

I have also set up a justgiving website if anyone is feeling generous!! :A https://www.justgiving.com/niag

Thanks in advance for any help / advice etc.

P :T

vixarooni

congrats! and more importantly good luck!

Having never done anything like this before i would start with friends, friends of friends, work colleagues.

The website is good, try and get that plastered where ever you can! word of mouth is also pretty good. sponsorship per mile? im sure others can help more than i can!

Poodlecrazy

Thanks for the encouragement! I am going to do a few shorter runs for sponsorsphip which may help as well as other events such as car boot etc. I guess if I just keep at it I will get there, just feels like a mountain at the moment!!

P
x

vixarooni

yea i can imagine. Ive just noticed someone else is running, perhaps you can have a word to see what shes doing!

p.s i love poodles also, my fave dogs! especially toy ones

benbenandme

Hi Poodlecrazy ... just spotted your thread and wanted to say Hi :hello:

I am only just startig out on the fundraising challenge .... not sure which is going to be hardest, raising the money or doing the marathon !!!

Hows your training going? I'm aiming to walk/jog the 26 miles ... how did we get into this ???? Aaaagh !!!!

Poodlecrazy

Hi to you both!

Just managed to get some sponsorship out of the company I work for woohoo! that makes me feel better as I have now started collecting! Training is ok at the moment but seems to be getting harder and harder, particularly with the dark mornings...

I am planning to run / walk, I don't think I could realistically ever run the whole way so I am aiming for a sure and steady approach. I can run 12km at the moment in one go which sounds great but is not even a third of the way there arghhhhh!

I have enlisted a personal trainer which is at least keeping me motivated and tracking me so there is no shirking! I am aiming for 4hr 30min but to be honest I think it will be great just to finish.

How about you - how is the training / fundraising going? Have you done a marathon before (this is my first time)?

It seemed like such a good idea at the time...

benbenandme

12km !!!! I would LOVE to be able to do that !! I only found out we'd got a place 2 weeks ago and thats when the "training" began!! I can currently jog 1 mile only 25 to go :eek: :rotfl:

Anyway ... as long as I complete it I don't care how long it takes! I am aiming for 6.5 hours, but we'll see !! I am a bit limited in the training department as a single mum, so I got a treadmill off ebay and once my monster goes to bed then I go on it. I also have to fit it in round showing people round my house (went on the market this week) so its all a bit hectic really !!

This (as you can probably already tell) is my first attempt! The fundraising effort has only begun today too so currently am still waiting for my first sponsor I've e-mailed all sorts of people today so hopefully shall hear something from somebody soon!
Good luck with your training and fundraising ... think we should start a new board .... the marathon-free-wannabees !! :rotfl:

Poodlecrazy

I like it - the marathon free wannabees! I too am a single mum - perhaps there's something in that?? Not sure if it indicates being prepared to work hard or complete madness?! I'm lucky in that I don't start work till around 10am so early morning is run / train time for me, I just don't think I'd find the motivation at home, the sofa would look too good! How old is your little one? Mine just turned three so is at that energetic stage

It's amazing how quickly the training comes along -stick at it! Wow, moving house as well, that alone should keep you fit.

Good luck with the sponsorship - I'm going to start in earnest this weekend but I've got to say I do find the whole asking for money thing a bit awkward so perhaps I'll start with the locals at the pub hehe!

P
x

benbenandme

I have just done 5 mile in 70 minutes while watching Dirty Dancing on dvd!! I could walk for hours with something to watch but I just get soooooo bored otherwise! I'm aiming to walk it in 6 hours. Have never been any good at running o thought I'd walk it instead! As long as I complete it I don't mind how long it takes me.

phatspider

Nice one ladies! I'm running too - for Shelter

http://www.justgiving.com/andrewmarathon07

I am training 4 times a week at the mo and am doing the Reading Half on March 25th.

Hoping for somewhere in the 4hrs mark - though probably be up close to 5 to be honest!

Good luck with the training and fundraising

benbenandme

Hows everyone getting on ??? I did 16 miles (walking with a little jogging here and there!) yesterday (4 hrs). Am happy to walk most of it - as long as I complete it I'll be over the moon!! I have had to sell my treadmill last week as I'm moving house soon too so its all a bit hectic here !!
The fundraising isn't exactly easy either is it!! I still feel really awkward asking people to sponsor me
Not long now though ... let us know how you're all getting on!!:beer: