So here we are, my first open and public blog; well; kind of….

I’ve been blogging for the last 6 months, but on a private blog within a community website for runners called TheRunningBug (www.therunningbug.co.uk). I recently discovered though that in order to read my blog posts you actually have to sign up and become a member of the site. This is not something that everyone out there will want to do I’m sure; even though it is an absolutely brilliant site for anybody that is running; or wants to start running; so I thought I may as well get a blog set up through my google+ account; so here I am.

 

I just wanted to do a brief hi and how’dya do really to introduce myself and let you know what you’re in for with my ramblings.

My blog posts are about running. I live running. I eat it, sleep it, drink it, think it, and I don’t stop talking about it; just ask my wife.

 

I started running in October of 2013 in order to try and lose a bit of weight. I clocked up about 20miles worth of running from October ‘13 through to the end of February ‘14. Not a lot I know, but for someone who had spent most of his life so far smoking, drinking, and generally not being too good to his body, that was an achievement and a half.

Being an ex-smoker each run made my lungs feel like I had swallowed a pint of lava and as though my chest was going to go bang after every little run!

On top of this, I was so unfit that each time I ventured out for a run, my knees would swell up and hurt like absolute hell. I often had to take weeks off just to let my knees get back to normal again, it was so bad that I struggled to even drive to work at times.

What the hell was I doing to myself, and how the hell can this be good for you!?

 

I was at the point of really not wanting to bother anymore because it was just too much pain, effort and felt like a complete waste of time. I wasn’t progressing at all, and just seemed to be going around in circles.

Then we had a massive loss in our family.

My mother was taken ill and hospitalised with liver failure. Years of secretive alcohol abuse had taken its toll, and then it got worse as her kidneys then gave up on her trying to compensate for the weakened state of her liver. With her body in severe shut down mode she came down with pneumonia, and in a very short time her body just gave up completely; it just couldn’t cope any longer.

I watched my mother leave this world, and at the same time realised what I needed to do.

 

I had a new mission, get myself fit again. Get my family on a clear; and healthy; path. Make sure that we were eating a healthy diet, and treating our bodies with the respect it deserves because otherwise there is a very strong chance that we could end up in the same situation as my mother and I don’t want my wife, or my son to be put in that position for as long as I can make possible.

 

This really kicked me into gear and I tackled it head on. I changed our diet, cut out bread, reduced our sugar intake by about 90%, made sure that at least 95% of what we cooked was clean and fresh. I got myself into a regular workout routine using different YouTube videos; the best of which I found was one called HASfit.com

I then started running with the Couch 2 5K program (C25K); and within a few weeks/months I had cracked running a full 5k without stopping. It wasn’t easy, but I did it, and then progressed to running the 10K program.

 

I wanted to honour my mothers’ memory in some way. I wanted to give myself a challenge that I; nor anybody else; would ever have considered possible for me to achieve. I wanted to run a marathon! I wanted to run the London Marathon!

 

I was too late in applying for a ballot place, so looked up different charity organisations that I could apply through.

I found the British Lung Foundation, what a perfect charity to run for considering my reasons for wanting to tackle this challenge!

I do need to raise a ridonculous amount of money for them, and my place in the race, but it is worth it!

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AndrewRunningMadDorsett 

 

So where am I now in my world of running? Well; after really struggling through those first few months at the end of 2013; and beginning of 2014; I now run an average of 40-45miles a week. I run a half marathon every weekend in general training; have completed two official half marathon events, am competing in another official half marathon in March this year (2015), then running the London Marathon, as well as another four competitive half marathons in the last four months of the year.

Running has completely absorbed my life, but in the best ways possible.

 

So look forward to more blogs, all running related. I post blogs about different runs, points of views regarding debatable running topics, recipes designed to help your body make the most of each ingredient, etc etc etc…

 

I look forward to writing for you, and if you are a runner yourself, get yourself on the running bug website, look me up and add me as a friend (MrDorsett).

 

“Be inspired by others, but draw motivation from within!”