Christmas reminds us we are not alone. We are not unrelated atoms, bouncing and ricocheting amid aliens, but are a part of something, which holds and sustains us. As we struggle with shopping lists and invitations, compounded by December's bad weather, it is good to be reminded that there are people in our lives who are worth this aggravation, and people to whom we are worth the same. Christmas shows us the ties that bind us together, threads of love and caring, woven in the simplest and strongest way within the family.
Donald E. Westlake

Through the medium of Twitter and Facebook my family has become bigger!
Through out 2011, I have made some new wonderful friends through social media. It is networking of like minds and hearts. Many of you share the same passion and interests, and my life is richer from these new friendships. There have been many who have inspired me, many who's support has been unfoundering, and many who are just there, and always with a kind word or a pat on the back.

Christmas for me is a time of everyone being together. Not everyone can sit by my side but they can in my heart. It is not the price tag on the gift I receive, or the biggest, shiniest present that I get, that brings the biggest smile, but your Presence in my life.

You have all been my driving force to get my from a waddling duck to a running duck. The training and journey has been hard. But with the fun I have had, mixed in with the blood, sweat and tears, it has been worth it. I am a stronger and better person in mind, body and soul, for the physical and mental straining I have endured this year.

It is now only five months until the Forces March, 5 marathons in 5 days.
Training will continue to pick up momentum, giving me increased strength of mind and body.
Thankyou All for being a part of that wonderful process!

Let this also be a moment to reflect on why I am preparing for this event, and why I have been able to train so hard. It because I have a passion for the two charities I support. The Veterans Charity and Fibroduck Foundation. Two very different groups but with a common need to have their causes quacked out loudly to bring about change and comfort for so many. It's the least I can do, to endure some discomfort, to help make a difference.

This year I have been able to take part in 4 different long distance charity walks over undulating multi terrains, run a couple of 10kms races, run a couple of 10 miles events, run a half marathon and complete a couple of fast paced power walking marathons. That's a lot of miles to raise a lot of money and awareness!! And let's not forget all the training miles that goes into that!
Again, who'dda thought this Ol' Duck could do it?

2012 brings the big challenge, and some new directions for the Rambling Duck! Your support, your input, your smiles keep me out there for many reasons...

Running the miles and raising the smiles for Fibromyalgia and The Veterans Charity!

(and a couple of extra charities for the New year)

I raise a glass of Christmas Cheer and thank all of You!
and offer a little prayer of rememberance for those who are not here.

Alarm - "Blllllliiiinnnngggg!"

Me - "shurrupp!"

That was the alarm ringing at 4am for me to get up and out for the 2 1/2 hour drive to Peterborough for a half marathon!

Thankfully as the World Cup Rugby has been on very early I was getting good practise in for early jumps out of bed..but usually onto the sofa and under a duvet!

Enough rambling, the day had arrived to put into practise some of the things that worked for me last weekend for Shine. I had been hydrating and carbing up all day yesterday. So today I just had to top up with a glass of water, and my dissolved bee pollen. Have 3 oatibix for breakfast, and a protein drink.

I was also doing this run as a Naked Duck - it was Damian's show, so to speak. I was a Duck incognito, not stealing the ducklight. Also, I had about 10 Nakd bars on me so I was also very much a Nakd Duck!

In the car I had a sports drink to sip on as I drove, and nibble on some home made flapjack, 2 Nakd bars and 9seed bar.

I had also packed a recovery drink and protein drink, plus Trek bar to eat in the car for the journey home!

Took me 2 1/2hrs to do the 120 mile trip. Got out for a stretch and light jog around the car park to recover from sitting and driving.

Becky then arrived, as did the rest of TeamVC and Damian. Damian was doing this half marathon in a 25kg bomb disposal suit, part of his Bombsuit Challenge. Digger was also wearing full battle dress and carrying a 55lb bergen/rucksack to keep him company.

I christened us Team VC as our fund raising is for The Veterans Charity, predominantly through Damian's "Bombsuit Challenge". But of couse, this was also part of my own agenda leading up to the Forces march, for my own Veterans Charity fund raising.

A little aside here and the reason why I drove so far for this event - Damian and Digger are also doing the Forces March next year, with me. The Perkins GER organisers deemed it essential that Damian would need ten people to support him for healthy & safety reasons. So I volunteered. It would also be the first time of meeting Damian and Digger, too.  This proved an invaluable meeting for so many reasons. Whilst running with Digger we chatted about the Forces March. I got the opportunity to learn about his experience and get some great tips. Training on the hoof in the middle of a marathon! Worth the journey, being a part of this half marathon and being a part of the fantastic support team.

The team moved straight onto Cathedral Square. Met the rest of Team VC, watched Damian get interviewed by the BBC, plus we all did team photo poses.

Poor Digger got caught up in bad traffic and arrived half an hour before we all due to race off.

Prior to us setting off I did a final pitstop, and hoped I wasn't going to need a wee enroute.
Also had a final Nakd Bar for energy, but didn't want to eat too much as I hate getting stitch!
In my bumbag I had some jelly beans and the GF Nakd bars, plus a sports bottle of energy sports drink (powder one from Decathlon).

We set off with the fun run Runners, half an hour ahead of the main marathon runnners, as requested by the Race organisers, for healthy & safety and also it was anticipated Damian would need a little more time.

I was slightly ahead of the Team VC, chatting to Digger. After a couple of miles of striding through a fast pace, as a team, Digger needed to keep up a faster pace, finding his own natural rythmn and as I was already supporting him by his side at this point, I increased my pace so he also had continued support. So now I am running lightly alongside this awesome man running with his 55lb pack! I just had a small bum bag weighing, oh, a mere half kilo of jelly beans and Nakd Bars!

Through out our run together, we kept an eye behind us on the Main Event, Bomb Suit Man! In our wake we left people eager for his run through! Digger and I had fun as a comedy duo singing and shouting along with the enthusiastic crowd of onlookers. I felt an enormous swell of pride as runners passing by, and onlookers, shouted out to Digger "Respect" and "well done" for his effort of running with that pack. I was enormously touched when Digger paid the highest compliment saying "Do you know what an amzing woman you are!". Actually no, I hadn't really thought about it. But then I realised after 6 miles, I was now in my "no-duck land" of running for longer and further than I had ever done before!

I can only credit my ability to do that run to my bee pollen, Kettlercise training, stubborness, and good attitude to sensible diet and training plan and also get up towalk about ache free the next day!

Digger and I have an official time of 2hrs 49mins for crossing the finish line, but we did start with the fun run Runners. We also walked initially so our slow time then may have a bearing on our chip time. Regardless of time, we both finished an amazing event, with the best support I have ever witnessed and been a part of. A big thankyou Quack to Peterborough and the wonderful organisation of the Perkins Great Eastern Run.

Took me 2 1/2 hours to drive home. A littl stiff after that journey so I had quick 5 minute run around the block to release the muscles,joints and ligaments. Husband had done me proud by cooking the best "recovery" meal I could have hoped for - eggs, bacon, baked beans and waffles!
2 glasses of wine polished me off for the day and a much needed early night to bed was had.

This story has a fairy tale ending too. Becky stayed with Damian, and the rest of Team VC to see him across the finish line (Digger and I went back to see them in for the final half mile). On the finish line Damian dropped down to one knee, got out a ring, and presented it to his girlfriend, Sam (running as support wiht Team VC too) and proposed. She said Yes, and all of this was captured on BBC East :0)

Yay! I salute Team VC, Digger, Damian and of course Veterans Charity - as we did it all for you!

A big thankyou to my dear friend Becky Smith who I coerced into another event. She is running with me on our next event..The Great South Run..whatta Girl :0)

And just for the record, I was up and out of bed at 6.00am on monday walking dogs, running with the horses, without a single ache or pain. Loving my body getting fitter - nearly an elite athlete??


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As a few of you will know I have been searching for THE CHALLENGE to supersede the Polar Challenge. It had to have a low cost entrance fee, a reasonable and achievable fundraising amount, good event support, and ooze appeal for others to want to do it with me as well as have the  “Oh My God”! factor to blow your socks off.

I think I have just had my socks blown off. Five Quackathons in Five days?

Last year Dean Grimshawe of Team Warriors asked me if I would like to be a part of his team doing the Forces March for 2011. I declined, as I needed all my fundraising and training effort to be totally focused on the 2012 Polar Challenge. That particular challenge has now very much been drop kicked out of orbit. I can not raise the £25,000 entrance fee, let alone raise anything extra for the charities. I don’t have a network of friends and family who can dedicate their time; effort and enthusiasm to fund raising to allow me to just get on with the training.

Dean and Team Warrior completed the Forces March at the end of May. He quickly put out a twitter request asking if any one would like to be a part of a team for 2012. Wow, he must have really enjoyed the pain he endured for the challenge! Why? So I had to ring him and ask a whole lot of questions. My curiosity had been piqued! And you all know what that this Duck is like with her nosy beak! I had followed the twitters during their challenge and often saw the words “hurt”, Achilles heel gone”, “blisters”, “knackered”, “tent with no pegs”… what has made him want to go back for more?

The Forces March is billed as one of the UK’s top challenge events. Participants complete five stages in five days. 132.5 miles from Ilfracombe to Bulford.  Each stage is at least 26 miles in length – 5 marathons in 5 days! The undulating all-road route begins in Ilfracombe, North Devon and passes through Exmoor, the Quantock Hills, rural Somerset and much of Salisbury Plain before finishing just outside of Bulford Camp, the UK’s biggest Army Garrison. “The Forces March is not a race. It is not a competition. It is a journey, an adventure, a life-changing experience.”  Oh, that’s my clincher! Part of the entry requirement is to raise a minimum of £1000 (per team member) for The Veterans Charity. ALL funds raised as a result of participation in The Forces March must be for The Veterans Charity

The Veterans Charity, and was founded in 2008 to provide support for the Veterans of the UK armed forces. Their  focus is to support ALL Veterans and to ensure that their needs are met as quickly as possible.

The Forces March is based on a legendary march taken by men of the newly formed 6th Airborne Division during early training for D-Day in the summer of 1942. Following weeks of intensive PT the men were told they could stand down and head back to Bulford Camp where they were based at the time. However, one last task was assigned; to WALK back to Bulford. A distance of approximately 130 miles! The men not only walked back to Bulford but they completed the arduous route in 5 days dressed in FULL KIT each carrying up to 80lbs in weight!

The phone call to Dean only whetted my appetite. He assured me that everyone mingled running with walking. The Die-hards who tried to run it at speed for the first two legs did themselves a mischief. There was nothing he didn’t say, even when he honestly spoke about some of the painful moments, that I thought “Eek, no!” I want something to push me beyond my boundary and out of my comfort zone.

I am not Super Duck, just one with a passion to achieve more out of life for me and others. There was also a fantastic support crew who made life comfortable and went beyond the call of duty with motivation and enthusiastic support, keeping up morale and humour.

I whizzed down to my gym, Revive, to see Darren (Manager and best-ever instructor) to let him know what mischief this Duck is up to… he smiled and after a cautionary word or two, has declared “Game On”! 

All emotional baggage dumped at the door and the focus is back on to spend the next year getting me strong for the Great South Run, the Reading half marathon, the London Marathon (I hope) and Five marathons in Five Days! 

Oh, did I mention I don’t run?  YET!!!!  Oh and of course I will be doing this dressed as Fibroduck still raising awareness for Fibromyalgia

Dean wrote a blog for Veterans Charity in lieu of doing the Forces March 2011 - have a read