Although the blogs only been up a week, we've been training for a couple now and progress is already noticeable. I thought I would share our training routes and show how we hope to build up to the big 10k...

Route 1 (as I'm calling it) takes us around the lower picturesque part of the downs, where we can take in the lovely views of the Avon Gorge with ice cream van pit stop point and cruising zone!! Google maps tells me it's 2.3miles (3.7k).

Route 2 incorporates route 1 but adds a little downhill stretch + plus temptation from a gorgeous smelling burger van!! Other obstacles include a flooded water hazard and five a side football teams!! I ran this route for the first time last night, it's starting to get tough to keep running the entire way round but I managed to keep going thanks to some Madonna on the ipod. Google maps tells me it's 3.3miles (5.4k).

So finally route 3, yet to be tackled by the team incorporates route 1 and 2 and for good measure another section this time up hill!!! its fare to say I'm a few weeks away attempting this one so cant really tell you much about the going, However it promises a nice view of Bristol Zoo and some lovely expensive apartments that over look the downs! I will let you know how I get on with this route later on in the training - Google maps tells me it's 4 miles (6.6k).

Julie Rogers

About Me.....

Well my name is Julie and I have been at Midirs 5 years this year as a Customer Service Advisor. I married Andrew in April 2005 and had our son James in July 2006 ( subscribers would of seen us in the Digest)
My main motivation for the run is to lose the final few lbs of my baby weight (I know you are all thinking wow that's taken a long time to lose baby weight) but most people don't put on 4 1/2 stone, I am nearly there now.

While on a family Villa Holiday my brother-in-law was in training for the Bristol half marathon we got back from out holiday on the Saturday and he ran it on the Sunday, he finished it and we were very proud of him. On the Monday back at work I was collecting sponsorship money for him and said to Andy (the boss) how well my brother-in-law had done, then the following Monday Andy has said that he'd entered us into the 10k at London.
At first I was pleased and thought 'yes' I can do it then after the 1st training session started to worry as i stopped after about 7 minutes and was so red in the face I thought I was going to die.

About my Training...

Monday - Nothing
Tuesday - Nothing
Wednesday - 2.2 mile run (which I walk some of) then Tap Dancing for 1hr in the evening
Thursday - Nothing
Friday - Yes Nothing again
Saturday - run in the morning
Sunday - Run in the morning if didn't run on Saturday

As you can see my training is not that good but with a 19 month old things are difficult, I'm sure it will get easier once the nights are lighter.

I am one of those people who finds running really hard unlike my sister Vanessa who just can do these things.

I will keep you posted on my progress........

COACH CLAYTON

COACH CLAYTON...

It is with great pride that I accept the title of ‘Coach Clayton’ from my fellow run team members, and to show my gratitude I will be posting regular weekly top tips for training and information from my extensive library of knowledge.

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About me...

I am a qualified weightlifting and fitness instructor and have a leaders award from the British Weightlifting Association. In my younger years I ran for Brimsham Athletics Club and represented the county at 400m although my main passion was always football.

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About the run (motivation)...

After breaking my ankle playing football last year I have let my cardio fitness slide and perhaps added a few pounds round the middle, so the 10k run has given me the perfect motivation to get running again and improve my fitness in a bid to return to my former glory! Also the idea of raising money for such a good cause is motivation enough.

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About my training...

Here’s my current training programme:

Mon – rest day

Tues – Kung Fu (2 hours)

Wed – running (2 miles)

Thur – weightraining (chest,tris,back)

Fri – boxing (1 hour)

Sat – weightraining (shoulders,bis,legs)

Sun – running (3 miles)

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Having 2 small children means that sometimes fitting in all this training can be easier said than done, so one solution was to use my 6 year old daughter as a training partner for my Sunday run (she gets to ride her bike).

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THIS WEEKS TOP TIP:

Warm up by performing the same activity at a lower level of intensity and cool down by doing the same.

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INFO STORE:

Cardio (aerobic) exercise is a vital part of any training programme. Cardio helps the body burn fat as fuel, improves cardio-respiratory health, reduces stress, helps reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and increases bone density and energy.

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CHINESE WISDOM:

With an interest in Chinese martial arts, Chinese art and Kelly Hu, I thought I would add some Chinese proverbs each week to add further substance to your preparations.

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“He who asks is a fool for 5 minutes. But he who does not ask remains a fool forever”.

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Coach Clayton.

Why Baby Lifeline?

Amongst the many charities being supported during this special annual event, one in particular caught the attention of MIDIRS.

Set up in 1981, Baby Lifeline is a unique national charity offering care and support to pregnant mothers and new born babies within the UK. Baby Lifeline helps raise funds to support:

• Hospitals with equipment ranging from digital weighing scales to major pieces of technology such as incubators and scanners
• Training and education programmes for midwives and other associated health professionals
• The production of a series of 9 interactive videos, with the help of leading experts in the maternal health field.

Endorsed by the RCM and RCOG, the B.I.R.T.H series has benefited maternity units throughout the UK.

To date, Baby Lifeline has contributed more than £8 million to Britain’s maternity hospitals and services. However, it is an unfortunate fact that even with the advances in medical care and science today and the continued dedication of maternity healthcare practitioners, more than 8,500 babies still die at or around the time of birth. There is still a lot more work to be done.
For further information about Baby Lifeline visit: http://www.babylifeline.org.uk/

OK, OK I'm the one who foolishly started all this running nonsense and looking at all the miserable faces at this weeks training run on the Downs, I don't think many people are thanking me for it just now! But just you wait until that sunny day on 6th July in London when you pass the finish line - what an achievement! It was a cold and drizzly day on Durdham Downs in Bristol last Wednesday, but nine of the team of ten showed up for the third training session led by Coach Clayton. Only one person (you know who you are!!) failed to show and everyone got around the course in record times. I must admit I struggled around the 3.5k course, finding it hard to breathe at times but I put it down to my days of drinking and hell-raising on my trip to Rome the previous weekend. All I could think of when I was running was that I must start taking this training more seriously, cut out the cakes & booze and definitely not miss any more training sessions, otherwise I will be walking the race in the summer. So no more excuses for missing training like when I missed the first session due to a bruised big toe sustained whilst kicking a dogs bone with flip flops on (yes I know how stupid that sounds!). I didn't get a lot of sympathy for my injury and some even suggested that I actually made up the injury to get out of training. So I posted a picture of my injured toe on the internal e-mail which hopefully, put all the rumours to bed!

Running for your little lives

MIDIRS confronts London run challenge in support of struggling maternity units

A team of ten determined MIDIRS employees are beginning to digest the reality of the challenge ahead of them as they get stuck into training for the 8th Annual ASICS 10km London run, taking place on Sunday 6th July 2008.

All funds raised by the not-for-profit organisation will be donated to the mother and baby charity, Baby Lifeline, helping to supply hospitals up and down the country with vital life-saving maternity equipment, as well as supporting training and education programmes for midwives, obstetricians and neo-natal experts.

As an organisation whose main customer base is maternity healthcare professionals, MIDIRS seeks to take advantage of this opportunity to support the important work of maternity units across the country amidst a time of financial hardship and resource shortages.

MIDIRS Business Manager, Andy Fisher, who will also be taking part commented, ‘In the midst of media attention relating to midwife shortages and the resulting impact on maternity care, we feel it is highly important to recognise and support the amazing work of midwives across the country in the face of these challenges, so Baby Lifeline was the perfect choice of recipient.’

Baby Lifeline is a charity that offers support for unborn babies, newborn babies and their mothers by providing additional funding to complement the NHS maternity services, helping to purchase technology to care for and monitor pregnant mothers and newborn babies, and supporting specialised education, training and research programmes.

This is very closely affiliated to MIDIRS own mission: ‘to be the leading international information resource relating to childbirth and infancy, disseminating this information as widely as possible to assist in the improvement of maternity care.’

Judy Ledger, Chief Executive at Baby Lifeline commented, ‘We were delighted when MIDIRS approached us about the race. It is always amazing when organisations and individuals go out of their way to help us raise funds, but with MIDIRS it is particularly pertinent due to the linkage in our organisational aims.’

So what inspired the run?
Andy Fisher, MIDIRS Business Manager, initially set the ball rolling in an aim to improve his own personal fitness. ‘When I came across the London 10km run I thought it could provide a fitness challenge, whilst raising much needed funds in direct support of midwives and the mothers and babies they care for. When I discussed the idea with my colleagues I thought they’d say I was mad. I was amazed when nine others were keen to take up the challenge,’ Andy said.

Regular team training sessions are now underway and a dedicated website has been set up to receive donations. ‘We were all quite blasé about the run when we first agreed to it, however, the reality of training has made us realise just how much of a challenge this will be!,’ added Andy.

Those who wish to share their support can do so by visiting http://www.justgiving.com/midirs10k