Text Box: Firstly, a big thank you once again to all of you that have made a donation. I can’t begin to tell you how much it means to me (and more importantly to those that will benefit from the additional care and support they will receive from the hospices all around the country). Remember if you would still like to make a donation, just visit the following webpage where you will find the relevant information. http://www.justgiving.com/shamir **** Updated 7th April **** 9th November 2008 - Leatherhead Fire Station 10k Time 52min - Position 326 of 537 runners The official charities are The Oliver Fisher Special Care Baby Unit, Help for Heroes and the Firefighters charity. My first race (since school that is). It was an important race as it was just down the road from where my late sister Didi worked. A strange experience as my thoughts were a mixture of remembering Didi and just trying to enjoy the race day. Seeing all the runners with their routines and rituals, I felt I too need to have one, but it was too late, the race was about to begin. My sole objective was to complete the race without stopping. After half a mile I was running into a slow steady hill which eventually crushed my game plan… I just had to stop to get my breath back. I carried on and after a further 3 or 4 stops and what seemed like hours of running I could see the finish line. I crossed it in 52mins and got a medal for it… and my mind and body had just enough energy to give a satisfied smile.  My Goal: Run without stopping – Failed, but I enjoyed it anyway  13th December 2008 – Park Run 5k Richmond Park Time 24min 13secs – Position 142 of 218 runners A free race held every Saturday at various locations around the country. It rained from start to finish but I loved every minute of it. Again, my main objective was not to stop and this time I achieved it. Achieving a time of just over 24 minutes was just a bonus. My Goal: Don’t stop! – Achieved    15th Februay 2009 - The Children's Mutual Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon (21.1km) Time 1hr 48mins 48secs – Position 787 of 1614 runners The official charity is The Children’s Mutual. My longest run by three miles. It was going to be a tough one but I had the feeling it was going to be a great learning experience for me. Described as “A testing, single-lap course through some of Kent's finest countryside." A very demanding course with two major hills (the second called Spring Hill being long and painful). The real surprise came towards the end of the race when I realized I had just about enough energy in me to sprint the last 200 meters.  My Goal: Get below 1hr 50mins – Achieved 22nd February 2009 – Sussex Beacon Half Marathon Time 1hr 46mins 40secs – Position 1502 of 4613 runners The official charity is The Sussex Beacon. My second half marathon race. Quite a few runners from my club Clapham Chasers are running this one. A mainly flat course along the seafront, with two short but reasonably steep hills. This time my sole goal was to beat my previous run. As you can see I beat it by just over 2 minutes. It may not sound like much but honestly it felt like I just broke the world record. I was absolutely chuffed. Another bonus was that I ran the first 8 miles or so without stopping… the longest continuous piece of running I have ever done. All in all a great but very exhausting day.      My Goal: Run a steady paced race without stopping and get a PB - Partial success  Monthly Mileage: Races