Dublin Marathon, Mile 3

Sunday, April 28, 2013

A Guest Blogger!

Today I have the pleasure of having a "guest blogger" on my page! The following article was written by Melanie Bowen and is about the benefits of fitness and eating healthy during and after any kind of cancer. Feel free to read and leave any comments if you wish! And thanks to Melanie...

"Motivated For Recovery"


"Exercise plays a critical role in maintaining total health for any individual.  When diseases such as cancer or other conditions that weaken the immune system weaken a person, the benefits of exercise can play an even more pivotal role.  Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation can be lengthy ordeals that ultimately take a toll on the body.  Their side effects, which include nausea, pain, and depression, can also decrease the quality of life for patients.  Studies have regularly shown that exercise during these periods of treatment are a valuable aid in maintaining the body's strength and lessening the severity of such side effects.

Exercise that can be done during treatments for some cancers such as melanoma or mesothelioma should not be strenuous.  Patients must realize that their exposure and condition does put limitations on the kinds of activities they can perform.  The most common regiment for activity includes aerobic exercises, stretching, and strength training.  Aerobic exercises are valuable in a variety of ways.  These serve to strengthen the patient's heart and assist in maintaining a healthy body weight during treatment.  Typical exercises of this nature include performing light housework and walking or jogging.  The patient's goal is to raise the heart rate on a regular basis.  Stretching prevents incurring any further damage to muscle tissues and joints.  Additionally, strength training is typically done using small weights in order to increase the patient's endurance and overall muscle function.

It may seem counter-intuitive, but exercise will actually combat the feelings of fatigue caused by cancer treatments.  It may be difficult for patients to engage in these activities at first, however, the results will encourage further engagement.  Patients exercising on a regular basis experience better sleep during the night, lower the risk of complication during cancer treatments, protect their bones, and are better able to maintain a regular diet.  Exercise has even been shown to lessen the need for some medications during the length of treatment.

The elevation of a patient's mood is a primary reason that many engage in these types of physical activities.  The combination of the cancer with the treatments typically causes mild to severe depression.  Exercise combats these feelings and begins to return a sense of empowerment to the individual fighting the disease.  Exercise during cancer treatment has also resulted in a decrease in the amount of time needed for recovery in most patients.  It is possible to push the body too hard prematurely, however, so all patients should consult their doctor regarding their specific exercise plan.  The physician can provide appropriate guidelines that will lessen the chances of any further injuries."    



Wednesday, April 24, 2013

The 2013 London Marathon!

So... I ran The London Marathon!!  Still feels like a bit of a daze. Go back, say, 5 years ago and I never thought that I would be watching the race on TV, never mind participating in the best marathon in the world...

And thats what it is in my humble opinion. I have only ran two marathons and the first one (Dublin 2012) was more than special. But the London race was epic. Maybe it was more special than usual because of the Boston bombings, or maybe its always like that, but the supporters were just awesome.

I wasnt. Awesome, that is. In No Way Whatsoever! I ran a good first half but it all went Pete Tong in the second half. My legs turned to lead and i wasnt sure if i was going to finish at all. In the end i made a pact with myself that for every 800 meters i ran, i would give myself a 200 meter walk. This put my goal time out to pasture but at least i got over the line!

Picture at Mile 25 on the way up to Big Ben

My finished time was 4 hours and 56 minutes, 17 minutes slower than Dublin. I was a little disappointed at my time, but if i am really honest, I done think i prepared as well for this race as I did for the Dublin race. 
In the weeks leading up to London, I skimped on some sessions, was ill, had a back back and went on a Stag party! Not the best lead into a 26.2 mile race, and to be honest I kind of thought that as I had done one marathon, i could do another, no worries. How wrong I was!

Ah well, not to worry. It was a great day and I managed to raise over 4000 pounds for my charity which was awesome.

Next stop is The Mannheim Marathon on June 8, seven weeks to go!