Running for Life

Why I run

Maureen

I’m not really sure where this story begins, but I keep returning to a photo from Christmas Day 2009 which scrolls past on my screensaver. Two things stand out in this picture for me. Firstly it is how large I am, unhealthily large, my shirt straining to contain me. The second is my Mother-in-law (Maureen), having been diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer a few months earlier, recovering from the extensive surgery and going through Chemotherapy; she had lost all her hair and was enjoying Christmas Day with her family.

Over time this picture played on my mind and finally on the 6 October 2010 I sent an email to my wife which said that I was tired of being overweight and wanted to get skinnier and fitter and that I was enrolling in a local Boot Camp training program for 5 weeks.  The next part of the email was…

I have a goal (maybe a little far-fetched) but I would like to do the City-to-Surf next year (end of August 2011). It is a 12 km event, and they say you can do it with 12 weeks of training, however I think I will need a little longer . So along with being a whole lot healthier and fitter, I have a goal…we’ll see if I make it or not….

After completing the first five weeks of BootCamp I had gained some initial fitness and then commenced a 24 week training program from RunKeeper.com which promised that I would be able to be able to go from 0 to 21.1km (half marathon). I didn’t think I could get close.

For the next 24 weeks I went to BootCamp at 6am on Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays and I ran on Tuesdays, Thursdays and on the weekend. I was training 6 days a week!

On the 26 April 2011 I completed day 162 of the RunKeeper training with a 21.1km run in 2 hours and 6 minutes. I had lost about 14kg along the way, run over 500km, burnt more than 49,000 calories on top of going to BootCamp 3 mornings a week. It was during this time that I realised that I was able to complete the 12 km and set my sights on completing the half marathon (21.1km).

After I had been running for about 10 weeks my fitness was improving and as I ran my thoughts drifted to reasons to run. I didn’t want to run a half marathon for my own glory.

I wanted my sweat to mean something.

My Mother-in-law has been fighting Ovarian Cancer since September 2009 and as I was running that day she was back in hospital for treatment.

I ran the half marathon for Maureen, to encourage her, to practically show my love. There is not a lot that I can do to help her fight this disease, but I could run.

At 10:20am on the 4th June 2011, Maureen sadly passed away after a long battle with Ovarian Cancer. She will be greatly missed by all her family and friends. Maureen’s family invites you to remember her by contributing to Ovarian Cancer Australia. You may also like to jot a few memories down on the tribute page.

On 28 August 2011 I  completed  my first half marathon race in 1 hour 51 minutes.

I ran for Maureen.
I ran because we have family and friends who cannot.
I ran to raise over $5000 for Ovarian Cancer Australia who is the country’s leading organisation for ovarian cancer awareness and support.

In 2012 the Running for Life team is upping the stakes!
This year I am training to run the Perth City to Surf Marathon (42.2km). I have been in training since 5 December 2011 for the race which is on the 26 August 2012. I have completed the marathon distance once (4hours 8 minutes 52 seconds). And am training to break the 4 hour mark in August.

Will you stand beside me as I run by sponsoring me? Every little bit helps to support the great work of Ovarian Cancer Australia and to remember Maureen.

There is a passage from the Bible which continues to provide meaning and inspiration for me as I run. It was written by John; he was a follower of Jesus and later wrote down what happened. In chapter 10 he records Jesus speaking and quotes him as saying “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” I really like the way the team over at Jesus Racing (V8 SuperCar Ute racing team) interpret this “Jesus came to give Life and Life to the Full”. As a follower of Jesus, I run to live life to the Full! It also means that I can run to support those whose health does not let them.

Darren