Making a marathon effort for charities
Published 10 Mar 2012 17:00
REPORTERS at The Chronicle are swapping pens for pavements for the Mizuno Reading Half Marathon.
Our team is stepping up its training schedule as all runners aim to hit their peak during the 13.1 mile run on April Fools Day.
Health reporter Maxwell Kusi-Obodum plans to go the distance for the second time to help the Chronicle's campaign to raise £100,000 towards a specialised radiotherapy machine for the Royal Berkshire Hospital. The £1m Elekta Compact machine will improve cancer patients' life chances.
Maxwell, 28, who wants to beat last year's time of 2hrs 1min, said: "I am on track to beat my time, but you never know what to expect until the big day. I've been overwhelmed by the support for our Accelerator Appeal so it will be great to play my part in it."
Trainee reporters, Tessa Watkins and Laura Routledge, who have never run further than eight miles, will putting themselves on the line for Sue Ryder Care.
Laura, 23, said: "We're both pretty nervous because we're not exactly natural runners! But we've been training hard. so fingers crossed."
Tessa, 24, added: "Our target time is about 2½ hours, which we hope we can do!"
Emma Harrison, senior reporter at our Bracknell News sister paper, is limbering up for her fifth half marathon and will raise money for the Royal Berks Charity.
The 28-year-old said: "The electric atmosphere at the Reading half marathon is like no other race I have taken part in, which is why I signed up for a second year running. I'm still nervous about completing the course, but I know that all the supporters lining the streets on the day will help me power through and I'm really looking forward to it!"
Joy Masefield, 24, studio supervisor at Berkshire Media Group - which publishes the Chronicle - will also join the reporters pounding the pavements and added: "I actually got bullied into running the marathon by my friend Kate, the motivator! So I signed up and decided to raise money for Against Breast Cancer, a charity that is close to my family and friends.
"I'm actually looking forward to the day, but I'm finding fitting in training around my work and social life almost impossible!
The Mizuno Reading Half Marathon, which starts at Green Park, is now fully booked but supporters are invited to go and cheer on the 16,500 runners from 10am.
Sponsor us
Maxwell: http://www.justgiving.com/Maxwell-Kusi-Obodum0
Tessa and Laura: www.justgiving.com/Tessa-Watkins
Emma: www.justgiving.com/emma2012
Joy: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JoyMasefield
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 09 Mar 12
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