At 63, Allen Carr had been seriously ill. After a year of self doubt and depression he decided to follow a regime which not only brought him back to fitness, but saw him running the Hastings Half Marathon in 2 hours 35 minutes.
Allen Carr:
Recently I ran the Hastings Half Marathon and asked myself was it worth it? Well, here are some of the reasons that motivated me to attempt it. Three and half years ago I survived a major operation resulting in my Sigmoid Colon being removed. I came out of hospital a physical wreck in a wheel chair, weighing just eight and a half stone – I had lost four and a half stone in just a few short months and I was told that I would have wear a Stoma Bag for the rest of my life.
At the age of 63, to experience such a trauma reduced me to prolonged fits of depression – this was mostly down to my own self–perception but these bouts were to continue for over a year.
Turning Point
Learning to live with the condition was the only option. So building up my strength and fitness seemed to be the best way of handling my moods.
My gardening was the first step, but I soon found myself wanting a more structured work out – so I joined the local gym after taking advice from my surgeon. Starting off with moderate exercise which I made more demanding over the year, I developed a good routine which got me back to my original weight and fitness. Having reached this goal I still needed to do more. It was then I considered running the half marathon. Voicing my feelings of confidence to friends at a dinner party, when I was under the influence of drink I may add – I felt that I could not back down, I had no option and I even thought “it can’t be that bad”.
After asking myself why I had set this goal, I eventually processed my answers:
1. To improve my fitness
2. To be successful in what I wish to do in life
3. Self belief
4. A can do attitude
5. A clear idea of my goal
6. A plan of action that will bring it about
Most of the answers brought their own questions, which I had to resolve.
Determined and Disciplined
So, there was my plan of physical and mental objectives set out in writing. The program and running took on its own routine starting in November until the D-day in March.
The support I got in this period was fantastic – from my wife, family, friends and experienced runners – the latter was invaluable with my training and, starting from scratch, I built up to running eight hours a week.
There was a level of science and theory involved – monitoring your heart rate systematically and repeatedly; to do the right preparation and warm up and cool down exercises. Things do become easier but if you overdo it you can harm yourself. To avoid this happening one requires personal awareness, sensitivity and good judgement. If you do not believe it possible you are unlikely to achieve it and you cannot perform well unless you conform to a healthy lifestyle physically, mentally and nutritionally and maintain a good relationship with your friends.
So there’s the analogy.
An Incredible Day
The memory of the day lives on and will always give me a good feeling when I remember the support, enthusiasm, friendliness and encouragement that I and 5000 runners received along the way. We were all doing it for our own reasons and with our own objectives – to finish the race.
I came in at 2hrs 35min – 5 minutes over the goal I had set myself.
The day was wet but not windy; apparently Hastings is one of the toughest half marathons. The first six miles was uphill. The rest they said was easy. Some joke! More hills and steep declines, I do not know which hurt the most and I kept asking myself why am I continuing – the answer came through loud and clear – it’s not going to beat me and I was determined not to walk – although at times my speed was about the same.
The last three miles along the seafront really pushed a lot of us to our limits. We had to find the strength for that final push, but it was a wonderful sense of achievement crossing that line. A joy for me was seeing the faces of the other competitors. We had achieved our personal goals and survived to tell the tale.
Finally, thanks to all my friends and supporters. I raised £850 for the Alzheimer’s Trust.
Will I do it again? YES!
May be the big one, who knows?
Allen Carr