Last Hill Runs and Disgruntled Bumble Bees
Oh dear, oh dear. It's less than a week. Less. Than. A. Week. *stop to hyperventilate for a minute*
Who's dumbass idea was this?! 55km of rough, stony mountain sides. What a stupid, stupid, stupid idea.
SOOO, while I push down the growing lump in my throat, I'm going to tell you a bit about the charity I'm doing it for....because that might take my mind off it all... (We'll get to the disgruntled bee in a second).
HorseBack UK is a charity set up by Jock and Emma Hutchison to help serving and retired military personel. Originally the idea was to start a Western trekking centre on their farm in Aboyne for tourists, but when a friend mentioned how great it would be if the men and women coming back from military service could work with the horses out on the farm to help them recuperate, the idea for the charity started. From there, HorseBack was used as a break-away from clinical recovery for injured personnel.
In 2009 HorseBack UK gained charitable status with the aim of taking wounded servicemen and women and introducing them to horses. Through working with the horses amongst a like minded group, service personnel who had been mentally and physically scarred could regain their confidence, dignity and especially in the case of amputees, mobility.
Eventually, participants of previous courses started to help deliver current courses. This has the beneficial effect of reproducing some of the familiar camaraderie that service personnel have experienced. Most crucially, they do not have to explain themselves. There is the link of shared experience, and the understanding of the military ethos. For the instructors themselves, the ability to give something back, to help their wounded comrades, brings a sense of confidence and achievement.
Although the original idea for HorseBack's mission came in response to the shocking number of casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan, now the courses include personnel who may have seen service in The Falklands, Northern Ireland and the Balkans. Many of them may have been struggling with physical challenges and the effects of post-traumatic stress for years. Through the courses at HorseBack UK and the voluntary programme, which means that our participants may return to work at HorseBack year round, they find a place where they may rebuild, retrench, and move forward into a brighter future. HorseBack saves soldiers' lives. That sounds melodramatic, right? It's not. In 2012, more soldiers killed themselves than were killed in Afghanistan in the same period. That is what Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) does, and it's not a case of 'suck it up and get on with it'.
I think this is a seriously worthwhile cause which I want to be a part of helping. And the only thing I can think of doing to help out is to run. A lot. So I'm asking you to give a few pennies to sponsor HorseBack while I put myself through these stupid body-pushing, mentally-ridiculous ultra-challenges - the last of which will be the mighty Everest Marathon.
And so, getting to the disgruntled bee: I finished my last hill run last week. And as much as I'm still not fleeing up the bloody thing, it's significantly less excruciating on the legs which I'm going to take as a promising sign. What is excruciating on the legs however is when you sit on your tired backside and accidentally land your calf on an unsuspecting bumble bee which gives you an almighty sting in said (tight and full of blood) calf which then turns into a huge blood shot, smarting, useless leg that lasts for days.
The bee, on the other hand remained unharmed. It flew off! I've been living a lie! Bees apparently have more than one sting in them and don't sacrifice themselves in a time of crisis as I have always been led to believe which is a fairly pointless piece of information to mull over for half an hour while you try to run back down a hill with a gammy leg.
But there it is. I'm signing out for the last time before this utterly suicidal race, Ultimate Trails 55km. But before I do, I'm going to give you the text line to donate just £1 (or whatever amount you want) to HorseBack. So please text: HBUK55 £1 to 70070. Thank you!! - signing out, the nervous wreck of a runner.
Who's dumbass idea was this?! 55km of rough, stony mountain sides. What a stupid, stupid, stupid idea.
SOOO, while I push down the growing lump in my throat, I'm going to tell you a bit about the charity I'm doing it for....because that might take my mind off it all... (We'll get to the disgruntled bee in a second).
HorseBack UK is a charity set up by Jock and Emma Hutchison to help serving and retired military personel. Originally the idea was to start a Western trekking centre on their farm in Aboyne for tourists, but when a friend mentioned how great it would be if the men and women coming back from military service could work with the horses out on the farm to help them recuperate, the idea for the charity started. From there, HorseBack was used as a break-away from clinical recovery for injured personnel.
In 2009 HorseBack UK gained charitable status with the aim of taking wounded servicemen and women and introducing them to horses. Through working with the horses amongst a like minded group, service personnel who had been mentally and physically scarred could regain their confidence, dignity and especially in the case of amputees, mobility.
Eventually, participants of previous courses started to help deliver current courses. This has the beneficial effect of reproducing some of the familiar camaraderie that service personnel have experienced. Most crucially, they do not have to explain themselves. There is the link of shared experience, and the understanding of the military ethos. For the instructors themselves, the ability to give something back, to help their wounded comrades, brings a sense of confidence and achievement.
Although the original idea for HorseBack's mission came in response to the shocking number of casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan, now the courses include personnel who may have seen service in The Falklands, Northern Ireland and the Balkans. Many of them may have been struggling with physical challenges and the effects of post-traumatic stress for years. Through the courses at HorseBack UK and the voluntary programme, which means that our participants may return to work at HorseBack year round, they find a place where they may rebuild, retrench, and move forward into a brighter future. HorseBack saves soldiers' lives. That sounds melodramatic, right? It's not. In 2012, more soldiers killed themselves than were killed in Afghanistan in the same period. That is what Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) does, and it's not a case of 'suck it up and get on with it'.
I think this is a seriously worthwhile cause which I want to be a part of helping. And the only thing I can think of doing to help out is to run. A lot. So I'm asking you to give a few pennies to sponsor HorseBack while I put myself through these stupid body-pushing, mentally-ridiculous ultra-challenges - the last of which will be the mighty Everest Marathon.
And so, getting to the disgruntled bee: I finished my last hill run last week. And as much as I'm still not fleeing up the bloody thing, it's significantly less excruciating on the legs which I'm going to take as a promising sign. What is excruciating on the legs however is when you sit on your tired backside and accidentally land your calf on an unsuspecting bumble bee which gives you an almighty sting in said (tight and full of blood) calf which then turns into a huge blood shot, smarting, useless leg that lasts for days.
The bee, on the other hand remained unharmed. It flew off! I've been living a lie! Bees apparently have more than one sting in them and don't sacrifice themselves in a time of crisis as I have always been led to believe which is a fairly pointless piece of information to mull over for half an hour while you try to run back down a hill with a gammy leg.
But there it is. I'm signing out for the last time before this utterly suicidal race, Ultimate Trails 55km. But before I do, I'm going to give you the text line to donate just £1 (or whatever amount you want) to HorseBack. So please text: HBUK55 £1 to 70070. Thank you!! - signing out, the nervous wreck of a runner.
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