Action Month for Fifo - Update

So Hell and Back is almost upon us, this time in 24 hours I will once again be crying with regret. With a pitiful training schedule and a string of injuries, this Sunday 16^th June sees us take on Hell and Back for the second time. Although this course is taking place in a completely different venue, it is bound to be just as gruelling.

Now I know I said pitiful training schedule, however, I did, for the first time, run up Divis mountain this week – with no stops or rests. For those of you who have struggled along this route before, please join me in celebrating this glory!

There was also a little impromptu training session for Hell and Back at the end of last week which made an excellent edition to Action Month for Fifo. It went by the name of the ‘Dash of the Titans’ and if no serious injuries occurred at that event, I will buy a hat and eat it.

From climbing over rusting scaffolding to jumping into the sea/ Lagan River (the smell and taste of that water is a memory that I shall bring to my grave) and wading our way through man built shucks of brown, murky slush (don’t ask) - I am not lying when I say that I was half expecting the majority of participants to be choppered to the finish line with a fabulous selection of wounds. I would however, have to say that my team and I were nothing short of fantastic. On top of my own dazzling efforts, I got a beautiful slash in my lower leg which I have been able to show off to all of my friends. I am particularly looking forward to exposing this to the wilderness of the Hell and Back race course this Sunday, the prospect of infection will make the experience all the more exciting.

So how did the Titans race compare to Hell and Back? Aside from giving me a little confidence, it’s hard to tell really. When I completed Hell and Back in February I had barely ran the length of my bedroom. When I completed Dash of the Titans last Saturday, I had certainly managed a little bit more running – but I was also recovering from a leg injury. The Titans race, although less hilly terrain, had around 40 obstacles. On the other hand, Hell and Back throws less obstacles at participants yet kindly forces them to climb hills for at least half of the entire 10km. Tomorrow will be the real test.  It will be interesting to hear what my Hell and Back virgins Nichola, Jennifer and Cormac think of it too.

So we’re ready (as we can be), we’re excited (maybe a slight exaggeration) and we’re scared (big understatement). Knee pads. Check. Cancer Focus t-shirts. Check. Remembering that no matter how much of a struggle tomorrow might be, it is nothing compared to what cancer patients suffer every day. Check.

Let's do this.

Again, everyone has been more than generous, but, if you’d still like to make a donation we would really appreciate it. Visit Fiona's JustGiving page to donate to Cancer Focus on behalf of her memory.