Tues 28th April 3.5 hours walk

Last night Ange and I walked from Comber to Ards and then back to Comber via Scrabo which took about 3 hours and 30 mins and covered roughly 11.5 miles. The night wasn't too bad until 20 mins to go then the black clouds decended and boy did the rain come down!

Overall we walked a good pace and did really well so bring on Monday ;^)

... just checked the weather forecast for Monday and it looks like its going to rain!!! AAagggghhhhh

Friday night Ards to Bangor and Back ... in the rain :^(

Well off we set at 630pm on a really crappy night with rain drizzling down the whole way from Ards to Bangor via the dual carriageway with only the little lambs to give us comfort. Although they had the right idea by sheltering under a tree!

10 days to go and we're getting there. Please oh please let it be a nice day

12 Days to go!!

Not this Monday but the next is the big day and i've started to see signs going up in Belfast for Caution Marathon Route.

Ankle is more or less ok now and i did a 30 min run the other night on it and it was fine. Angela is getting better too - so big walk this weekend.

Thanks to everyone who has pledged and donated money so far - total is getting bigger by the day.

Aaagghh! Disaster - ankle is down

Wouldn't you know it! Two weeks to go and i stupidly decided to go for a run on a sunny night. 5 mins in and i tripped on the side of the pavement, twisted my ankle and down to the ground i went.

I don't believe it but the good news is i can walk on it (even ran and walked for an hour after hitting the dirt) and it's swollen a bit with a bruise. Had to postpone my big walk this morning but will try to get out on Sunday am for a few hours if things have healed a bit.

Two weeks to go .... come on ya boy ya.

Newtownards Half Marathon July 09

Well it's that time of the year again for the Ards Half Marathon and after almost killing myself last year I'm thinking of running it again in July 09!

But first the Belfast Marathon ... still training away and should be doing a big(ish) walk this Saturday morning but not too sure where. Anybody else get a bid bored going to the same spots? At least in Ards/Bangor area there are some beautiful walks but not enough for 6-7 hour walks.

Anyway i've got until the end of May to decide on the Ards Half Marathon. I'm still running in the gym and thank goodness am back up to running for an hour 10km/6+miles after a while of only being able to go 40 mins. Now to get back on to the open road ... watch out Bangor here I come ;)

Thursday 16 April Ards 2 Bangor and back

Tonight Angela and I are walking to Bangor from Ards and back again which is about 8 miles or so. We're sort of on track for the 'big one' so give us a beep if you drive past us in the car ;^)

... update ... unfortunately Angela was sick so we had to postpone.

Easter Monday 20 mile walk

On Easter Monday 13th April I woke up at 6am out the door by 7am and walked from Ards to Dundonald then across to Holywood then along the coast to Bangor - overall about 20 miles.

This morning, the day after, i'm feeling fine and nice and refreshed so the training seems to be working! Yaayy

Just 20 days to go ....

Sunday Mega Walk

Last Sunday was a fun one. Woke up at 530am and out the door by 6am. Walked from Ards to Bangor then up the coast to Holywood back to Bangor along the carriageway and then up to the Donaghee roundabout. Overall 6 hours 45 mins and about 22.5 miles.

Things are going well - out with Angela on Tuesday for 5.5 miles and did a run last night in the gym for 5 miles so about 33 miles so far this week!

Windy, Baltic Night!

Well Angela and I did a 2 hour walk last night from Comber to Scrabo and back again .... and it was winnnnddddyyyyy!

Horrible rainy evening but we soldiered on and made it. Less than a month to go now - just hope the weather is nice on the big day.

P.S. Thanks to everyone who has pledged money so far - it's keeping us going ;^)

Belfast Marathon Route

Well here it is. The route of the Belfast Marathon in all of its 26.2 mile glory

City Hall
Chichester Street
Turn Right
Victoria Street
Straight Ahead
Cromac Place
Turn Left
East Bridge Street
Albert Bridge Road
Turn Right
Newtownards Road
Turn Left
Holywood Road
Blanchflower Stadium
Turn Left
Sydenham Bypass
Bridge End 1
Queens Bridge
Ann Street
Turn Right
Victoria Street
Turn Left
High Street
Castle Junction
Castle Street
Divis Street
Falls Swimming Centre
Falls Road
Turn Right
Clonard Street
Clonard Gardens
Turn Left
Cupar Street
Turn Right
Springfield Road
Turn Right
Lanark Way
Turn Right
Shankill Road
Turn Left
Tennent Street
Cross Crumlin Road
Hillview Road 2
Turn Left
Oldpark Road
Cliftonville Circus
Cliftonville Road
Turn Right
Westland Road
Cavehill Road
Hughenden Avenue
Salisbury Avenue
Turn Left
Antrim Road
Turn Right
Floral Road
Whitewell Road
Turn Left
Arthur Bridge
Arthur Road
Mill Road
Turn Left
Shore Road
Turn Right
Whitehouse Park (now the 2nd entrance which is after the traffic lights/junction with Doagh Road)
Gideon's Green 3
Cycle path
Turn left onto Dargan Road
Dargan Road
Turn Right
Dargan Crescent
Turn Left
Dunrue Road
Turn Right at Roundabout
Duncrue Street
Whitla Street
Garmoyle Street
Corporation Street 4
Turn left into Harbour Commissions Property
Turn Left
Donegal Quay
Oxford Street
Turn Left
Lanyon Place (Hilton on Left)
Under Railway Bridge
Turn Right
Mays Meadow
Side Gate Maysfield
Tow Path
Turn Left
Ormeau Bridge
Ormeau Road
Into Ormeau Park Lower Gate
Exit Ormeau Park Upper Gate
Ormeau Road
Apex with Ravenhill Road
Ravenhill Road
Turn Left
Ormeau Embankment
Turn Left
Driveway to Tennis Centre

Moldova Mini Bus Appeal - Belfast Marathon Walk 4th May 2009

On the 4th May 2009 myself (Jonathan Maxwell) and Angela Teggart will be walking the Belfast Marathon. We are doing it to raise funds for the Moldova Mini Bus Appeal (more information below).

If you would like to help sponsor us then please contact Jonathan on 07740 593 732 or email info@mediamount.co.uk or visit http://www.sponsorformsonline.co.uk/jonathanmaxwell.asp and sponsor us on the web. You can also download a sponsorship form by visiting http://www.mediamount.co.uk/documents/Jonathan/Belfast%20Marathon%2009%20Sponsorship%20Form.pdf We really appreciate any donations!

Moldova Mini Bus Appeal

Shiloh Christian Fellowship in Bangor will be going to Moldova in August 2009 to help street and orphaned children living there. They are trying to raise funds to help buy a mini bus to help a pastor there transport some of the younger leaders and children around the cities .. and they need our help.

All money donated will be given to the Mini Bus fund and each part of the bus is divided up into different parts, each part costing a certain amount

e.g. a tyre is worth £500, a door £1000 etc. If we all help to buy a bit of the bus then all donations added together will hopefully buy the whole bus worth about £10 000.

Belfast Marathon Walk

On the 4th May 2009 the annual Belfast Marathon takes place and both Angela and I are participating in the walking event. I aim to do the 26.2 miles and Angela is going for the half marathon of 13.1 miles so between us we're hoping to walk over 39 miles on the day.

We've been training like crazy for the past 6 months and you can view some updates on this blog and also Twitter http://twitter.com/mediamount which we will update continuously on the big day so you can track our progress online.

I reckon it will take just over 8 hours to walk the full marathon so here's hoping we both last ;^)

Angela and I would appreciate any size of donation that you could give and it will be a really big encouragement if you could donate as much as possible and also leave comments here, on Facebook, on Twitter and anywhere else on the net and beyond.

Thanks again! And remember to sponsor us http://www.sponsorformsonline.co.uk/jonathanmaxwell.asp

Jonathan