2012 Website
Kathryn's City2Surf 2012 Blog
To inspire others with my preparation for the 2012 City2Surf, and to give them news afterwards, I posted messages to my Everyday Hero blog.
Photos !
16 Aug 12 14:52 PM
posted by Kathryn Skelsey
You can have a look at photos and videos of Peter and I jogging in, hand-in-hand, to the finish line.
Kathryn -
http://www.marathon-photos.com/scripts/event.py?event=Sports/2012/City2Surf&new_search=1&match=83063
Peter -
http://www.marathon-photos.com/scripts/event.py?event=Sports/2012/City2Surf&new_search=1&match=84488
As you can see I looked adequately silly to be noticeable, and hopefully I drew attention to the APF name and website that I pinned onto Peter and myself (printed on a piece of paper and put in a plastic sleeve). I got compliments for my head pom-poms from a few people.
As people were shuffling towards the starting line, an announcer with a microphone was reading the names of fundraisers from their T shirts, and congratulating them through the loudspeakers. I jumped around to attract attention, and so the "Australian Pituitary Foundation" was read out to everyone too.
The "Finish" video is better than the "Before Finish" video of each of us. I am planning on purchasing the photos and videos, for my remembrance of the day, and also so that I can send a selection of photos to the APF to publish in the newsletter, as Sue would like me to write an article. I also have several photos that I took myself that I intend to send to the APF too.
I've learnt alot about better ways of promoting the APF, from watching how others showed off on the day. Something noticeable and memorable, front and back is best.
The City2Surf Photo Galleries, showing superheroes, gorillas, bananas and winners, can be found here;
http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/sport/2012-sunherald-city2surf-20120812-242b6.html?selectedImage=0
http://www.city2surf.com.au/default.asp?PageID=23078
Cheers
Kathryn
Did we make it ?
14 Aug 12 07:43 AM
posted by Kathryn Skelsey
It was cold and grey on Sunday, but for me that meant perfect weather for the City2Surf! Usually I get hot very quickly when I exercise (winter is my preferred season to work on my fitness), so I was glad to see the clouds and feel the breeze on Sunday. And what a day it was !
Peter and I arrived at Martin Place in good time to join the "Back-Of -The -Pack" group, and we set off not long after 9.30am. We were wearing our APF T-shirts and other purple and gold gear... I will tell you our results now, and save the details of the story for more installments in this blog, and the next APF newsletter!
Suffice to say, Peter and I did it ! We had agreed that we would each go at our own pace, which meant that he would probably finish well ahead if me, and so the plan was that then either I would meet him at the end at Bondi, or he would walk back to meet me after he had finished.
Well Peter reckons he finished in one and a half hours (he's very proud of the fact that he jogged all the way, non-stop - that's not bad for his first City2Surf!), and I received an official SMS to say I had done it in 3:03:15. So I managed to shear half an hour off my previous walking time of three and a half hours in 2010 ! Personal bests for both of us !
Me - http://fairfax.tiktok.biz/city2surf/2012/83063
Peter - http://fairfax.tiktok.biz/city2surf/2012/84488
I carried a print-out of everyone's Hero messages in my back pack, as if to carry all your thoughts close to me while I was walking. And it worked !
I took heaps of photos and videos. I would probably have got an even better finishing time if I didn't! That's OK, pausing to take photos is my way of taking a break when I need to. Hopefully soon the City2Surf website will publish official photos of us crossing the line too. I'll let you know when they're ready.
Overall I felt worn out but jubilant when I finished. Peter had walked back to meet me after he had finished, so I crossed the line hand-in-hand with him ! (It meant he did an extra 8km !) I was definitely sore in the legs - mainly the sides and backs of the thighs - and my aching joints and muscles barely got me home. So I'm glad I'd pre-arranged a day off work the next day to have a good rest! I was shuffling stiff-legged around the house yesterday. A welcome mid-day nap and an early night have helped the repair and recovery, as well as plenty of water, protein and fresh vege juice to replenish the body ! Today I had a bouncier step again, and I'm going to do another fitness test to see if I've made any more gains as a result of the long walk!
Thanks everybody who contributed their money - a total of $1450! - and kind cheering words to my efforts for the APF. They were inspiring and warming, and just what I needed to fully enjoy the City2Surf on the day, and afterwards !
Thanks !
Kathryn
Well, the day is soon upon us !
12 Aug 12 00:21 AM
posted by Kathryn Skelsey
It was been so windy and wet over the last couple of days, but I have full intention of going ahead ! I have been preparing my outfit - all purple and gold - and backpack of provisions and necessities - camera, money, hat (optimistic?) etc. Sue sent me a couple of APF Tshirts for Peter and I to wear.
I must thank Peter (my beau) for his support with my training; for helping me to get going when I knew I should do some exercise but felt so reluctant, and slowing down to accommodate my pace whenever we went for a walk or cycle together.
My thanks also goes to Steve, my personal trainer at Bluefit Gym at the Hurstville Aquatic and Leisure Centre, who has been assessing my fitness regularly since the middle of last year, and patiently guiding my exercise program. My fitness is checked by using the "Fitness Test" setting on one of their exercise bikes, which incrementally increases the resistance every couple of minutes until I'm too puffed or my legs are too tired to go any further.
When I started in June last year, I could only manage 10 minutes, so the bike measured my fitness level as 27.8MI (Estimated Maximal Oxygen Uptake or VO2) - this meant I was only in the 40th percentile of people of my age and weight - "below average". At the start of this year it hadn't progressed much (11 minutes, 28.9MI) because I wasn't really exercising much. In May I got to 12 minutes VO2=32.3. But with a concerted effort over the past month, trying to do some sort of aerobic exercise at least every few days, if not every day, I can now tolerate 14 minutes, and my VO2 is 35.9MI which now places me in the 80th percentile, which is "above average" !
Steve's "Well done!" has been so welcome to hear after each gruelling test, as I do my cool-down cycling; red-cheeked, perspiring but happy with my effort. Although I am often working harder now, I am able to tolerate it better, and I'm ready to push myself further next time. I am starting to feel like exercise is less of a strain, so it's easier to get started without having to call on Peter's help. When I am walking I feel like I can stride out more strongly and with surer feet than I have for a long time - it feels good !
So tomorrow that's exactly what I'm going to do !
Wish me well. I'm going to enjoy this !
Kathryn
WOW!!
09 Aug 12 08:25 AM
posted by Kathryn Skelsey
We have made it already. Yesterday all you beautiful people exceeded my $1000 goal with such generous donations, and even more generous hero messages ! Thank You !
It's still three whole days until the City2Surf. Now all I have to do is achieve my goal of getting over the finish line on the day, and "doing you all proud"!
I've been taking plenty of notes from the Olympic athletes who have all been striving to perform at their personal best. No matter what level we are at, there will probably be others who are either stronger or less able than we are, as many of our Australian Olympians found out over the last week. The optimal thing we can do is endeavour to improve, and relish the best results that we can produce. What is the meaning of life for me ? - To make the most of the life I've been given.
As per J.K. Rowling's quote;
"I would like to be remembered as someone who did the best she could with the talent she had."
http://quotes.lucywho.com/j-k-rowling-quotes-t15973.html
How I've Been Training
04 Aug 12 19:23 PM
posted by Kathryn Skelsey
I've been doing little bits of exercise each day. I'm still not up to consistently doing the recommended levels of exercise that many health organisations advocate, which is my goal for the future. That is;
1. Aerobic exercise (also known as cardiopulmonary/fitness/endurance exercise, the stuff that makes you puff and raises your heart rate - walking, cycling swimming, dancing, sports, or that sort of thing) at a moderate level for 30 minutes, on most if not all days of the week, as well as;
2. Strengthening exercises every couple of days (working against resistance or gravity with dumbbells, or your own bodyweight, or gym machines or therabands).
The World Health Organisation has a good brochure about this;
http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/pa/en/index.html
and the Australian "Choose Health: Be Active" brochure is also great for people who can only exercise at a lower pace because of their health or age.
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/85D45F1F05013209CA257585001C4679/$File/choosehealth-brochure.pdf
Sometimes I do a full 30 minutes at a time on the exercise bike at a low resistance, with a few high resistance intervals thrown in for a few minutes at time. Ideally I'd like to do this every day but I don't always have (make) the time. More often I do 10-15 minutes at a moderate pace, or do a solid 5 minutes at maximum resistance (with a gentle warm up cycle before and cool down after of course).
Occasionally I go across the road to the local public aquatic centre & gym to do 20 x 25m laps of the pool (which takes me about half an hour), or I do leg presses on the gym equipment until I get tired, or walk/jog on the treadmill at a slight uphill incline to strengthen my legs.
I am a great believer in increasing the strength of the quads muscles (at the front of the thigh - which help with standing up, stairs and squats). I figure that if you are more able to get up out of a chair easily you're less likely to be tempted to sit all day, whether it's in front of the computer or TV (which can lead to de-conditioning and eventually more fatigue and lethargy - which happened to me), and you're more willing to get up and be active, indoors or out.
I've been adding variety, and making my training more relevant to the long City2Surf Fun-Run, by also occasionally walking to a local park which is about 1km away, and walking around the cycling/walking track there, which includes some hills. When I feel up to it I add in a few 30 second -1 minute jogs along the way.
I've created a map for myself, to calculate the distance to the park and back (3.22km), and I can record when I do it on the MapMyRun website (You can create similar maps for free once you register and log in). See my map here;
http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/120748033
And I always have my 3kg and 4kg dumbbells on hand in the kitchen, so I can grab them first whenever I'm tempted to go there for a snack, and thus avert an attack of the munchies ! Or I do a round of weights, and push-ups at the bench, while I'm waiting for things to cook.
Alternatively I love yoga for keeping strong and flexible. You can get a course of yoga movements emailed to you, that progress from beginners to advanced over 7 weeks at About.com
http://yoga.about.com/c/ec/1.htm
So hopefully this will give you some ideas about how to get started too.
Go for it !
Kathryn
Thank YOU!
04 Aug 12 16:01 PM
posted by Kathryn Skelsey
I'd just like to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who has donated to the APF over the past week. I have been amazed by the flood of support, after an email was sent out to the APF membership earlier this week. Today's tally is $610 - Over the half-way mark and not far from my goal of $1000 !
I'm so glad that you marvellous people value this organisation so much - members, family and friends alike.
Many of us pituitary patients are in the same boat together so I imagine you understand some of the challenges I have in doing this event - the fatigue, breathlessness and discomfort of exercise never make it fun in itself. But I want to let you know the good news that you CAN make it fun, and you DO notice improvements once you get going !
I'm a little less breathless on the 6 flights of stairs up to my unit now, and I am getting through a day of work more easily (I work part-time because of my condition - it would be wonderful to be able to work fulltime again, both confidence-wise and financially !)
If you haven't donated yet, and you're visiting this page for the first time, please consider adding your support to the tally. It would be SUPER if we could reach the goal of $1000 for the APF, in time for the fun-run next week.
You can donate anonymously if you wish, or leave a message of support. Your choice ! Thanks again to all the people who have already left a message - I will do my best on the day !
Cheers
Kathryn :)
APF Fundraising Poster and Email
04 Aug 12 15:57 PM
posted by Kathryn Skelsey
This email (below) and an accompanying poster were sent out to APF members, and forwarded to family and friends, earlier this week. It may give a little more insight into what this all means to me, and how we're working together to publicise the APF and help pituitary patients.
If you would like me to send you a copy of the promotional poster, please email me at kathryn@pituitary.asn.au or call me on 0408-912-248.
_______________________________________
-----Original Message-----
From: APF Membership [mailto:membership@pituitary.asn.au]
Sent: Tuesday, 31 July 2012 3:09 pm
To: APF Membership
Subject: Support Kathryn and the Foundation by sponsoring her effort in the City2Surf
Dear Members,
Kathryn Skelsey (a lot of you would know Kathryn) has been training hard to earn money for the Foundation by participating in the City2Surf on Sunday 12th August! She has prepared a website and has asked me to forward her email to members (below).
I am very proud of Kathryn, it probably would not be an easy feat considering her health from a pituitary illness, and I applaud her for thinking of fundraising for the Foundation.
So, please, can I encourage you to forward this email to family, friends, and work colleagues, to support Kathryn and the Foundation.
Kind Regards,
Sue Kozij
Australian Pituitary Foundation Ltd
P: 1300 331 807
W: www.pituitary.asn.au
______________________________________
Hi Everyone,
I've decided to take up the challenge of participating in the Sydney "CITY TO SURF" FUN-RUN this year and, with the encouragement of the organisers, I've set up a webpage where I can raise funds for a charity of my choice:- the AUSTRALIAN PITUITARY FOUNDATION, of course !
I will be walking / jogging the City to Surf on Sunday 12th August (14km) in two weeks time.
If you choose to support the APF with publicising this venture, I would be so grateful, and so would all the people that the APF helps !
I've attached a POSTER about sponsoring for the APF, that YOU COULD PUT UP on your local community noticeboard, such as at your library or shopping centre. This would be a great way to help MAKE MONEY FOR THE APF, and help TO PUBLICISE THE APF. (Tip: Be sure to use the "Fit To Printer Margins" page scaling setting). And feel free to pass on this email to family and friends.
Also, IF YOU'RE ALSO ALREADY REGISTERED for the City2Surf (registrations have now closed) then do let me know and perhaps we can join forces and WALK TOGETHER some of the way :)
If anyone wanted to send me some CREATIVE IDEAS about HOW I COULD DRESS UP to represent the colours and ideals of the APF then I'd love to know! I'll be in the "Back-of-the-Pack" fun-run group where people dress in amazing wacky outfits to draw attention to their cause, or just for the heck of it.
http://www.city2surf.com.au/default.asp?PageID=18656
http://www.city2surf.com.au/default.asp?PageID=22155
Anyway at least HAVE A LOOK at my Everyday Hero page, where you can see a little of MY JOURNEY IN MY BLOG AND PHOTOS. This is the first time I've set up sponsorship for the APF like this, and I wanted to see how this might be able to help the APF, and also inspire other pituitary patients with managing their health.
Although I may not guarantee any record-breaking times, I'll be so pleased to make it across the finishing line ! I want to use this as A GOAL TO EXERCISE MORE, improve my fitness and see how it helps my pituitary health. I live with the effects of Cushing's Disease. Last time (2010) I did the City2Surf in 3:30 hours (Placed 67,688 out of 67,938 total finishers, so you can see I'm no super-athlete but I'm a trier!) - let's see if I can better that. WRITE ME A MESSAGE OF ENCOURAGEMENT, show us that YOU'RE THINKING OF THE APF, and may be your words will SPUR ME ON to go a little faster.
So far I've exercised every day in some form or another, which I'm rather proud of. Usually exercise is difficult for me when I am experiencing the fatigue of my condition. I HOPE TO POST MORE UPDATES TO THE BLOG about how my training efforts have progressed during the next couple of weeks.
On my fundraising web-page there is a tab that enables you to LEAVE A DONATION of whatever amount you wish. EVEN IF IT WAS JUST $5 ! This could make a big difference if lots of people left this amount. You can also write in a short message of encouragement to me - Please give me a cheer along, to inspire me on the day !
Go on, choose to support the APF with a donation, and with publicising this venture; I would be so grateful, and so would all the people that the APF helps !
Cheers and Thanks !
Kathryn
______________
Kathryn Skelsey
APF Member
& Volunteer Assistant
Mob: 0408-912-248
kathryn@pituitary.asn.au
http://www.pituitary.asn.au
Thank you for making a difference!
03 Jul 12 11:31 AM
posted by Kathryn Skelsey
I am taking part in The 2012 Sun-Herald City2Surf, presented by Westpac and will be participating to raise money for a cause I care about. You can help me reach my fundraising goal by donating to this important cause! All you need to do is click the Donate Now button on this page, give what you can and if you want to, leave me a message of support.