#touroftameside

Thank You, for going ABOVE & BEYOND for @Tameside4Good

Over the past month or so I have been asking for sponsorship donations, constantly, in an effort to reach a target of £500 to help local people & groups across Tameside via Tameside4Good.

I am proud to say that thanks to everyone who donated, last night we passed that £500 mark, Thank You!

But I want to let you in on a little secret, my sponsorship drive was as much about raising awareness of this charity that always goes ABOVE & BEYOND as much as it was raising money. It was about promoting their great work and asking others to support this local charity - via sharing links, donating money, donating time or (as in many cases) simply talking about the charity with friends & family. I want to thank everyone who took action and engaged with my sponsorship and awareness drive, from a favorite on twitter and like on facebook to those who came onto the the streets (and moors) to give your support - plus of course those who donated! Thank You.

Finally, I want to encourage everyone to keep sharing information about Tameside 4 Good, follow them on twitter @Tameside4Good and on facebook.

Tour of Tameside Completed in aid of @Tameside4Good

A few hours ago I and 332 others completed the Hyde 7, part of the Tour of Tameside - which returned this year for the first time after a 14 year absence, and I am glad to say will be back again next year.

I personally ran the 6 Mile Copley Fell race on Friday, and Today’s Hyde 7 (mile) - a total distance of a half marathon all to support the work that Tameside 4 Good does to help local families and groups. My target is £500 which will go a long way to support this great charity and the people of Tameside, if you can donate just a few £££ i’d be greatful - just go to bit.ly/touroftameside

Friday’s Copley Fell run was first real run I had taken part in in a few years, indeed a sheer lack of training meant my only goal this weekend was to complete the races without (too much) injury. I completed the fell race in 1 hr 12 min 42 sec - which considering the massive hills and dangerous descent I am really proud to have achieved. I also didn’t finish last.

Today’s Hyde 7 was a great race and as a Hyde Councillor it really felt good to be part of the event which has inspired so many previously and will hopefully do so going forward - Hyde isn’t short on sports clubs, from football to the Active Gym and the running shop’s running clubs, but I really feel that with an event like this we really could inspire people to become more active and healthy. The Hyde 7 saw a climb from the Town Hall up to the top of mottram old road, across to the Hub in Hattersley, down through and past Hattersley and Godley train stations towards Hyde - finally running past near the Active Tameside centre and down market street to complete the race. It was a brilliant race, there was plenty of crowd support throughout which kept the slower runners (like myself) really full of want to continue. I completed the Hyde 7 today in 1 hr 7 min 24 sec, I can say I am truly exhausted and aching.

Once again a huge thank you to everyone who has supported me over the weekend and in the run up to the event, a big thank you to Amy at Tameside4Good for pushing me along & helping to promote my sponsorship, a thank you to everyone who I met and ran with over the weekend (it was awesome!) and the biggest thanks to those who helped to organise the Tour of Tameside & marshall it.

I’m Running the Tour of Tameside, Please Support Me!

Later this month I will be taking part in the Tour of Tameside, 3 events over 3 days equating to more than a full marathon. The races include, fell running, trail running and road running (Hyde 7! which starts and ends at Hyde Town Hall). I will be taking part in 2 of the events (Fell Running and Road Running - Hyde 7), I will be doing so in aid of Tameside4Good. As well as individual sponsors would like to ask any businesses that may be interested in having a logo on my "bib" to get in touch (email andy.kinsey[at]tameside.gov.uk] to sponsor me that way. 1 of 4 spaces for this has been pledged already.

You can sponsor me online at http://bit.ly/touroftameside

Update: 4 June 15 Bib issue is pretty much sorted, and now onward with the training - I’ve a feeling it will be an uphill struggle to be fully ready...

Update: 13 June 15 Nerves are kicking in now as my number has just arrived... exciting and nervous! Watch out for me