Greetings from India

I am traveling across India at the moment and this is the first time we have spent more than 1 night in one city. We are in Delhi now for the next 4 days until I fly home on Wednesday. This has been an amazing trip and one that I will not forget in a hurry. As far as running goes, there has been no time and our leader, a 65 year old lady has more energy than us six blokes put together. We are just about keeping up!

I will update on Wednesday when i am back, but for now - all the best and God Bless.
Rob

Update from Andrew....

Hello. I'm wondering how Rob is getting on in India & whether he has done any running. My training has been going quite well. I've been out three times this week - 5 miles on Monday, 8 miles on Wednesday & 15 miles today (Saturday 12th Feb). Last weekend I ran a half-marathon in Great Bentley, Essex. This phase of the build-up to the marathon is the time when the long weekend runs get really tough - Rob & I will need to do a few 20 mile runs in late Feb / early March. Celebrating a win for Wales in the 6 nations rugby today!

 

Andrew

The reason we are running............

Orphans and Vulnerable Children, Mutare, Zimbabwe
Here is some more information about the project. I hope this helps you see why we are running for this valuable and much needed work to continue.

SIM have a long history of working in Zimbabwe and for many years have partnered with the United Baptist Church. It is through this partnership that SIM can be involved in HIV and AIDS ministry, theological education, and children's ministry. The challenge of HIV and AIDS is huge and requires a response by the global church. One in four are infected by HIV in Zimbabwe and it is estimated that the number of orphans make up one tenth of the population.

This project aims to meet all the needs of the many orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV and AIDS. It does this by focusing in 3 areas:

Education: Often orphans drop out of school, unable to find the money to pay for fees, uniforms and materials. This project aims to raise enough funds to keep 3000 orphans in school for one year. After this initial year, a grant scheme enables the children to finish the rest of their time at school. 

Nutrition: The orphans live with families who can care for them. As food is scarce and expensive, this project provides food packs containing peanut butter and oil but this is not enough. Seeds are given and the communities are encouraged and trained to grow vegetable gardens and also get involved in income generating schemes. Goat’s milk for orphaned babies is proven to be a good source of nutrition and is locally viable within the region. This project aims to buy goats for each family caring for the orphaned babies.

Care: Trained volunteers visit the families and orphans twice a month. There are now 300 volunteers, many from the local churches, providing holistic care. Alongside this are youth camps which provide social and psychological help. See above picture.

Having had the privilege to work in Guinea and see the long term, life changing difference a community run HIV project like this can make, it would be great to get as much support as possible to keep this work going.

Meanwhile - back to the day job -running!
A good week this week and after last weeks mishaps - I tried some new recipes. A bit more sleep, 2 days rest from running before a long run and keeping an eye on my food intake meant that Monday, I had a great run and actually felt that a marathon may be possible.

I am off now till the 28th of February to Asia. Crikey, i will miss my family  (Gen, Sam (3 and a half) and Caleb (8months) but it is a great chance to experience another culture. As for the running - the trainers will be packed - we will just wait and see if i get a chance. I hope to update you on my travels - but in the meantime, may God bless you and enable you to bless others.
Rob.

Week beginning - 31.01.11

	Mon	Tues	Wed	Thur	Fri	Sat	Sun
Planned	16 miles	4 miles	Rest	7 miles	rest	13 miles	Fly!
Completed	1 hr 58mins	28 mins	Rest	55 mins	Rest

Mission and that long tense walk.

It's been a while since i posted anything. Last week was hectic and training wise was awful. There were still so many good things that happened and it's good to reflect. Something that stayed with me was a video shown at the Southampton uni mission fair on friday. I found it moving and challenging and would love to know what people think?

Here is the link (or copy and paste): 
http://vimeo.com/2843450

This week has been really good. Much more time with my family, some really good times of fellowship with my housegroup and also a church in Kirby le soken. Gen is out tonight and i was on bed duty. Things have been in such a routine - good sleeps, Caleb in his cot all night, until now. Us three boys all fell asleep in one bed and that then ruined Caleb going down in his cot. Wooops!

Tomorrow we are off to Kent, looking at houses and seeing family and friends. Cannot wait but have to remember my running gear! I used to run up and down the North Downs when I was fit and when i was also trying to woo Gen. Beautiful place and looking forward to getting there and starting up home as a family.

As far as the running is going this week, it all started so well but today was awful. I've got some annual leave and decided to get 2 hours in whilst the kids were busy. Half way to completing my 16 miles round Alton resevoir, I got that dreaded runners stomach cramp! - miles from anywhere. Without going into details - it slowed me down to a walk and i used up my alloted 2 hours just on that long, tense search for a toilet. Worrying for the marathon!



Let me know what you think about the video? Have a really great week and i promise to post more about the project soon.... God Bless

Week beginning - 24.01.11

	Mon	Tues	Wed	Thur	Fri	Sat	Sun
Planned	6 miles	Rest	4 miles	16 miles	6miles	Rest	4 Miles
Completed	43 mins	Easy	27.03	8 miles *	Rest	Rest	Rest

HOPE for AIDS across the World

Click on this link to watch a short video about the Hope for AIDS programme that SIM are involved in across the World.

 http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5105018104572460641&hl=en#

Rob's weekly training schedule - Week beginning 17.01.11

Great news! - my little sis had her first baby on Saturday and she is also now back to full health after a rough time. I bombed up to Birmingham yesterday to have a cuddle with my new little niece - she is gorgeous! Praise the Lord they are both safe!

Back to the running.....

This week is really busy and I'm not getting enough time with my boys or my wife - so running takes a back seat. I also have an Mission event in Southampton on Friday night and 2 sermons to finish by Sunday - eeek, however here is my plan for the week:

	Mon	Tues	Wed	Thur	Fri	Sat	Sun
Planned	6 miles	Rest	4 miles	10k	Rest	16 miles	4 Miles
Completed	Nothing	Nothing	Nothing	Nothing!	Nothing!

Got to pick it up a bit and get consitent runs in  - no choice but to do early mornings and beat the boys getting up - 5:30am starts here I come!

Have a good week.

Andrew's training schedule - Week beginning 17.01.11

My schedule for this week:

 

Monday - 4 miles track work (intervals / speed)  - done

Wednesday - 8 miles (steady)

Friday - 6 miles (tempo)

Saturday - 12 miles (slow) 

Total miles - 30

 

Good week last week. Did a total of 34 miles. Heel injury seems to be improving. I was particularly pleased to complete a 14 mile long run, along the Essex coast from Walton to Clacton and back. Nearly gave up after 11 miles ... but the car was parked another three miles away so I had to carry on. It was a really mild day for January - cool, lovely sea breeze.