Luke Brown-Beresford

4 weeks to go!

It's not long now until the marathon and I'm really looking forward to it. I've enjoyed my time hanging out and training with our group and am amazed how far I've come in my distance running - yesterday' s training run was 32km and I feel really great afterwards, which I know is mainly due to getting my nutrition sorted.

I can't lie though, I will be happy when it's over and I can free up my weekends again, do a lot more fishing and watch the kids soccer season. But I'm certainly thinking about my next challenge - a triathlon maybe???

The biggest part of this for me is the fundraising because it is such important cause and CanToo do it in such a positive way by encouraging people to get fit and lead a healthier lifestyle, which we know does reduce the risks of developing some cancers. Without programs like this and donations from the public, a lot of these researchers would not be able to continue their work. My fundraising has been going well - we decluttered the house and had a stand at the local boot sale last weekend, raising over $300. Emma's been selling the chocolates at work and generous friends and family have been donating also.

Next week, it's a recovery run of 20km, then a big one 35km before the last 2 weeks of recovery runs, then it's D Day!

Half Way

So, this is week 11, just over halfway through training. This morning's run was 27km from Mona Vale beach around Narrabeen Lakes a couple of times and back. I run around the lake a lot anyway so really enjoyed the familiarity and the fact that it runs through dirt tracks in the bush, a change of scenery from running on the road. I was surprised how good after such a long run, compared with the 24km run I did last week, which was Manly to Balgowlah, with heaps of hills.

The past month, I've been working with a great nutritionist, Tamara (madonnutrition.com.au), and she's given me a fuel plan for training and the race lead up , which I have found invaluable to get me through these longer distances.

Fundraising - has been ticking along with some donations from generous friends and Emma selling chocolates at her work. I've also been decluttering the house and selling things on eBay with the the proceeds to go towards the fundraising. In a couple of weeks, I'll be selling more things at the local boot sale.

Thanks again to everyone for your ongoing support - here's to the next 9 weeks!

One month in...

Well, its been one month since I started training for my marathon with Can Too. The group of people that I'm training with are really great and as a lot of them have done this before, the experienced runners are like Yoda - very wise and helpful with their advice they are.

At the start of 2015, I hadn't really run before and my aim was to be able to run 5kms without stopping. That turned into 10km and in November, I ran a half marathon (21km). Because of the trainer at my gym, Matt Fryer - who is very persistant - I am now entered in this marathon.

The training so far has been great - lots of fantastic runs - from Mona Vale and Manly beaches and yesterday morning we ran from Kirribilli to Darling Harbour and back (14km). I had never run across the Sydney Harbour Bridge before and that made getting up at 4:30am on a Saturday worth it! The only problem we had running through the city was a tricky section on Sussex St where we had to dodge someone's reguritated kebab that had been left after a big night out and the odd drunk English backpacker.

Over the next month our training runs will build up to 22km, on the way to the 42km mark.

I'm training with Can Too for the Australian Running Festival Marathon!

I am training for the Canberra Marathon in April with Can Too, a health promotion organisation that engages and inspires individuals and the community to achieve personal health, wellbeing and altruistic goals.

Beginners and experienced athletes alike are given professional coaching as part of a team to run or swim in endurance events- including 10km, half-marathon and marathon runs; as well as ocean swims and triathlons.

In return, I am raising valuable funds that go towards innovation in the prevention, care and control of cancer. In 2015, Can Too is funding 14 early career researchers through Cure Cancer Australia.

Thank you for supporting me!