The t-shirts are printed, the trainers are laced and the ChampionChip is strapped on.  So tomorrow's the big day, and together we've raised so much cash already, but there's still time if you haven't donated yet.  Let's give it one last great push!

Here's a sneak peak at the TeamJP3 badge for your troubles:

Just a quick update to let you know a few things.

Firstly we've increased our fundraising target to £160 for each charity to try and bring the Beatson and the Accord level with Macmillan.  I have to say thank you so much to everyone who has already donated because the generosity has been overwhelming.  If you haven't done so yet then just click here or come see one of TeamJP3 if you'd like to sponsor by cash rather than card.

Secondly the race packs have come through the letterbox this morning complete with race numbers, ChampionChips and GSR t-shirts.  Only 15 days to go and we're all getting excited!

Lastly, for anyone interested, my exams are going fairly well with 3/4 done so far and the last on Monday.  Lisa had hers today as well and she thinks it's gone well.

Until next time, if you'd like to pass on the word to friends/family/strangers then please don't hesitate!

Stay free,
Joe x

The clock is showing just 21 days until raceday and we're not far off our fundraising target.  Thanks to the awesome generosity of friends, family, co-workers, employers and even lecturers we've so far raised a brilliant £323.  Unfortunately, as was bound to happen using the JustGiving method, we haven't quite achieved an equal split between our 3 charities.  So this post is a call to alms: please dig as deep as you can and help us reach our targets for the Beatson and the Accord Hospice. 

Not far to go now with just £11 for the Beatson and £26 for the Accord.  If possible we'd like to raise even more but we really need a minimum of £100 for each charity.  Please take a minute to have a look at The Cause and read about what these charities get up to.  It's said so often that it's almost a cliche but they really do provide strength when you are at your weakest.

On the running side of things I have fallen behind a little with only 1 run in the last week and only 2 the week before.  However I do have an excuse: I've been studying almost non-stop for my exams that I missed in January and have found timing runs difficult.  In just over a week they'll be over with and I should be able to get back to 3 or 4 runs a week.  And in case your interested, my first exam went very well yesterday.  I can only hope the rest are as favourable.

In closing, let me just plead with those of you who have not yet donated to the cause and say another massive thanks to everyone who has already.

Stay free,
Joe x

Just a quick update on the past week (Week 7) for those of you interested.

After my birthday week off, normal service was resumed this week and unfortunately the gap was somewhat of a set back.  Sunday was a good run with Lisa who seems to be coming on a fair bit, but Tuesday brought with it a struggle on the treadmill and I was close to collapsing after only 1km.  That's what i get for taking time off to indulge in chocolate and the like.

With only 41 days to go now, we are almost in the home stretch.  This week will see me return to studying practically 24/7 for my exams in August, the ones I missed in January.  Since I'll have to get up early-ish to study I should have no problem sticking to a running schedule - I hope.

Finally I'd like to say a huge thanks to everyone who has already donated to the cause, your help is very much appreciated.  We still have a fair bit to go though so please dig as deep as you can!

Stay free,
Joe x

We've finally had word from all the charities with regards to the donation site.  Unfortunately Macmillan aren't registered with the one we were hoping to use so it looks like we'll be going with JustGiving.com after all. 

The bad news is that JustGiving doesn't allow you to split sponsorship between multiple charities so we've had to make three separate pages.  The good news is that they're all pulled together on our Donate page.  If you are going to contribute to our cause please use the page that needs most help reaching its target so we can try and keep things even.

In training news, I've had a cracking week off on account of my birthday and I should be ready to go full tilt next week!

Stay free,
Joe.

I'm not so sure I was Bruce.  Hit the treadmill today instead of getting up early for my usual route and the stats can be found here.  And may I say, hot days are hard work!  I think my nose done more running than me today anyway thanks to my hayfever.

Anyway, let's get down to the nuts and bolts.  The first thing I was shocked to see was the dip.  I didn't stop or walk once and yet there it is right in the middle of the graph like a big grin, laughing at me.  I just can't explain it.  The treadmill was set at 4.5mph for a bit then I upped it to 5mph for the majority of the run so I don't know how I managed to slow down.  Maybe I did it subconsciously while I was increasing the setting.

Much slower pace, slower even than the time I forgot to hit "End" and was recording my movements in the house.  I guess that's the thing with the treadmill, I can't judge my pace by the number on the screen, I like to judge by my surroundings.  And no PB this time obviously.  I suppose it's still a workout even if it didn't achieve much.

On the charity end of things, I have a few ideas that could make fundraising more interesting but you'll hear about those when the time is right.  For now why not just sponsor us?

Stay free,
Joe.

Another morning of recovery underway here after another shattering run.  Still only 2km but when I get in it feels like 20.  I'm ready for those improved performances now, if my body's listening.  Results as always over in The Log.

The most striking thing this time is that I appear to have entered my own double-dip recession!  I honestly don't know where that first major dip before the big one came from because I definitely wasn't walking.  I guess I must have been jogging (or "yogging" I believe it's a soft J) a lot slower than usual.  I managed to hold off my wee walk for about 50m longer than on the previous run so there's a bit of improvement there.

Also, despite all the huffing and puffing when I got in, I was told that I had a new PB for the mile again, this time of 8'26" shaving 15 seconds off my previous.  So although I sound pessimistic, my glass really only has a few sips out of it.

In the meantime I've been doing a wee bit of work on the site and we now have a new home here at www.JP3.org.uk as you've probably noticed.  We also have permission to use our Charities' names/logos/info and they've all offered to supply us with t-shirts for the race!  Unfortunately we've turned down their very generous offers in favour of designing our own TeamJP3 tees, designs that may be available here in the near future.

I'm off to buy my EuroMillions for the week so let me leave you with the ancient proverb "May your charity increase as much as your wealth," i.e. sponsor us!

Stay free,
Joe.

Good morning guys and gals! 

Today marked the start of official training and you can find the results along with all future runs laid out in graph form on The Log.  Just a short run of 2km this morning that I think will be the usual for a couple of weeks until I get my distance legs back.  I can only hope that Lisa and Sean will be getting up in 3 or 4 hours and heading out onto a beautiful beach to pound the sand.  Am I being naive?

As a first run I think it was encouraging.  Based on the average speed, which includes a shameful walk, I should be looking at about the hour mark for the 10k.  Our initial goal was 1hr 15min which was allowing some wiggle room so perhaps I'll surprise myself after these 3 months of training.

Anyway head on over to The Log and have a swatch at the lovely graph produced by Nike+ and then if you'd like to encourage me a bit head over to CharityGiving and shed some of your own pounds!

Stay free,
Joe.

With less than 3 months until the starting pistol, tomorrow marks the official beginning of my training programme.  With Lisa and Sean off on a much needed tour of rest, I'll be on my own for two weeks and can't let myself fall into a couch/chocolate relapse. 

So in an effort to avoid a messy cocoa related disaster, I'll be strapping on the Nike+iPod and hitting the streets.  If anyone has any tips on motivation or whatever don't hesitate to send them my way because so far I've been doing an Annie when it comes to starting training: it's only a day away.

This time it's going to be different.  In twelve hours I'll be turning off my alarm and lacing up my trainers... hopefully.  So wish me luck guys and I'll let you know how it goes!  In the meantime your support would be greatly appreciated over on our CharityGiving page!

Stay free,
Joe.

So this is it.  TeamJP3 has signed up for the Great Scottish Run 10k and training has officially begun!  Well I say "training" but really I've only been out running 4 times in total so far! 

To be fair I am pretty bogged down in exams so I don't have very much time on my hands anyway.  As soon as they're over the Nike+ will be getting kicked into gear and some proper pavement pounding can start.

The CharitiyGiving site is up and running just waiting for some lovely donors to stumble across it and take away some of the space, so head on over if you get a chance.  In fact do it now, I'll wait until you get back.

...

...Done?  Not yet.  Okay, take your time.  I'm just sitting about anyway.

...

...Ready?  Good.  I'm sure a thanks is in order.  So as I was saying, I've not really started training proper as of yet so there's not much to say here, but rest assured there is much to come!  About three and a half months til the race so keep your eyes peeled for progress updates and exciting opportunities!

Stay free,
Joe.