Community Bible Experience

Last week, as a church, we began following the Community Bible Experience - New Testament reading programme.

As you will see from the short video below this is basically an 8 week reading programme that covers the whole of the New Testament. But this programme follows the text of the New Testament without any of the familiar chapter headings, chapter numbers, verse numbers, footnotes etc. that many of us who have a 'normal' Bible will be familiar with.



I have found the first week very interesting - although the length of the readings takes a bit of getting used to. Each reading is the equivalent of several chapters in length and most of us who follow some kind of regular Bible reading programme will be much more used to a few verses at a time.

But reading in big chunks does give a good overview and also shows up recurring themes and words. Looking forward to house group tonight to see how others have found the first week.

Final Marathon Race Report

Well, about time I wrote something about yesterday's marathon. Let's just start by saying it was really disappointing. You'll remember that last week I said that I was looking for 3:45 but I'd be consolable with under 4 hours as that would be a PB. At no point did I expect it to take 4:42:35. So what happened?

Cramp. 

Up to the half way point everything was going really well. I was slightly behind schedule but nothing that I couldn't make up in the second half. Then about 13.5 miles I felt my right calf hint at cramp, so I slowed a little just to try and make sure that it didn't develop into anything more than a hint. But after a few more hints it finally went at about 15 miles where I had to stop and stretch it. But every time I started again it cramped again after two or three paces. It soon became clear that this wasn't going away any time soon, and it was a case of either pack it in or walk most of the way to the finish - which was still 11 miles away!

With over £2000 of sponsorship resting on me finishing there was only one option. And taking it easy at least meant being more able to take in the atmosphere. High-fiving quite a few children. And walking along at the edge of the route meant that lots of people in the crowd shout your name! (But 'Come on Keith, you're looking strong' and 'you're nearly there' really doesn't help that much when everything you've trained for has gone totally out of the window.) 

After a few miles of walking it was just a case of a slow run until one of my legs or even feet cramped again. Some miles it was run 0.2 miles and walk the rest. Other miles I managed to jog for most of the mile. Here are my mile splits.

Really frustrating as I have not had any trouble with cramp in any of my training and I've run at that pace for further than 15 miles. The most likely reason is that it was hot - a lot hotter than any of my training - especially training at 5am. I think that the marathon was probably the first time this year that I've worn short sleeve this year.

At least with on-line tracking those who were waiting for me at the finish line knew that something had gone wrong, but that I was still running and would get there eventually.

But, however frustrated and disappointed I was, we still raised over £2000 for the work of Christian Aid - which was always more important than me getting a PB. It just didn't feel like that yesterday. And today I have been able to go up and down stairs - something that took the best part of 3-4 days last time.

So, another marathon in the future? I wouldn't rule it out.

Marathon update - 4 1/2 hours to go

Only four and a half hours until the off. How am I feeling? Nervous. The last three nights I've woken up around 4am - which I know is quite normal during my training - but then I needed an alarm clock to get me out of bed. This was just worrying about getting there on time, not forgetting something important, have I done enough training, how much should I drink on the way round... The only consolation is that in terms of resting my muscles it is being horizontal that is important not actually being asleep.

I know the physical signs in my body of when I'm stressed - and these last few days they've all being saying 'stress'.

Now I just need to be confident that I've trained well and not start off too fast. This last week I haven't run further than 3 miles, had two complete days of rest on Thursday and Friday, got to bed early, and eaten well. Yesterday morning I went out for a two mile jog in the sunshine.

Everything I need is ready either to be put on or packed. I've read, re-read and re-read again the final instructions. This morning's breakfast will be - coffee, porridge, a banana and a bagel.

The tracking page on the marathon website is now up and running. Click here for the link.

My race number is 37962. Type that in and then press the 'show tracking and results' button.

For progress during the race if you then click on my name it will take you to the page with 5km splits. [Although this page says the race starts at 9.45am it is actually starting at 10am.] For details of my planned times at these points click here.

I'll be back much later to let you know how it all went. Don't forget that I'm running for Christian Aid - and I'm sure there will be points on the course where some of the stories featured in the weekly videos I've been posting will keep me going. Thank you to everyone who has sponsored me so far. If you haven't and you want to just pop over to www.virginmoneygiving.com/keithtarring Thanks.

Solar panels, goats, tools, nets, blankets and tents

If you've watched several of these weekly Christian Aid videos I put on here you will have seen something of the variety of work that Christian Aid are involved in as they seek to help people out of poverty for good. There is the pressure on governments over land rights or tax justice. There are the small scale initiatives such as solar panels or provision of a few goats or tools that allow communities to get their foot on the first rung of the ladder. There is the formation of co-operatives to help small communities get a fair deal for their labour. And then there is the emergency response to a crisis. 

In today's film Janet Symes, Head of Middle East Region at Christian Aid, explains how partner organisations in Lebanon are responding to the refugee crisis, as well as talking about how our partners in Syria and Iraq are responding to the humanitarian needs of those affected by the conflict. 



In just three days time I'm running the London Marathon for Christian Aid. To sponsor me visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/keithtarring