Blogs

• 10Jun2011

  The Jim & Jack 1 in 6 run blog

  Posted by Jim Sells

  The Jim & Jack 1 in 6 run blog

  National Literacy Trust employees Jack Sallabank and Jim Sells have decided to run 160 miles, in October, to raise funds for the National Literacy Trust. See www.literacytrust.org.uk/run for further details. Each week we will be writing a blog to let people know how our training, fundraising and organisation of the run, is going. There might even be some video footage at some point too! Here’s our first blog.

  10 June 2011.

  Last night we started our training for the 1 in 6 campaign. So how did we start? Analysis.

  One of Jack’s friends, Shaun Dixon, is a running coach, and he has agreed to help us to make our running as efficient as possible, to minimise the impact on our joints and muscles, and to help us to develop a training and dietary programme. All of which we are going to need on this lunatic-run. The first thing he needed to do was to analyse our running styles.

  One of Jim’s friends, Alan Coles, is an osteopath, and he has also agreed to help us by joining Shaun to analyse our movements. Between them they will point us in the right direction and try to stop us running like we think we’re on a football pitch. Boys never really grow up.

  So, last night saw us in Regent’s Park, among the city workers, locals and tourists, being filmed as we ran up and down a 30m stretch of the inner circle. Luckily we don’t get embarrassed easily! (The photo-shoot in Vauxhall Park earlier on in the day was slightly less glamorous…) We’ll post some of the films here when we get them through, but it was an amazing process, and anyone who is really interested in running should get this done. We found that we both had similar problems (bouncing up and down too high as we ran, over-reaching, heel-striking) and each of us had unique problems, all of which were captured on film and analysed using specialist programmes and the expertise of Alan and Shaun. Suddenly there’s a lot to think about while we’re running!

  To us this was fascinating (because it was all about us, probably), but if you’re a school following our progress, this information could also help you. A project based around this run could be truly cross-curricular; looking at the science, technology, dietary, biological, geographical, mathematical, and of course, literacy, aspects.

  And we start this fully motivated. The need to improve literacy levels in this country is high. With Government funding cut, this is one way that we can pull together to keep the campaign to help schools, libraries and families in the areas of highest need alive and well.

  The National Literacy Trust email newsletter went out announcing our fundraising attempt yesterday and asking for schools to take part. The response has been brilliant, though we don’t as yet have all areas covered, and we need options to develop our national plan. And we need libraries for the weekend, so do please think about hosting us for our final mile of each day. See www.literacytrust.org.uk/run for further details. Thank you.

  More soon from us two! Hope you have a great weekend.

  All the best

  Jim & Jack.

  To find out more about the work of our first two partners, follow these links:

  Shaun Dixon is a running specialist. Following initial analysis of running technique he attempts to improve "style"' through a range of running strength exercises, stretching and running "drills": www.letsgetrunning.co.uk. Thanks Shaun!

  Alan Coles is an osteopath. His practice in London covers the whole range from babies to the elderly, and also offers traditional Chinese Medicine; his main area of interest is in the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of sports injuries: www.streathamosteopaths.org. Thanks Alan!  

Tags: Business and corporate partners, Children, Fundraising and support, Libraries, Schools & teaching, Sports

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