(by Chris Davis)

With a new Park Run Personal Best last week of almost

sub 26minutes (www.parkrun.com for those of you
keen to see what the phenomena is all about!) and a
10K personal best the week before, you might be fooled
into thinking that my 1st attempt at the Virgin London
Marathon this April will see me chasing the heels of Mohs
2:08.21 time last year.
Sadly, the demands of work and a family including
6 children (though one is fully grown and happily at
University) are where mine and Mohs stories veer
apart. However, although my full time job involves
coordinating our Creative Services team of
superb Artworkers, Quality Controllers
and Workflow personnel whilst
managing the demands of our
clients Lloyds, UKAR, etc. rather
than coordinating my carbs
versus proteins and the fast
twitch muscles in my limbs,
there are some similarities.
You will now see me, peanut
butter protein shake in hand as
I traverse the corridors of Xerox
WGC. And may see me pounding
the streets past John Lewis and
Greggs the bakers as I fight to ensure that I
might make a sub 4 hour 30 first marathon time,
as is my hope for April 26th 2015 (please come along
and cheer if you can make it!).
Im running with passion at the very least, and a huge
amount of commitment. You see, Im following in the
footsteps of my partner, Aimie (also a Xerox employee),
who last year ran her first Marathon following the death
of her father from Pancreatic Cancer. She signed up
with the charity just as her father was diagnosed with
this disease. Its a very bleak picture for those diagnosed
as this is one of the hardest to treat, least survivable

cancers out there. Her dad died just 4 weeks after

diagnosis 5 months before Aimie lined up on the start
line at VLM 2014. Pancreatic Cancer UK fund research
and support around Pancreatic Cancer and as our
family will testify (Natalie, her sister is also a Xerox WGC
employee) that support is invaluable. So, though I love
running, Im running with meaning and any support
is greatly appreciated, whatever via donation to the
charity (www.justgiving.com/ChrisDavis68) or words
ofencouragement.
And when the last reserves of enthusiasm are
reached as the heavens open and I have a
10 miler training run to get out and do
(did I say it is VERY hilly where we
are in the Surreyhills?) I have Aimie
kicking my butt with the strength
and conditioning training on
which she has become expert
since realising as she hobbled
over the finish with a nasty IT
Band injury she should have
done some of this stuff herself.
Impretty sure at her bootcamp
class they dont do 50reps of
burpees and 100 of lunges, but
when Im not revieiwing Service
Improvement Plans and MI data, thats
what youll find me doing (other than running)
with a slightly doubtful look on my face.

Donate the charity

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@xeroxrunner
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