24-year-old personal trainer and Northern Ireland Men's Physique Champion 2013, Ben Mudge lives every day with cystic fibrosis. Here he outlines five tips to bear in mind in preparation for the VHI Women's Mini Marathon.
The 10-kilometre VHI Women's Mini Marathon takes place in Dublin on Monday June 1. Women can run, jog or walk and the Mini Marathon is open to all levels of fitness.
1. Hydrate! Make sure you have some form of liquid to help you keep hydrated
2. Wear comfortable footwear! It is very important to have the correct footwear as it can cause a lot of problems during and after the Mini Marathon if the shoes have not been designed for running.
3. Pace yourself. Don't go flat out at the start as you will only exhaust yourself. Find a pace that you can work at for the entire event and stick to it. Don't get caught up in thinking it's a race.
4. Eat a good source of carbs beforehand. My preferred source would be a large bowl of oats. Make sure you give it time to digest though!
5. Keep positive during the run. Bring music with you or listen to a podcast.
Since the One in 1,000 campaign first launched in 2010, over €700,000 has been raised for vital facilities, including a new state-of-the-art four-bed ward for children with cystic fibrosis in Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin, as well as isolation treatment units nationwide.
To register for the One in 1,000 campaign and to receive a sponsorship pack, contact Cystic Fibrosis Ireland on LoCall 1890 311 211, email fundraising@cfireland.ie or visit www.cfireland.ie/. The closing date for registration is Friday April 17.
