It's almost here and Introducing Georgia

Hi everyone! hope you are all well?

Sorry that I have not posted in a while but My family have been through an extremely tough time but don't worry I shall be on that start line in 9 days. This will be my last post before the run and I can't believe how fast this has come around but there is no going back now. I need to get my butt in gear and start packing my stuff. I will be sending out reminders on my Instagram all next week but just so you are all aware I will be doing a little video after every lap on my Instagram story to keep you all up to date with my progress and how I am feeling. If you don't current follow me on Instagram please search jm_running_nurse and hit the follow button.   

Donations over the last week or so has been slowly coming in, The Difference a Day Makes fundraiser total now stands at £1438.44. We are 47% of the way to are target of £3000, it would be amazing to make it to 50% before I start my run. You can do your bit to help me by sharing my challenge with all your friends and family. To make a donations please click here, this will take you straight to my Virgin Money Giving Page. If you are new to this blog you can find out more about my 24 hour running challenge and Jessie May by clicking here. 

Training has been very difficult the last week or so, my legs have been feeling very heavy and I just haven't had much energy. It got to a point where I had to take an extra day off from running and I have cut back on trying to break my PB at Parkrun, I have also made more of a effort to make sure I don't run to fast during my training runs in the week. It has been a struggle but I feel it is working and I completed 18 miles, the equivalent to three laps when I undertake my 24 hour running challenge. I felt good after this and my legs have recovered well. I never managed to get 4 laps down due to the time it takes and other commitments. I am however feel confident that i can hit my target of 10 laps. I am now well into the tapering phase of my training so the miles I am running are coming down. This should mean that by race day my legs will be in top shape. Over the course of my training which I started in February I have been training for over 200 hours, ran over 504 miles and over burnt 70,500 calories. 

Right enough about me lets have a look at who will be featured from the Jessie May team this week.    

It's Georgia's turn to feature on my blog this week, she is one of the newer nurses to the Jessie May team. Georgia has only been with us for about 8 months but I'm sure some of you will recognise her from the Children's hospital and a local children's hospice as well as at Jessie May. So with out further a do lets hear more about Georgia!

When you were growing up what did you also say you wanted to do as a job? When I was younger I wanted to be a police officer, I think it was because my mum always watched The Bill.

 I know you did Gymnastics, tell me a bit about your gymnastics career - I started gymnastics when I was 8 years old and instantly loved it. I worked up to training 12 hours a week for around 10 years. I competed a bit but I much preferred doing displays and shows. I also got involved with coaching and did a couple of coaching courses. One of my favorite sessions to do was the Gymnastics for All disability sessions, which is where I think my interest in working with children with complex needs started. I continued gymnastics as a hobby and social club during Uni but stopped when I started working. I would love to get back into coaching at some point though.

Do you have a claim to fame? I’ve been backstage at Glastonbury

Nursing 

I trained at the University of Nottingham and graduated in Aug 2016, so have been a qualified nurse for nearly 3 years. I have always wanted to live in Bristol, so was very happy when I got my first job on the medical unit at the Children’s Hospital. I was then given the opportunity to participate in a palliative care rotation, which involved working for a year at the children’s hospital, a year at a children’s hospice, finishing with a year here at Jessie May. It’s been amazing to follow the families that I have met on the ward and see them in their different environments. Seeing children in their own homes is great, the difference in the children is massive. I feel very privileged to have been given a little insight into the lives of our families and to be able to build relationships along the way. I have met some amazing nurses and nursery nurses, who have definitely set a high standard that I hope to match through more experience.

Running  - I wouldn’t say running is my favorite hobby but I do enjoy doing the park run on a Saturday morning. Running with a big group of people is definitely good motivation. I completed a Tough Mudder Half a few years ago, which was really fun. I have always said I want to do a Half Marathon but haven’t had the courage to do one yet, maybe I will one day. I always enjoy running to a podcast, I find takes my mind off the pain! And I always make sure I’ve planned some nice food to have afterwards.



Now all that is left to do is a few more miles and pack all my kit.

Speak to you all soon

Take care 

Steve