HIV Research

Just a couple of video's from University of California, San Fransisco which I find very hopeful. Its recent stuff so great news

Jay Levy



Diane Havlir

A new month a new run

A new type of running that is. Today I went for my first run 'barefoot' in my new pink Vibram 'five fingers' which look rather strange to say the least. I thoroughly enjoyed it which is somewhat a relief. You are forced to only take small steps which means you can't help but pace yourself. This is good for many reasons not least that I hope  my legs will be completely firm and toned by the time October comes. Dream on eh? The shoes are comfortable and I can see myself running barefoot in Amsterdam. I may have to buy a new pair of shoes though! Here is a link to my Facebook page just in case you haven't seen it. I would love feedbakc either there or here

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sarahs-Amsterdam-Marathon-2012/100180786790689

If you are curious to see these shoes of mine please visit this run page on Rutger' Hauer's offical site

http://www.rutgerhauer.org/rutgerhauer.org/fundraisingrun.php

Please remember that the real reason I am doing this is to help them to help women and children in developing worlds who need HIV treatment and care. That is the most important fact here and I would really really appreciate any donation however small as every penny, cent, euro etc does help. Thank you. Much love Sarah xxx

Changes

As you can tell at a glance I have given this blog a new template. I hope that you like it. I am grateful to all 8 of my subscribers if you are still here following this xxx The countdown clock is still here but is at the very bottom of the page. I have also been looking back of this blog with a twinge of nostalgia and decided that I quite like it actually, even if nobody else does LOL Time truly does fly. I apparently started this blog on 1oth January 2009 already! I had forgotten that I had written about the first science festival I ever volunteered for here, the same year. I should move that to my science blog really 'Chemistress' even if it will be out of synch. Those photo's are pretty great one I think. Captures the fun we had. As promised I shall be back with running news and HIV news. Take care xxx

My Amsterdam Marathon 2012

This event which draws ever closer takes place on Sunday October 21st and starts and finishes at Amsterdam's Olympic Stadium. I am now half way through my training and thought it a good idea to create a Facebook page specifically for this event. So I have done just that and here is the link to it

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sarahs-Amsterdam-Marathon-2012/100180786790689

I hope you will visit it and at least 'like it'. Thank you. May I take this opportunity to also hope that you will consider sponsoring me and you can do this online by visiting my recently update website. For the kids........

 http://sarahstracks.webplus.net/

Thank you Love Sarah xxx

Updates May 2012

Hey all, I shall stop posting apologies here. It seems that so far this blog has not been too active. It is always in my mind to find more time and material to write here. The Starfish fundraiser I attended as a helper at the end of March was awesome. I loved meeting the Starfish team and fellow supporting fan John. A lovely guy. I loved every minute of the convention, it was such alot of fun. Our goodbye breakfast on monday morning with Rutger was hilarious. Alot of talk about his thoughts for his FilmFactory this year. You can see what a good time was had by all by looking at the photos on Rutger's official website at this link

 http://www.rutgerhauer.org/rutgerhauer.org/charlotte/charlotte2012.php

and if you use Facebook there is a group there called Rutger's rebels which also has alot of photo's from the con on it. xxx
We are experiencing a beautiful heatwave this week. I'm still seeing alot of runners out and about but I struggle with the heat. Doesn't stop me trying though. I now have my hotel and flight to Amsterdam booked and I am looking forward meeting a friend who will be traveling to see me. You can keep up to speed with whats happening by visiting my website in the link on the left or my facebook page: Sarah and Joe's Brighton Marathon 2011). Okay, I know its last years run but I want to keep it as a tribute to the event and my supporting friend Joe. I am planning a new page soon for this years marathon. You can also sponsor me by visiting my website and donating online there.Every penny counts and truly appreciated. If you are reading this blog by accident I'm pleased to meet you and encourage you to visit The Rutger Hauer Starfish Association website and find out all about them here 

http://www.rutgerhauer.org/rutgerhauer.org/index.php

and just to prove I am fundraising for them check this page out too which Starfish have kindly done for me

http://www.rutgerhauer.org/rutgerhauer.org/fundraisingrun.php

Thank you for reading xxx

Amsterdam Marathon 2012

Goodness, I've just realised that this is my first post of the year as we enter February! Sorry about that and Happy, healthy New Year one and all :D
Do I seem to be getting adventurous now I’ve stepped up to doing Marathons? ;) I have now registered for this run which takes place on Sunday October 21st in my favourite city of Amsterdam. This is a special race as I will be celebrating 10 years of running and thus 10 years of raising funds for Starfish. It is also 10 yrs since Mr Hauer did a spate of conventions to raise funds for Starfish and meet his fans.  He is at it again this year in Charlotte, USA at the end of March and I will be there. I cannot wait! I will be so excited see people again and meeting new people. This is the event I'm talking about and you can see the Starfish banner smack in the middle there
 
http://www.themadmonsterparty.com/

Anyway I am well into my training now. I’m currently using my usual running shoes but at the half way stage I will switch to my new ‘Five Fingers’. They may look strange but they simulate barefoot running. Currently in the mornings I find myself running in subzero temps!

If helping people throughout the world who are HIV+ or living with AIDS is something you care about please consider sponsoring me. It is easy. Find me on Facebook and on Twitter as @Sarah Scientist. A huge thank you and warm hugs to those of you who support me. I can't tell you how important it is or how much I appreciate it.  As I like to say and because it is true I do accept all currencies, so don't let yours stop you ;) If you visit the 'sponsoring me' page on my website you will see a PayPal link where you can get the money to me safely and directly.
Also, here is a link to the official Marathon page: 

 http://www.tcsamsterdammarathon.nl/en/
 

Thank you so much to all who do and have done in the past. Always truly grateful. Sarah xxx

Marathon update

Back home in Manchester now after my adventure in Brighton,and I did think of it as an adventure. Alot hillier than I expected but so much to do.Brighton Rocks!Gorgeous view of the sea and the pier from our hotel and I got to see a fair bit of the place on my run. Fantastic to meet Joe at last and her lovely other half and sweet daughter. We all spent a wonderful evening together. Thank you very much to Joe and Starfish for the most beautiful t-shirt ever I wore it with pride and it is rather salty now but I shall wash it gently and put it in my treasure trove. Well I did it, I completed a marathon and although it didn't go exactly according to plan I am very happy to have done this. I thoroughly enjoyed the run,the atmos was terrific as it always is at these events I was doing brilliantly, I was running well and was making good time for the first half, 13 miles. Then at mile 15 developed pain in the back of my left leg,this got progressively worse throughout both of my legs with the odd twinge of cramp. I knew what it was straight away, salt depletion and I knew I would be walking most of the rest of the way by mile 21 I couldn't run at all and my fingers had all swollen up so I went to the nearby paramedics who gave me a couple of salty drinks then I was on my way again,keeping my hands in the air as advised. I managed to run the last 50 metres over the finish line to lots of cheers. Got unexpectedly emotional because after all my training, efforts etc I had hoped to do this in 4.5 hours not the full 6.Britain has been in a heatwave this past week and I just cannot run in the sun, just as I struggle to swim in warm water.All has to be cool-ish for me. However I did it and got my medal damn it! There were some poor souls worse off than me. My fingers were normal size again by 8.30 ish after a meal. Thanks to our lovely hotel staff for putting on an early breakfast for us. Thanks to Joe and her family for coming along to meet and support me. I hope your journey home was fine and didn't take too long. Thank you to everyone who has sponsored and supported me, it really does mean alot to me and does make a difference. At mile 16 a lady with a tannoy stopped me and gave a shout out for Starfish So thats phase 1 complete, now for the more important phase 2,collecting  sponsorship. So now I'm at the recovery and rebuilding of the body stage. Lots of rest, fluids and sleep.
        You can  visit our Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Sarah-and-Joes-Brighton-Marathon-April-2011/120777117978635

To see an example of the  inititaives our fundraising helps, please visit Starfish   here:

 http://www.rutgerhauer.org/rutgerhauer.org/adoption/ldaproject.php

  Thank you so much for sponsoring me, I look forward to hearing from you  in the   future. We do make a difference together. xxx