Kisha-runners get set for Bupa 10,000

By Lauren Krotosky - Thursday 15th 2008f May 2008


Avner Radomsky

This year's Marathon runners may still be recovering from their exertions, but the fun is far from over yet.

The Bupa London 10,000 (10k) will take place on Bank Holiday Monday 26th May, and will have 12,500 entrants in its first year. And of that number, 27 will be running to raise in excess of 13,000 for learning disabilities charity Kisharon, the only Jewish charity featured in the run. Starting and finishing in St Jamess Park, highlights of the run will even be televised by the BBC. I spoke to some of the participants to find out how their training is going and what they hope to achieve from the run.

Simon Gold

After starting to cycle to work a few months ago because it felt better than driving in smog to work, I thought I could do something with my renewed energy. My target is the international triathlon in November (also to help Kisharon) so this run in May was like a stepping stone for that goal. I have been doing lots of cycling and swimming with the triathlon in mind, but I do not like running much, so I have only recently (after Pesach) started to build up my daily runs. I might just get to 6km before the Bupa challenge!

Judy Elkus

My husband had joined the Kisharon team for the Eilat triathlon last year, and, after months of watching him go off for runs, I decided I could not beat him so I would have to join him! Not having done any real exercise for years, I started slowly, going out for gentle runs. But I added more distance each time, and I have actually been surprised at how far I have come along. I have never done anything like this before I still can't quite believe I am doing it! Just to finish it in one piece will be great.

Danny Wulwick

I decided to take part in the run both to raise money and as a personal challenge in terms of setting a goal and trying to achieve it. Given that Ive hardly done any exercise for many years I had to start at the beginning and with my good friend and trainer, Daniel Epstein, Ive tried to run at least two or three times a week for the last couple of months. Its been rather ad-hoc and Im sure I shouldve done more training, but I hope that if I take it relatively slowly Ill get round the course, eventually.

Morris Breuer

I train on a daily basis by doing a 4-5 mile run plus weights, as well as training a different body part each day. I have been doing it for years, and after seeing the ad for Kisharon I thought I should do probably something worthwhile with all my training.

Tamara Schmidt

I decided to do the run to challenge myself physically as I've never done anything like this before, to raise money for what I think is a brilliant cause, to give myself a proper aim and to run with my mum who's running in aid of another charity and hopefully beat her time! I've gradually been building up my distances, and hopefully in three weeks time 10km will seem easy! I'm hoping to get a sense of personal achievement and fulfillment out of actually completing the run as well as generally improving my fitness and distracting myself from university exams!

Avner Radomsky

I have been looking to get fit again, having stopped regular sport/exercise when my son was born. Raising money for charity at the same time has made it an easier decision and provides a great motivation! I have being trying to follow the BUPA training programme (trying being the important word!). It involves running 2-3 times per week, gradually increasing the distance/time of the run to build up the stamina etc. So far Ive managed to run up to 5km without stopping and am hoping to complete the 10km run in 1 hour. Ive never done anything like this before.

Lisa Kramer

I had just started going to the gym and my friend suggested a 10k run for charity. At the time, it sounded like fun and a long way off in the future so I said we should sign up. Weather permitting, I have been running on average twice a week. I have never done anything like this before and am looking forward to the challenge! Raising money for charity is my main aim.

Sara Schwartz

I decided to take part in the run because I felt it would set me a challenge and add a new dimension to my day to day existence as a working mother. It also gives me the opportunity to raise funds for this very worthy organisation. Ive left the training a little late, but Ive been trying to fit in a couple of runs a week either before or after work. Ive never done anything like this before. The closest I've got was the Hospital Kosher Meals Walk in 1984! I'm hoping to raise as much as possible for Kisharon.

Jeffrey Gilbert

As a prelude to the Triathlon, I wanted to take part in a competition which I felt was fairly manageable. I have been doing a lot of cycling and general keep-fit exercises, stretching and a little dieting in order to get myself into better shape with only a small amount of running so as not to damage the joints as road running can be quite hard for a person of my age. Im looking forward to the thrill of the competition and the satisfaction of the camaraderie amongst the team together with the feel-good experience of raising money for charity.

Simon Mitchell

I decided to take part in the run as I saw in my shul (Borehamwood and Elstree) newsletter that Kisharon needed runners and I thought it would be a good catalyst to getting in better shape! I have been following a training regime from the Bupa website which takes you up from zero fitness through to being ready for the run I think it has now been 14 weeks running three times per week I have never done anything like this before, but I must say it has whet my appetite for running its a challenge and actually quite satisfying.

Lee & Lisa Paris

We had both started separate programmes with personal trainers earlier in the year and thought that a 10k run would give us something to aim for. Lisas trainer funnily enough is now Enigma in the New Gladiators series so has a full schedule filming at the moment. Thats Enigma, not Lisa! Lisa did the Hydro Active Womens 5k a couple of years ago in 30 minutes but has had some back trouble so never got around to doing a 10k. We hope to have a fun time, run as much as possible and raise as much as possible for Kisharon!

The other Kisharon runners are

 Charlotte Clif
 Naomi Cohen
 Batsheva Deutsch
 Sam Dony
 Gabriela Dony
 Debbie Friedman
 Natalie Koenig
 Yoni Kraus
 Gaby Minsky
 Godfrey Minsky
 David Pruwer
 Joshua Samad
 Natalia Stafler
 Sarah Tarzi

For more information about Kisharon, visit www.kisharon.org.uk. For info on the run, have a look at www.london10000.co.uk/site, or to make a donation log onto www.justgiving.com.