PDA

View Full Version : Tower Hill Stables



Pages : 1 2 3 [4] 5 6 7 8 9 10

gertvegan
Oct 15th, 2005, 10:07 PM
From www.animalaid.org.uk (http://www.animalaid.org.uk/news/2005/0510run.htm)

Marathon girl

Vegan Fiona Oakes cares for more than 260 rescued animals at her sanctuary in Essex, including hens, turkeys, pigs, sheep, cats, dogs and rabbits. This eternally energetic and tirelessly dedicated lady is also a part-time fire fighter and, as if that wasn't enough, a marathon runner.

Fiona - despite having a knee replacement - trains by running more than 80 miles a week and represented the UK at the Barcelona Olympics in '92 and recently switched to marathon running - coming 30th in the 2005 London Marathon in an incredible 2 hours 49 minutes. On Sunday 16th October, she will be taking part in the Amsterdam marathon. Fiona has been invited to compete as one of only 20 to 30 'Elite' runners, lining up alongside Haile Gebreselassi, one of the greatest athletes in the world today. What an achievement!

'Because I was in the Elite start of the London race I was running alone for most of it,' says Fiona. 'When I turned into The Mall it was music to my ears to hear a man on a tannoy shouting "come on the vegan runner!" to over 500,000 people. All the pain of the hundreds of miles of training seemed worth it. If I'm out there winning races it is a great way of getting the message across that the vegan diet is the healthiest of all!'

Fiona is a vegan dynamo, and we'll be cheering her all the way on October 16th.

Please visit www.towerhillstables.com, where you will see pictures of all the rescued animals living out their days in spacious accommodation and contentment. Donations to the sanctuary would be very gratefully received.

Go Fiona!

gertvegan
Oct 17th, 2005, 01:37 PM
Fiona ( www.towerhillstables.com ) came 9th. Good on you's Fiona. More info will follow. ;)

gertvegan
Oct 19th, 2005, 09:00 PM
From the www.towerhillstables.com website. Remarkable vegan.


Well, I am back from Amsterdam, what an experience – some good times, some very bad!

As most of my members will know, I was invited to run in Amsterdam and so this meant an expenses paid trip, which was great as I couldn’t have afforded to go otherwise!

We (my Mum and I) arrived early on Friday morning and from that time onwards it seemed as if my feet did not have time to touch the ground. There was a reception at the hotel for the Elite athletes and from the moment I attended that I realised this was going to be an experience unlike anything I was used to. To be honest, it scared me a bit as it made me realise just how pampered the athletes I would be competing against are. I don’t think there was anyone else there who did not have a manager and a coach with them – which came as a bit of a shock to me as I have neither!

On the day before the race I was invited on a coach trip of the course with the other Elite athletes (including Haile). Security was very tight and there was a full police escort for the whole 26.2 miles. The other athletes’ took their entourages with them and the whole thing was taken very seriously indeed. I was so nervous at being in such illustrious company I hardly dare look at out of the window as the prospect of running the next day was becoming very daunting indeed! That evening there was a Technical Meeting for the athletes where all the final details could be ironed out – such as pacemakers, special drinks and food requirements, massages etc. It was all totally alien to me as I never have anything, I just go out running when I am not needed by the animals. I have no spare money for fancy drinks and food, I just have to eat what is available at the time. I suppose I felt daunted by the fact that all the other runners in the field do is eat, rest and train when I all do is work, train and worry!

I was pleased when the morning of the race arrived but a little sceptical as the weather was very windy. The sun was also very hot when it was out but the wind chill made it cold out of the sun, quite difficult weather to cater for. The coach arrived to take the Elite athletes the 20 minutes drive to the start and I was honoured enough to sit opposite the great man himself, Haile Gebresalasie. As we approached the stadium spectators realised this was the bus with the Elite athletes on and began to get very excited, cheering, waving and taking photographs etc. When we disembarked Haile and I walked into the Olympic Stadium side by side which, I have to confess, was a great thrill for me. A good few people rushed over to take photographs of this great man, so they will be taking home photographs of Haile and a Vegan Runner too! As the time of the start approached things really did get very serious. The other runners all seemed to have last minute preparations and rituals to perform, complex stretching routines (often involving their coaches) to go through whilst I just sat quietly with my Mum – playing hangman, proudly sporting my Vegan Runners vest thinking of the animals I might help by running well.

We were called to the start and, after the great press frenzy for photographs, we were off. I soon settled into my rhythm and it felt like I was flying, pb’s (personal best) through 10K and 16K. All was going well until we hit the very windy part of the course which was when I began to realise what pacemakers are really for - not to set the pace, but to shield the other runner from the wind and difficult parts of the course. I continued to carry on at a pb pace into the wind and felt very strong, even though I was running alone. I was above my scheduled pace when we hit half Marathon (21.1K) and at 25K. Then, I am sorry to say, disaster struck. My knee gave way on me and became partially dislocated. I will explain at this point, for those of you who may not know, that I have a knee replacement and no knee cap on my right side due to having a tumour when I was younger. It is a great disability and disadvantage to me when running. Indeed, when I had the operation done the initial plan was to straighten my leg at the knee instead of putting a replacement join in someone so young. I don’t actually think it is the joint which causes me my problems, it is actually not having a knee cap to attach the tendons to which causes me problems as it makes my knee prone to dislocating as it is quite unstable.

At this point I was not sure what to do but I desperately wanted to try and carry on, even though the pain was quite awful. I decided to see if I could continue on but alter my cadence to throw most of the pressure onto my left leg. I managed to adapt some sort of strange style which allowed me to run/limp along but it slowed me down terribly. The unfortunate thing was I still had 12K to the finish.

Eventually I got there but was so glad to see the Olympic Stadium – and finishing line – again I can hardly explain. I hobbled onto the track and across the finish line where I collapsed in pain. Indeed, one of the officials said you could see the bone sticking out to the side of my leg when I was running.

In the end I was 9th overall in a time almost two minutes under my personal best. However, I have to confess I am disappointed as I know I could have done so much better without the injury to my knee. It is so frustrating as I was running so well up to that point. I have seen a physio and doctor since the race and am due to see another specialist next week. In the meantime I will continue to try and get the swelling down and keep the pain under control.

On reflection I know I should not be too hard on myself as I have run my best time ever. Whilst I was in Amsterdam I had a taste of how ‘real’ athletes live and it made me realise that for someone who has what is classed as a disability, cares for 260 animals and makes themselves available 24/7 in the Fire Service – I don’t do too bad!

There were 16 other Elite ladies there, all full time runners, I beat 7 of those runners and the whole of the rest of the field, and I did not do it for myself, I did it to raise awareness of an animal cruelty free lifestyle and to try and raise funds for the animals at the Sanctuary. On the evening of the race, I was with the physio in the hotel as Haile came in for a massage. He asked how I had done and explained what had happened. Shocked when he saw the state of my leg and the bruising on the ball of my left foot where I had been forced to put so much pressure, he said it was a strange state of affairs that whilst we had both run a personal best time, we were both disappointed. Perhaps there is a lesson to be learned here.

Thank you to all who sponsored me

Fiona & the gang

gertvegan
Nov 13th, 2005, 12:45 AM
If you haven't been keeping up to date with whats happening down at Tower Hill Stables, click on the animated cat. Have a good old look around the site, theres a lot to read up on the many different animals that are cared for.

Do have a read of events on November 2nd ......... ouchie! Good to see no sense of humour loss though. :D

Why not make a donation whilst you're there. www.towerhillstables.com ;)

gertvegan
Nov 24th, 2005, 06:08 PM
Tower Hill Stables Gym is now open for business !

You can apply to join for yourself, for family membership or as a gift for a friend.

Click here (http://www.towerhillstables.com/Gym.html) for more info. ;) :D

But sad news about Bess. :(

www.towerhillstables.com

gertvegan
Nov 28th, 2005, 11:25 PM
Lifescape Magazine have asked Fiona Oakes to write an article in each of the next 4 monthly issues. See Nov 27th HERE. (http://www.towerhillstables.com/News6.html) :cool:

Spiral
Nov 29th, 2005, 09:27 AM
Why not make a donation whilst you're there. www.towerhillstables.com ;)
Christmas is coming so why not sponsor an animal as a christmas gift for a relative or friend? Much better than a pair of socks :)

gertvegan
Jan 8th, 2006, 08:20 PM
Fiona was today chased whilst out on a 20 mile training run by two 'Hunt people' on horseback for about half a mile.

Read more here (http://www.towerhillstables.com/News6.html) under 7th January. :mad:

gertvegan
Jan 29th, 2006, 11:50 AM
From http://www.towerhillstables.com (http://www.towerhillstables.com/News6.html) on 28th Jan.


Charlie Farley arrives

Poor Charley Farley the hound has had a rough time of it. He is the worst abuse case I have taken in here. He has been kept in a small cage for six years and suffered horrific abuse which I cannot publish the details of.

Click the link to read yet another heart warming update, from Tower Hill Stables, that needs supporting. ;)

gertvegan
Feb 26th, 2006, 09:41 PM
Do have a read of the Near Disaster for Dolly (http://www.towerhillstables.com/News6.html) news, on 23rd Feb, with tissues on standby. This place could well do with your support. ;)

Yaksongs
Mar 30th, 2006, 05:15 PM
Please consider sponsoring Fiona in the London Marathon - the on-line pledge form is here http://www.towerhillstables.com/london05.html

All being well Fiona will be running on April 23rd in the women's elite race sporting her green & black Vegan Runners top. Fiona is the best Vegan female marathon runner in the world. Help her spread the Vegan message through sponsorship

Thanks

gertvegan
Apr 14th, 2006, 06:28 PM
Will do.

Go for it Fiona.

Yaksongs
Apr 21st, 2006, 08:36 PM
Thanks Paul - much appreciated

There is still time to sponsor Fiona who - all being well - will be competing in the womens elite race on Sunday which starts at 9 am. All funds raised will go towards the feeding costs of the rescued animals at Fiona's Sanctuary.

http://www.towerhillstables.com/london05.html

Regards

M

Tiggerwoo
Apr 21st, 2006, 08:41 PM
Done!:)

Yaksongs
Apr 21st, 2006, 08:52 PM
Thanks Tiggerwoo - much appreciated !

M

cedarblue
Apr 21st, 2006, 08:58 PM
i'm pleased to support fiona again this year as last.

way to go fiona - i'll be looking out for that vegan vest! - from the comfort of my armchair :o

Yaksongs
Apr 21st, 2006, 09:17 PM
Thanks cedarblue ! Do you know I have never seen Fiona run ! - as one of us has to be here all the time !! I shall set the video...

M

gertvegan
Apr 22nd, 2006, 11:39 PM
Just a reminder.

London Marathon on BBC1

Sun 23 Apr, 8:30 am

Sue Barker introduces live coverage of the 26th running of the world's most famous road race, the Flora London Marathon.

Look out for Fiona. ;)

gertvegan
Apr 23rd, 2006, 12:13 PM
Though Fiona would have finished by now, you can still contact the BBC to wish her all the best, and hopefully your message will appear along the bottom of the screen.

You can text 81111. There is an email address but I didn't catch it.

Be sure to mention vegan, Fiona Oakes, and Tower Hill Stables animal sanctuary. :)

Tiggerwoo
Apr 23rd, 2006, 05:21 PM
Does anyone know how Fiona did?

gertvegan
Apr 23rd, 2006, 05:56 PM
I'm sure Yaksongs wll let us know more, but from the marathon website, it looks like 22nd in 2 hours 51 mins. Superb. :D

www.towerhillstables.com may have some info as well.

Yaksongs
Apr 23rd, 2006, 07:11 PM
Yes you're right Paul - 22nd place is an excellent result for Fiona, although with the recent losses of Simon & Pan, Fiona was really too upset and stressed out to do the kind of time she is capable of - but having said that any time under 3 hours is what good club runners aspire to - & that's the men !

2 hours 51 odd is brill.

I don't if you were watching the womens race coverage, but someone sent in a question right at the start saying were there any veggies or even vegans running? the commentators didn't have a clue & Tracy Morris made some comment about needing protein from meat for strength - what a load of claptrap. I must have sent them a dozen text messages - but they were ignored ! quell suprise..

Typical - what a great opportunity to show that you don't need to eat meat to compete at this level on national TV - particulaly when you have a knee replacement to contend with too...

I mean you'd think the elite female race comentators would at least have a list of the UK female athletes & their club names wouldn't you - just for reference & a bit of interest for their commentary... obviously not

M

Tiggerwoo
Apr 23rd, 2006, 07:26 PM
That is amazing, well done to Fiona from me, and let me know what you want me to do about her sponsor money.

Yaksongs
Apr 23rd, 2006, 07:45 PM
Thanks Tiggerwoo!

All sponsorship cheques paable to:

"Tower Hill Stables Animal Sanctuary" and sent to:

Tower Hill Stables Animal Sanctuary
Asheldham]
Essex
CM0 7DZ

or if you have paypal - pm me for the details

Thanks

M

Tiggerwoo
Apr 23rd, 2006, 07:57 PM
Will do!