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From Manchester to The Hague: Running for foster children with Raja Aslam
139 Plays5 days ago
In this episode of the UKRunChat podcast, Michelle speaks to Raja Aslam, a foster carer from Blackburn and passionate runner, about his bold challenge to run from Manchester to The Hague, covering a half marathon every day to raise money for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme for foster children.
Raja shares his story of getting into running just before COVID, running marathons during Ramadan, the impact of fostering on his family, and how he hopes to inspire others through his journey.
Follow Raja on Instagram: Raja Aslam’s Instagram
Fundraising link: https://www.justgiving.com/page/rajaaslam-manchestertothehague
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Transcript
Introduction to UK Run Chat
00:00:01
UKRunChat
Hello, welcome to this episode of the UK Run Chat podcast, the show that brings you inspiring stories from the running community. I'm Michelle and today's guest is someone who's combining endurance and purpose in a truly remarkable way.
Meet Raja: Foster Carer and Runner
00:00:15
UKRunChat
We're joined today by Raja who is a foster carer from Blackburn who set himself the challenge of running from Manchester to Holland covering a half marathon every single day. So in this episode we're going to chat about his motivations for doing that and his personal ties to both Manchester and Holland.
00:00:33
UKRunChat
Hello Raja, so nice to have you on the podcast, welcome.
00:00:37
Raja Aslam
Hi, thank you for having me on the podcast. And yeah, I'm Roger. I'm from Blackburn, as you said, a foster carer with eight kids at home.
00:00:45
UKRunChat
Wow, eight children.
00:00:45
Raja Aslam
And yeah, eight children, four birth kids and four foster kids. I have a love of doing this.
From Teaching Assistant to Running Enthusiast
00:00:53
Raja Aslam
So I was working as a teaching assistant. I've left that just to focus on this and support the foster children and see my own children grow up.
00:01:02
Raja Aslam
And then alongside that, I have my hobby, which is running, which I've kind of only got to know about about six years ago, just before COVID kicked in. I started running and ever ever since then, it's all history, but I wish I started running earlier. We all have this kind of thing in our mind where, why didn't we begin earlier? But it's one of those things you just get getting into. You either love it, you don't, and I absolutely love it. So yeah, that's me.
00:01:32
UKRunChat
Yeah, are brilliant. So, so tell us about why you started before we get into your journey from Manchester to Holland, which we'll chat about later. How did you start running then? What prompted that for you?
00:01:43
Raja Aslam
So basically, had a colleague of mine and he said, ah we're going to do ah one of those Race for Life 5Ks. And we're doing it memory of another colleague, which I didn't know at the time because I started the school quite later on.
00:01:57
Raja Aslam
And they said, we're doing it memory of her. And they said, we're going to walk it. and I said, why don't we run it? And then we try to raise a bit more funds. He said, no, no way. You've got four four or five days to go.
00:02:09
Raja Aslam
You won't be able to run. You've never run. I go, I'll give you a shot. He goes, go on, you do it. And then we'll just walk. I'm like, right, that's fine. You've challenged me now. So then I say started off with that 5K, went to it, one of my toughest thing I ever did.
00:02:24
Raja Aslam
And I managed it 32 minutes, first time ever. And seriously, I'm not lying. After that, it's all history. I just fell in love with it. And it's I thank my mate for signing me up for it. And since then, it's been so many challenges I've done, like through marathons, half marathons.
00:02:40
Raja Aslam
And all it's all for a good reason. I do all for charity. So, yeah, know that that's my journey to why I started running it. There was no, yeah, i really want to get out there. I don't want to run. It was just my mate said, race for life. I said, sign me up.
00:02:55
Raja Aslam
I'm going to run. And we managed to raise just over 300 pounds at that time, which quite was quite in big in just a short period of days. And, ah yeah, then I absolutely loved it that I managed to run it.
00:03:07
Raja Aslam
When I look back at that picture, it's um it's an amazing picture because I'm just out there, red tomato head. then Now I look back and think, wow, that was me one day. And yeah, now I'm here like running marathons and going on like an ultra kind of run.
Family Support and Running Passion
00:03:23
UKRunChat
that that yeah it's what an amazing transformation you've had then so you said that was the hardest thing you'd ever done like just describe to us your feelings after you'd finished and kind of what prompted you to carry on running really what happened after that
00:03:38
Raja Aslam
So ah when i when I went on this 5K run, I had and my wife with me, had my daughter at that time, and they they came to support me. So I thought, right, I've got to show them as well that I'm capable of this challenge.
00:03:51
Raja Aslam
And seriously, I'm not lying. if you have support whilst you're running, it's the best thing ever because it pushes you on. And at that moment when I saw my daughter for the first time, when I ran around the corner and I saw her, I was really emotional. I was about, I was literally in tears. I was holding them in there.
00:04:07
Raja Aslam
And all those emotions were running in, right? I want to make my daughter proud. I want to make my wife proud. going to do this for them as well, not just to prove to my mate that I can run 5K. And and it's it's just, it was an amazing feeling.
00:04:20
Raja Aslam
So many people were out there supporting and cheering you on as well, even whilst I was struggling. Because it was ah it was a big thing. It was a big ask for me, really. I've never done something at that distance as well.
00:04:32
Raja Aslam
And just to get myself going through it, was I was running with so many emotions through my head. And I was like, why am I doing this? What was the purpose of this? What am I gonna gain from this?
00:04:43
Raja Aslam
And the looking back at it, I've gained so much through this running hobby. It's been amazing. It's been a really amazing journey for me.
00:04:53
UKRunChat
So you mentioned you've done some other challenges ah before the the big one that we'll talk about in
Running Marathons During Ramadan
00:04:58
UKRunChat
a moment. So you mentioned marathons there. What else have you been up to in terms of charity?
00:05:02
Raja Aslam
Yeah, so, So I've done a lot of marathons. I've done about 10 marathons in the space of five years.
00:05:09
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:05:09
Raja Aslam
And one of the biggest ones I've done was running marathons while fasting. So it was during Ramadan.
00:05:16
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:05:16
Raja Aslam
It was a Manchester marathon. So ah we wake up around 5 a.m. m We have our food. ah fluids, whatever we could have, pray and then go back to sleep. And then around nine o'clock, I managed to start the race because I got an earlier slot just because ah was... it The management was really good at Manchester Marathon. They looked after me, said, you know what, you're fasting and you'll still be quite fueled up at an earlier time.
00:05:44
Raja Aslam
So it changed my time. Just after the elites, that was a big mistake because they were going fast and then I ended up going fast.
00:05:49
UKRunChat
Oh.
00:05:52
Raja Aslam
So... My half marathon pace time was like 1.45 and I wasn't aiming for that. And then mile 16, like we all say, we hit the wall, absolutely hit the wall and was struggling.
00:06:04
UKRunChat
yeah
00:06:06
Raja Aslam
Couldn't take any fluid on, couldn't take any snacks. Children were out there shaking boxes of sweets and I'm like, no, don't do that. I don't want to hear this and because I don't even wear headphones when I run. So that was challenging itself, hearing those sweets and the rattled noises and seeing oranges and people handing out drinks and stuff.
00:06:24
Raja Aslam
But for me, it was like, I was doing it for a purpose. I was doing running for charity. and And I thought, I'm going to get through this, even if I have to crawl. So I managed to get to the end. And it was a big success because I had my family out there, of people supporting me.
00:06:40
Raja Aslam
But the toughest part was after the marathon where I had still five, six hours to go before I could take any food in or water. And that was a difficult part because when it was time to eat my first swig of water, I couldn't even swallow it because was just all stuck there.
00:06:57
Raja Aslam
And it took me a good half an hour and then I managed it. And that's when I really appreciated like what I've just done was like a very challenging moment where was risky as well for myself, for my health as well.
00:07:12
Raja Aslam
And I did get told before by a few mates not to do because it could impact my health. But I'm blessed to be here and get through that. And never again, but I've done it.
00:07:22
UKRunChat
Yeah, that that was going to be my next question, actually. Would you do that again? But no, that sounds really intelligent.
00:07:26
Raja Aslam
no, no, one no, no.
Raja's Charity Work
00:07:28
Raja Aslam
It was really tough. And like like I said, it was it anything for Charity, I'd do anything for Charity. And There's been various marathons I've raised for different charities.
00:07:38
Raja Aslam
and We raised for the Moroccan Earthquake Appeal, then we went out there as supported the children and like villages. we We drove into the mountains about four or five hours and into mountains and helped like villages. And it it was quite tough to see, but it was a pleasure for people to support the charity and us being able to deliver.
00:08:01
Raja Aslam
And then I've raised money for children's hospital. i do a lot of things for children.
00:08:05
UKRunChat
yeah Yeah, it sounds great.
00:08:05
Raja Aslam
And this is the reason why I do fostering because i have the love for children. And Manchester Children's Hospital, we built a school in Pakistan for girls, about 300 girls that could be educated in a girl's school because it's challenging for girls to go educate out in Pakistan.
00:08:22
Raja Aslam
So yeah, know that I'm all about charity challenges.
00:08:27
UKRunChat
So you've obviously raised quite a lot over the years that you have been running.
The Manchester to Netherlands Run
00:08:32
UKRunChat
and tu Tell us about this latest challenge then.
00:08:32
Raja Aslam
No, a hundred percent.
00:08:35
UKRunChat
so you're running from Manchester.
00:08:35
Raja Aslam
Yeah. So this one, this, this, this challenge is one of the biggest one. It's running from Manchester to the Hague, which is in the Netherlands. And my purpose for doing this is ah something I've been building up whilst I've been running for the last six years.
00:08:49
Raja Aslam
And it's for me, it's like a home to home race. I was born and raised in the Netherlands. And then when I was about 10 years old, I moved to Manchester. Now I'm living in Blackburn, but I moved to Manchester and I lived there for a good 20 odd years.
00:09:04
Raja Aslam
So it was like, right, I want to do that journey again, but this time run it all the way back and then take everything in, yeah like the memories and share stories while I'm on these kind of runs. like I'll go live on social media, tell people what what what it was like living in the Netherlands, how it was like coming over to the UK because When I moved to the UK, I had no English at all. it was just Dutch and Punjabi.
00:09:33
Raja Aslam
So I had to learn the English. So I'll be sharing stories um about that as well. So there's a lot to tell and I will be telling a lot whilst I'm on this run.
00:09:43
UKRunChat
Yeah, I know that that sounds like a great way to kind of relive all that. I mean, you you were 10, weren't you, when you moved to Manchester. What what do you kind of remember about being and in Holland then?
00:09:51
Raja Aslam
Yeah,
00:09:54
UKRunChat
Do you have many memories from being young?
00:09:56
Raja Aslam
I have a lot of memories. ah It was a, It was a different lifestyle. I lived in an area where we were the only Muslims and Pakistanis living in that area.
00:10:02
UKRunChat
Yeah. Yeah.
00:10:06
Raja Aslam
So it was all Dutch people. And it was a really, really loving community and they always supported us. It was really nice to be around different people as well so we could understand their culture and where what they tend to do and what their routine is and what they get up to daily because i would view Routines were different to there. So it was kind of kind of nice to learn.
00:10:30
Raja Aslam
And the best thing was ah having sleepovers as well. So we were having sleepovers with different family members and different cultures, different backgrounds. And and what the best thing was that they were catering for us because we could only halal. So they were making sure if it wasn't halal, it was vegetarian. So there was a lot of support. But I remember a lot of that learning how to cycle, rollerblading, just going out there, playing with different people, going to the parks, walking by the canals.
00:11:01
Raja Aslam
and Wintertime ah when it used to snow and it was icy, the rivers used to all freeze up and we used to go skating on the rivers. So there's a lot of things I remember from going back to being under 10. And there's so much I want to share and there'll be plenty of me sharing that whilst I'm running.
00:11:21
UKRunChat
Yeah, oh that sounds wonderful. So that'll all be on your Instagram page.
00:11:25
Raja Aslam
Yeah, Instagram, lovely on Facebook, TikTok.
00:11:26
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:11:28
Raja Aslam
ah I'll share it all over and hopefully I'll make a little
Community Engagement and Fundraising Efforts
00:11:31
Raja Aslam
documentary and post that out as well.
00:11:33
UKRunChat
Yeah, so you're setting off later in August, aren't you, on this program?
00:11:37
Raja Aslam
Yeah, so the challenge begins on the 21st of August and I'll be running half marathon every day. So it roughly takes about 10 days and I'm taking the route, which is from ah Manchester towards Hull and then getting a ferry.
00:11:46
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:11:52
Raja Aslam
Hopefully, fingers crossed, everything works. and then from Hull to Rotterdam and then two days in the Netherlands till I get to the finish line, which is the Hague where was brought up when was young.
00:12:03
UKRunChat
Yeah. So what are the logistics of actually running kind of for 10 days solid? will you Have you got kind of accommodation booked on route? I'm really interested in how people plan these challenges.
00:12:12
Raja Aslam
Yeah, so this is quite interesting. We're still in the works of it because ah I've come up with another idea.
00:12:15
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:12:18
Raja Aslam
First it was we were looking at hotels and stuff like that, but then... I thought for myself, as a runner, I could introduce running to communities within the Muslim community area. So I'll go stay at mosques probably.
00:12:35
UKRunChat
Oh, fantastic.
00:12:35
Raja Aslam
So I'll contact a few mosques and I'll ask them, can I stay over?
00:12:36
UKRunChat
yeah
00:12:39
Raja Aslam
i want to share my story, what I'm doing and we were what i kingdom people can gain from running and how running can build yeah confidence and ah relationship with community members.
00:12:51
Raja Aslam
or the runners, because this this running community is huge. And if you don't get involved in it, and you don't speak to one another, you'll never know about it. So this is the beauty of it just being able to run, because you run down the street, you get a nice smile.
00:13:07
Raja Aslam
If you walk down the street and you try and say hello to somebody, it can be a bit awkward, but people really appreciate you running.
00:13:14
UKRunChat
yeah it's Yeah, it's a nice community. You you feel included, don't you? Yeah.
00:13:18
Raja Aslam
Yeah, 100%. Yeah.
00:13:19
UKRunChat
yeah
00:13:20
Raja Aslam
like
00:13:20
UKRunChat
So how have you broached this topic with and the Muslim communities then about how have have they been receptive to the idea?
00:13:28
Raja Aslam
Yeah, I've had a few spoken to a few people about staying at the mosque and when it's prayer times, me sharing my story about what I'm going to do, where I'm heading to and how they can support me and how I can come later on after my challenge back to the community and maybe a little run challenge with the mosque itself with a few children or adults that want to take part.
00:13:31
UKRunChat
yeah
00:13:52
UKRunChat
Yeah, oh that sounds fantastic. So are you hoping that some people will run with you en route or will you be doing that alone?
00:13:58
Raja Aslam
Yeah, so well once I get out there, I've got a but few friends already and people that have approached me saying, oh, let us know where you're running, what your route is, we'll join you.
00:14:09
Raja Aslam
I've even had people from the Netherlands, they've actually contacted me saying, let us know what two days you're in the Netherlands and we'll join you. So even like ex-colleagues, I've worked in the Netherlands because ive about 10 years ago, I worked in the Netherlands for about a year or two.
00:14:25
Raja Aslam
and i worked out school, so I've got a few people that said, they'll join me out there and their kids will join me. And with the fostering company, we've got some networks around ah the Yorkshire side and our side, Lancashire, Manchester, so people will join. And um' this charity I'm raising funds for is for the Duke of Edinburgh.
00:14:44
UKRunChat
Right.
00:14:45
Raja Aslam
So because I'm doing this with my fostering company and the fostering company is trying to introduce Duke of Edinburgh to foster kids because it's It's all about financials and supporting them with financial needs.
00:14:59
Raja Aslam
and yes but It's not just that, it's foster kids. They lack on confidence, social aspects out there, communication, life skills.
00:15:10
Raja Aslam
So we're trying to encourage foster kids to sign up for Duke of Edinburgh as well.
00:15:15
UKRunChat
Yeah, tell me a little bit more about Duke of edinbburgh because this was never a thing when I was at school, so I don't really know a lot about it, but it is something that's in in kind of the the national curriculum now, isn't it?
00:15:15
Raja Aslam
So...
00:15:25
Raja Aslam
Yeah, so with the Duke of Edinburgh, it's like what I've just really ah spoke about, encouraging young children to take on steps and learning new new things in life. like A lot of children lack with life skills, so right it could be like volunteering.
00:15:40
UKRunChat
Right.
00:15:44
Raja Aslam
They probably feel afraid to volunteer, but there's so much you can gain from volunteering, and it can open doors as well while was volunteering. And then ah communication skills.
00:15:56
Raja Aslam
I've had foster kids who struggle with communicating with others because they've been traumatized a lot in their life. So that's something I want to work on, like being, showing children that they're able to speak up, they can communicate, they can get involved with other people of the public.
00:16:16
Raja Aslam
Like ah my foster children, I'm taking them junior park runs ah just just so they get involved and speak to others.
00:16:19
UKRunChat
Oh wow, yeah.
00:16:23
Raja Aslam
I could be running with them, but I tend to volunteer instead of running. So I get my kudos as well and they get theirs as well. So then they can be independent. So that's another aspect of Duke of Edinburgh, being able to do things independently.
00:16:38
UKRunChat
Yeah. So how is junior parkrun helping those children then?
00:16:42
Raja Aslam
They absolutely love it because my my children do it, they do it.
00:16:42
UKRunChat
you seeing changes in them?
00:16:46
Raja Aslam
And then they they made a few friends from Junior Park Run and then afterwards, like those adults, when we go to park and we go for the cafes, we run to the cafes, they run to the play area and they all tend to play and speak to each other, which is lovely because I could just be sat on the bench and the children are just getting along with each other.
00:16:56
UKRunChat
yeah and
00:17:05
Raja Aslam
And it's just lovely to see like early morning on a Sunday, they're out there playing in the parks, having fun rather than at home on the tablets, YouTube, that stuff. So I love them being out there.
00:17:16
Raja Aslam
100%.
00:17:17
UKRunChat
Yeah, yeah, it's so nice for them, isn't it?
00:17:19
Raja Aslam
hundred
00:17:19
UKRunChat
So just tell us a little bit about how you got into foster care then.
The Foster Care Journey
00:17:24
UKRunChat
what Where did that come
00:17:24
Raja Aslam
So for myself, I was working as a special needs assistant, one-to-one. And my wife, she grew up with her parents doing fostering. So she grew up in her young days for about 10 years, her parents doing fostering. And she spoke to me about this earlier earlier in our marriage and kind of interested me. I'm like, can I research a bit about it? And then she told me as well stories, how amazing it was, like,
00:17:53
Raja Aslam
being able to support children and sending them away happily or keeping some for long term. And then ah i read up on it and then I said, you know what, let's do this and see what what we can do. And we've really been blessed to be able to have so much space in our house. And we've got a family of four siblings, which is amazing.
00:18:15
Raja Aslam
So they're all together rather than being separated.
00:18:15
UKRunChat
um that's Oh, fantastic for them. Yeah.
00:18:18
Raja Aslam
So it's lovely to have those four children in our home with our four children and it's lovely to see them getting on because they have a different background and culture and we also do but they gel really well and even now people say that the foster kids that we have they look like my kids I can't tell because I always see these children but no the whole reason we got into fostering is probably mainly because of my wife because she spoke so highly of fostering and what their parents did and
00:18:25
UKRunChat
Yeah. ah
00:18:41
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:18:51
Raja Aslam
that how far they got in life with fostering and supporting children. And I thought, you know what, let's do it. It's been five years since we fostered now. We've had over 10 different children.
00:19:01
UKRunChat
Wow. Yeah. So how long does a a child typically stay, like would stay in foster care?
00:19:07
Raja Aslam
It could vary. We've had a child for one day and we've had the a few for a month, a year, two years, six months.
00:19:10
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:19:16
Raja Aslam
And the ones we've got now has been a year. It could just really vary on how long they save it. And it can be tough. It can be very like emotional because you get a bit of attachment and that's something you cannot help being attached.
00:19:24
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:19:32
Raja Aslam
But there's a beauty to it because when you get emotional, it shows that you've done the best you can for them whilst they're leaving. so
00:19:43
Raja Aslam
I'm quite a big softy, so I do get quite emotional.
00:19:47
UKRunChat
Yeah, I think I think you do have to have empathy with them, though, don't you? it Because it it must be tough for them to adjust as well. and
00:19:56
UKRunChat
when
00:19:56
Raja Aslam
It's very challenging for them, but we always tell them were we're here for you as well, not just our children. So if you want to speak about anything, please do speak up. We're here to support you and we can do whatever we can for you guys.
00:20:09
UKRunChat
Yeah. So and just in case anybody's listening to this and is interested in fostering, I know we're a running podcast, but is it where would they who would they contact if they were interested in pursuing fostering?
00:20:20
Raja Aslam
So basically you can go with local a authority, contact your local authority,
00:20:24
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:20:24
Raja Aslam
speak to somebody from there. reason There's a lot on Google now, so you can research on Google. We opted to go with an agency because we knew somebody that ran the agency.
00:20:37
Raja Aslam
but Obviously, they've left for the last four years, but we stood by this agency because me and my wife, we really believe in this agency. that When we speak out, they really listen to us.
00:20:49
Raja Aslam
So when when people are listening to us, it's really appreciated, so we've stood by them. And it's just like little things like they set activities up now. we get trips.
00:21:01
Raja Aslam
So recently they took us to Gulliver's World and the children absolutely, because some children don't get these opportunities and especially the foster children, they've never been to theme parks.
00:21:12
Raja Aslam
So it was ah absolutely amazing to see how how much of a good day they had out there.
00:21:17
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:21:18
Raja Aslam
But definitely if people who have got a space in their house, I'd definitely recommend fostering.
00:21:18
UKRunChat
Oh, that's
00:21:23
UKRunChat
fantastic. So yeah. And it's amazing that you're doing kind of your fundraising to help, to help these children.
00:21:31
Raja Aslam
Yeah, no, that's it. There's always an attachment with helping children and being able to do the best for them.
00:21:33
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:21:38
UKRunChat
Yeah.
Preparing for Ultra-Distance Challenges
00:21:39
UKRunChat
So yeah. So tell us a little bit more about your challenge then. So how are you preparing yourself? Have you done like ultra distance challenges before?
00:21:46
Raja Aslam
So I've never done ultra distances.
00:21:48
UKRunChat
Right.
00:21:49
Raja Aslam
I've literally thrown myself in the deep end.
00:21:51
UKRunChat
So this is new. Ooh, that's one word.
00:21:53
Raja Aslam
It's going to be fun. It's going to be challenging.
00:21:56
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:21:57
Raja Aslam
Well, um, Like I said, my mind tells me I'm doing this for charity and we're going to go all the way. We've got plan A, plan B, plan C. So we've got something that we're going to work on and I'm going to get there too somehow anyway, because i've I've worked on this challenge for such a long time and I've got so much support behind me.
00:22:17
Raja Aslam
And i've I've even got people wanting to come over to the Netherlands and I've said, you're more than welcome to come to the finish line, support me, run out there with me. But yeah, no, it's been a, it's been a, big build up and it's been inside me where I've been wanting to this do this for a very, very long time.
00:22:33
Raja Aslam
And I could have done really crazy challenge where I could have run further miles and stuff.
00:22:39
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:22:40
Raja Aslam
But I had to be very sensible and reasonable because I've got my own children as well. So didn't want to take too much up on my health as well, like get injured and not being able to do things with the family at home.
00:22:51
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:22:51
Raja Aslam
So I think this half my reference is quite sensible because I'll be able to...
00:22:57
UKRunChat
Yeah, it it does kind of say sound achievable, doesn't it? With like a half marathon every day. Have you been training kind of consecutive long runs then?
00:23:05
Raja Aslam
Yeah, so I'm starting to build up my training because I did Manchester Marathon earlier this year and I got quite a niggle on my left knee, so i kind of out for three, four weeks.
00:23:10
UKRunChat
you
00:23:15
Raja Aslam
So now I've started to build up again and hopefully yeah this weekend coming up, I'll be building higher mileage and... getting out there more consistently as well.
00:23:26
UKRunChat
Yeah. And are you following a specific training plan or are you kind of just training your goals?
00:23:30
Raja Aslam
no So I know ah quite a few reputable running coaches that I've had before coach me.
00:23:35
UKRunChat
yeah
00:23:37
Raja Aslam
So I've been speaking to them and they've given me just a few insights of what kind of training I need to do and what to look after, how to look after myself, what kind of nutrition I need to have.
00:23:53
Raja Aslam
go to the gym and what kind of workout kind i need to do. So building on the muscles, on the leg muscles, because I tend to do get cramps quite a lot.
00:23:58
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:24:01
Raja Aslam
So this marathon, I didn't get much.
00:24:01
UKRunChat
Okay.
00:24:04
Raja Aslam
So that was a bonus. So that's because I've been listening. So yeah make sure you go gym and take all yeah all the fluids, the gels, electrolytes.
00:24:09
UKRunChat
ah Yeah.
00:24:14
UKRunChat
Yeah. It's important. Yeah. yeah
00:24:16
Raja Aslam
It's important to take those. You never think it's important, but it is very important to get those electrolytes, the gels, I take two tablets, so there's so much to carry with you.
00:24:28
UKRunChat
Yeah, there's a lot to think about. So what will, I mean, i know i know it's a little way away. You might not have planned to this level of detail yet, but what will a typical day on the challenge look like then from like what time will you wake up?
00:24:41
UKRunChat
What time of day will you run?
00:24:41
Raja Aslam
So I think, look, we're literally working on accommodations and stuff.
00:24:49
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:24:49
Raja Aslam
So if we if he opt for the hotels, I'd probably run around two o'clock and then get get to hoping to do under two hours every day.
00:25:00
Raja Aslam
If not two I've got no time limit, but that's just something I want, two hours.
00:25:02
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:25:05
Raja Aslam
And then I could get to the next hotel just to check in. So then I don't have to wait around. So that's the aim for if I do get hotels. If it's mosques, I could really do any time because then they'll let me stay overnight and I could stay there till like,
00:25:22
Raja Aslam
24 hours basically so I could really work that out which whichever time and when I'm kind of ready you like to go
00:25:23
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:25:28
UKRunChat
Yeah. And it's just a case of like managing your nutrition around that, I guess, is
00:25:32
Raja Aslam
yeah and then hopefully we getting a support car is also ah love that ah support is also i might have a friend or a family member just driving along alongside me just maybe even getting to the start from start to the finish point and just support me along the way
00:25:45
UKRunChat
Yeah. Yeah. So will you be carrying all your own kit with you? Have you got somebody to kind of help you?
00:25:50
Raja Aslam
I think I'll probably give it summary. I'll probably just have and my gels and the camera probably.
00:25:53
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:25:55
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:26:00
UKRunChat
Yeah. I think you need that support, don't you, to kind of help you on the way.
00:26:02
Raja Aslam
Yeah.
00:26:04
UKRunChat
i mean, have you thought about how how you'll cope mentally with a long journey? And, you know, if you've got some down moments, how will you kind of tackle those?
00:26:14
Raja Aslam
So for me, the down moments is always ah thinking about the children because they're
00:26:18
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:26:19
Raja Aslam
They always send lovely voice notes. They tell me I'm the best. I'm a superhero and all these little things that we always speak about. and And my daughter is a big fan of Mo Farah, but sometimes when I'm running, she says, you're better than Mo Farah. You can do it.
00:26:34
Raja Aslam
So things like that, it just really like picks me up kind of thing.
00:26:35
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:26:39
UKRunChat
yeah
00:26:39
Raja Aslam
And then normally I just pull out the phone and ah speak to the missus and that makes me feel a lot better because she's always encouraging me to do the best I can. She's very supportive. Because getting out the house away from me can eight kids and her, it's not easy.
00:26:49
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:26:54
Raja Aslam
So ah really appreciate that. She gives me that time to get out there and being able to do things.
00:26:58
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:27:00
Raja Aslam
But obviously we manage that because we have appointments, meeting, pick up children, drop off children. So work all around that.
00:27:08
UKRunChat
Yeah, can imagine it's it's so busy, like your day to day life with, you know, eight kids who possibly need to be in different places at the same time, like, you
00:27:17
Raja Aslam
Yeah, 100%. Today was a jam-packed day and getting things squeezed in, shopping in, the going to an appointment, getting one children, get going to get the foster kids. is That's an exercise itself.
00:27:31
UKRunChat
yeah
00:27:32
Raja Aslam
and I don't have to run i that's that.
00:27:34
UKRunChat
ah
00:27:34
Raja Aslam
That's a marathon itself. But ah really, it's ah it's an amazing thing that we can do this together. We're a good team together. And if it wasn't for both of us being able to get along and get things done we wouldn't be where we are no definitely and i encourage her to become a runner as well we're getting there
00:27:49
UKRunChat
Yeah. Yeah, you need that support, don't you? It's so important. Yeah.
00:27:56
UKRunChat
Oh, is is is she started running or is she thinking about it?
00:27:59
Raja Aslam
she's thinking about it she's done cards to 5k before so uh i said i'm just gonna enter you into a race and then uh hopefully we get you out there and get you running yourself
00:28:00
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:28:03
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:28:10
UKRunChat
Oh, well, maybe you can find a race for life and that may inspire her.
00:28:13
Raja Aslam
Yeah, 100%, yeah, go back and she might fall in love with it.
00:28:14
UKRunChat
yeah
00:28:16
Raja Aslam
But, like, just, we've got our, an interesting thing is that it's our 10th wedding anniversary this year. So even ah when we go into Dubai, she understands that I've got this challenge coming up, so I still have to do the running. So, and this is something I've always wanted to do because I've seen athletes do this, where they go run somewhere where it's really hot.
00:28:40
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:28:40
Raja Aslam
So, yeah, I'll be running in Dubai in 40 odd degrees and hopeful hopefully when I get back for my challenge at the end of August, the heat over here will be nothing compared to the heat there.
00:28:45
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:28:52
Raja Aslam
So I kind of will be used to running in the heat.
00:28:56
UKRunChat
Yeah, it definitely helped to acclimatise you a little bit, won't it?
00:28:59
Raja Aslam
Yeah, 100% because I've done it last year when I ran over 40 degrees and it was kind of fun because I was in the palm in Dubai and I was going down the stretch. And you've got people just sat on the trees under the shadows.
00:29:13
Raja Aslam
And then you got me, super running man, running and sweating. And they're just looking at me like, what is this dude doing? like Why is he running in this heat? But training has to be consistent and I have to keep it going.
00:29:26
UKRunChat
Yeah, training doesn't stop just because you're on holiday, does it? Where you've
00:29:28
Raja Aslam
Yeah.
Global Running Community and Support
00:29:29
UKRunChat
got something like that ahead.
00:29:29
Raja Aslam
and it And this is the beauty of running as well. I tell this everybody, like I'm going out to Dubai and I've managed to contact a few people that are like even run clubs, people that run track sessions over there.
00:29:41
Raja Aslam
There's a running group around the Dubai Marina. So I've met a few people that have spoken to me and said, I'm coming out there. Just give me your times and then I'll try and join you guys. And they yeah, you're more than welcome. We'd love to have you. And this is what tell people.
00:29:56
Raja Aslam
Running, can you can go anywhere in the world and
00:29:57
UKRunChat
yeah
00:29:58
Raja Aslam
Just go for a run.
00:30:00
UKRunChat
Yeah, it's and and they're welcoming, aren't they? Wherever runners are, they'll always
00:30:03
Raja Aslam
Yeah, 100% it is. And that's what I said ah to my wife as well. After this challenge, for one month, every weekend, I want to just go to somewhere in Europe, just run a 10K and just come back on the same day because I just want to connect with people around the world.
00:30:21
UKRunChat
Yeah. Oh, that sounds great. yeah Yeah.
00:30:23
Raja Aslam
Yeah, because it's just beautiful.
00:30:23
UKRunChat
Keep us posted about that as well. yeah
00:30:25
Raja Aslam
Yeah, when you when you run, there's so much you can share and talk about. and it's And once you start talking, you forget how um how many miles you're running, how what your distance is, what your time is.
00:30:37
Raja Aslam
You just keep going. it
00:30:39
UKRunChat
Yeah, gets very addictive, doesn't it?
00:30:41
Raja Aslam
Yeah, it does, doesn't it? Because you forget what you're running for. And you get well into a conversation which never ends then.
00:30:44
UKRunChat
Yeah.
00:30:50
UKRunChat
Yeah, yeah, it just becomes something that you are, I think, running, doesn't it
00:30:53
Raja Aslam
Yeah, no, 100%. And then and And then I definitely recommend people to join running clubs like your local running club, because that's a big help because I was a really big solo runner for about three, four years.
00:31:05
Raja Aslam
It's only recently about two years I've joined a running club. And it's, it's really, I've really appreciated the support you get from running clubs and the team members in the clubs, how they spur you on and push you on to do the best you can.
00:31:19
Raja Aslam
Even the, I went running on the track the other day on my own and I met few of the fellow people from my running club and they like, come on, you can do this.
00:31:25
UKRunChat
Yeah,
00:31:28
Raja Aslam
You've got this challenge. And just hearing that just randomly in the midweek, it was just like, yeah, I can, I can do this. I've got this. If people are supporting me, I've definitely got this.
00:31:38
UKRunChat
yeah that helps. Yeah. Who do you run with? Feel free to give them a shout out.
00:31:41
Raja Aslam
I run with the Blackburn Roadrunners. So yeah, a big shout out to Blackburn Roadrunners. Amazing club with the, A lot of members that I still haven't met a few.
00:31:53
Raja Aslam
So anybody that's around Blackburn, do give us a go and join us.
00:32:00
UKRunChat
Yeah, oh, wonderful. So, yeah, just so so just looking ahead then to 21st of August, this if people want to um support you in your fundraising work and they find more information about
00:32:11
Raja Aslam
So i've I've got my fundraising link on a few social media sites. So I've got it on Facebook. It's on Instagram and TikTok. It's Raja Aslam Runs.
00:32:23
Raja Aslam
And I'm always posting my link on my stories and Facebook. And it's it's all out there. And it's for the Duke of Edinburgh, the challenge I'm doing for him, trying to raise £5,000. And we've gotten very close to reaching that target. So if anybody's out there and can support, please do. And i' really appreciate And with your support, I'll get this challenge done.
00:32:47
UKRunChat
ah Yeah, well, all all the very best with it. And yeah, keep keep tagging us in. We'll keep sharing on our stories as well. and And yeah, let us know how you get on. But we wish you all the very best. So if somebody is listening and considering setting themselves a challenge like this, or even, you know, taking that first step to running, what would you say to them?
00:33:06
Raja Aslam
So if anybody's out there listening to this and want to take a challenge on like this, join me. Join me and you'll go your you goal somewhere much else where you never expected to. No, seriously, if you're considering a challenge like this, make sure you've got a good team behind you, ah good network behind you, family supporting you, friends supporting you, just everybody in the community supporting you and believing in you, what you can do because people say if things are impossible. They're not. Everything's possible. You can get out there.
00:33:36
Raja Aslam
with support, you can do everything. And I'm very truly blessed to be doing this challenge because I've got a lot of support behind me and there's people still wanting to support. So I'm trying to catch up with all those people and businesses that want to support.
00:33:50
Raja Aslam
So if you if you don't ask, you don't get. So please, people go out there, ask. There's no, don't be shy of asking. There's no harm in asking. People will give it a go.
00:34:02
Raja Aslam
One no doesn't make a difference. so keep trying.
00:34:05
UKRunChat
Yeah, that's great advice. Yeah, thank you so much for joining us. You're such a positive kind of presence in the running world. So thank you so much.
00:34:13
Raja Aslam
Well, thank you for always supporting me.
00:34:15
UKRunChat
Yeah, so if you'd like to support Raj's journey, and we'll put the links to we'll put links to socials in our show notes so you can find all the details there. um And don't forget to subscribe, share this episode and let us know what you thought as well. Get in touch on our social media if Roger's stories inspired you.
00:34:33
UKRunChat
and Thank you for listening to this episode of the UK Rune Chat podcast. We'll be back soon. See you next time.