We met Jules and Steve for the first time in July 2011 and cheered them on in Lancashire in November for one of their half marathons. 2012 will be just as busy for them both, especially with Jules volunteering role in the 2012 Olympics. If they are running at a venue near you then please go and cheer them on, if you can't make it then leave a message on their Just Giving page.
We will keep you posted on their progress, here's where they ran and some of their plans for this year:
June's race is the Southend Half Marathon
July is the Great British 10k
Then it's Jules' Olympics Games Maker Volunteering Venture!!!
The Great North Run is in September
October is the Great South Run
On Sunday 15 April 2012 Jules achieved a fantastic 4 hour 18 minute finish
in the Brighton Marathon for MRSA Action UK
The Brighton Marathon had over 18,000 runners this year, and many charities were supported by the fantastic efforts of those taking part. For Julia Owen, aka Jules, this was a personal triumph as she completed the marathon in just 4 hours 18 minutes.
This is Jules's fourth race of the year, and race number fourteen for MRSA Action UK. Her husband Steve was cheering her on. It was perfect conditions for marathon running. Jules's phenomenal finish time left her delighted. She said "I'm so chuffed with the time".
We are chuffed too Jules, it's a fantastic achievement!
Sunday 26th February 2012
Julia and Steve Owen ran in the Bath Half Marathon again, and completed their fourteenth run for MRSA Action UK. They continue to astound everyone with their energy and determination to help raise awareness of MRSA. To date their races have covered 130 miles each, and that doesn't include the training. Wolverhampton is about 130 miles from London as a comparison!
Jules and Steve took the opportunity to explore the beautiful City of Bath, including the Roman Baths and a boat trip along the Avon. The weather was beautiful, clear and cool and they tell us they both ran a very successful race! Jules says "12,000 competed and there must have been the same number again cheering us on! The sun shone which caused a few heat related problems for some. We both felt great during the race and I'm delighted to say we both achieved great times, Steve 2.06 and I managed a new personal best of 1.57, I'm so chuffed!"
"As usual, we had lots of people asking us about the charity and it means so much to be able to make people aware of what you do and why, even if its only one more person that clicks on to the website, it's worth it."
"I'm now on a countdown to the Brighton Marathon, eek! It'll be weird not running it with Steve but at least I know I'll have someone one cheering for me on the sidelines!"
The Hotel Olympia 10k, Docklands
Sunday 26th February 2012
Jules and Steve ran the Docklands 10k in absolutely perfect conditions, clear skys, cool temperatures and not a breath of wind. They both really enjoyed the experience of running around the Docklands and were delighted to achieve their personal bests with Jules arriving at the finish in 53.47 and Steve in 55.51, making it a great day all round.
Bedford Half Marathon, December 11th 2011
Jules and Steve clocked up race number eleven on the 11th December 2011, in the Bedford Half Marathon. They crossed the finishing line together in just over two hours (2:07:12 for Jules and 2:07:37 for Steve), well done Jules and Steve!
Jules and Steve clock up a phenomenal ten races since February
Jules and Steve ran the Lancaster and Morecambe Bay Half Marathon on Sunday November 6th. It was a crisp, sunny day and perfect conditions. Jules and Steve tell us the course was fantastic with lovely scenery, there was a bit of a climb part way through and Jules did sustain a slight calf injury, she has had some physio and is on the mend. Derek Butler, Maria Cann and John Galvin were there to cheer them over the finishing line, and then spent the rest of the day with them in Lancaster. It was a real privilege to be part of their event and we really can't thank them enough for all the hard work and dedication they put into their running. They are real champions.
Just a week before on the 30th October Jules and Steve took part in the Great South Run is the largest 10 miler in the world and was broadcast on Channel 5, Julia finished in 1 hour 34 minutes 35 seconds, Steve was just over a minute behind, the weather was more seasonal for October and the day was wet and windy.
September 25th 2011
Sunday's weather wasn't ideal for running a half marathon as the temperature reached 27 degrees during the race! But Jules and Steve were undaunted by the challenge as ever. Jules achieved her ambition and managed to complete in under 2 hours, at 1.59.46 and Jules says "I am thrilled to have finally reached this milestone"
Julia wants to set a new challenge and is now aiming for 1 hour 50 mins. Steve finished in 2 hours 15 minutes. They had never seen so many people drop during a race, which was a worry with the heat catching a lot of people out.
Jules and Steve are continuing with their challenge next year, although they didn't get selected for the London Marathon ballot, they will be competing in the Bath Half Marathon again in March, and have entered the ballot for the Lottery Olympic Park 5 miler in March. Jules is doing the Brighton marathon in April, it looks like their 12 runs in 12 months is carrying on...... they have both the Paris and New York marathons in their sights!
Jules and Steve complete the Redbridge 10k on
July 24th 2011
Jules and Steve after the event organised by the
Tess Sanderson Foundation and Academy
The Tessa Sanderson Foundation and Academy is a charity organisation founded by 1984 Olympic Champion Tessa Sanderson CBE to help and assist young people in sport, towards a healthier lifestyle and through physical activity, together with building confidence and a social wellbeing whilst still in education. Jules and Steve took part in the run and Jules completed the race in 58:34.45, with Steve not far behind with a time of 58:58.32
http://www.redbridge10k.com/
Another run complete for Jules and Steve!
July 10th 2011
Jules and Steve continue their magnificent challenge and have completed another two runs, the Southend half Marathon on the 12th June and The Great British 10K around Westminster on July 10th. Jules and Steve, speaking about The Great British 10K, said "it was a fantastic event - 25,000 runners waiting to start the race on Piccadilly was quite something to see!"
It was a beautiful morning and there were some 40,000 supporters en-route, including Jules' Ma and Pa, who were there at the finish line by 10 Downing Street "to give us a great cheer across the finish line" Jules tells us "You will also be pleased to hear that Steve's limp was non-existent and his run was injury free"
To spread the word and support them, just visit
http://www.justgiving.com/JulesnSteve
Southend Half Marathon 12th June 2011
May 21st-22nd 2011
Jules and Steve completed The Edinburgh Marathon in May. They took time out to celebrate (out of lycra this time) and have organised their run for November - it will be the Lancaster and Morecombe Half Marathon on the weekend of the 6th November. With Brighton and London Marathons in their sights next year, there is just no stopping them!
at the Olympic Park
Left: Jules and Steve after the race, and pictured on the right Jules meets her heroine Tessa Sanderson CBE
Jules and Steve completed Newham Classic 10K on Sunday April 10th, where they joined the first people to run around the new Olympic Park in Stratford. Jules tells us the run was a great success for them both - Steve and Jules broke their previous best times for a 10K, Jules completed the run in 53:42 and Steve in 55:50, some 5 minutes off their previous 10K times! The weather was beautiful and they finished just before the sun started to get too warm. Jules says "We were lucky enough to run right up to the entrance of the new Olympic stadium!" The race was organised by the Tessa Sanderson Academy and Foundation and Jules says "I was lucky enough to meet Olympic Gold Javelin thrower Tessa at the end of the run - I grew up watching the likes of Tessa, Sally Gunnell, Steve Ovett and Seb Coe so it was a great moment for me. "
"I hope you like the photos and as you will see, Steve and I had our support crew with us to cheer us on..... aka, my Pa!"
The next race is the Edinburgh Marathon, Jules tells us "it's been comforting up to now to still be able to say there is another race before it and now reality is setting in - there really is no rest for the wicked!"
Jules and Steve with their greatest supporter - Jules' Pa
To support Julia and Steve visit
http://www.justgiving.com/JulesnSteve
Special report: When the drugs don't work
Thu Mar 31, 2011 7:29am
Kate Kelland and Ben Hirschler
Suzanne Plunkett / REUTERS
David Livermore, director of the Antibiotic Resistance Monitoring & Reference Laboratory at the Health Protection Agency, holds a plate which was coated with the antibiotic-resistant bacteria called Klebsiella with a mutation called NDM 1 and then exposed to various antibiotics, in his laboratory in north London
Out on the streets, Steve Owen is running the same race - physically pounding the pavements to draw attention to the problem of drug-resistant infections.
Owen's father Donald died four years ago of multiple organ failure in a British hospital. He had checked in for a knee operation. But what he got was methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, commonly known as MRSA, a so-called "superbug" that all the drugs his doctors prescribed couldn't beat. After almost 18 months of severe pain, the infection got into his blood, overpowered his vital organs and killed him. More....
Julia and Steve Owen completed the Bath Half Marathon on Sunday 6th March in memory of Steve's Dad Don
GREAT BENTLEY HALF MARATHON 2011
On Sunday 6th February Julia and Steve Owen completed the first of their runs in memory of Steve's dad Don, raising awareness and funds for MRSA Action UK.
Julia and Steve are pictured here after the race with their mementos.
There were almost 800 runners in the race and 1GBP from every entry was donated to Help for Heroes, also a very worthy cause which our member Carl Millington supported last year with his colleagues from the Royal Marines with their four marathons challenge.
Julia completed the 13.1 miles in 2:03:05.1, followed by Steve in 2:06:38.0, Steve had a few problems with injuries but overcame them and pushed on to the end. Their itinerary is a busy one this year and we are so proud of them for raising awareness of the charity and hope this will help bring the need to always be aware of healthcare infections and what we can do to minimise the risks to the forefront of everyone's minds.
These are the venues and dates where Julia and Steve are running:
Bath Half Marathon March 6th
The Newham Classic 10K on April 10th (close to the hallowed ground of Upton Park!),
The Edinburgh Marathon May 21st-22nd
The Southend Half Marathon June 12th
The Great British 10K July 10th
A 4 mile run dressed as nuns around Tower Hill on September 11th (on Jules birthday)
The Great South Run (10 miles) in Portsmouth October 30th
Lancaster and Morecambe Half Marathon November 6th 2011
And when she has time to catch her breath Jules is organising coffee and cake mornings!
Our thanks go to Jules and Steve for their magnificent challenge.
