Raised: 130%
Target: £500.00
Raised so far: £651.00
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My story

 

Hello all,

Well, I did it, and what's more I'm still walking, albeit very slowly...

On Sunday 11th October I dragged myself out of bed at the unseemly hour of 7am to make my way to Hyde Park to run 13.1 miles in the Royal Parks Half Marathon. Three hours of karate and a few glasses of pinot noir the night before wasn't the best recipe for running a half marathon, but the time for backing out was long gone.

I'll be honest with you though, I spent the first 3 miles jogging slowly, stopping regularly and wondering if it was really too late to get out of it.

I concluded that I just had to keep going somehow until I finished. My right knee gave up at 5 miles and the pain was excruciating. I knew it was coming though and took some painkillers, which fortunately kicked in quickly.

Between 5 and 10 miles wasn't too bad, back in the park, running round in circles, lovely day.

At 10 miles I should have been thrilled that the end was a mere 3 miles in site, but unfortunately the sheer slog had slightly dampened my spirits, and I thought my toenails actually might drop off (they are black today).

Suffice to say the last 3 miles were hell and quite frankly I was jogging so slowly I could have walked quicker.

But I finished! In 2 hours and 24 minutes, which lets face it will not be breaking any records, but still was in the 2 hours 15 mins - 2 hours 30 minutes that I had put myself down for. When I saw the clock as I ran to the finish line I was surprised, as it had seemed like an eternity and I thought I had been running forever.

Thanks to all who sponsored me to do this, your donations will enable BAAF to continue its valuable work with some of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable children in our society. It has also made me think that regular running might be good for me, even though just yesterday at the 11th mile I was reassuring myself I'd never run again, so you've not only supported children, you've actually achieved a miracle!

Thanks also to Savita de Sousa, Anthony Douglas and Andrea Warman - their donations don't show here, but all have generously sponsored me offline. 

 

Well done Gaulty!!! Donation by Alex Dixon 09/11/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Being old fashioned I reckon you sponsor per mile - so that's a pound for each one! Donation by NICKI RENSTEN 30/10/09  

£13.00 + £3.67 Gift Aid

Diane, what an amazing achievement. With your level of fitness, I bet you could do a full marathon next time! Well done! Patricia X Donation by Patricia McGinty 30/10/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Well done. It has probably taken me longer to get round to donating than your time for the race! Donation by Rikki Garg 28/10/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Donation by Lee Humphries 22/10/09  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Well done Diane - a great achievement. All I can say is you must be very fit. Donation by Margaret Berry 21/10/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Congratulations Diane! But surely you can think of easier ways of raising money rather than risking life and limb, and that too, your own??!! S xx Donation by Shaila Shah 16/10/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Donation by Matthew Huggins 15/10/09  

£40.00 + £11.28 Gift Aid

Congratulations! Donation by Katrina 14/10/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Well Done Diane. Donation by Colin Bent 12/10/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Well done Diane Donation by Elaine Dibben 12/10/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Well done Diane-fantastic effort! Donation by Mo O'Reilly 12/10/09  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Well done! Bring on the nail varnish! Donation by Ruth Hutchinson 12/10/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

well done diane! I'll take your word for it on the black toenails rather than coming to see them... Donation by margaret grant 12/10/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Well done Diane! It's almost inspired me to do something similar... I said "almost"! Donation by isabelle rameau 12/10/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Hope it all went well. Keep up the good work. Donation by Adeola Aiyenuro 12/10/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

No karate kicks to the other runners this time......... Donation by A Chohan 09/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

GOOD LUCK! you'll need it... eeek! With love and best wishes... Donation by Devin Ashwood 08/10/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Best of Luck! Donation by Robert Swift 08/10/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Hey Diane - just remember that there is a pub within fainting distance of the finish... Good Luck you! xx Donation by Tamsin Gregory 08/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck, still 4 training days left. Donation by Andy Stott 07/10/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Good luck Diane! Donation by jo francis 07/10/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

I admire your foolhardy spirit on behalf of BAAF. Sorry I meant dedication and commitment. All the best Donation by Alan Fisher 06/10/09  

£13.00 + £3.67 Gift Aid

Good luck and massive thanks. Donation by Edward Cazalet 06/10/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Good luck - make us proud! Donation by andrew last 05/10/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Because I'm a sucker for kittens. Donation by Jo Pinto 05/10/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Good luck - Diane! Donation by Trevor Dahl 05/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Make sure you finish without a health warning ! Donation by Rupert Hambro 05/10/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Rather you than me Diane! Best of luck............... Donation by lisa pearce 05/10/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Donation by Lindsey Dunbar 02/10/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid
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* Total raised online: £591.00
  Offline donations: £60.00
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £166.69

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