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                                    “To be number one, you have to train like your number two”...

                                        Quote by: Wilf 'I'm too sexy for my running shorts' Walsh!

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Greetings, and a very warm welcome to my Virgin London Marathon 2010 JustGiving webpage.  Virgin relating to the Official Sponsors of the Marathon and not because I am a complete and utter Marathon VIRGIN!!!!!!

On Sunday 25th April 2010, I will be running in the most famous running event in the world!  The 2010 Virgin London Marathon.  Woo Hoo!

I started to create this page on 17th October 2009, just 6 days after running my first Half Marathon, and 6 months, 7 days, 17 hours, 52 mins before I run my first full Marathon.  I still had a full set of toe nails back then and was blissfully unaware of what lay ahead.

Fast forward to 8th February 2010, two and a half new toe nails and it's a completely different story!  I am now in week 6 of my training and there's only 2 months, 16 days, 10 hours and 57 minutes to go.... ARRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

As you know, I never do things by halves, and the Marathon is no different.  I knew I wanted to run it as soon as I heard the claxon sound for the 2009 Marathon!  I sat on the settee, took a deep breath and announced, "That'll be me next year".  I'd said the words out loud, now all I needed to do was secure a place! 

From the very beginning I knew I wanted to run for a Children's Charity, and a very special one at that.  Enter - Help a London Child ('HALC'), Capital Radio's very own unique children's charity.  I, along with 800 other nutters, sent my application form off to HALC to try and convince them I was worthy of one of their 30 Marathon places.  To my absolute, gobsmacking amazement, I received a call in early September from the Lovely Lila Dowie & Jo Graham (HALC) who told me they wanted little old ME to be part of their Marathon Team!  One burst ear drum later, a lot of girlie screaming and of course, a shed load of TEARS.... I accepted the place and rang everyone one I knew to tell them!

The rest, they say, is history.

I have no doubt this will be one of the most special & memorable days of my life.  Up there with my wedding, giving birth, my 40th Birthday party and of course, visiting Graceland!  Over the next 2 months I promise to keep you up to date with my training, nominate a 'Top Cheerleader' for every run I go on (so please wave, beep or feel free to flash at me if I run past you.  I will not be able to flash back because I have 6 layers of industrial strength lycra holding everything in!).  I will choose my favourite running track and share that with you.  On 1st April I will be doing an 'Elvis-a-thon' around Gerrards Cross, Chalfont St Peter, Maltmans Green School, Godstowe School and may be even Bradfield College.  Watch out Harry!  For 24 hours, and 24 hours only, I will be dressed as ELVIS going about my daily business.  More on that day to follow.  If you would like to sponsor me to wear a fancy dress costume for one of my training runs, I promise to wear whatever costume you supply.  It needs to be 90% body covering and not from the Anne Summers Shop please!  With Easter fast approaching,  I am offering to come along to your party/school/nursery and do some Easter Bunny face-painting for a small donation.  And this is just the tip of the iceberg....

So now for the inevitable bit and it had to happen at some point.  "Please will you sponsor me?".  And what will I do for your hard earned cash I hear you ask???  Well I'll tell ya,  I'll skip out of Greenwich Park, blissfully unaware of what lies ahead, jog past Blackheath RFC, up towards Woolwich High Street, turn left and run all the way down to Mile 5, Blackwall Tunnel, past the University of Greenwich, around the Cutty Sark Mile 7, through Deptford Mile 8, through Surrey Quays and Canada Water Mile 9, up toward Rotherhithe Mile 10, hugging the River Thames as I go.  I'll be approaching the half way point soon, which is just over Tower Bridge.  I must remember to turn right now and head down to the King Edward Memorial Park Mile 14, again, hugging the river as I go.  Then I'll head towards the Limehouse Link and that's only Mile 15!!!  On I'll run, all the way down to Millwall Mile 17 (baseball bats at the ready) and Mile 17.  Then I'll start heading up towards Canary Wharf at Mile 19.  Ahead lies Limehouse at Mile 21 and then I'll double back on myself and pass the King Edward Memorial Park again at Mile 22.  The crowds will be going wild and shouting my name, willing me on and back to Tower Bridge once more at Mile 23!  I'll be able to smell the finishing line by now, plus all the 1,000s of port-a-loos on route!  Legs burning, feet aching, but I promise with a Stoppsy smile I will approach Kings College London and pass Mile 25.  The end is in sight, I can smell victory... Over to my left, across the glorious River Thames is the London Eye, the Houses of Parliament are ahead.  And as I turn right for the very last time I can see the Mile 26 balloon arch leading me all the way to Liz & Phil's house! (Buckingham Palace).  I muster whatever strength I have left and sprint across the finishing line... "WHERE'S MY MEDAL?  I WANT MY MEDAL!  GIVE IT TO ME... NOW!!!!!!!!!".....  "No need to snatch dear!".... "Sorry....". 

Now pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese will you sponsor me?

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Thanks very much.

Love Penny xxxxxx