Every year StJohn thinks it is funny to enter me into the London Marathon ballot. The odds of having your name selected is fairly low and neither of us have been lucky in the last few years. The results come out in early October and I was at work when StJohn sent me a picture of a “Congratulations, You’re In” magazine.  I didn’t know what to do. I felt sick, I couldn’t eat my lunch, I just had to sit in the staff room and try not to get in too much of a panic. Once I had settled down and the reality had set in, I knew that I had to do it. I had toyed with the idea of deferring for a year and having longer to prepare, but I decided that I would give it a go. I had 28 weeks to get from running three 6 miles runs to running 26.2 miles.

I had started running regularly towards the end of January 2017, but up until then I had only run my local parkrun (5k) a few times and only when I really felt like it. At the same time I also joined my local Running Sisters group and enrolled on their beginners course, the aim was to meet 3 times a week and build up to a 5k run. Once the beginners course had finished I ran with the main Running Sisters groups and tried out a couple of their longer 4 and 5 mile runs.

The next logical step was to attempt a 10k (6 miles). My first was in July. We chose a flat course and I managed to run the whole distance. Another one came up fairly quickly when a friend couldn’t run, so I took her place. This was hilly in comparison and I struggled towards the end especially with the last hill. My third 10k was 2 weeks later and was very hilly. This was part of the 401 Running Festival.

The 401 Festival was a 2 day running event on the August Bank Holiday weekend. There was a 10k on the Saturday with a food and music festival in the evening. Everyone was so friendly and chatty. On the Sunday, most returned to run a 5k and also, for those who were foolish enough (StJohn), a Half Marathon. The Sunday was like a reunion of old friends, it had only been 12 hours, but the same friendly festival feeling was there. We met one particular family and I kept in touch with Mum, Rebecca, through Facebook and also through the RunMummyRun group.

Rebecca had told me that her son, Alex, had been very unwell over the last year. Towards the end of 2016 he had been diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour. For most of 2017 he had been receiving radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but he was at the running festival taking part in the kids races as if nothing had happened.

Over the next few weeks, Rebecca’s facebook posts changed from her normal running posts to those of trips out, Legoland, racing car track days and many other family excursions. Alex’s cancer had spread to another 2 areas of his brain and Rebecca was told to make the most of the time that they had. Sadly Alex didn’t see Christmas and he passed away in Rebecca’s arms just after 10pm at home on 23rd December 2017 with all his family around him and his favourite music playing, just how he wanted to go. He was just 13, a year older than Paige.

When cancer strikes young lives, CLIC Sargent helps families limit the damage cancer causes beyond their health. CLIC Sargent helped Rebecca, Alex and family through the last few months and I asked her if it was OK to raise money for the charity on their behalf. You can read more about the The Alex McCarthy Fund Team Page here -  https://www.justgiving.com/teams/alexmccarthyfund

Rebecca is also running her first marathon, in Brighton, a week before London. To read her story you can see her justgiving page here - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rebecca-watts16

Today, 11 more children and young people will hear the devastating news that they have cancer. From diagnosis, CLIC Sargent’s specialist care teams will step in, ready to help, support and guide. CLIC Sargent will fight tirelessly for them, individually, locally and nationally, so that they can focus on the important things. Find out more about CLIC Sargent here - www.clicsargent.org

Please make a donation for this great cause, it really doesn't have to be a lot, a few pence to a few pounds, everything helps. Times are hard, so if you cannot donate, please post a message of encouragement to see me through the next few weeks training and please share my page.

Sara

xxx