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The countdown has begun! Its six months until I turn the big 25 and as the thought of waking up that morning thinking "I'm closer to thirty than I am to twenty" made me a little queasy I thought why not harness that feeling and make it positive. So on my birthday I shall be running the London Marathon in aid of Age UK. I've always had these preconceived notions of milestones I had to reach before a certain age and I've come to realise that age only matters in the way that you feel. My friend Carole will tell you that although her bones tell her she is 95 (soon to be 96) she doesn't feel any different than when she was dancing in her youth. And this is something we have in common, we feel like dancing!!! I shall be using this positive energy to carry me through what will surely be arduous hours of training and killer hours on the actual day. Now I know what you must be thinking, what fountain has she been drinking from? And although I’m no Paula Radcliffe I know without doubt that I shall make it the whole grueling 26.2 Miles. The reason for this is that I’ve never been at the physical fitness level I am now. Over the summer I drastically changed my lifestyle and have incorporated exercise into my life in a big way. Through the training I’ve already done I have a small person less to carry around with me and it feels great!   Personally the next six months is all about continuing with my training but also highlighting the important work that Age Uk do.  The facts below may mean little to you but to me they occupy most of my thoughts. ·      Each year, about 650,000 people turn 65 in the UK ·      There are now more people in the UK aged 60 and above than there are under 18 ·      Every hour, over 50 older people are neglected or abused in their own homes by family members, friends, neighbours or care workers ·      1.8 million pensioners (16%) live below the poverty line (a weekly income of £124 for single pensioners and £214 for a couple) It couldn’t be clearer to me that the older adult population is one that needs respect and strong advocacy. Age UK provide both and much much more.   I would love if you would join me in celebrating what will have been a year full of challenges and changes and donate generously to a very worthy cause.     February Update What can I tell you about training for my first marathon? Hmm that it’s a game of numbers….   1 Needle 2 boxes of plasters 3 Toenails 4 Reoccurring blisters 150+ miles ran Ahh training is more than the numbers   For me it’s the fact that I haven’t given up on one of my training sessions yet. Although in the bitter cold it has crossed my mind <span style="font-size: 15.0pt; font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J   The highlights so far have been my first 10Km race around Richmond Park. Thank you to my lovely supporters, I know it was cold for you guys <span style="font-size: 15.0pt; font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J Running from Wales into England. And completing my first half marathon distance a few weeks ago.   Oh and how could I forget those little orange and purple bars of fudge yumminess. Thank you Cadbury.   Also I have to say it, whomever broke Adele’s heart has my appreciation because her songs get me through my long runs on the weekend.   All in all a good few weeks of training!   Thank you to all of those whom have sponsored me already, it really helps to think about the money raised when you think your heart might jump out of your chest or your legs are screaming at you to stop moving them over and over again.

Valerie's Marathon!!!!

Valerie's Marathon!!!!

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