Well, those of you who know me well, will know that I've been running half marathons, 10 milers and cross countries for a few years, but the question everyone keeps asking me is "When are you going to run the London Marathon"?

So, I've decided to answer that question "2009"!

I was lucky enough to get into the London Marathon this year and have decided to use the opportunity to raise a bit of money to help other people.

Why the British Polio Fellowship?

Well, many of you will know my future mother-in-law, Chris, and will have noticed that Chris unfortunately suffers from some disability. Chris contracted polio at the age of 5 and has had to live with the legacy of the illness for the rest of her life. She has fought hard to recover and to try to lead a normal life and has succeeded nobly in achieving that for most of her life. However, the effects of polio never go away and as you age polio has one last, cruel symptom. Post Polio Syndrome accelerates the aging process of the joints and limbs and is much like contracting polio all over again.

The British Polio Fellowship offer an enormous amount of information and advice to polio sufferers, which helps them to deal with this latest challenge in their lives. Therefore, as they have helped Chris so much, she would like to help them and that's where I come in, and hopefully where you come in!

Thankyou for visiting our fund-raising site and thankyou very much if you can make a donation.

The Long Road to the Start Line

Week 1 5th Jan

Its the first week of January and marathon training starts with earnest. The temperature is -6C so its tough to get started. 5 runs this weekend, including a 9 mile run on Sunday.

Week 2 12th Jan

Still chilly. 5 days training this week. Sunday run 10 miles.

Week 3 19th Jan

5 days training. 7-8 miles of cross country on  Saturday and 10 miles on Sunday.

Week 4 26th Jan

Another week with 5 days of training, including a 12 mile run on Sunday. Total of 34 miles.

Week 5 2nd Feb

Oh no snow! Missed a run on Tuesday because of heavy snow but discovered there was very little snow on the north Kent coast so moved training to Sheerness to avoid the snow! Fantastic Sunday run, crossing the North Downs on the Weald Way, through snow, and knee deep mud! Total mileage = 36 miles

Week 6 9th Feb

Main event this week was completing the Dover Half Marathon in a time of 1hr 47mins over a very hilly course. Total mileage = 35 miles

Week 7 16th Feb

First 'long' run of the trainng program this week. Completed a 16 mile run at a steady pace on Sunday. Total mileage = 40 miles

Week 8 23rd Feb

Fairly hard week of paced running, including a 10 mile run on Sunday at a race pace. Total mileage = 40 miles

Week 9 2nd March

Another tough week with a lot of quick paced runs and hill training. 13.5 mile run on Sunday. Total mileage = 40 miles

Week 10 9th March

5 days of training, ending in an 18 mile run on Sunday. Total mileage = 50 miles

Week 11 16th March

Really good week, which included my longest run to date. Completed a 19 mile run around Bewl Water, with Dartford Road Runners on Saturday and still had enough energy to run another 8 miles on Sunday! Total mileage = 50 miles

Week 12 23rd March

Slightly less distance this week but plenty of paced runs. Longest run was 14 miles of cross-country on Sunday. Total mileage = 46 miles

Week 13 30th March

A great week! Had a fast 10 mile run on Tuesday, which would have easily beaten my best 10 mile race time. The week was rounded off by a trip to Worthing for the Worthing 20 mile race. It was tough running into the breeze along the seafront but I was pleased to get round in 2hr 48 mins. Total mileage = 55

Week 14 6th April

Ah, the start of the taper! Time to back off the training a little bit and put some energy back into the legs and the rest of the body. 8 mile interval run on Tuesday and a tough 7.5 miles on Thursday at marathon pace. Saturday was the shortest run of the week but one of the toughest. 400 metre sprints, with a 90 second break between, repeated 10 times.  Sunday was a 9.75 mile cross country run across some pretty hilly ground. Total mileage = 29 miles

Week 15 13th April

Continue the taper this week with less miles to complete.  Ran 8 miles on Tuesday, 5 at a steady pace and 3 run quickly. No running on Wednesay but another 8 mile run on Thursday at a steady marathon pace. The weekend run was a good 9 mile trip around some local lanes. Good pace and things felt pretty good.

Week 16 20th April

Well, we are now into the final week! Seems quite strange not actually doing much running this week. Had an easy 5 mile run on Tuesday and a 3 mile jog on Thursday and that's it for the week - well, except for the marathon on Sunday!! Went to race HQ on Tuesday evening for final registration and to collect my race number. Suddenly it all seems very real and it begins to sink in that I am really going to run the London Marathon. Started carb-loading on Thurday, its pasta, potatoes and brown bread from now on.

Saturday 25th April

Less than 24 hours to the start now! This time tomorrow, I'll be in the queue to get over the start line and begin the 26.2 mile slog.

I'm stunned by the generosity of people and their willingness to support my chosen charity, especially at a time when money is a lot tighter for most of us. Thankyou all so much.

If anyone is going up to watch the race or if I happen to stray in front of a tv camera and you are watching at home, I will be wearing a black running vest with "Dartford Road Runners" written across the front in white lettering and my race number is 15147. Keep an eye out for me and give me a cheer if you see me!

Monday 27th April 2009

Well, I did it! It was a much warmer day than predicted and I'm nursing a bit of sunburn on my shoulders as well as sore legs, but I got round in 4 hours 9 minutes. It was some journey, frustration over the first 7 miles when it was so crowded and I had problems getting into my pace (some of the course is much narrower than it looks on tv!), enjoyment running through south London and seeing all the residents enjoying street parties, emotion as you cross Tower Bridge, a bit of depression as you reach 16 miles and realise there's still such a long way to go, fear and disappointment as you start to tire at 19 miles and know there's still another 7 miles, desparation as you hang on through 22 and 23 miles when you feel you having nothing left to give, determination as you reach miles 24 and 25 with the crowd carrying you along the Embankment, pride as you turn off the Embankment and know its not so far now and then elation when you finally cross the finish line.

Would I do it again? Yesterday at 22 miles there was no way I'd ever attempt another marathon, but today, with time to reflect on mistakes made and lessons learned........well maybe!!

Thanks to everyone who has helped and supported me, Sue, our familes, my fellow runners at Dartford Road Runners and most of all, to all of you who have sponsored me and helped to raise so much money for our charity.

Thankyou!