DO NOT - walk outside if at all possible without thermals / a Santa suit and antler ears. It was minus 4.

DO - Ensure you have strictly briefed supporters of the points they should be running between on the circuit for maximum support value

DO - ask people who are quite fit to come and support you - see point above

DO NOT ask me to come and support you at 'fun run' events (see previous 2 points)

DO -  make sure you listen to 'Team Staunton' Motivating Chat. From my dad " Don't come last - that would be embarrassing " (Reminiscent  of school days perhaps?) or from my brother (fellow runner and sufferer of hereditary conditions)  "Most accidents happen at the start of the race - run at the edge , as you have less chance of being knocked over and make sure you switch sides that you run on - otherwise one leg will hurt more than the other ". My god - FUN RUN.  Full of Christmas cheer

DO NOT - accept a one size fits all Santa suit from the organisers. The rip up  my costume made  in the first few steps did provide amusement for supporters. Hmm. Fear not, I did have my luxury - M & S value trackie Bs underneath. So not total humiliation .

DO try to loose the fast runners in your start group. James and Sue, despite being very kind and running slower than usual (James had planned to do it in 24 mins) broke off from our little group after about 2 ks. I don't think it as possible to run any slower for them! It did mean that Beth and I could run  (Well, plod) happily at the back.

 DO Ensure your outfit amuses the crowd as you run /plod past. All the children we ran past loved seeing 'Rudolf' running with me. Hmm. Concern that I may actually resemble a very good Santa. Might need to run a little faster Staunton.

DO NOT look up towards the veeerry looong hilll as you move towards to it. It did remind me of the big long hills I used to hike up on D of E . I think I could actually have walked faster up the hill, but we still kept running ....  (Most other people seemed to walk it - so was rather chuffed with ourselves.)

DO Make sure you take water with you , for after monster hill, otherwise you get a corking headache - oops. I knew there was something I'd forgotten. Time to remove the white beard I think , to maximise chances of breathing.

DO NOT, whatever you do, get slightly over excited at the final leg that you sprint in to the finish. You will look like a complete loon, as you collapse over the line - Oops.

DO be rather pleased with yourself, despite it taking 45 minutes to finish. I did indeed manage to run all the way, which hasn't happened in a very very long time.

DO - say a monumental thank you to everyone who supported for this event. I have genuinely be bowled over by everyone's enthusiasm, support and generosity. To help me train, to thanking me for the updates, to coming to support me on the day, for not taking the p1ss out of me for ONLY running 5 ks and of course for the cash donations. Online I managed to raise - £2,240. Including the gift aid on your donations and the £250 from Experian - this means I have raised £3,029.  http://www.justgiving.com/clarestaunton 

DO - remind everyone that part of this was about raising awareness about Lifeblood - the thrombosis charity - and what they're trying to ensure you all know about.

Please please, read their website http://www.thrombosis-charity.org.uk/cms/index.php . My personal saga continues now - after seeing one of the top specialist in the country and having a second deficiency detected in my blood (again hereditary) combined with multiple previous episodes of clotting - I have been advised that I need to take blood thinners for the remainder of my days . This is scary stuff - " If you have a  big one , Clare, it's a box for you". Just as cheerful as James and dad's motivating chats!

DO Listen carefully to the advise of your specialist  - "No running for you" Seriously. And this isn't even BUPA - I had paid her nothing  - No running. My veins are too far gone to send the extra blood through.    Shame .... I was just getting into it as well