Story
<p><span style="color: #800080;"><strong>Well here we are again boys'n'girls!! This time I feel the need to run an awfully long way. Never done a marathon. Never been to New York...........and never probably going to do this again!! x</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #800080;"><strong>My fellow lil running dudette Zoe Symonds, and my wee lil smurf self, have started training to be fully prepared for completing 26.2 miles on 7th November 2010. It may sound premature, but neither of us have done this before!! x</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #800080;"><strong>Our 1st goal is to both reach the finishing line!! 2nd goal is to raise as much wonga for Help 4 Heroes as possible!! 3rd goal is to beat Katie Price and Oprah Winfreys' marathon times!! x</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #800080;"><strong>I have decided to raise money for Help 4 Heroes to support all those boys and girls putting their lives on the line for each and every one of us. Heroes indeed. Also in memory and respect for all our fallen heroes and their families. x</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #800080;"><strong>Every single penny raised goes to the charity. I have financed all of the expenses involved. This is all about Help 4 Heroes, so your support would be very much appreciated.</strong></span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #800080;"><strong>Here the journey begins...................I've got a blister already.............................. :) xx</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff00ff;"><strong>After some hard core training, with lots of ups, but more downs it was time to board the plane and head over to New York. Having had 2 operations, 2 weeks before, was very anxious about the final phase. Having put so much into getting where we were, it was crunch time xx</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff00ff;"><strong>On the morning both smurfettes were up bright and breezy at 4am....yes AM!! This for me was a first, but we were buzzing. We got into our kit and talk really fast, going over wheather we had forgotten anything. The only thing I forgot in the end, was what we weren't supposed to be forgetting?? What can I say, bizarre goings on pumping through the adrenaline channels :)</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff00ff;"><strong>We set off with our group walking through the streets of New York. Other runners incoming from other avenues, to join our ever growing line, like rats following the pided piper in the darkness of the early morn. People everywhere, all going in the same direction. All heading to the same destination, but with individual goals and expectations. Blinking marvellous.</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff00ff;"><strong>It was brilliant checking everyone out around us. Fancy dress, names, charities, personal messages, pictures, it was all too much to take in. We concluded that there is no 'type' of a person that runs a marathon. Its actually an event that brings people together, even though its for individual achievements. A rarity amongst the world we live in today. </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff00ff;"><strong>Next thing we know we are lining up to start!!! Eeeeeeeek there was no going back now. Surrounded by masses of people which was great as it was bitter cold!!! </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff00ff;"><strong>I technically shouldn't of been doing the marathon at all, as the Doctor had suggested to still go to New York, but to relax and recover. Unfortunately when you are raising pennies for heroes, there leaves minimal space for excuses. I could not justify giving up easily especially when I know what these guys'n'girls do on a day to day basis, and the concequences that always lay in their paths. So did it!! The therory was to keep on running.... and keep on running.....until I couldnt run anymore.</strong></span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #ff00ff;"><strong>BANG.....we were off!!! </strong></span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #ff00ff;"><strong>Well the streets, roads, bridges, were lined with thousands of supporters, bands, volunteers. Amazing people supporting runners as they passed by. People encouraging you all around. Picking you up when your feeling down. Pushing you. Fellow runners lifting you up when your starting to hit the wall. Amazing. Absolutely fabulous in every way.</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff00ff;"><strong>It was 20 miles where I hit my wall. I think the worst part of it was the fact that I felt fine in my mind, body and soul. It was just my calves screaming at me. The pain was very intense. To the point where you think the floor is trying to swallow you up whilst your knees are producing concrete and pumping it into your lower leg. </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff00ff;"><strong>Thankfully some fellow supporters for Help 4 Heroes came along. They were checking out the profiles on the back of my shirt as they were there for one of there mates. They found him on my shirt and were very happy. After feeling like Forrest Gump for 10 minutes, they reminded me that there was only 6 miles to go!!! Oh my, I knew these 6 miles were going to be longer than the 20.2 already achieved.(Big shout out to <a href="mailto:Simon@printpressonline.com">Simon@printpressonline.com</a> for creating the vest and <a href="mailto:clare@allaboutmeshop.co.uk">clare@allaboutmeshop.co.uk</a> for supplying the vest thankyou for the support) </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff00ff;"><strong>To finally see the finishing line ahead was like seeing water in the dessert, mermaids in the sea, sunshine in your belly. </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff00ff;"><strong>I crossed the line in 4hrs 44mins. </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff00ff;"><strong>Finishing the marathon...tick. Raised money for Help 4 Heroes.....tick. Beat Oprah and Katie Prices times....tick. As a little Brucey bonus made it into the New York Times....tick!!!! Mission accomplished. Until the next time. Please email suggestions for future challenges. </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff00ff;"><strong>Thank you peeps. I cant tell you how much I appreciate you support. </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff00ff;"><strong>Biggest cuddles and lots of love xx</strong></span></p>