I have done long distance running before but I've never attempted anything beyond a half marathon (13.1miles) so I knew it was a mental thing in my head getting me panicky!

If I couldn't do 15 miles then how was I ever going to get around 26.2 in April?

I also had a week off running just 10 days ago because of shin splints, so the prospect of further injury also crept in.

I rang my mum last night for a pep talk and it gave me a bit more confidence that I could do it, but even if I couldn't I still had nine weeks.

That's what parents are for right?

So I got myself ready for bed and tucked up before 10pm, set the alarm clock for 6am, so I could do the proper prep for my run in the morning.

For me, today, Sunday, has been a massive day. Not only did I want to complete my 15 miles unscathed, but my football team, Nottingham Forest were playing a top of the table clash on Sky, so I needed to get home to watch that too.

I woke before my alarm, at 5.30am in fact, got up, had my breakfast and then waited for it to digest.

At 7.45am I ate a banana and a protein bar and headed out the door.

And the next 2.16.13 were the most comfortable running hours I have ever had.

I couldn't believe how fine I felt. Before I knew it I had looped my way down the A65 past Endmoor and Crooklands to the roundabout and was darting back towards Barrows Green.

How had I managed to run 10 miles in less than 1 hour 30?

This astonished me, but even more so the fact I felt like I had plenty more in the tank.

So I kept going at the same pace, waiting for 'the wall' but I reached Oxenholme, looped around the train station and was soon in full flow as I hit the 13.1 mile mark.

And I glanced at my watch to see 1.56.23 - this was my fastest half marathon distance - and a new PB for that distance.

I had anticipated a 3-hour run to complete my 15 miles, despite hoping for 2 hours 30.

So here I was in the crazy position of having an hour, or really half an hour in the bag for my final two miles.

The adrenaline started to kick in and I went awash with cold. I told myself not to get too carried away as I still had two miles to run and having already been out in the pouring rain for two hours, I didn't want my body to get colder.

So I pulled myself together and maintained my speed as I passed Lakes Leisure and 14 miles.

Yes, 28 minutes in the bag to finish my last mile!

At this point I eased up, there was no point injuring myself as 2.30 was the aim - and my final mile was mainly uphill.

But just 13 minutes later I had looped a couple of estates and passed my 15 mile mark.

I stopped the clock at 2.16.13 - just over 9 minute miles - super!

I was in shock that a) I had ran the complete distance b) I had completed the run 1 minute per mile than anticipated and c) I felt fine that I just needed to add another 11 miles to get around England's capital in nine weeks time.

I allowed a rush of adrenaline to kick in as I cooled down and walked back to my house and strangely I had so much energy.

It was a real high point for me in my training and now I am convinced I can make it to London, but I won't be getting complacent.

Today, Sunday, was also the first outing for my Epilepsy Society vest - the one I will wear on race day! - and it returned relatively unscatched too, apart from being completely soaked through.

So now I am looking to my first 10 mile race in Maryport in two weeks, before the next hurdle, an 18 mile run in about four weeks time.

I can't wait though. I have passed the halfway mark in my training and now I can see the finish line.

Before that though I also have my 70s and 80s fancy dress night in Kendal - on Friday, March 4th, from 7.30pm.

The fancy dress party is at The Park Nightclub in Parkside Road and tickets are available from Sandylands Spar and also from myself, tel, 07792685508.

I hope you can all make it to support me, but if not, log on to http://www.justgiving.com/paddyslondonmarathon and make a contribution.

For information on the Epilepsy Society please visit http://www.epilepsysociety.org.uk I am very excited about my run now in case you can't tell and I hope you continue to follow my progress as I edge towards the big day!

For those that are interested, Forest did my proud with a battling 1-1 draw to stay in the promotion hunt, so it has been a good day, but now I'm tired and should be in bed before 9pm!

WELL what a week it has been! Just 14 weeks to go to the big marathon day now - eeeek!

The week couldn't have got off to a worse start when I had some bad family news but somehow I have managed to turn it around and finished the week with a decent performance in my first ever fell race.

On Monday I received news my grandad died and since then I have been looking for something to focus my attention on - thankfully I had the marathon - and I got loads done.

I have had three training sessions at the gym at Lakes Leisure, Kendal, two road runs and now a fell race too!

I had never tried fell running before when my boss Mike suggested I take to the Kendal Winter League course at Scout Scar today(Sunday), and it was very challenging.

I knew it would be different to road running but it was tougher even than I anticipated.

However, after about 50 minutes I completed the course, having negotiated the rocks, mud and a couple of nasty looking cows.

I was nervous about my ankles as I awaited the start and was cursing Mike as I topped the first summit, but as I rounded the final corner and darted for the line I felt a sense of accomplishment.

While I can't see me taking up a fell running regime, I can see its benefits and will probably try to mix up my training with the odd dash across the fields from now on.

The workout I had in those 50 minutes took as much out of me as my two hour session at the gym!

Away from the running aspect I have been offered free nutritional advice from Linda Stott, who contacted me after my last blog post.

Linda has asked me to make a list of everything I eat for five days before our meeting so I am going to take myself off to find a chocolate bar before my diet list gets underway tomorrow morning.

I have also hit the £100 mark in my fundraising efforts - five per cent of the way to the £2,000 I have pledged to raise for the Epilepsy Society - who this week changed their name from the National Society for Epilepsy.

I am delighted as there is such a long way to go in my sponsorship aims and the event is closing in quicker than I can say Happy New Year!

Also regarding my fundraising I have finalised plans for a charity night at The Park in Kendal on Friday, March 4.

I am hosting a 70s and 80s fancy dress night and I would like you all to come along. Tickets are just £4 and costumes can be whatever you want them to be, from music icons, to TV stars andd even cartoon characters.

For those of you that maybe haven't moved on from the 80s, fancy dress isn't essential, but all support is welcome!

In the next two weeks I plan to push my training further again and be running at least 10-12 miles by the end of January, but more importantly I will be contacting businesses to see if they can contribute to a raffle to be held during the charity night.

So if you run a business or organisation and have something you could donate to the raffle I would be delighted to hear from you.

If you are not in business but would like to help out, whether for the raffle, training or any other aspect, please feel free to contact me on email - sportingpat@hotmail.com or through my fundraising page - www.justgiving.com/paddyslondonmarathon.

Finally, thank you all for the support so far. I hope to see you all at the fancy dress night and wish you all the luck for 2011.

Now where's that chocolate bar....

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2010

I returned to work on Monday after four days in Northern Ireland for the Christmas period and all I could think about was how I should have been out running.

On my trip to Ireland I was well-intentioned to get the running shorts out and head into my mum's mini-gym at home, but the excuses soon built up as I relaxed onto the sofa to enjoy my 'break'.

I call it a break sarcastically as I rallied around washing up behind my mum and sister as they prepared Christmas dinners and presents for all and sundry.

But I should have made sure I had time to go running, especially after my effort over the previous six weeks.

In the six weeks prior to my Christmas holiday I have lost half a stone in weight with a fairly rigorous regime, set up with staff at Lakes Leisure, Kendal.

But with the turkey gobbled down and the chocolates seemingly edging towards me at every opportunity, I have mentally prepared myself for my 16-week push to the start line of the marathon.

I haven't hopped back on the scales after Christmas yet but I plan to in the morning when I rise at 6.45am for a gym session before work - oh dear!

There is no point coming this far if I am not going to see the job through though.

And to aid my determination my housemates Adam and Kathyann bought me a lovely new running top for Christmas for the winter mornings.

Now I have to go training because I will get scowls of disgust if their present is wasted and sits in the corner of the room for the next four months.

The National Society for Epilepsy have sent me through a 16-week training plan and that, along with all the support they have already shown - including a really nice Christmas card - should be enough to get me out of bed tomorrow, and on Friday and Sunday and the rest of my training days.

I have a goal in mind for what I want to achieve in terms of race time, ideal weight and sponsorship targets and while I am not yet prepared to put them out there for all to scoff at, I am determined to succeed in every single one.

So when that alarm clock buzzes at 6.40am, 6.42am and 6.45am, I won't be hitting the snooze button, but throwing on my shorts and getting out in the cold because the hard work starts now!

I am aiming to raise £2,500 for the NSE and anyone wishing to support my run can do so by making a donation here or emailing patrick.okane@kendal.newsquest.co.uk or sportingpat@hotmail.com

Visit http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/blogs/patrick_okane/ to follow my training, also visit www.epilepsysociety.org.uk and www.lakesleisure.org.uk

MONDAY, DECEMBER 6

THE last two weeks have provided a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to my training.

I have been really pushing my efforts and trying to force myself onto the streets of Kendal to ensure I am ready for the greatest race of all.

Since my last blog I have taken myself back to the gym at Lakes Leisure and started building my interval training - it seems a great way to build strength - and when I took it back to the roads I noticed a great difference.

But then last week I awoke to find a few inches of snow. Well I've never trained in snow before and being the clumsy so and so that my mates always call me, I panicked!

How would I get ready for 26.2 miles of running if the snow set in for 3 months.

Well, the perfect answer lies in the gym. Thanks to Vanessa and the team at Lakes Leisure, I will have a new programme to build stamina and hopefully a few personal trainer sessions to boot!

Great stuff, and with all the winter weather I took myself off for a well deserved break from running on Thursday night.

Yes, me and my housemates went sledging! Sounds great, and not bad for a 26 year old!

Well, there is a reason 26 year olds are not associated with sledging - because I failed to slow down with all the excitement, went straight off a 1m drop and landed square on my back sans hat, glasses and sledge.

Four days on I'm in a lot of pain, but nothing a speedy trip to the docs won't cure tomorrow.

Well the back pain has surely got my mind back in focus on the marathon.

Nothing other than running or football from now until April. It has opened my eyes to the task ahead and just how easily it could all come crashing down.

I have set out to run this marathon - yes, probably just the once - and I don't want to mess it up before I even get to mile one.

I have pledged to raise funds for the National Society for Epilepsy and that remains a goal. I have them to thank for my place and I want to let people know as much as possible about the illness, which has affected my sister for the last 13 years.

If I go injuring myself badly now and put myself out of the marathon, it will be a huge setback in many of my goals.

So fingers crossed I get the all clear with the doc tomorrow and I'll be back on a treadmill near you soon!

Just 131 days to go and lots to do to prepare... so as they say in some businesses... the snow must go on!

TUESDAY, November 16

AS many of you know I have now been in training for the Virgin London Marathon for two and a half weeks, and my how the excitement is building!

I knew I would be fairly excitable having gained a place in the marathon with the National Society for Epilepsy, but as the day gets nearer - just 151 days to go - I am like a kid at Christmas (not long now!). Last time I blogged I had just finished my first run and now two weeks on I have completed six training runs and have reached five miles as I look to build my distance.

The first of these five mile runs was torturous and left me with an aching back, but after a long soak and several sports drinks I am firmly in the driving seat.

I have set a new PB of 44.14 over five miles and am hoping to sign up for the Ulverston 10km on December 5, but more importantly my fundraising plans are coming together.

With much help from the fundraising team at the NSE I am awaiting arrival of collection tins, t-shirts and balloons to get start getting the word out about my run.

I have booked a night in Kendal for a charity event (all ideas welcome for the theme!) in March and Lakes Leisure, Kendal, are hoping to help me finalise a training plan.

So the running is taking off and the other pieces of the jigsaw are starting to come together. I never thought I would be able to get out on a cold, winters evening for a 4/5 mile run but so far I have remained motivated and stuck to the plan.

Tomorrow (Wednesday) I'm even getting up at half 6 to go for a 3 mile run before work. This is the steely determination I'm hoping to maintain over the next few months to get to the start line and around the course.

And just when you think I couldn't be any more excited, I receive an email to say I will be mixing it with other journalists and celebrities on the start line!

How glamorous?!? It certainly is building up to be a top day and I hope you all share the experience with me as much as possible!

This afternoon I was asked which celebrities I would like to line up with me and I guess it would have to be footballing idols of mine or Olympic heroes, but until I know who else is doing it, I can't really say!

When I signed up for the marathon I wasn't sure how I would take to the charity side of things but the support I have received from the NSE I am glad I have that aspect to my run.

My sister has really battled epilepsy over the years and any help and awareness my run can bring to the public can only show support to others in her position.

So when I'm struggling to get out of bed or run that extra mile, I'll be thinking of Siobhan and what we as a family we went through, and just what crossing that finish line will mean to me and all those I could be helping.

*For information on the National Society for Epilepsy visit www.epilepsysociety.org.uk

* For information on Lakes Leisure visit www.lakesleisure.org.uk

TUESDAY, November 2:

WINTER arrived in Kendal with a bang today (Tuesday) and aptly coincided with my first training run as I bid to get myself to the starting line of the London Marathon in April.

So after calculating that the run on April 17 in the capital is only 23 weeks away on Sunday, it was the perfect evening to head out for my 'tester' run.

Dark, damp, blowing a gale and pouring rain. What more could I ask for my first run since injuring my ankle in September?

But after finishing work and dragging my carcus home I was determined I had to go out.

Having tried - and failed - to coerce my flatmate Kathy to come with me, I set off from my house and down the road.

And every step of the way I fought with myself to get my mental frame right - one half saying, you idiot, why have you wanted to do this for six years - and the other side saying, this is the start of the journey and I will take it one run at a time, and get to the start, and eventually, finish line.

So off I went with a one mile run in mind, but ended up doing three miles.

Not bad for a demotivated guy just wanting to get in after a tough day at the office.

And when I arrived home, a wave of relief that the first run was over swept over me, but then came the realisation of many more dark winter runs to come.

See for me, the marathon is the ultimate running challenge I can ever plan to do, having dislocated my knee twice, and having tried for several years to get into the race, I am determined to give it my all - it could be the only chance I get to run it.

And so, with the fundraising in the back of my mind, and the potential charity donation to the National Society for Epilepsy in the back of my mind, I have three focus points to take with me along the way.

1 - My sister Siobhan - Siobhan was diagnosed with epilepsy aged 14, when I was 13, and having watched her and my family come to grips, it is vital for me to raise as much for epilepsy charities, whose help made it easier for me and my family learn the full facts of the illness.

2 - PMA - Positive Mental Attitude - I want to use the maxims I have picked up through inspirational stories I have reported on in my brief journalism career.

One of these was Olympic silver medallist Alison Mowbray speaking at the Cumbria Sports Awards on her quest for an Olympic medal and achieving it, and another came from an open water swimmer from Winster who took his swim through Loch Lomond 'one stroke at a time' to become one of just 39 people to swim the length of the Scottish water.

3 - My desire to get to the end - Setting out on this journey I had and still have just one goal. Get to the finish line, claim my medal and revel in my achievement.

So one run down, and around 100 more training sessions to go, I am now embarking on a gruelling adventure, but with the above three points on board, I will take my run one stride at a time and hopefully by tea time on Sunday, August 17, I will sit outside Buckingham Palace with another of my 'to do list' tasks ticked off.

First training run: 3 miles - time: 24.36.

If you have any training advice or suggestions for routes around the Kendal/Lake District area, please get in touch with me. Also, anyone who is looking for a running partner to help them through the dark night runs, please get in touch. And lastly, if you can, please visit my fundraising website at www.epilepsysociety.org.uk

I'm running the London Marathon in April for the first time after six attempts and will be raising money for the National Society for Epilepsy.

I am running for the charity because my sister was diagnosed with epilepsy 13 years ago, aged 14.

It was quite a relief when I got the call to say the NSE wanted me. I was bitterly disappointed to have been turned down through the ballot so I tried my luck through a charity.

It was a very difficult time for the family and there are so many stigmas attached to the illness, that I wanted to make people aware of the facts and help a charity.

The marathon presents the ultimate running challenge, having dislocated my left knee twice and been advised to give up running in 2005, but since then, I have completed the Great North Run three times as well as a marathon in Skegness.

I am aiming to raise £2,500 for the NSE and anyone wishing to support my run can do so by making a donation here or emailing patrick.okane@kendal.newsquest.co.uk or sportingpat@hotmail.com

Visit http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/blogs/patrick_okane/ to follow my training!