A few days before Christmas, I filled out a Member’s Survey at my local Virgin Active gym in Putney.  Then, whilst nursing a hangover the morning after the night before, I discovered I’d won a place to run in the London marathon.

Only I could enter a raffle where the prize was a marathon-place, not bubble-bath.

When I looked ahead to 2013, I was going to give my aching joints a break from the constant impact of running excessive distances. I thought I’d just do a few half-marathons and begin my quest to become the new Victoria Pendleton.  But you can’t turn down these opportunities because you never know when they’ll come again, so within a fraction of a second I accepted!

I’m now on a journey towards my fifth marathon.  In 2012, I raised money for Sir Edmund Hillary’s Charity, the “Himalayan Trust UK”.  They are a small charity where every single penny goes towards the Nepalese sherpas and their families.  I am going to run for them again. I live and breathe the adventures that have played out in the Himalayas; they have steered my career and imagination.  2013 is also the 60-year anniversary of Hillary and Tensing summiting Mount Everest.  

I know I can’t keep asking you to sponsor me year after year. Anything you can spare for this charity goes straight into the Sherpa schools and infrastructure.

Best wishes

Ruth 

PS For the first time, I’ll be starting at the Green Start – the celebrities’ start!  Posh loos, no queues, a marquee..  Don’t doubt for a moment that I will pretend to be famous.