Background

If you'd have told me a couple of years ago that I would be spending my weekends running around London dressed in leggings with a bum bag strapped to my back, or that I'd be having conversations with work colleagues about the best places to apply Vaseline (don't ask) I would have been mortified and probably laughed in your face.  

However, the marathon seed was well and truly planted in my mind last year when some colleagues ran it. Plus, I spend half my life in the gym, so I figured I may as well have a goal and do it for a good cause.

The photo sums up my 2 main training dilemmas: Firstly, drink wine or go running (that's been a really tough one) and secondly, why on earth do nike only make girls clothes in bright pink?

Since signing up I have received an unbelievable amount of support and advice from fellow runners, friends, fitness instructors and previous marathon participants (although I admit that the last group have on occasions scared me a lot). However, I am now requesting (begging) for 3 more types of support and would be truly grateful if you could find it in yourself to help me.

1. Sponsorship

I have committed to raise at least £1,300 for Chiltern Counselling 

- Small charity from my home area ( High Wycombe ), affiliated to the larger Westminster Pastoral Fund, who are collecting money on their behalf through Just Giving

- Provide counselling and psychotherapy to those in need, who are not covered by the NHS. It is a self-financing and non-profit service

- The difference this fund raising can make is phenomenal, given the size of the charity (£50k cost turnover p.a.) and the related positive affects of successful counselling

In the email I have sent with this link I attach a powerpoint slide (the investment banking training is being put to good use!) providing a bit more detail. Please help me get to, and even beyond, my target.

2. Support on the day

I know not everyone lives in or around London, but if you are in the vicinity on 22nd April I would love to hear a familiar voice / see a friendly face cheering from the crowd to give me that extra boost. I watched it a couple of years ago it's a fun day out. Plus, as well as watering stations for the runners en route, there are a number of "refreshment establishments" for the spectators, which I'm sure may entice some of you.

3. Song requests

I could not have got this far without a number of material things, including deep heat, a large foam cylinder, dri-fit and most importantly, my iPod. I'd love it if you could give me names of tunes to load on to my iPod for 3 reasons:

i) Funny songs (think Chariots of Fire, Tenancious D etc) will make me smile - after 16 miles I'll need all the help I can get

ii) Songs which remind me of you or with a story attached will give me that extra boost and make me think of all the invisible support I have

iii) I am so bored of everything currently on my iPod

And finally thank you...

At the risk of being a bit melodramatic, I just want to thank everyone who has supported me, given me advice, listened to me drone on ad infinitum about training techniques, running times, eating problems, and helped me through so far. Plus, I want to thank you for sponsoring me and helping me smash my target.