So I woke up this morning to pouring rain and gritted my teeth putting on my running gear, thinking how can it be that after all this training it gets to the day and the weather forecast is for torrential rain?

But there was no going back so I duly arrived at the O2 at around 8.30am dropped off by my lovely husband, for a 9.45 start. However it was pretty clear that something was not right as there was hardly anyone there - the reason being a broken down train at Greenwich! So nobody was able to get there. The start was delayed until 10.30 and we waited freezing and wet with no cover (Now do you feel sorry for me?!)

 I finally got off at 10.50 and  spent the next five miles wondering what the hell I was doing in the driving rain. Going through Woolwich on a Sunday morning with little spectator support makes you dig deep, and here I thought a lot about my Dad which gave me inspiration and encouragement. especially up the two hills!

Geoff, Helen and Daniel saw me twice in Woolwich which was a real boost and once at the half way mark.

But after half way (that's 6.5 MILES) I felt better and kept it going reasonably well untill 11miles when my thighs started to really tighten.

My friends Garry and Cilene and their two children Gabriella and Thomas gave me great support in Greenwich park and on and off until the finish where Geoff's parents Clive and Doreen were waiting to meet me with a big hug and lots of praise! Thanks for your support - it was good to have you all there.

It  was however only two more miles to go and at 12 miles, Geoff, Helen and Daniel were there to cheer me on which really helped. Daniel gave me a big hug and ran some of the way with me.

Passing the finish was a relief and I was glad it was over. I can't say it was fun because the weather really played its part in making it hard. But at nearly 46, it was a good feeling!

And the amount of money I have raised is beyond my wildest dreams and for that I say a massive thank you to all of you for helping me achieve this.

No one said it would be easy - but it was an experience!

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Way back in January,  on a cold and miserable afternoon, I signed up online for a half marathon having never run further than 5km in my life. This act of madness resulted from an email from another mum at school who 'wondered if I was interested?'! The next nine months has proved to be more interesting and physically painful  than I could have imagined and now here I am with only a week to go until I run (or more likely jog slowly!) the Run to the Beat  half marathon at the O2 stadium on Oct 5th.

I never really believed I would actually manage to get to this point, hence the very late appearance of my fundraising page.

At the end of  this summer, my dad Tony Prudence died. One of his great sporting passions, along with cricket, was Arsenal Football Club. He was a lifelong supporter and a season ticket holder for many years. He continued to go to matches until 2002, and never stopped asking about the Gunners.

I have lots of happy memories of being a young teenager and being taken by him to Arsenal, something that I now do with my own children Helen, 14, and Daniel, 11, along with my husband Geoff. I told him earlier this year about my running and entering for a hlaf marathon, to which he replied very casually that when he was young he used to run cross country, and that his record was 7 miles in 44 minutes - that's around 6 miles per minute, currently about twice as fast as me!

Arsenal choose a different charity each season to support and for the 2008/9 season it is the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Monies raised will help to build a new Day Care unit at University College Hospital which will incorporate a special unit for teenagers, and will include an Education Zone, where teenagers will be able to continue their studies and keep in contact with their school and friends whilst having their cancer treatment.

I have chosen to support the Teenage Cancer Trust alongside Arsenal Football club in memory of my Dad, to celebrate the joy (and sometimes the misery!) that football gave to him.

Any and all donations will be hugely welcomed by myself, however great or small. I'm looking forward to an amazing day! And anything under 12 minute miles would be great!

Many Thanks, Toni.

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Teenage Cancer Trust gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.