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Less than 4 weeks to go and I look back at my first training session in June with my running partner Sharon to where we are now. From 5k to 10 miles. From 11 mins per mile to 10 mins (for me not Sharon, she's much quicker!).

We've had blisters, stitches, the aches in the knees, bruised toes, pains in the ankle, legs, hips, back, sweated buckets running in the hot sun, rain, wind (thankfully not the snow), through puddles, mud, hills and more hills!

We've ached and ached and had sleepless nights from having restless legs, suffered from tiredness, going to work and carrying on with our busy lives as working, swimming mum's.

We have ran round Chester park, to Pelton and Pelton Fell, Waldridge, to Beamish, to Framwellgate Moor and back.

We do the parkruns at Chester le Street and at Gibside when we can as part of our training and every time, we get quicker.

We did our first organised run and ran the Gateshead 10k in 1 hour 2mins (Sharon over a minute faster) and got our first ever running medal and was over the moon to get the t-shirt!

I have never done so much running in all my life and I love being a new runner as every time I go out I learn and achieve something new. I feel amazed with myself especially when I'm nearly 40 and overweight (I can't stay off the wine) and think if I tried to loose weight I could do so much more and be faster but no, I am happy with what I can do already and what I will do in September.

I never thought I could run ever and only started 2 years ago and if I can, anyone can. I've always admired anyone who did run and wondered what it would be like to endure such torture! I mean why would anyone want to run 13.1 miles?! It's just madness. I still think it is but I'm going to give it a try. But really, I'm only after the t-shirt.

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