Updated on Oct 28th 2012 at 8:36 AM from the JustGiving API

So the big day is here. In the last 9 months I have trained in Hampshire, Mallorca, Devon, Cornwall, the Cotswolds, Spain and the Alps. Run in the sweltering heat, pouring rain and whipping wind. Lost a toe nail and gained asthma. Thanks so much to everyone who has sponsored me so far, we have raised almost £1000 for a fantastic cause, which equates to 40 hours of Macmillan nursing support. I will use this fact as a motivator at about midday when I have been running for an hour and feel like stopping for a lie down :-)

 

About 9 months ago, in a mad moment of confidence and enthusiasm, I decided that I would run the 10 mile long Great South Run this year. So, on January 17th, (not long after my 43rd birthday) I decided to see how far I could go. It wasn't very inspiring! By the end of the road I was wheezing and panting, swearing at my husband who was trying to motivate me and more than anything, feeling incredulous at how everybody else does it?! Even though I am pretty fit, running was so much harder than I'd imagined and I did less than half a mile that day...... realisation dawning that I might have been a bit rash with my ambitions.

Undaunted (well, that's not true actually, I was extremely daunted but very determined), I set myself some goals; 2 miles by the end of February, 3 miles by the end of March and so on. Without the support of Andy and my running buddy Holly I simply would not have been able to do it but here we are at the end of September and I can run about 7½ miles fairly comfortably.

To be honest with you it has been awful! I have probably only properly "enjoyed" about 5 runs over the last 9 months and the rest of them have been bloody hard work. I have suffered with my back, knees and worst of all, my breathing. Turns out I have asthma and am now on two different inhalers up to 6 times a day, which I absolutely hate. But then I do like to be able to breathe in and out without fighting for breath, which is really scary, so I think I'll put up with the inhalers!

Right from the start I knew I wanted to run on behalf of Macmillan. Having lost my lovely Mum to cancer and also seen it affect the lives of so many people around me, I am a big fan of the work Macmillan do. They reach more than 1 in 2 people living with cancer and with 1 in 3 of us diagnosed, that's a lot of people. Their ambition is simple: “to reach and improve the lives of everyone living with cancer”.

To give you an idea of the sorts of things I want to raise cash for, here are some examples of what the sponsorship can do:

£24 pays for an hour of Macmillan physiotherapy
£25 pays for an hour of Macmillan nursing, providing medical, practical and emotional support

£350 pays for a convalescent break for someone with cancer and their carer

So, here we are with only a month to go until the big day. Two of the people I was meant to be running the race with have dropped out due to injury, just leaving the old wheezing bird…. still a bit deluded and determined to run 10 miles on a cold October Sunday to prove I can do it (God I really hope I can!) and to raise some funds for a fantastic cause.

So if you are still awake after all that rambling, I urge you to get out your debit card and donate some cash now, even a pound will make a difference to the lives of people who have had the worst news ever. I know, I know - money is tight and it’s nearly Christmas and you're always being asked to sponsor someone for something but isn't it a great thing to give to charity? Doing your bit for people less fortunate? And the bonus is that it gives you a warm fuzzy feeling inside. And I'll love you forever. Do you need any more reasons? Well, stick your head out the window on Sunday 28th October and see how cold it is. And then imagine not only the cold but the terror I will be feeling as I prepare for the hardest run I have ever done - or will ever do again! And if none of the other reasons do it for you, just donate a quid out of pity for a wheezy old bird with creaky knees :-)

Thanks so much for your support x x x