Hi Generous Person (I DID IT!!!  HOORAY!!!  PLEASE READ ON),

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.  I want to raise as much money as possible for the British Red Cross and I really do appreciate your sponsorship enormously.

19 February 2010:  I've spent the last three Sundays running 8, 9 and 10 miles and I have a half marathon to run this weekend.  I've never run distances like that before and for the benefit of the sadists amongst you it's hurting (a lot!) and things are bleeding that really shouldn't be bleeding...

21 March 2010:  I've now run two half marathons.  The first (mentioned above) took 2 hours 43 minutes.  The second (today) took 2 hours 25 minutes.  I found both really, really tough.  In beween the two, I managed to contract a throat infection, probably through fatigue, which cost me another 10 days of my training programme (three weeks in January were also lost to swine fluesque symptoms and very sick eyes).  The good news is that the bleeding has stopped :-)

28 March 2010:  I ran 16 miles in 3 hours 13 minutes.  Every week it has been the last mile of the long runs that has been the most painful and it must be hilarious for those watching me attempt stairs for the following couple of days!

4 April 2010:  My last "long run" before the training taper down to the marathon.  I was a spent force from the first mile.  The tank was empty :-(  I managed 17.2 miles in 3 hours 31 minutes although I did have to walk the last couple of miles.  It has brought home the importance of rest and relaxation in the days leading up to 25 April 2010!  On Tuesday I was doing a 40 minute brisk run overlooking the Houses of Parliament and feeling pretty good when a 75 year old bloke breezed past me, not looking as if he had broken sweat.  That really bought home what a tortoise I am!!

11 April 2010:  A confidence boosting 12 miler in 2 hours 2 minutes and 20 seconds.  Felt like a totally different person to last week, running faster than I've ever run before over distance.  The next two weeks are all about gentle runs, rest, relaxation and the right nutrition.  I'm already feeling really, really, really scared and apprehensive about the Big Day so keep sending the positive karma my way.  My next update will on 25 April.  Fingers crossed...

London Marathon Day, 25 April 2010:  I completed the course in 5 hours 38 minutes 15 seconds equating to 12 minutes 54 seconds per the 26.2 miles!!!   I'm overjoyed with that because just after mile 16 I thought it was all over (I pulled up very sharply and painfully and thought that I had pulled my hamstring which killed every time I tried to walk, running was impossible.  I hobbled to the nearest set of amazing St. John's Ambulance guys and they strapped my leg up and I set off again very gingerly.  It turned out to be my abductor muscle that I had pulled).  Even after mile 16 I ran most of the distance to the end albeit not at the metronomic 11 minutes a mile for the first 16.  It was a very special day, supported by very special people and that very much includes all those who couldn't make it in person today.  Thank you all so much!        

I'm fiercely determined to get round the course, though I doubt the time will lead to a call from the British Olympic Association!  [I DID AND I DOUBT IT WILL]

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Johnny (AKA Forrest and Fat Boy)