I want to say a final thank you to all of you who have supported me with kind words, hard cash and derisive comments meant to spur me on (you know who you are) and to make a final plea on behalf of my charity, Downside Fisher. Help came from friends, family, friends of friends and friends of family. The half marathon at Silverstone was the highlight of my training, but nothing prepared me for the sheer joy of Sunday. The sun shone, the music played, the crowds cheered and handed out sweeties, and when it poured with rain for the last few miles, people handed out plastic macs and cheered even louder. I loved it.

However, just to reassure you all, it did not turn me into a runner. I shall still take little black buses whenever possible, and when the swelling and blisters have gone down and the legs have forgiven me for the abuse,  I shall trade in my trainers for the Jimmy Choos.

So,no one will ever have to fork out to support me on another marathon run, and this is the very last chance to give me money, cross my heart...X

 

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In my January message I said thank you for the continued messages of support; for the donations which continue to come in and for listening to all the bragging and whingeing in equal amounts.......

...now I have to ask for everyone's forbearance.

Since the beginning of February I have had a bug which has manifested itself in various ways including laryngitis, sustained  D&V (as it said succinctly on my A&E notes), violent coughing, and an inability to walk further than the settee despite putting on my running shorts and trainers. The last couple of weeks it has turned into a chest infection and I have been told to defer my London Marathon run until next year. I am guaranteed a place for 2012 and the charity that you have all been so generous in supporting will not lose out. Donations are continuing to come in and I promise that I will be back out training just as soon as I stop wheezing.and that I will continue to post updates and photos to keep you informed of how it is going.

So, my apologies to all of you for the delay in repaying your generosity with some action. I hope to be back in training and on line with some good news soon.

Love Lesley

January highlights

* 12 mile run round Clapham Common, Battersea Park, St James Park, Hyde Park ending up at Harrods for sushi and Sale shopping. Was not thrown out for being smelly and inappropriately dressed.

*45 minutes at 12kph at 75% of my body weight on a Wallace and Gromit-style  treadmill in neoprene trousers. Decide it would be better just to lose a quarter of my body weight.

*16.5 mile yomp with the dogs along the coastal path from Dartmouth to Torcross. Didn't stop at the pub and it still took 7 hours. Dogs and owner spent the next day on the settee.

Strangely all great fun...

 

No, this is not an April Fool, despite the fact that it is an April Marathon; but yes, this is the same vertically and spherically-challenged, Jimmy Choo-wearing granny more commonly to be found on the settee drinking tea and eating biscuits.

As I'm sure you know, I have never run before, so this is an exciting challenge for me physically as well as an exciting opportunity to do something positive for kids who lack the support and chances in life that I and most of the people I know and love enjoyed.

For more information on the great work Downside Fisher do, please see their website

http://www.downside-fisher.org/architecture/index.asp

SInce I only have 20 weeks to get from virgin runner to Virgin Marathon Runner I will be following a tight schedule of training which I hope will provide you with some light entertainment. Please follow my progress on this page and support me and the Downside Fisher Youth Club in our efforts to raise as much as possible for the socially-excluded children of London.

Thank you

Love Lesley