13th April - I did it!! 5 hours, 7 minutes and 56 seconds - a new world record for the fastest marathon run by a woman carrying a 20lb backpack :-)

Here is my story..........

My name is Gill and I am a marathonaholic.

My addiction works like this:

1. Run the London Marathon

2. Hate the last 8 miles (or the last 25.2 miles if I'm running in costume)

3. Promise myself I will never, ever do it again

4. Watch the following years marathon on TV feeling smug because I'm not daft enough to do that again

5. Feel overweight, old and guilty because there are so many people worse off than me. Also forget step 2.

6. Return to step 1.

So this time in order to persuade people to sponsor me because I'm not 'just running another marathon', I have taken on the (ridiculous) challenge of attempting the Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon run by a woman carrying a 20lb pack. There is no current record for a woman - and having now run 2.5 miles with a 20lb pack I know why! Nevertheless, Guinness World Records set me a limit of 5 hours in order to qualify for the record - "so that every record gained is an impressive feat". In response to my protestations that crawling over the line on all fours in less than 5 weeks carrying a 20lb pack would be an "impressive feat", they have generously allowed me an extra half an hour!

I have no chance - but I'm going to try! So please sponsor me and help me reach my fund-raising target for a charity that is close to all of our hearts. The marathon is on 13th April 2014 and I hope to finish by 20th. Your support and sponsorship will help me through the winter months (and the snowdrifts) and keep me focused on what it's really all about :-)

Thank you - from me and my dumbells!