**Please take some time to read about my running journey**

Anyone who knows me will no doubt already be in shock; just at the sheer prospect of me doing anything remotely athletic. Well I’m with you on that one – I still can’t quite believe I’m publishing this….

Back in May, I opened a company wide email looking for team members to take part in a half marathon. Of course I snorted a little laughter and closed the email rapidly, never to think of it again. Only I did think of it again. Being new to the company, I saw an opportunity to get to know some of my colleagues a little more, and to maybe even get a little fitter too. I was adamant I’d join the training for those purposes, but would categorically not even consider 21.5km.

On our first outing one lunch time in June, we walked to one lamppost, did a slow jog to the next, walked to the third and so on. It was hard going. Most of us were real beginners and were just super chuffed  we’d summoned the energy to get changed and get outside! Going back into the office sweaty and worn out, I knew I’d made the right decision to just be doing this for a bit of fun at lunch times.

Of course, anyone who knows me will also know that I don’t do things by halves. I found myself one day after work training on my own,  determined that I would get further than last time, that I wouldn’t stop no matter how much I had stitch. By July, I had even taken my running gear on holiday! By August I was doing 3 - 6 km runs; way off a half marathon, but still way more than I had ever thought possible at that first lamppost. The rest of the team had signed up much earlier and were always really encouraging that I could do it too. This is when I signed up.

Fast forward to now. I’m still planning on doing the half marathon and it’s less than 5 weeks away. Even as I’m typing this I’m nervous. Sickly so. The most I’ve run to date is 12.3km and it took absolutely all the
will and energy I had (I would have stopped if it weren’t for Gaz encouraging me, and unfortunately I can’t expect him to run with me all the time!). I don’t know if I’ll have a bad day ‘on the day’ or if I will run even half of it – but my goal is simply to get to the finish line and I will be super happy with that.

**About the great charity I'm doing this for**

I will be doing all of this for a brilliant charity that exists to provide life-changing services to those living with sight loss.

To prepare for the race, my colleagues at sales-i have really pulled together to embrace true team spirit – we’ve all become cheerleaders to motivate and support each other to the finish line. Coming from
different departments inside the business (from finance right through to software development), the half marathon has given us all something in common to bring us closer. We’ve built on old relationships and even made new ones, so I’m doing it for fundraising, friendship and fitness!

Every day 250 people in the UK start to lose their sight, so when that happens Guide Dogs step in to make sure they don’t lose their freedom too. Every penny donated goes towards the registered blind or partially sighted to live a life full of confidence and independence.